Champions of Change

Troy Vincent, Sr., body of work as a leader is uniquely informed by his 15-year NFL playing experience, serving as president of the NFL Players Association, and his lifetime contributions to the game of football. He employs the highest standards to enhance and preserve football and its value to society. Vincent works closely with NFL clubs, players, and Legends on humanitarian initiatives in communities across the nation. As co-chair of the Vision28 group spearheading efforts to establish flag football as an Olympic sport, he is instrumental in the global growth of American football.

Personally, Vincent is an advocate against domestic violence and sexual assault. Being directly affected by domestic violence, both Vincent and his wife, Tommi, share a passion and commitment to promoting the message of “Leadership Over Violence.” The Vincent’s founded the Vincent Commission in collaboration with Niagara University to recommend best practices for prevention, educational approaches, and policy changes regarding domestic and gender-based violence.

Additionally, through their foundation, Love Thy Neighbor, the Vincent family is dedicated to humanitarian efforts defined by giving back to communities across America, beginning with their hometown of Trenton, NJ. As a result of his charitable endeavors, Vincent is the only football athlete in its sports history to have received the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award, NFL Players Association Byron Whizzer White Award, Sporting News #1 Good Guy, and NFL Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award.

Abigail is Chief DEI Officer & HR Strategic Initiatives at GE HealthCare and President of the GE HealthCare Foundation. Her 20-plus year career in HR includes a breadth of executive leadership experiences across various industries with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Before joining GE HealthCare, Abigail was Head of HR for Global Supply Chain, Enterprise Functions, and Procurement at Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, she spent eight years at Integra LifeSciences, where she was the Vice President of HR, supporting multiple businesses, and the Head of Diversity & Inclusion.

Abigail is Six Sigma Black Belt certified and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Seton Hall University and her MBA from Farleigh Dickenson University. In 2016 was recognized as “A Woman to Watch” by Diversity Journal; in December 2017, was featured in American Healthcare Leader magazine; in August 2024, was named a “202 Diversity Leader in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare; and in December 2024, selected a The Leverage Network’s 2024 20 by 30 awardee.

Angie Volk is a 27-year veteran of the Medical Device Industry. She spent the first 22 years of her career at Boston Scientific where she held roles in R&D, Marketing, Clinical Affairs, Sales, Sales Operations, and Sales Leadership. She then held the position of VP of Sales for Becton Dickinson’s Urology and Critical Care division, followed by a VP of Sales role for 3M’s Medical Solutions Division (now Solventum). She currently is the VP of Business Development for AVS (Amplitude Vascular Systems), a small start-up company in the Intravascular Lithotripsy space. She has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University and an MBA in Marketing from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She lives in Minneapolis with her two children, Keegan and Kyra.

She is a courageous leader who is grateful for the opportunities to lift other strong female talents. She was fortunate enough to be part of the FIRST (OG) cohort of the Leadership Institute back in 2015 and the process of exploring and defining her Mission/Vision/Purpose changed her career course, and for that, she is forever grateful.

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM. Recently named one of the “300 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine, Mr. Taylor’s career spans more than 20 years as a lawyer and an executive, serving at IAC, Paramount Pictures, Blockbuster Entertainment Group, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, among other organizations. He is a member of the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees and serves on the corporate boards of XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO), Flores & Associates, and Guild Education. He previously served on the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and as chairman of the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Mr. Taylor writes a weekly column in USA Today and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional.

Monica Jackson is a passionate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advocate. She joined Cargill in August 2023 as the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. In this role, she leads Cargill’s DEI strategy and works across the organization to ensure equitable access and opportunity and drive impact in our workforce, workplace, and marketplace. Her passion for empowering talent is evident in her track record of success throughout her career.

Prior to joining Cargill, Monica was Vice President of Global Inclusion and Diversity at Eaton Corporation. Prior to Eaton, she worked for General Electric (GE) and Procter & Gamble (P&G) in Human Resources (HR) and DEI roles of increasing responsibility for all levels, including the production workforce.

Monica is a self-proclaimed foodie and budding art collector who enjoys traveling to food, wine, and art festivals.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Monica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Clark Atlanta University (HBCU) and an MBA in Human Resources from Indiana University.

