Myla is the CEO of the Committee of 200 (C200), where she began in August of 2023. Prior to her role as CEO, Myla was the Founder and Managing Partner of Quarter Five (Q5), a coaching a consulting firm that worked with businesses as they navigated complex and consequential change. Prior to beginning her own consulting firm, Myla served as Chief of Staff and temporarily led national development for OneGoal, whose mission is to ensure every student has an equitable opportunity to achieve their greatest post-secondary aspirations. She also spent over 5 years at The University of Chicago in Civic Engagement and External Affairs department where she held roles as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects, Director of Strategy, and Director of Economic Development.

Myla has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Chicago, Graham School and Loyola University of Chicago.

Myla is the mother of one son, who is 23 years old, and she holds her MBA from Loyola University of Chicago.

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Her football journey began at an early age with the dream of becoming the first woman in the NFL. In 2002, that dream took shape when she joined the Atlanta Leopards—part of a league that, for her, was even better than the NFL: a space where women compete at the highest level. She later joined the DC Divas in 2004, where she still plays today, competing in women’s tackle and co-ed flag football. Despite multiple injuries—including a broken ankle, tibia, fibula, toe, and three fingers—Lois has never wavered in her passion for the game, always returning stronger.

Lois’ career has been filled with groundbreaking moments. In 2021, she helped coach at her alma mater, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, leading the team to its first undefeated season in over 40 years.

She was later selected as an intern coach at the prestigious NFL Alumni Academy in Canton, OH, where she worked with offensive and defensive linemen and running backs. Her media career took off when she became the host of Lo On The Go, a fun and lighthearted segment of the WFA pre-game show Road to Canton, airing nationally online and on Women’s Sports TV Network. She continues to serve as a sideline reporter for the WFA Championship, bringing coverage to ESPN2.

Beyond playing and media, Lois is committed to growing the game. She founded FootballHer, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and youth through football. Her organization provides mentorship, financial support for women in the sport, and advocacy for girls’ tackle football in schools. She played a pivotal role in launching Loudoun County’s first-ever high school girls flag football league, breaking new ground for young female athletes.

Lois has also leveraged her platform to grow the hashtag #Womenstacklefootball from just 1,500 uses to over 6 million in under a year. Since then, as others picked up on it, the hashtag has skyrocketed to over 66 million uses, increasing visibility for the sport on a global scale.

She has worked with major brands like Always, ESPN, TiVo, Got Milk?, Hulu, and Xenith. In Super Bowl 2022, Lois was featured in a Super Bowl commercial and on a billboard outside SoFi Stadium as part of the Got Milk? campaign, proving that “football is football” regardless of gender. Her presence extends across major media platforms, local news, primetime specials, podcasts, and advertising campaigns. She has also earned numerous awards, including the 2023 Coaches’ Award, 2021 Daddy Nat Award for Selfless Service, 2019 Owner’s Award, and 2018 Hard Hat Award, as well as multiple flag football championships.

Today, Lois continues her mission with one simple message: Be active in your passion and grow the game of football for all.

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While representing Illinois’ 17th Congressional District for five terms, Bustos held powerful roles in leadership, serving as Co-Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee; Co-Chairing the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, playing a key role in Democrats taking the majority; and chairing the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee.

Bustos served on the House Committee on Agriculture for her full tenure in office; six years on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and four years on the House Appropriations Committee. While on the House Appropriations Committee, she served on some of the most powerful subcommittees: Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; Energy and Water; and Military Construction and Veterans Administration.

Outside of her public service work, Bustos has helped advance the next generation of Democratic leaders, protecting the Democratic House majority in the 2020 election cycle as Chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In that role, she helped raise a record-breaking one-third of a billion dollars for the organization.

Additionally, Bustos is the founder of Build the Bench, a program focused on identifying and training individuals interested in running for office at all levels. She is also a Founding Board Member of Elect Democratic Women, which has raised more than $35 million in the last few election cycles.

Bustos was a Spring 2023 Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics and a Fall 2024 Fellow at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at University of Kansas.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in College Park, and a Master’s in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

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She is currently the first ever Head Coach for Flag Football at Mount St. Mary’s University, a Division 1 program. The first on the East Coast and the second in the country. 

In addition to her playing career, James gained coaching experience as head coach of the Divas’ PowHERful Camps, providing instruction in a two-month camp for girls 8-16. She also has seven years’ experience working with the NFL’s Play 60 Camps, assisting coaches in activities and supervision for children 8-17.

James also competed in basketball before her career in football, earning an opportunity to play at the collegiate level for Wake Forest University. Standing 6 foot, 6 inches in height, James was the tallest player to play for the Demon Deacons at the time of her recruitment.

Along with her experience on the gridiron and basketball court, James has competed in pageants. In 2023, she was in the Royal Court for the Ms. Full Figured D.M.V. Pageant. Crowned as Cover Girl 2023, James became the first women’s tackle football player to earn the recognition.

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In 2020, Felita embarked on a remarkable journey as a founding board member of RAISEfashion, a non-profit network comprising esteemed leaders in the fashion industry. This network provides pro-bono consultations to BIPOC businesses and individuals, with a mission to advance equity in the fashion industry. Felita’s involvement with RAISEfashion reflects her dedication to fostering growth, inclusivity, and success in the fashion sector.

