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Press Release: WBC Focuses on Action with Two New Board Appointments

Press Release: Two New WBC Board Member Appointments – Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 — Women Business Collaborative (WBC) added Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds, two champions for action and change, to its Board of Directors. Hassan and Reynolds, seasoned executives with a history of working toward diversity and inclusion, will help advance WBC's mission to accelerate business women and ensure commitments to diversify corporate leadership and support for entrepreneurs and capital. 

"As businesses and Americans face the global pandemic, a recession and calls to address racial injustices, WBC has added two powerhouse women to help further our accelerator goals," said Edie Fraser, CEO of WBC. "Felicity's experience in diverse executive recruiting combined with Sharon's leadership and entrepreneurial experience will allow WBC, and its partners, to ensure our corporate leadership looks a lot more like our American consumers."  WBC recognized Reynolds and Hassan Leadership as they are vice chairs of WBC's Advisory Council.

In 2007, Reynolds founded DevMar Products focusing on distributing environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and office products, later expanding to create DevMar Manufacturing and DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Reynolds has been recognized throughout her career as an innovator and leader, most recently receiving the 100 Black Men/Women President's Organization Women of Color Achievement Award. The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) selected Sharon as the 2019 WBE Star. Reynolds serves on multiple boards including Second Harvest Food Bank, Ni-Q, LLC, Portland, Oregon, and the Women's Business Enterprise Council South in New Orleans.

Hassan, Managing Director of Audeliss, an executive search firm, has more than 12 years' experience with executive recruiting for the some of the largest U.S. brands, including Audible and Bloomberg. Her focus and passion is working with clients who are truly committed to creating a diverse workforce and building a culture of diversity and inclusion at the highest corporate echelons. As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Hassan serves on the CEO Council for Nicsa's Diversity Project and Co-Chairs their Talent initiative. Felicity is also a member of Luminary NYC. 

With the addition of Hassan and Reynolds, the WBC board now consists of 15 members, including: Paula Bennett,  Lynne Born, Lin Coughlin, Ana Dutra, Edie Fraser, Balaji Ganapathy, Lisa R. Jacobs, Alexandra Jung, Michael Norris, Melissa Peak, Robert Reiss, Viola Thompson, and  Leigh Wasson.

Read the original release here.

Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds add deep expertise in business and entrepreneurial development as WBC continues to accelerate for parity and diversity

Press Release: WBC Focuses on Action with Two New Board Appointments Read More »

Press Release: Two New WBC Board Member Appointments – Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 — Women Business Collaborative (WBC) added Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds, two champions for action and change, to its Board of Directors. Hassan and Reynolds, seasoned executives with a history of working toward diversity and inclusion, will help advance WBC's mission to accelerate business women and ensure commitments to diversify corporate leadership and support for entrepreneurs and capital. 

"As businesses and Americans face the global pandemic, a recession and calls to address racial injustices, WBC has added two powerhouse women to help further our accelerator goals," said Edie Fraser, CEO of WBC. "Felicity's experience in diverse executive recruiting combined with Sharon's leadership and entrepreneurial experience will allow WBC, and its partners, to ensure our corporate leadership looks a lot more like our American consumers."  WBC recognized Reynolds and Hassan Leadership as they are vice chairs of WBC's Advisory Council.

In 2007, Reynolds founded DevMar Products focusing on distributing environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and office products, later expanding to create DevMar Manufacturing and DevMar Global Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Reynolds has been recognized throughout her career as an innovator and leader, most recently receiving the 100 Black Men/Women President's Organization Women of Color Achievement Award. The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) selected Sharon as the 2019 WBE Star. Reynolds serves on multiple boards including Second Harvest Food Bank, Ni-Q, LLC, Portland, Oregon, and the Women's Business Enterprise Council South in New Orleans.

Hassan, Managing Director of Audeliss, an executive search firm, has more than 12 years' experience with executive recruiting for the some of the largest U.S. brands, including Audible and Bloomberg. Her focus and passion is working with clients who are truly committed to creating a diverse workforce and building a culture of diversity and inclusion at the highest corporate echelons. As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Hassan serves on the CEO Council for Nicsa's Diversity Project and Co-Chairs their Talent initiative. Felicity is also a member of Luminary NYC. 

With the addition of Hassan and Reynolds, the WBC board now consists of 15 members, including: Paula Bennett,  Lynne Born, Lin Coughlin, Ana Dutra, Edie Fraser, Balaji Ganapathy, Lisa R. Jacobs, Alexandra Jung, Michael Norris, Melissa Peak, Robert Reiss, Viola Thompson, and  Leigh Wasson.

Read the original release here.

Felicity Hassan and Sharon Reynolds add deep expertise in business and entrepreneurial development as WBC continues to accelerate for parity and diversity

1600249021275 How we turn 1918

Forbes Feature: How We Turn 1918, 1932, And 1968 Into A Powerful Future.

WBC Board Member Robert Reiss discusses the June WBC CEO Roundtable event in his latest Forbes article. Read an excerpt below.

I just read an inspiring article, “Are you willing to give up your privilege?” by Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation, where he said something that completely resonated with me, “This feels like 1918, 1932, and 1968 all at once.” So true!

My belief is that these unprecedented times make it impossible to go backwards; we must propel forward … and if we do it right we can emerge with people individually and collectively being free and fulfilled; eradication of systemic racism once and for all; an equitable society; a thriving economy; enlightened corporate citizenship through conscious capitalism, and healthy citizens post-pandemic (of course, we can achieve the first items, however, the last will require a vaccine). All we have to do is change everything simultaneously by creating a new model. It’s that easy; and it’s that hard.