Entrepreneur, author, and energetic exponent of the role of small business in society, Janet Chihocky is the founder and CEO of JANSON.

JANSON’s 27 years of growth are a demonstration of its success and of Chihocky’s leadership. Since she co-founded the company in 1998, she has guided JANSON from its initial mandate as a niche communications firm to its current position as a sought-after defense communications company known for delivering results. Clients today are primarily the military, federal, and commercial organizations.

More recently, the accelerating pace of change resulting from the explosion in technology and from shifts in workforce requirements and employee expectations have brought about a new focus for JANSON. Today, JANSON’s focus includes facilities modernization and workplace transformation, and digital and virtual solutions coherent with the firm’s core line of business.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and enhanced her leadership skills with a multi-year mentorship with a management and organizational development coach from Wharton.

Her book, “Facing Chapter 11? I did too” is about the challenges of business management and is sold on Amazon. On a personal note, Chihocky’s bedrock pillars are faith, her immediate family, and her extended company family (to include her three beloved dogs).

Monica Hammond, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Verizon Consumer Group (VCG), is a highly acclaimed leader with a passion for community involvement and a proven commitment to delivering exceptional customer service. She leads a global organization of 40,000 employees and strategic partners responsible for executing superior service and delivery for over 100 million consumers, utilizing her deep understanding of frontline and customer needs to drive improvements in customer experience.

Monica created and sponsors Women of Influence, which empowers women within Verizon to unlock their leadership potential. Additionally, she leads the Women in Tech Program, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of female technology leaders.

Monica and her family established The Miles Family Foundation to provide education, financial literacy, and digital equality for vulnerable and diverse populations. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Envision Lead Grow and the Greater Washington Urban League, both dedicated to empowering historically vulnerable populations.

Monica’s accolades include the 2020 NAFE Women of Excellence Community Champion Award, the Careered Mastered Magazine 2022 Leadership in Action Award, the 2024 Spectrum Circle Innovation in Corporate Leadership Award, the Reuters 2024 Customer Service Leader of the Year Award, and the Customer Success team’s Customer Service Organization of the Year Award.

Jamal K. Muashsher is President & CEO of Valvoline Global Operations, a $3+ billion global enterprise that is part of the Aramco family of companies. Under Jamal’s leadership, Valvoline Global operates in more than 140 countries and is a worldwide leader in automotive and industrial solutions, creating future‐ready products and best‐in‐class services for partners around the globe.

Previously serving as President of Valvoline, Inc.’s Global Products segment, Jamal also has overseen Valvoline’s international business in addition to marketing, digital, and customer experience in North America. Prior to joining Valvoline, he held a senior leadership position in brand management with Procter & Gamble across several billion‐dollar brands and entertainment properties.

Jamal’s passion lies in enabling others to achieve their best possible outcome which inspired him to co‐found a non‐profit that has thrived for more than 25 years and to serving on the board of several organizations and non‐profits including Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Philanthropy Council, the Advisory Council for the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati and many more.

The son of Jordanian immigrants and a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jamal holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. Jamal resides in Union, Kentucky, with his wife and daughter.

Celeste Warren is Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence. As the leader for Merck’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, she is responsible for working with Merck’s global leaders to advance and embed diversity and inclusion throughout the organization to enhance the employee experience and maximize business Performance.

She has been recognized for her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She serves on the boards of RWJ Barnabas Health Systems and Paradigm for Parity. She is also a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council and World 50’s Inclusion and Diversity Impact Community.

Celeste is a published author and her articles on diversity, equity, and inclusion have been featured in numerous national and global publications and she has had the opportunity to speak at various events across the world. She is the wife of John Warren and the mother of two children, Christina-Celeste and Jo Steven, Jr.

As AbbVie’s Chief Equity Officer, Assil Omar leads efforts to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture at AbbVie.

Most recently, Ms. Omar was Vice President, Talent Acquisition and Human Capital Planning. Ms. Omar joined AbbVie in Singapore in July of 2014, to lead Talent Management and Acquisition in the Japan and Asia Pacific region. She has since held roles of growing responsibility, including Human Resource business partnership and Talent Center of Excellence positions.

