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About this event
Over the past decade, the role of CHROs has evolved significantly, extending beyond traditional functions such as recruiting and benefits. This expansion brings both increased challenges and excitement. The pandemic has emphasized the criticality of CHROs in effectively guiding organizations through uncertain times. Additionally, CHROs are at the forefront of shaping organizational culture to align with the evolving priorities of the workforce, such as DEI progress and work flexibility. The scope of our responsibilities has never been broader.
As members of Athena, let's come together to explore the demanding role of the CHRO as a strategic partner in the C-suite. We will discuss strategies for navigating the changing landscape of work to meet the evolving needs of employees and candidates. This gathering will provide a safe space for open and honest sharing of what is working well and what challenges we face. We can seek assistance, offer suggestions, and leverage our collective wisdom to become transformative business leaders in our respective organizations. Our goal is to foster thriving cultures where diverse employees can excel.
Chatham House Rule: What is said in this group, stays in this group. Sessions are not recorded and will not be part of the library.
What to expect: -A topical theme for each meeting with guided questions -10 - 15 minutes of introductory remarks, 50 minutes of discussion with the whole group or in smaller break-out groups, depending on the number of attendees and topic -We may invite some expert guests selectively -Loosely-structured dialogue and occasionally a few slides may be included in a brief presentation or to guide the discussion
Insightful conversations for topics such as: -Employee experience and engagement -Challenges of hybrid workplaces -Burnout and turnover
Date and time: 1 hour meeting on the first Wednesday starting at 1pm PT/4pm ET
Peer Group Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Peer Group Experts: Alisia Gill & Sue Olson
Experts
Alisia Gill CEO
Alisia Gill is a transformational leader who approaches the HR/People function as an enabler of business performance. She believes that it's employees (people with their diverse backgrounds and skills) and their experience of work culture that make the difference. Her eclectic background in analytics, marketing, agile techniques, and user experience -- in both the private and public sectors -- enables her to bring innovative and fresh perspectives to everything she does.
Sue Olson Fractional CHRO | Strategic Advisor | Board Advisor | Coach & Mentor
Susan (Sue) Olson is a global human resources executive who brings strategic insight to develop and leverage people and programs that drive overall business growth. She is a client-facing, results-focused, roll-up-the-sleeves leader who successfully establishes credibility, trust and partnership at all levels of the organization. Sue has been a key member of the executive management teams for emerging growth companies including Course Hero, Turn and DemandTec. She revamps critical talent acquisition and people operation business systems and processes to facilitate company growth.
Sue is known as a “cultural whisperer” who builds and leads agile, fast-paced global people operations, talent acquisition and workplace management teams to implement strategic organizational changes and drive innovative solutions. She is qualified to serve as a business partner and board advisor with a company looking to transform and align culture to business goals.
As Vice President of People for education technology company Course Hero, Sue drove the employee engagement score from 63% to 72% overall employee satisfaction in a 12-month period, while ensuring the culture aligned with business values and behaviors. She developed a competitive total rewards program to support aggressive recruiting plans. As a result, employee satisfaction for compensation practices increased from 57% to 72% satisfaction in six months, and Course Hero maintained a retention rate of 85% while growing and upleveling overall talent.
At data and media management platform company Turn, Inc., Sue was named Vice President of Human Resources to serve as a member of the Executive Team that successfully transformed and sold the company to Amobee, a subsidiary of Singtel Telecommunications. She contributed to the company turnaround, going from $17M in losses to break even in 18 months, successfully architecting a 20% workforce downsizing and closure of several offices while retaining, engaging and leading the remaining workforce.
Sue was retained by IBM following its acquisition of DemandTec. She was awarded the dual roles of Director of HR for DemandTec and IBM HR Business Partner, where she was tasked post-acquisition to integrate the DemandTec 350-member global workforce into IBM. Sue acted as a liaison between the IBM integration team and DemandTec leadership to assure IBM values, processes, and culture were successfully integrated. Under her leadership, IBM was able to retain 95% of key DemandTec personnel in the first year.
Currently, Sue serves as a Member of Board of Directors of the Menlo-Atherton High School Foundation for the Future and is a Mentor with BUILD, a unique program that offers students a four-year entrepreneurship experience designed to develop skills and motivate student engagement in school. In addition, she does volunteer work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and San Francisco City Impact.
Sue earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
Hosts
Cristina Scharffenorth Member Success Manager
Cristina Scharffenorth is the quintessential 'People Person' in her professional pursuits. Her innate talent lies in comprehending individuals and nurturing their personal and professional growth, all while working harmoniously towards shared objectives.
Over the past decade, Cristina has progressively shifted her focus towards leadership and talent development. Her roles have transitioned seamlessly, encompassing scouting, hiring, and placement, as well as comprehensive training, compassionate counseling, and empowering coaching. Whether in a supervisory capacity or as a skilled facilitator, Cristina consistently demonstrates her commitment to elevating individuals, fostering their growth, and nurturing their success.
