In Her Own Words

From a student’s dream to a woman’s reality…

A story of a partnership born 25 years ago.

“When I decided I wanted to major in business, I made the right choice, and chose one of the best business schools in the country: The USC Marshall School of Business.

As an undergraduate student in business, I discovered that my mission was to change the world and make it a better place for women. All women. I shared that dream with the Dean of MBA Admissions at that time, Keith Vaughn. Dean Vaughn encouraged that dream, and mentored me, guiding me to develop an institute of programs that would empower and develop women. An institute that would provide women with the tools to become authentic leaders in their community and in their careers around the world.

The USC Marshall School of Business has been a partner of the Latina Global Executive Leadership Institute since its inception in 2013 and its expansive programs and goals. Once Dean Vaughn retired, Sunny Donenfeld, Senior Associate Dean and CFO of USC Marshall School of Business and Debra Langford, Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion for the USC Marshall School of Business stepped in and embraced our institute, and for that, our gratitude and Trojan pride runs deep.

After tremendous success of the Latina Global Executive Leadership Program at USC and by great demand, we have initialized the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Program. A program dedicated to bringing professional women of all cultures together to continue making dreams a reality.”

– Dr. Yasmin Davidds, PsyD, MCC
   Founder, President & CEO
   Dr. Yasmin Davidds Women’s Leadership Institute

MULTICULTURAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR/ EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FELLOWS

2023 SPRING COHORT

Erin Brown, Esq.

Vice President, Operational Risk Management, MUFG

Miriam Burgos, MBA

Associate Vice Dean for Teaching and Innovation, University of Southern California

Halisi Wolf, MBA

DEI Learning & Development Leader, MUFG

Halima Cherif, MBA

Director, Internal Communications, Turner Construction Company

Renee Doyle, MBA

Vice President, Acquisition Manager, MUFG

Yingxing (Sherilyn) Chi, MA

Director, Quantitative Research Service, Fidelity Investments

Karen Bowser, MA

Vice President, MUFG

Patricia Bermudez, MBA

Senior Director of Growth and Advocacy, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Winnie Shek, MS

Director, Business Information Security Officer, Fidelity Investments

Joy Adams, MPM, MISM

Senior Manager, Southern California Edison

Lizbeth Zepeda, MBA

Vice President, Senior Recruiter, US Bank

Denise Fromm

Director, Market Readiness, Fidelity Investments

Kassandra Torres, MBA

Financial Manager, Turner Construction Company

Viry Martino, MS

Design Liaison, Turner Construction Company

Emily Wang

Vice President, MUFG

Janie (Ximena) Marquez

Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, 1st Century Bank

Kianie Casas

Vice President, Technology Project Manager, MUFG

Vernell Taylor

Regional Manager/ Community Outreach Specialist, Union Bank

Gabriela Santiago Medford

Regional Property Manager, NewMark Merrill Companies

Carolina Gomez

Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager/ Community Outreach Specialist, Union Bank

Adela Naranjo-Bernabe, MA

DREAM Resource Program Coordinator, Cabrillo College

Flory Martinez

Assistant Vice President, Community Outreach Officer, Union Bank

Viviana Mauri Ibarra, MEIM

Senior Executive Assistant, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Warner Bros. Discovery

2022 FALL COHORT

Dr. Carolina Castillo, EdD

Executive Director of Development, USC Civic Engagement and Economic Partnerships

Dr. Melissa Cervantes, EdD

Executive Dean of Equity, Inclusivity, and Campus Diversity, Ohlone College

Dr. Zilma Santiago Pabón, PhD

Academic Dean, EDP University- San Sebastián

Lisa Moving, MS

Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Turner Construction Company

Traci Oshiro, MA

Executive Producer, Condé Nast

April Taylor, MBA

Sr. P&O Business Partner, Mars

Laura Peralta, MPA

Vice President, Community and Business Development, JPMorgan Chase & Co

Carolyn Bernardo

Sr. Project Manager, Turner Construction Company

Geri Franco, MS

Senior Cost Analyst, Turner Construction Company

Xitlalt Herrera

President & CEO, X Level, Inc.

