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Throughout her career, Monica has pioneered industry-leading programs to help the disadvantaged gain breakthrough access to opportunities. She has led diversity and inclusion initiatives at some of the world’s best companies such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Ernst & Young, and Google.

As a young Latina growing up in a small West Texas town, Monica was the first in her family to go to graduate school and achieve significant professional success. Her experiences taught her that drive and determination alone are not enough – access to opportunities is essential for success. She became a relentless advocate for equity and is committed to rewriting the narrative for marginalized communities.

Monica is a thought leader and expert on diversity and its impact on innovation. She has developed game-changing programs to open doors for women and minorities. She helped women re-enter the workforce by pioneering the Goldman Sachs New Directions® and the Returnship® programs, setting an inspiring example across industries.

Monica champions inclusive leadership, equitable corporate cultures, and more parity in the workplace. Throughout her career, she has been active on a variety of boards, advisory councils and non-profits like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Advisory Board and the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) Corporate Advisory Board. Monica currently serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for the Texas Tech Career Services Center and is an active Director on the National Board for the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA).

As a former radio show host, Monica knows how to connect with people from all walks of life. She is an opera singer who can fill any void with melody. And as an aerial acrobat, she is determined to always find a way.

Jeanne Sparrow is a renowned speaker, top consultant, 7-time Emmy-winning television host, award-winning radio personality, and podcast host. You can hear her on V103 Chicago (WVAZ), an iHeartRadio station. Jeanne is also a graduate faculty instructor at Northwestern University.

Jeanne helps people and organizations find more success by delivering their unique, authentic value through visionary leadership, effective sales, and inspiring speaking. Jeanne has spoken to a variety of organizations including Guaranteed Rate, AnitaB.org, iHeartRadio’s Women’s Initiative Network, and AT&T.

Listen to Jeanne’s podcast Fearless Authenticity with Jeanne Sparrow wherever you get your podcasts and look for her forthcoming book, “Fearless Authenticity: Lead Better, Sell More and Speak Sensationally” from Diversion Books in January 2025.

Dr. Kathleen St. Louis Caliento has spent nearly three decades focused on issues of social justice, including educational equity, workforce development, and economic empowerment. She currently serves as President & CEO of Cara Collective, a social impact enterprise dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals affected by poverty and promoting a more inclusive economy. Cara Collective produces nearly 1,000 jobs annually, surpassing national retention norms by nearly 20 points.

Prior to her role at Cara Collective, Dr. Caliento served as the Chief Learning and Design Officer at the Academy Group. She helped students land coveted mentorship and internship opportunities throughout Chicago. Her impact extends to her time at Spark Program, where she held multiple leadership roles and led a 3x increase in revenue, corporate investment, and workplace apprenticeships.

Dr. Caliento is deeply committed to civic leadership and community engagement and serves on the Adler University Board of Trustees, Leadership Greater Chicago LFA Board, and Hollister Confidence Fund Advisory Board. She is also a Fellow of the 2020 class of Leadership Greater Chicago, a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy.

A published author, Dr. Caliento earned her Master of Arts and her Doctor of Philosophy in Secondary Science Education from Columbia University.

As Manager and Senior Legal Counsel, Jennifer is a part of Ensono’s commercial legal function and negotiates complex IT commercial contracts with clients and provides legal support for strategic software vendor contracting matters. Jennifer has developed an expertise in negotiating with sophisticated enterprises across various industries, including public sector clients such as States, counties, and federal government agencies. Jennifer is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. She holds a Doctor of Law (JD) degree with Certificate in Business Law from DePaul University College of Law and attained a BA in International Studies and Political Science from DePaul University in Chicago.

Charmayne Beverly is the Vice President, Talent for Old Republic Insurance (ORI). Since joining ORI in 2023, she has applied her 20 years of diverse experience to strategically expand and lead various HR divisions, including Talent Management, Recruiting, Learning and Development, Culture, Employee Relations, and Diversity & Inclusion.

After kick-starting her career as an HR Associate, Charmayne progressively advanced within the HR industry and held various roles with increased responsibilities. Before joining ORI, Charmayne served as the Vice President, Sr. HR Business Partner at The Federal Home Loan Bank Chicago (FHLBank Chicago). During her six years at FHLBank Chicago, Charmayne was responsible for the strategic leadership of initiatives impacting Community Investment and Finance, Internal Audit, and Risk. In partnership with the Business Group Heads, Charmayne provided comprehensive and integrated business solutions that drove continuous improvements in performance, organizational efficiency, leadership development, and succession planning. As an inspiring, highly collaborative, trusted leader, Charmayne also played a crucial role in partnering with senior leaders to improve staff engagement and overall culture. As part of this process, she advised people managers on how best to develop their skills as effective leaders, set expectations, and deliver candid feedback in a manner designed to drive a trusting and transparent culture. As a part of her role at FHLBank Chicago, Charmayne also served on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee and was responsible for developing strategies and garnering support for DEI initiatives.

Throughout her career, Charmayne has demonstrated her thoughtful business approach by building strong, inclusive cultures, redesigning processes, enhancing employee relations, and modernizing human resources departments. In each role she has held, Charmayne has brought her passion for empowering leaders, helping employees reach their full potential, deepening diversity and inclusion, and driving the organizational strategy forward. In addition to her professional expertise, Charmayne prides herself on being an authentic and innovative leader with a natural ability to relate to others on all levels, which is critical in cultivating strong and sustainable relationships.