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About this event
AI has officially entered the boardroom, not only through the oversight of its use within organizations but also by becoming a tool for directors themselves. Vendors like Govrn, OnBoard, and Zeck are integrating AI into board portals, and video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Teams are following suit. Directors are beginning to rely on AI to summarize board packets, highlight key areas, and even generate meeting notes—an approach that brings both opportunities and risks if not properly governed. While AI can be valuable for staying informed on complex topics, it’s essential for board members to assess both the high and low-risk areas of AI use. Careful consideration should be given to whether AI is the right solution for specific tasks, and directors should gain practical experience to enhance governance.
Join us for this exciting and highly relevant salon with AI experts and seasoned board directors, Meghan Anzelc and Christina Fernandes-D'Souza.
Experts
Meghan Anzelc Advisory Board Member
Meghan Anzelc, Ph.D. is an experienced executive in driving positive business impact through the use of data, artificial intelligence and technology. Previously Head of Data & Analytics at Spencer Stuart and Chief Analytics Officer at AXIS Capital, Dr. Anzelc is skilled at determining how existing and emerging technologies can be applied to business problems and providing jargon-free guidance to senior executives on technology and digital strategy and decision trade-offs. After receiving her PhD in experimental high-energy particle physics from Northwestern University, Dr. Anzelc went on to a decade-long career in the property/casualty insurance industry, adding value to organizations through her expertise in data science and technology, impacting multi-billion dollar books of business and billions of dollars in claims. As an experienced mid-cap C-suite executive, Dr. Anzelc has played a key role at companies looking to transform their data strategy or take advantage of the business opportunities that artificial intelligence and machine learning can bring. She serves as an Advisor to FinTechs, and served on the board and as chair of the Nom/Gov Committee of the Chicago Literacy Alliance, on the Grantmaking Committee of the Chicago Foundation for Women's Young Women's Giving Council, on the Steering Committee of the Women in Insurance Networking Group, and as an Advisory Board member to the American Physical Society's Advancing Graduate Leadership initiative.
Christina Fernandes-D'Souza Director of Data Science
Christina Fernandes-D’Souza has over 15 years of global, cross-industry experience combining strategy, data, analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and technology, in both the private and public sectors, delivering business opportunities and competitive advantage. Currently, Director of Data Science at Three Arc Advisory, guiding startups, established companies and their Boards on how to drive positive business impact from analytics and AI while managing risk. Previously, as a Director of Data Science at Spencer Stuart, co-lead building a global Analytics Function, focusing on analytics product development and digital transformation. As a Senior Data Scientist at Zurich North America, lead various analytical and machine learning initiatives in several Lines of Business. She holds a Master’s in Applied Mathematics, with a concentration in Actuarial Science.
Hosts
Erin Essenmacher Chief Strategy and Experience Officer
Erin Essenmacher has 25 years of experience in media, education strategy and corporate governance. She has written, directed, and produced films for PBS, the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, the History Channel, and CNN, and worked with brands like Sony, Apple, Acura, and The Gap.
Over the last decade Erin served on the executive leadership team National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) where she was responsible for the design and delivery of board member training, new product development, organizational strategy and thought leadership innovation. In her role, Erin focused on helping directors make sense of the changing role of the board and how it impacts their mandate, including a deeper understanding of ESG, cyber security, regulatory risk, geopolitical disruption, diversity, culture and digital transformation. During her tenure, Erin helped double NACD membership and drove a 400% growth in education revenue.
Her new venture, The Brigh Group helps organizations develop or reimagine content strategy, growth through partnership and better corporate governance. She is also the founder of Feisty Aphrodite, which focuses on original content creation and advising organizations and other makers on media and content strategy.
Erin has been a frequent speaker on corporate governance, strategy and risk oversight, presenting at industry meetings and conferences and as a regular contributor to Directors and Boards magazine. She has served on boards across sectors including as director for the iconic clothing retailer EILEEN FISHER where she chaired the People and Culture committee and helped lead design of the CEO succession plan. She currently sits on the board of Docs in Progress and the Advisory Board for the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University
Thu, Oct 10 @ 9:00am PT (1 hr)
VIRTUAL (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Invite Only
Salon
Upcoming Events
Join us for a Salon or Meetup to get a peek inside our community! Peer Groups and Learning Circles are exclusively for members - log in here
- ALL events
- A Look Inside Athena
- Peer Group
- Salon
- Meetup
- Orientation
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena is held monthly for prospect members to come and understand how Athena works. They will learn more about the backstory of Athena, see a tour of our platform, and have the opportunity to discuss more of what they are interested in and ask questions about joining our community.
Salons
Learn about the most pressing topics facing executives today in an intimate, yet casual, virtual setting. Hosted by board directors and leaders from the world's top brands.
Meetups
Gather with Athena members in your area for a casual, in-person Meetup. These are planned by request and hosted by Athena members in various cities. If you're interested in hosting and/or joining a meetup in the future, reach out to the Member Success Team and let them know.
Peer Groups
We have an incredible community of female leaders at Athena and we want to bring you closer together! Join a Peer Group and build a network of peers you can engage with for guidance, lessons learned and insights around a shared interest. Choose a topic that most interests you or drop in and out of multiple peer groups as it suits you best. You’ll find at least one peer group available to join every week. Each live session goes for one hour, no preparation is needed, just show up as you are. We look forward to seeing you there!
Learning Circles
A Learning Circle is an opportunity to connect with a small group of other Athena members in a focused yet casual setting, creating accountability around targeted learning to assist you in achieving your goals. Over the course of 6 sessions, club members will meet every 2 weeks to participate in an organic, peer-led discussion of the session's "chapters" consisting of 1-2 Athena salons which are to be reviewed on your own prior to the group session. When joining, members are committing to completing all 6 sessions.