Savannah DeMoss

Contracts Manager, Cell-Crete Corporation

Vanessa Estrada

Adaptive Skills Manager, Institute for Effective Behavioral Interventions

2022 SPRING COHORT

Hilary Sledge-Sarnor, JD

Executive Counsel to General Counsel, MUFG Union Bank

Dr. Sophie Zhuang, PhD

Director,
MUFG Union Bank

Andrea Saavedra, MBA

Legal Director,
MUFG Union Bank, Mexico Branch

Dr. Lori Silverman, PhD

Dean,
STEM Division, Ohlone College

Zelma Cordero, MS

Director of Software Engineering,
Fidelity Investments

Lucy Bamber Rodriguez

Director, Project and Delivery Manager,
MUFG Union Bank

Nichole Abraham

Vice President, Audit Relationship Manager, MUFG Union Bank

Maria Blocker, MBA

Vice President, Technology Project Manager, MUFG Union Bank

Ronita Panda

Squad Lead, Client Data and Insights,
Fidelity Investments

Candace Raphael-De Jonge, LLM

Vice President, Compliance Operations,
MUFG Union Bank, Canada Branch

Jeneth Diesta

Vice President/IT Project Manager,
MUFG Union Bank

Melika Kuric, MA

Vice President, Third Party Manager,
MUFG Union Bank

Stephanie Ramos, MS

Director, Transfer Center/Counseling Faculty, Ohlone College

Evelyn Diaz Sanchez

Supervisor, Student Pathways Program, Ohlone College

2022 MULTICULTURAL ENTREPRENEUR COHORT

Louis C.G. Fisher III

Partner,
Cell-Crete Corp

Ingrid Guevara

CEO,
ING Logistics

Gjenaii Givhan, MBA

CEO/ Real Estate Broker & Specialist,
NkKai Properties/NkKai Mangement Group

Erendira Cronkhite

Partner,
Summit Accounting Solutions

Rebecca Lopez

CEO,
North American Real Estate & Mortgage

Catherine Silva Walker

Co-Owner,
Vader Air Conditioning & Heating Inc

Rosie Arias

Owner,
Whimsical Charm

Liliana Andriani

CEO,
Angel Jewelers

Francisco Sanchez

Owner,

FSMEDIA

Brianna Diaz

Owner,
Bri Gainz LLC / Fitness & Nutrition Coaching

2021 FALL COHORT

Dr. Ghada Al-Masri, PhD

Dean of Social Sciences,
Ohlone College

Cynthia Cortez, MA

Deputy Chief Diversity Officer,
University of California, Merced

Dr. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, PhD

Professor of Engineering
Ohlone College

Marissa Duarte

HR Business Partner,
NVIDIA

Belen Verduzco

Project Superintendent,
Turner Construction

Dr. Teresa Massimo, EdD

Professor of Communication Studies,
Ohlone College

Jennifer Zamora

Assistant Vice President, Community Lending Officer, MUFG Union Bank

Tonisha Jester

Senior Associate Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, USC Marshall School of Business

Shawni Ellis

Senior Project Engineer
Turner Construction

Tiffany De Santiago

Community and Affordable Lending Manager, JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Jennifer Vides

Project Superintendent,
Turner Construction

Larissa Favela, MA

Assistant Professor,
Ohlone College

Martha Morales

Realtor, Keller Williams-
Martha Morales Real Estate

Evelyn Sepulveda

Therapeutic Activity Aide,
Aurora Las Encinas Hospital

2021 SPRING COHORT

Ivett Garcia

Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, NVIDIA

Vanessa Torres

Vice President/ Sr. Business Consultant,
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Charmaine Brown

President & CEO,
Connexions Consulting, Inc.

