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About this event
When she started her career as a filmmaker, Erin Essenmacher could never have imagined that the experience would set her up to become an expert in corporate governance. Along the way she learned that the same mindset that it requires to make a compelling documentary is very similar to what it takes to be an effective director. Both require asking the same set of key questions - 'Who is my audience?', "Why are you telling me this?', and 'How do I take a massive amount of data and distill down the most important plot points?' Equally relevant for board members and rising executives, in this interactive salon, we explore the critical questions every board (and every savvy executive) must ask to provide effective oversight, from how to tell a clear story to the board and how to elicit the most relevant plot points from your executive team.
Experts
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
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.
Tue, Apr 09 @ 9:00am 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.
Salon
The Power of Mentorship
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheri Miksa
Salon
CHRO Perspectives with Karen Fascenda, CPO of Udemy: Cultivating an Inclusive and Future-Ready Workforce
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Karen Fascenda, Belen Gomez
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
First-Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leaders
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
Engineering and Product Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Meetup
Member Gathering: Connect and Unwind at the Old Post Office in Chicago, IL (6:00-8:00 PM CT)
Host: Meghan Anzelc
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Coco Brown
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
Fri, Jan 31 @ 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
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, Chief Development Officer of Pagaya
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Tami Rosen, Belen Gomez
Salon
When To Quit Your Job
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Kelli Dragovich
Meetup
Member Gathering: Uncorked Conversations at Cooper's Hawk in Dania Beach, FL (6:30-8:30 PM ET)
Host: Lillya Nashanchik
Meetup
Member Gathering: Leadership Luncheon in Pleasanton, CA (12:00-2:00 PM PT)
Host: Christine Heckart
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Leaders in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Meetup
Athena Summit: Redefining Capital and Entrepreneurship in Boston, MA (5:00-8:00 PM ET)
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Allison Byers, Karen Fang, Sarah Samuels, Goodwin Procter
Peer Group
Strategy Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Judy Kopa
Meetup
Member Gathering: Mix and Mingle at Insight Partners in Burlingame, CA (4:30-6:00 PM PT)
Host: Eli Potter
Salon
WCEO Perspectives with Jill Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Jill Evanko, Patricia Lizarraga
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional CxOs
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Elles Skony
Meetup
Member Gathering: Paint and Sip at Coco's Home in Moss Beach, CA (6:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Coco Brown
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
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 Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Meetup
Member Gathering: Negotiation Masterclass with Sheryl Kline in San Diego, CA (11:30-1:30 PM PT)
Host: Sheryl Kline
Experts: Coco Brown
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
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Leaders in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Meetup
Partner Event: Equilar Value Creation Summit in San Francisco, CA (11:30 AM - 6:30 PM PT)
Host: Belen Gomez
Peer Group
Strategy Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Judy Kopa
Salon
Mastering the Executive Search Process
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: George Randle
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional CxOs
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Elles Skony
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
First-Time Board Members
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leaders
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
Salon
Ethical and Responsible AI: A Governance Framework for Boards
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sonita Lontoh
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
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Meetup
Athena Summit: Market Makers in New York, NY (5:00-8:00 PM ET)
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Strategy Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Judy Kopa
Peer Group
Leaders in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Peer Group
Fractional CxOs
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Elles Skony
Meetup
Partner Event: Equilar Board Leadership Forum in New York, NY (1:00- 6:30 PM ET)
Host: Belen Gomez
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
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 Leaders
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
Orientation
Step into Athena
Host: Annie Dabrowski
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Cate Goethals
Salon
CEO Perspectives with Gavin Isaacs, CEO of Entain
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Gavin Isaacs, Sheila Bangalore
Peer Group
Leaders in Law
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Alice Brennan
Peer Group
Strategy Leaders
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Judy Kopa
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Host: Cata Chacon
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group