Before AbbVie, Ms. Omar held Learning and Development positions at Unilever and played a key role in standing up Unilever’s flagship Leadership Development hub, Four Acres, in Singapore. She spent the earlier part of her career in Supply Chain with Agility, assuming different roles of increasing responsibility across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Ms. Omar holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts, History, International and Comparative Studies from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Toronto. She is a First Mover Fellow at the Aspen Institute for Business and Society.

Damon Jones leads efforts to ensure the world’s largest consumer goods company is recognized as one of the most trusted names in the business. He oversees a consumer-centric communications organization and an equality-focused citizenship agenda that spans more than 180 countries.

With Jones’ guidance, the 500-person strong global communication team advances P&G’s growth strategy while building and protecting the image and reputation of the company and its portfolio of nearly 100 industry-leading brands. The discipline includes influence marketing, brand, and corporate communications, digital and social media, stakeholder engagement, issues advocacy, and crisis management.

As a key partner in P&G’s efforts for driving socially responsible business strategies, Jones is integral to some of the company’s most creative, impactful, and well-recognized advocacy campaigns, including “Widen the Screen,” an award-winning initiative aimed at ensuring greater equity in film, television, and advertising.

His work has been recognized with numerous awards spanning equality and inclusion (EBONY Power 100, National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Corporate Leadership Award), creative (Cannes Lions, Silver Lions), and communications and marketing strategy (ANA NYC Communicator of the Year, PRWeek Power List, SABRE Award) among others.

Specializing in accelerating go-to-market teams and top-line for high-growth software companies. Tracey also serves as an advisor for Springcoast Capital Partner. She is the former president of Informatica, where she was a member of Informatica’s board of directors for two years, prior to being asked to join Informatica’s management team.

Prior to joining Informatica, Tracey was EVP of global field operations at Proofpoint, where she led sales through a five-year period of hypergrowth from $100 million to $700 million.

Recognized as a Top 100 Sales Leader by the Modern Sale, Tracey led Proofpoint’s go-to-market team to become a top five leader in the cybersecurity market.

Tracey also held sales leadership positions at Polycom, Juniper Networks, Webex, and Cisco Systems. During her tenure at Cisco, Tracey was recognized by the organization Women Worth Watching.

From a philanthropic standpoint, Tracey is engaged with nonprofit Bridge2Rwanda (B2 focused on building the next generation of African leaders; B2R Farms, which is focused on conservationist farming; and 4word, a Christian nonprofit focused on helping women reach their God-given potential. Tracey graduated with honors from the University of California Santa Barbara and completed Stanford’s twenty-sixth Annual Directors’ College in June 2021.

Anitra Marsh is the chief communications officer for Procter & Gamble’s global beauty business encompassing a portfolio of the world’s most trusted brands including Olay, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Safeguard, SK-II, Old Spice, and Native. She leads the global organization responsible for furthering P&G Beauty’s image and reputation spanning brand, executive and industry communications, influencer partnerships, stakeholder engagement, issues advocacy, and crisis management.

Previously, Anitra co-founded and led P&G’s Responsible Beauty program, spearheading systems to advance sustainability, product performance, quality, transparency, safety, and equality and inclusion across all pillars of P&G Beauty’s global operations.

With more than 20 years of leading communications and partnerships for P&G’s brands, Anitra thrives on finding common ground, new ideas, and strategic connections that deliver results.

This includes service on the board of directors for Cosmetics Executive Women, The LAGRANT Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to increasing multicultural talent in public relations and marketing, and the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women.

In 2021, Anitra was one of eight inducted into P&G’s Brand Mastery Society for sustained excellence in innovative branding, building mastery in others, and contributing superior value to consumers and the company.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, writing, and cooking – and brings these passions together in a food-based Instagram experience called Anitra’s Kitchen (IG: @anitras.kitchen).

Edwige A. Robinson is a visionary technology executive, strategist, and transformation leader with a track record of driving digital innovation and operational excellence in the telecommunications industry. Born in Côte d’Ivoire and rising through the ranks to executive leadership in the United States, she embodies resilience, adaptability, and the power of limitless possibility.