Connie Sparks

CEO, Wadeco Business Center

Veronica Franco

Vice President of Sales,
Provident Title Company

Dr. Carlene Fider

Professor, Pacific Oaks College

Zulene Adams

CEO , Z Promotions

Rosa Martin Muñoz

Sr. Manager, Executive Relations,
Captive Eight

Blanca Cortez

Community Manager,
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Lucy Ramirez-Thompson

Co-Owner, Pez Cantina

Juresha Alemayehu

Sr. Project Engineer,
Turner Construction Company

Illary Archilla

Founder/President, Terravanta Inc

Elle Marie

Owner, Elle Marie Spa

Michelle Lainez

Owner & Chef,
Chef Michelle & Company

Stephanie Montoya, M.S.

Protection/Control and Meter Strategy Engineer SCE

Amanda Laufer

SPD Project Manager,
Turner Construction Company

Laura Garcia, M.S.

Administrative Analyst, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Kashae Knox, M.A.

Engagement Manager Educational Results Partnership

Delila A. Vasquez, M.A.

Executive Director
Catholic Association of Latino Leaders

Isabel Aranda, M.A.

Assistant Director
USC Latino Alumni Association

Sophia Reyes

Project Manager
Onprem Solution Partners

Mayra Morales

Procurement Agent
Turner Construction Company

Apolonia Navarro

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Manager, Turner Construction Company

Tai Yan Phyvin Mok, M.A.

Real Estate Rep, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Sherron Ballard

CEO/President Ballard Construction, Inc.

In Her Own Words

Faculty

Dr. Yasmin Davidds

Founder, President & CEO
Dr. Yasmin Davidds Women’s Leadership Institute

Organizational psychologist, leadership development expert and educator, Dr. Yasmin Davidds has trained and counseled more than 2,000 corporate leaders in over 200 blue chip companies throughout 22 countries. Dr. Davidds has developed and implemented customized leadership programs for Fortune 100 companies in Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, England, Spain and the U.S. Dr. Davidds established the Women’s Institute of Negotiation (WIN), dedicated to the teaching, instruction and development of negotiating skills and leadership competencies primarily focused on women in professional, academic and corporate settings.

Dr. Jolanta Aritz, PhD

Professor of Clinical Management Communication,
Department of Business Communication
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California

Jolanta Aritz specializes in intercultural business communication, small-group decision-making, and leadership communication. Professor Aritz is co-author (with Robyn Walker) of the book Leadership Talk: A Discourse Approach to Leader Emergence and co-editor of the Discourse Perspectives on Organizational Communication book which received the 2012 Distinguished Publication on Business Communication award from the Association of Business Communication. She received awards from the USC Fund for Innovative Undergraduate Teaching (2008), the USC Mellon Mentoring Grant (2006), the USC Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Initiative (2007), CIBER International Research Fund (2010), and the C.R. Anderson Research Foundation for Innovative Research in Business Communication (2011). Professor Aritz is a former Fulbright scholar and serves on the USC Advisory Committee on National and International Graduate Fellowships

Dr. Carol Geffner, PhD

President
Newpoint Healthcare Advisors
USC Faculty Director of Leadership Programs
USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Carol is the President of Newpoint Healthcare Advisors and Professor of Governance, Management and Policy Process at the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. She is also the Director of the Price School’s Executive Master of Leadership Program. For more than twenty years, Dr. Geffner has been an advisor for regional hospitals, leading healthcare systems and academic medical centers as they have addressed their most pressing strategic, leadership and performance issues. She works with Boards of Directors, CEOs and executive leadership teams on the development and successful execution of strategy to strengthen and support economic and mission sustainability. Dr. Geffner directs consulting engagements in the areas of: strategy development and execution, organizational alignment, large-scale transformation, and patient and workforce engagement. She also serves as an executive coach to CEOs and senior leadership.

Dr. Sharoni Denise Little, PhD, EdD

Professor, Clinical Business Communication
Faculty Diversity Recruitment Adviser
Marshall School of Business Department of Business Communication
University of Southern California

Sharoni Little is an expert in management and leadership communication, organizational effectiveness, institutional diversity, and educational outcomes. Professor Little’s research centers on educational and organizational leadership, cross-cultural, interpersonal, and team communication, educational outcomes and student success. She has received an award from the USC Fund for Innovative Undergraduate Teaching, two Golden Apple awards, and USC’s Remarkable Woman award. An organizational consultant, executive coach, and educational/social advocate, Professor Little has presented both domestically and internationally to executives, educators, and organizations. She serves on the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families, sits on several boards of trustees, and partners with the Children’s Defense Fund.

