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About this event
A talk with Michele Romanow, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Clearco, is a part of a monthly series of discussions with prominent CEOs. This series is meant to inspire others to see how the path to the CEO can be varied, how CEOs come from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, and that CEOs carry a range of leadership styles and personalities. There will be a balance of CEOs highlighted from a variety of backgrounds, both in terms of career and societal demographics.
The secondary purpose of this series is to reinforce the trust society is putting in business leaders over all others realms of leadership. Beyond discussing their stories to the top, we’ll touch on how these CEOs lead, and what they are thinking about at a broad societal level.
Experts
Michele Romanow Co-Founder & Executive Chairman
Ferociously committed to empowering entrepreneurs worldwide, Michele is a firm believer that the world's most daunting challenges can be tackled by entrepreneurs. With a steadfast dedication to supporting founders who may not have had access to traditional routes of success, Michele champions the idea that hustle should always outweigh pedigree.
As the co-founder and leader of Clearco (formerly Clearbanc), Michele has spearheaded its transformation into the world’s largest e-commerce investor. Under Michele's guidance, Clearco has invested over $3.2 billion in more than 7,000 companies spanning 10 countries. Notably, Clearco has significantly surpassed industry standards by backing 25 times more women than the VC industry average and supporting founders from diverse backgrounds across all 50 states in America. Utilizing AI-driven investment decisions rather than human biases, Clearco has pioneered the revenue share capital structure for ad spend and inventory, a model that has been widely adopted to the benefit of countless entrepreneurs. This innovative approach attracted attention globally, culminating in Clearco becoming Softbank’s inaugural Canadian investment at a valuation nearing $2 billion, thus cementing its unicorn status.
Beyond Clearco, Michele has showcased a keen eye for investment opportunities as an investor on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Canada's equivalent of Shark Tank, for over six seasons. Michele has made numerous angel investments in companies such as Endy (acquired by Sleep Country for $89 million), TruLocal (acquired by Emerge for $17 million), RVezy, Thras.io, Haus, Cart.com, Sheetex, Signos, Mastermind, Inkbox, TruFan, Lillia, Lucky Iron Fish, Accompany.io, Swyft, and Tokens.com. Her contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem have been recognized with her designation as Angel Investor of the Year in Canada.
Hosts
Coco Brown CEO
Coco Brown is the Founder and CEO of Athena Alliance. Athena has helped thousands of leaders build their Portfolio of Impact and grow and advance in their executive careers. The company has also brought almost 500 women to corporate boards from growth stage private companies to name brand public companies. Coco has personally worked with hundreds of top leaders, CEOs and boards to evolve modern leadership. She’s served on ten commercial and non-profit boards and advisory boards, and has led two notable companies (Taos, acquired by IBM, and now Athena). She is part of Nasdaq's Governance Insights Council, and is often called on to share guidance to the evolving focus and breadth of responsibility within the Modern Boardroom. Coco was recently named one of the 100 Most Powerful People of Silicon Valley.
Thu, May 30 @ 7:30am PT (0.75 hrs)
VIRTUAL (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Open to Public
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.
Peer Group
Audit Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Carol Coughlin, Katrinka McCallum
Fri, Dec 13 @ 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
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Board Readiness Course Alumnae
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
Chairing the Nominations and Governance Committee
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Alice Brennan
Salon
Women in Product x Athena: Executive Edge Info Session
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Carmen Palmer
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
Salon
How to Be a Human-Centered Leader and Stay Focused on Performance and Results
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Maria Ross
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Jacqui Canney, CPO of ServiceNow: The Intersection of HR and AI
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Jacqui Canney
Meetup
Member Meetup: Holiday Happy Hour in Los Angeles (4:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Nicole Ward-Parr
Experts: Coco Brown
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Compensation Committee
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Suja Chandrasekaran
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Fri, Jan 03 @ 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
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Salon
Strategies for Women at All Career Stages to Excel and Secure a Corporate Board Seat
Host: Rochelle Campbell
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
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Mon, Jan 13 @ 12:00pm PT (0.5 hrs)
Virtual (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Open to Public
Salon
Info Session on Athena Academy Board Readiness Course
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Salon
Introduction to the Audit Committee
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Katrinka McCallum, Carol Coughlin
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
The Power of Mentorship
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheri Miksa
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Karen Fascenda, CPO of Udemy
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Karen Fascenda, Belen Gomez
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Salon
Receiving Feedback Well
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Elena Krasnoperova
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Salon
Experienced Board Director AMA with Sheila Bangalore
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheila Bangalore
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Tami Rosen, CPO of Pagaya
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Tami Rosen
Salon
When To Quit Your Job
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Kelli Dragovich
Meetup
Member Meetup: Leadership Luncheon in Pleasanton, CA (12:00-2:00 PM PT)
Host: Christine Heckart
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Salon
Ethical and Responsible AI: A Governance Framework for Boards
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sonita Lontoh
Salon
Nailing the Board Interview
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nora Denzel
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
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
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Salon
Board KPIs and Data Governance
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Helen Lin, Eli Potter
Salon
Understanding Your Offer and Negotiating Salaries
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Cynthia Abbott Kerr
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Salon
Sustainable Innovation: At the Speed of Light and at the Edge of Space
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Rika Nakazawa
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
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
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Salon
Creating a Portfolio Life You Love
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Ali Kole
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
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
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Shelly Morales
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Peer Group