Throughout her career, Felita has held prestigious senior executive roles in the fashion industry. She served as the Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer at Harlem’s Fashion Row/ICON360, held the position of Executive Vice President at Alexander Wang, and was the Senior Vice President of Donna Karan Collection (LVMH). Felita’s focus on global wholesale, retail, partnerships, and collaborations resulted in scaling revenue from $15 million to $150 million.

Felita actively cultivates valuable partnerships across the realms of fashion, retail, and sports. She has formed strategic alliances with prominent companies such as LVMH, Amazon, Tapestry Group, Nordstrom, Saks, MLB, and Capri Holdings. These partnerships strengthen her influence and contribute to her continued success in the industry.

As a passionate advocate for equity and fostering a sense of belonging, Felita obtained a certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University in 2020. Her expertise spans a wide array of topics, including emerging designer talent, women in leadership, sustainability and its impact on customers, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, funding disparities and capital raising, inclusive marketing campaigns, and overhauling return policies and procedures.

Felita has had the privilege of engaging in dialogue with esteemed brands and retailers, including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, Sephora, H&M, Nike, Victoria’s Secret, J.Crew, Glossier, Bandier, TikTok, and Michael Kors, among others. Her expertise and industry connections make her a valuable asset in driving meaningful conversations and creating positive change.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Felita is dedicated to philanthropy. She provides resources to marginalized communities and supports organizations that promote and uplift women in leadership positions. Felita has served as a thought leader and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Program Strategist for Open to All®, a nonprofit organization that champions the principle of welcoming everyone, regardless of their background. Her role at Open to All® reflects her commitment to shaping inclusive environments and fostering a sense of belonging for all individuals.

Felita has received numerous esteemed business achievement awards throughout her career, including the Fashion Group International Hilldun Business Innovation award, Luxury Daily Women to Watch recognition, Accessories Council Design Excellence Awards for Tech Innovation, BRAG (Black Retail Action Group) recognition, and being honored as one of the Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. These accolades highlight Felita’s exceptional contributions and leadership in the industry, showcasing her dedication to innovation, excellence, and empowering women.

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Barbara J. Brown, PhD, is a visionary leader in the mental health field, blending purpose with business acumen. As the founder, CEO, and owner of CapitolHill Consortium for Counseling & Consultation (CCCC), she has redefined what it means to be both a psychologist and an entrepreneur.

In 2009, Dr. Brown established CCCC to provide accessible and culturally responsive mental health services. With over 30 years of experience, she has focused on health equity, particularly in underserved communities. What started as a solo practice has grown into a team of over 80 professionals serving individuals across the lifespan in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.  As a training director and supervisor, she leaves a legacy of mental health professionals across the nation who have been influenced by her passion for clinical care embedded in the community.

Finding Her Mission

Dr. Brown’s path was shaped by her early life experiences and family legacy. As a fourth-generation African American professional, she was raised with a deep belief that education should serve others. Rooted in ancestral wisdom shaped by the struggles against oppression and fueled by a commitment to social justice, she resolved early in life to devote her career to bridging disparities in mental healthcare for marginalized communities. To ensure that mental health is available to all she has remained steadfast in accepting both public and private insurance for therapy and psychological testing and insistence on maintaining the highest standards of professional care.

Creating Her Legacy

Beyond her practice, Dr. Brown has spearheaded community outreach initiatives through CCCC and in multiple organizations to ensure that mental health services are represented, destigmatized, and normalized as an essential part of the healthcare continuum. You will frequently find her at health fairs, speaking engagements, and other professional activities teaching, consulting, and advocating for mental health treatment.

In addition to her roles as psychologist, Director of Training, and CEO, Dr. Brown serves as:

• Board Chair of the Black Women’s Health Imperative
• Co-Chair of the Health and Human Services Facet for the Washington, D.C. Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
• Advisory Council Member for the Boris L. Henson Foundation
• Board Member of the Episcopal Children’s Center

Her local impact and national presence continue to shape a future where mental health care is a right, not a privilege.

 “True leadership is about building a legacy of purpose, where every action serves the greater good of the community.”

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Marianne Markowitz is the President & CEO of First Women’s Bank, the only bank formed to strategically grow the economy and elevate the role of women within it.

Previously, Markowitz served as the Acting Administrator and Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration and as an interim member of President Obama’s Cabinet. Markowitz was appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the City of Chicago’s Small Business Advisory Council. Most recently, Marianne was Managing Director at CIBC, US where she successfully implemented a national SBA program.

Before her time at the SBA, Markowitz served as trustee on the Obama for America Board of Directors, CFO for the 2008 Obama for America Presidential Campaign, and for the 2007 launch of the Obama Exploratory Committee. For 17 years Markowitz held leadership roles in finance and treasury at leading global institutions in the U.S., UK, and Switzerland.

In 2023, Crain’s Chicago recognized her as a Women of Note, and in 2024, she was honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award. Markowitz is a member of the Milken Institute Executive Circle, the International Women’s Forum, and the membership committee of The Economic Club of Chicago. She also serves on the boards of World Business Chicago and Intersect Illinois, as well as on the Fast Company Impact Council and the Reclaim13 Advisory Council.

Markowitz received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and an MBA from DePaul University.

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