Julius E. Robinson

Managing Director
Corporate Social Responsibility for the Americas
MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

Julius Robinson serves as managing director and head of MUFG Union Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) group for the Americas. He is responsible for company-wide CSR strategy and programs in the United States, Latin America and Canada, including charitable giving, community outreach, environmental stewardship, and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) compliance and investment. Mr. Robinson also oversees the bank’s government relations activities and the MUFG Union Bank Foundation, the nonprofit entity that acts as the agent for the bank’s charitable contributions.

Dorene Dominguez

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer
Vanir Group of Companies, Inc.

Dorene Dominguez is the Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Vanir has delivered over $23 billion worth of projects from its inception. Vanir employs a growing staff of more than 400 talented executives, architects, engineers, construction managers, developers, contractors and support staff across seventeen regional offices located in major U.S. cities. Ms. Dominguez also serves on various boards and is an owner of the NBA “Sacramento Kings.” She is the first Latina to hold the distinction of NBA ownership status. Her philanthropic activities are many and varied, however, none is more important than Ms. Dominguez’s long-term commitment to helping and inspiring underserved elementary and high school students attain the American Dream, attend Universities that may seem to be out of their reach. She founded The Dominguez Dream, a foundation in memory of her late father, which serves schools in underserved communities and empowers students to achieve their full potential in Literacy and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Through this twelve-year concerted effort of implementing fifteen essential programs in seven partner schools, The Dominguez Dream has served over thirty-five hundred students (www.dominguezdream.org).

Kenneth T. Lombard

President
MacFarlane Partners

Ken Lombard is president of MacFarlane Partners and is responsible for its real estate investment management business. He serves on the firm’s investment and senior management committees, and assists with its real estate development business. Ken has more than 30 years of experience in real estate investment and development, investment banking, business development, and economic development, and is widely recognized for having led numerous successful real estate investments and business ventures that fostered economic improvement and urban renewal in underserved minority communities throughout the United States. As a result of his broad expertise and business success, Ken has been invited to give keynote addresses and participate on panels at universities, professional associations and business forums nationwide. Among the organizations where he has spoken are the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Harvard University’s Business School and Kennedy School of Government; the University of California, Los Angeles; the International Council of Shopping Centers; and the Inner City Economic Forum.

Dolores Arredondo

Vice President
Wells Fargo & Company

Dolores Arredondo is a vice president and marketing program manager, supporting the Consumer Lending Group at Wells Fargo. In this role, she has enterprise-wide responsibility for developing cross-credit marketing programs and strategies across multiple lines of business, capabilities marketing, and credit education. She has spearheaded important initiatives for the company including business banking, millennial, and diverse segments growth strategies. She is an expert in omni-channel marketing and is known for her innovative approach. Ms. Arredondo is a champion of Diversity and Inclusion and helped found the company’s Hispanic employee resource group.  Most recently, Ms. Arredondo was recently appointed to the Los Angeles Commission for Department for Public Social Services. Ms. Arredondo is the President of the Wellesley College Latina Alumnae Network.

Maria Salinas

President
Salinas Consulting

Maria S. Salinas is an accomplished business woman, entrepreneur and community leader.  She is a CPA and former executive at The Walt Disney Company and Ernst & Young.  Today, she is President of Salinas Consulting, a finance and accounting project management firm working with major corporations.  Ms. Salinas is the former Chairwoman of ProAmérica Bank, a Latino-owned community bank in Los Angeles.  For over ten years, she  participated in all aspects of the Corporate board room, including Governance & Nominating, Audit and Compliance.  She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Loyola Marymount University. She is Vice Chair of the Board of UnidosUS, formerly NCLR,  and was recently appointed to the founding Board of Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine.  Over the years, she has served on numerous nonprofits including the Girls Scouts, American Red Cross, and HOPE as founder.