As a senior technology executive, Edwige has led large-scale digital transformations spearheaded 5G and wireless advancements, and championed diversity and inclusion in STEM. She is a relentless advocate for breaking barriers, fostering innovation, and ensuring the future of technology is both inclusive and groundbreaking. Her leadership is defined by her ability to fuse creativity and technology to propel businesses into the future while inspiring the next generation of leaders.

A mentor, speaker, and thought leader, Edwige believes in challenging the status quo and pushing beyond boundaries to drive sustainable success. She is committed to leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies to revolutionize industries, create immersive experiences, and redefine what’s possible.

With a passion for empowering others, Edwige’s mission is clear: to lead with integrity innovate without limits and transform challenges into steppingstones for success.

Dominique Bolden is the Senior Manager of Inclusive Leadership in Global Learning and Culture at The Kraft Heinz Company. She’s worked for the company for 12 years. In her current role, she manages global leadership development programs for underrepresented communities. She is passionate about providing employees with the leadership skills, confidence, and encouragement they need to grow great careers. Dominique also manages learning experiences that drive awareness of the various dimensions of diversity, and inclusive behaviors to ensure employees feel seen, valued, respected, and protected. In her previous role at Kraft Heinz, she trained and implemented call centers in the U.S., India, and Canada.

Dominique formerly co-led learning and development for the North America Zone’s Women’s Business Resource Group. She is a member of the Association for Talent Development and is Kraft Heinz’s ambassador for NextUp. NextUp is a non-profit organization that develops, empowers, and supports the retention of women leaders by offering training, an expanding network, and access to leadership opportunities.

Dominique has a Master of Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Illinois State University, and an Instructional Design certification from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Sherrie Beckstead is a dynamic business leader, luxury retail innovator, and dedicated philanthropist with an extensive career spanning high-end jewelry, brand partnerships, and community development. As a business partner in Liljenquist & Beckstead and Lenkersdorfer Fine Jewelers, Sherrie continues the legacy of her late husband, Sidney Beckstead, overseeing five premier locations in the DC Metropolitan area. A trailblazer in digital transformation, Sherrie led the companies through their first digital launch, marketing strategies, and the development of a universal website, revolutionizing their online presence.

Her collaborations with 25 global luxury brands, including Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, Chopard, and David Yurman, solidify her expertise in high-end brand management and market positioning.

In 2018, Sherrie realized her lifelong dream by launching her own jewelry brand, The Lockkeepers Collection—a cause-branded line of 18K gold, sterling silver, and diamond jewelry inspired by historic artifacts. A portion of proceeds supports The Trust for the National Mall, funding the preservation of national monuments and parks.

Sherrie’s commitment to philanthropy extends beyond business. She serves as Public Relations Co-Chair and an Executive Committee member for Georgetown Lombardi Breast Cancer Center.

She is also a board member of the prestigious Middleburg Film Festival and has been instrumental in advancing arts education through the Sidney M. Beckstead Scholarship, which has provided financial support to students in the arts.

Elizabeth Adefioye is a purpose-driven, globally recognized HR executive with over 30 years of transformative leadership. As a two-time CHRO of Fortune 250 companies, she has redefined people strategies, modernized HR functions, and led culture transformations that drive business success.

Most recently, she served as Emerson’s first Chief People Officer, where she unified a global HR function and spearheaded a culture shift that elevated employee experience, diversity, and organizational effectiveness. Prior to Emerson, she was SVP & CHRO at Ingredion, where she led a company-wide culture transformation, launched a new purpose and values, and digitized HR processes. Her leadership journey also includes key roles at J&J, Novartis Consumer Health, Medtronic, and Bristol-Myers Squibb across four continents.

A true culture thought leader, she is passionate about creating environments where people thrive. Her impact extends beyond organizations—she is a champion for developing female and minority talent, serving on boards including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Executive Network. She also served on the board of Sealed Air, a public company.

Recognized for her groundbreaking work, she was named to the 2022 Elite 100 Extraordinary Black Women and 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America.