Wed, Dec 06 @ 1:00pm PT (1 hr)
VIRTUAL (Join us remotely! RSVP for link)
Members Only
Peer Group
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
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Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
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Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
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Experts: SuiLin Yap
Meetup
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Host: Tami Reiss
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Salon
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Peer Group
Fractional Executives
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Salon
Unleashing Your Philanthropic Impact
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Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
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Meetup
In Person: Pivot in Power in Seattle, WA (6:00-8:00 PM PT)
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Salon
CEO Perspectives with Richard Ridinger, Chairman of the Board at Brenntag and Recipharm
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Experts: Richard Ridinger
Meetup
In-Person: Off the Grid Wine Tasting in Atlanta, GA (6:00-8:00 PM ET)
Host: Erin Brown
Meetup
In Person: Athena Walking Group in Mountain View, CA (5:30-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Barbara Troupin
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Salon
Financing for Small to Mid-Cap Diversity-Owned Businesses
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Yuriko Mita
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Cate Goethals
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Meetup
In Person: Connect with Coco in Moss Beach, CA (5:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Coco Brown
Meetup
In Person: Rocky Mountains Meetup in Denver, CO (6:00-8:00 PM MT)
Host: Stephanie Beguin
Peer Group
Building a Company: Special Session - Equity Agreements
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Coco Brown, Julia Vax
Peer Group
Audit Committee
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Experts: Carol Coughlin, Katrinka McCallum
Salon
Miracles, Mysteries, and Motivation
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Experts: Maryann Bruce
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Nom/Gov Committee
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Karen Cone
Peer Group
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Experts: Cate Goethals
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Meetup
In Person: Impact Circle in Seattle, WA (5:00-7:00 PM PT)
Host: Gavriella Schuster
Experts: Coco Brown
Meetup
In Person: A Walk in Central Park in New York, NY (6:30-8:00 PM ET)
Host: Neeha Curtis
Experts: Rachel Owens
Peer Group
Athena's Book Club - Currently reading Burn Book by Kira Swisher
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Anna Goranson, Mirna Daouk
Salon
AI in the Boardroom
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Experts: Meghan Anzelc
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Alice Brennan
Salon
Non-Traditional Board Journeys
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
Taking Risks as a Woman
Host: Coco Brown
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Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Caitlin Sachdev, Shelly Morales
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
Salon
Innovating for Impact
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Experts: Zenia Tata
Meetup
In Person: WE Global Founderverse Summit & Launch Party (2:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Coco Brown
A Look Inside Athena
A Look Inside Athena
Host: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Compensation Committee
Host: Analuisa Martinez
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
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Salon
Establishing Your Executive Presence
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Experts: Kathryn Vandiver
Salon
Ripped from the Headlines: Risk, Crisis & Tech Governance in Turbulent Times
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Meetup
In Person: Colorado Convention in Denver, CO (6:00-8:00 PM MT)
Host: Courtney Harrison
Experts: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Building a Company
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Coco Brown
Peer Group
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Salon
Proxy Advisors - What Do They Do And How Much Influence Do They Really Have?
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nichol Garzon-Mitchell
Meetup
In Person: Connect Over Charcuterie in Austin, TX (5:30-7:30 PM CT)
Host: Kirsten Newbold-Knipp
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: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
Nom/Gov Committee
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Karen Cone
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Cate Goethals
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Meetup
In Person: A Cozy Evening in Mukilteo, WA (6:00-8:00 PM PT)
Host: Beth Lewis
Salon
Chair[wo]man of the Board
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Gayle Crowell
Salon
Taking an Intentional Pause
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Kim Newton
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Alice Brennan
Salon
Experienced Board Director AMA with Sheila Bangalore
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Sheila Bangalore
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
Peer Group
Athena's Book Club
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
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
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
Board Readiness Course Alumnae
Host: Erin Essenmacher
Peer Group
Engineering and Product Leadership
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: SuiLin Yap
Salon
New Ventures and Innovation in the Digital Age
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Rika Nakazawa
Peer Group
Fractional Executives
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Caitlin Sachdev, Shelly Morales
Peer Group
Unleash Your Impact Alumnae
Host: Jocelyn King
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
Life Sciences Professionals
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Barbara Troupin
Peer Group
First Time Board Members
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Cate Goethals
Peer Group
HR Leadership
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Geoff Balzano
Peer Group
Black Women Thriving
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Julianna Hynes, Maeve Richard
Peer Group
Nom/Gov Committee
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Karen Cone
Peer Group
Navigating a Career Transition
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Cate Goethals
Orientation
Athena Member Orientation
Host: Athena Member Success Manager
Peer Group
Audit Committee
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Carol Coughlin, Katrinka McCallum
Salon
Become an Investor
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Lilia Shirman
Peer Group
Go-to-Market Leaders
Host: Analuisa Martinez
Experts: Rebecca Jones
Peer Group
The Board and Beyond for Women in Law
Host: Gabriela Aneas
Experts: Alice Brennan
Salon
Nailing the Board Interview
Host: Coco Brown
Experts: Nora Denzel
Peer Group
Athena's Book Club
Host: Cristina Scharffenorth
Experts: Anna Goranson, Mirna Daouk
Salon