Dr. Betty Uribe

Executive Vice President
California Bank & Trust

Dr. Betty Rengifo Uribe is the Executive Vice President of business and personal banking for California Bank and Trust.  Reporting directly to the CEO, Dr. Uribe is responsible for leading a division comprised of branches and multiple business lending teams in the San Francisco, East Bay, Sacramento, Central Valley, Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, Antelope Valley, and Inland Empire areas.  Dr. Uribe’s academic credentials consist of a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in business, an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University and a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Dr. Geovanna H. Waters, PsyD

GM, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics

Dr. Geovanna Henao Waters, Psy.D, graduated from Phillips Graduate Institute in 2008 with a Doctorate degree in Organizational Management. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2005 and Bachelor of Arts Degrees in English and Psychology from Mount St. Mary’s College in 2003. Dr. Waters has been in the Beauty industry for over 13 years in sales, branding and manufacturing roles. She is currently the GM for Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics. In her roles, she has led all aspects of domestic and global wholesale expansion, working closely with cross functional teams to create sustained growth and profitability. In her positions, she has focused on business development initiatives, scaled growth and working closely with Executive Teams to ensure continual success and competitive edge in the industry.

Karla Sandoval​

CEO
Entrepreneur Intelligence, Inc.

Karla Sandoval is the director of the Latina Leadership Academy’s Entrepreneur Program. She is a highly acclaimed speaker, leader, businesswoman and an Executive Presidents Team Member with Herbalife International. Ms. Sandoval travels the world as a master speaker motivating a whole new generation of entrepreneurs and business professionals, teaching effective tools and strategies for generating huge success. Ms. Sandoval leads success training seminars throughout the United States and abroad, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Norway, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Iceland. Today, Ms. Sandoval is the Founder & CEO of Entrepreneur Intelligence, an entrepreneur soft skills training program.

Dr. Robert Rodriguez​

President
DRR Advisors

Robert Rodriguez, Ph.D., is the founder and president of Dr. Robert Rodriguez Advisors, LLC (DRR Advisors), a management and diversity consulting firm. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in Latino talent management programs. Over 100 corporations have sought his expertise and consultation to develop proactive Latino diversity initiatives that have a positive impact on business results. So many corporations rely on Dr. Rodriguez for insight on their Latino initiatives that Hispanic Business Magazine named him one of the Top 100 Most Influential Latinos in America. Dr. Rodriguez is best known for his book, Latino Talent: Effective Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Develop Hispanic Professionals which is used by dozens of corporations as a framework for their Latino diversity programs.

Xavier Guiterrez

Managing Director
Clearlake Capital Group

Xavier A. Gutierrez serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of Meruelo Investment Partners, and as Chief Investment Officer of Meruelo Group. Meruelo Investment Partners is the investment affiliate of Meruelo Group, and makes public equity and private equity investments. Meruelo Group is a privately held, diversified management company founded in 1986 by US Latino business executive Alex Meruelo. As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Gutierrez oversees investments and acquisitions, and is responsible for deal origination, underwriting, execution, and capital sourcing across the Meruelo Group platform. He also helps lead the strategic management of Meruelo Group’s twenty-five affiliated companies across ten primary industries.

Byron Reed

SVP, Head of Community Development
CIT/One West Bank

Byron K. Reed is the senior vice president and head of Community Development at CIT/OneWest Bank, which offers a wide range of banking products in Southern California. In his role with the bank, he oversees the Southern California territory. CIT One West has approximately 70 branches that encompass a territory, which includes Los Angeles, Riverside/San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego and Orange Counties. Under Reed’s direction the bank will be involved in the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing, economic development which include workforce development/job creation, financial education and core community services by partnering key Not for Profit Partners and through hosting community forums, to educate all of our communities on the multitude services and products that the bank offers. Reed also manages and oversees the Bank’s $5 million annual grant budget and engages with key Community Development not for profit organizations to help achieve the Bank’s CRA obligation’s through strategic philanthropy.