To prime the pump in thinking through the future model, on June 18, 2020 my co-host Becky Shambaugh and I interviewed five CEOs from: Rite Aid, United Way, JetBlue, Shipt, and kathy ireland Worldwide at the Women Business Collaborative CEO Roundtable…

Read the full article on Forbes here.

Forbes Feature: How We Turn 1918, 1932, And 1968 Into A Powerful Future. Read More »

WBC Board Member Robert Reiss discusses the June WBC CEO Roundtable event in his latest Forbes article. Read an excerpt below.

I just read an inspiring article, “Are you willing to give up your privilege?” by Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation, where he said something that completely resonated with me, “This feels like 1918, 1932, and 1968 all at once.” So true!

My belief is that these unprecedented times make it impossible to go backwards; we must propel forward … and if we do it right we can emerge with people individually and collectively being free and fulfilled; eradication of systemic racism once and for all; an equitable society; a thriving economy; enlightened corporate citizenship through conscious capitalism, and healthy citizens post-pandemic (of course, we can achieve the first items, however, the last will require a vaccine). All we have to do is change everything simultaneously by creating a new model. It’s that easy; and it’s that hard.

To prime the pump in thinking through the future model, on June 18, 2020 my co-host Becky Shambaugh and I interviewed five CEOs from: Rite Aid, United Way, JetBlue, Shipt, and kathy ireland Worldwide at the Women Business Collaborative CEO Roundtable…

Read the full article on Forbes here.

1600249972111 Amid This Pandemic

Forbes Feature: Amid This Pandemic, Women CEOs Share That Leadership And Culture Matter Most.

WBC Board Member Robert Reiss discusses the April WBC CEO Roundtable event in his latest Forbes article. Read an excerpt below.

Five CEOs convened April 22, 2020 to share their approaches to leading during crisis. One was Carly Fiorina who has led through deep recession, terrorist attacks, SARS and Ebola. Carly shared, "There's an old saying that tough times build character. I think that is wrong … tough times reveal character."

These CEOs were interviewed at Women Business Collaborative kickoff of the “WBC CEO Roundtable: Leading Forward” webinar for an audience of almost 200 executives and entrepreneurs. The CEOs —representing fashion, insurance, U.S. prison system, technology and crisis management public relations – discussed how they are adapting their businesses for the future and working around the clock to ensure that their employees are safe. They also shared, the stylistic benefits of women leadership, especially important during these challenging times.

Read the full Forbes article here. 

Forbes Feature: Amid This Pandemic, Women CEOs Share That Leadership And Culture Matter Most. Read More »

WBC Board Member Robert Reiss discusses the April WBC CEO Roundtable event in his latest Forbes article. Read an excerpt below.

Five CEOs convened April 22, 2020 to share their approaches to leading during crisis. One was Carly Fiorina who has led through deep recession, terrorist attacks, SARS and Ebola. Carly shared, "There's an old saying that tough times build character. I think that is wrong … tough times reveal character."

These CEOs were interviewed at Women Business Collaborative kickoff of the “WBC CEO Roundtable: Leading Forward” webinar for an audience of almost 200 executives and entrepreneurs. The CEOs —representing fashion, insurance, U.S. prison system, technology and crisis management public relations – discussed how they are adapting their businesses for the future and working around the clock to ensure that their employees are safe. They also shared, the stylistic benefits of women leadership, especially important during these challenging times.

Read the full Forbes article here. 

1600258671479 WBC International Womens Day Celebration

Resource: WBC International Women’s Day Celebration

Women Business Collaborative celebrated International Women’s Day with a Forum in New York, bringing together over 90 leaders representing CEOs from Partner Organizations, Corporations and WBC’s Advisory and Leaders Councils.  

Resource: WBC International Women’s Day Celebration Read More »

Women Business Collaborative celebrated International Women’s Day with a Forum in New York, bringing together over 90 leaders representing CEOs from Partner Organizations, Corporations and WBC’s Advisory and Leaders Councils.  

1600259069410 Boss Files

Boss Files with Poppy Harlow: Conversations about business, leadership and innovation

CNN’s Poppy Harlow explores the journeys of business and global leaders. In-depth interviews with leadership advice from entrepreneurs, CEOs and innovators about what it takes to rise to the top.

Boss Files with Poppy Harlow: Conversations about business, leadership and innovation Read More »

CNN’s Poppy Harlow explores the journeys of business and global leaders. In-depth interviews with leadership advice from entrepreneurs, CEOs and innovators about what it takes to rise to the top.

1600259766619 withinReach AchievingGenderEquity

Within reach? Achieving gender equity in financial services leadership.

This Deloitte Insight report offers a roadmap for cultivating more female executives to lead the industry forward. 

Within reach? Achieving gender equity in financial services leadership. Read More »

This Deloitte Insight report offers a roadmap for cultivating more female executives to lead the industry forward. 

1600260135916 2020 womenOnBoards

2020 Women On Boards Gender Diversity Index

2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB), released its annual 2019 Gender Diversity Index (GDI) showing that while women corporate directors hold a record 20.4% board seats nationally for the first time, 311 companies in the Russell 3000 Index still have no women on their boards.

2020 Women On Boards Gender Diversity Index Read More »

2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB), released its annual 2019 Gender Diversity Index (GDI) showing that while women corporate directors hold a record 20.4% board seats nationally for the first time, 311 companies in the Russell 3000 Index still have no women on their boards.