Guided Networking
Typically led by one of Athena's coaches, networking events provide members an opportunity to meet one another in a smaller intimate and virtual setting.
Partner Events
These are typically in-person events led by Coco and our partnering companies on topics that are relevant to the industry and audience of our business partners.
Workshops
A workshop is an interactive session for members to actively practice something, such as their pitch. These sessions typically involve breakout rooms, member to member feedback and are not recorded.
Orientations
For members new to Athena looking for ways to engage, these bi-weekly orientations led by an Athena Member Success Manager, provide a live tour of Athena, member success insights, and a chance to get questions answered.
Enterprise Events
Athena customizes virtual learning events with expert business leaders tailored to a unique company’s needs. These events cultivate cross-functional community, development, and learning across the partner organization.
Other
Athena listens and we're always adding new event types and opportunities for members to engage. See what new events we are currently offering members.
No Upcoming Events Found.
Fri, Oct 11 @ 11:00am PT (0.75 hrs)
Virtual (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Open to Public
A Look Inside Athena
Discover Athena: Inside Look and Conversation
Host: Justin Reeves
Salon
Non-Traditional Board Journeys
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Salon
Taking Risks as a Woman
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Karen Bulluck
Salon
Discover Executive Elevate
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Christina Mitine, Christine Jennings
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Salon
Innovating for Impact
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Zenia Tata
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Compensation Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Suja Chandrasekaran
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Board Readiness Course Alumnae
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Salon
CEO Perspectives with Jennifer Tejada, CEO of PagerDuty
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Jennifer Tejada, Suja Chandrasekaran
Salon
Establishing Your Executive Presence
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Experts: Kathryn Vandiver
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Meetup
In Person: Colorado Convention in Denver, CO (6:00-8:00 PM MT)
Host: Courtney Harrison
Experts: Coco Brown
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Fri, Oct 25 @ 11:00am PT (0.75 hrs)
Virtual (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Open to Public
A Look Inside Athena
Discover Athena: Inside Look and Conversation
Host: Justin Reeves
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Meetup
In Person: Connect Over Charcuterie in Austin, TX (5:30-7:30 PM CT)
Host: Kirsten Newbold-Knipp
Salon
Proxy Advisors - What Do They Do And How Much Influence Do They Really Have?
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nichol Garzon-Mitchell
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Sheri Bronstein, Chief Human Resources Officer at Bank of America
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheri Bronstein, Belen Gomez
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Fri, Nov 01 @ 11:00am PT (0.75 hrs)
Virtual (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Open to Public
A Look Inside Athena
Discover Athena: Inside Look and Conversation
Host: Justin Reeves
Peer Group
Nom/Gov Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Karen Cone
Salon
WCEO Perspectives with Wendy Thomas, CEO of Secureworks
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Patricia Lizarraga, Wendy Thomas
Meetup
In Person: A Cozy Evening in Mukilteo, WA (6:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Beth Lewis
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Salon
Chair[wo]man of the Board
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Gayle Crowell
Meetup
In Person: Learn to Influence Like The FBI with Executive Coach Sheryl Kline in San Diego, CA (11:00-1:00 PM PT)
Host: Sheryl Kline
Salon
Taking an Intentional Pause
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Kim Newton
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Salon
Experienced Board Director AMA with Sheila Bangalore
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheila Bangalore
Meetup
In Person: Leadership Luncheon in Pleasanton, CA (1:30-3:30 PM PT)
Host: Christine Heckart
Salon
Experienced Board Director AMA with Nina Vaca
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nina Vaca
Meetup
In Person: Empowerment Evening in Los Angeles, CA (6:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Donna Raphael
Salon
Discover Executive Elevate Session 2
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Christina Mitine, Christine Jennings
Peer Group
Athena's Book Club
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Anna Goranson, Mirna Daouk
Salon
Trailblazing Founders: Breaking Through Invisible Boundaries
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Deepti Pahwa
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Board Readiness Course Alumnae
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Meetup
In Person: Athena Walking Group in Mountain View, CA (5:15-7:45 PM PT)
Host: Barbara Troupin
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
Sustainable Innovation: At the Speed of Light and at the Edge of Space
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Rika Nakazawa
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Meetup
In Person: The Dharma of Money and Your Professional Portfolio of Impact in Tiburon, CA (4:30-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Alison Davis
Experts: Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, Coco Brown
Salon
How Prescient Boards Evaluate Compliance Offices and Provide Oversight
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Avril Ussery Sisk
Salon
CEO Perspectives with Anika Howard
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Anika Howard
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Nom/Gov Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Karen Cone
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Audit Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Carol Coughlin, Katrinka McCallum
Salon
Become an Investor
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Lilia Shirman
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Salon
Nailing the Board Interview
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nora Denzel
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Athena's Book Club
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Anna Goranson, Mirna Daouk
Salon
Networking Strategies for Board Roles
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Katrinka McCallum
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Board Readiness Course Alumnae
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Salon
Chairing the Nominations and Governance Committee
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
How to Be a Human-Centered Leader and Stay Focused on Performance and Results
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Maria Ross
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Jacqui Canney, CPO of ServiceNow
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Jacqui Canney
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Compensation Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Suja Chandrasekaran
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Salon
Charting an Intentional Path Toward Corporate Board Service
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Keith Dorsey
Salon
The Leader's Voice Playbook
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Dia Bondi
Salon
CEO Perspectives with Walter Bugno, CEO of Games Global
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Walter Bugno, Sheila Bangalore
Salon
The Power of Mentorship
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheri Miksa
Salon
When To Quit Your Job
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Kelli Dragovich
Salon