Keynote Speaker:
Maya Madsen
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Ready to take on your first job or internship? Learn from three expert lawyers about workplace rights, fair pay, and how to handle tricky situations like a pro. Whether it’s your first paycheck or your dream job, knowing your rights helps you work with confidence!
Speakers: Christy Heiskala, Jenna Rangel ’98, and Anna Schwartz
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In this session, discover how female founders are using their unique artistic expressions in crafting, art, and illustration to build successful businesses. Learn how they’re championing women entrepreneurship and inspiring others to pursue their creative passions while making a lasting impact.
Speakers: Karen Alleluia and Morgan Spenla
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Join us as we explore the inspiring work of female educators who are dedicated to helping students develop strong critical thinking skills and become powerful agents of change. This panel will highlight how these educators are shaping the next generation of leaders who will make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Speakers: Tamara Y. Craver and Dr. Pilar Vargas ‘98
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Join two OLP alumnae as they share their unique journeys in the healthcare field. From different paths to the same goal, they’ll discuss their careers, the challenges they’ve faced, and the impact they’re making in healthcare today. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear how these inspiring women have leveraged their OLP education to make a difference in the lives of others.
Speakers: Dr. Fernanda Molitor ’07 and Lauren Szumski ‘20
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Join us to hear from a team of talented women, including an OLP alumna, who are training service, facility, and therapy dogs to support a variety of populations across San Diego County such as at-risk youth, military personnel, the elderly and children in court, mobility limited individuals, and veterans with PTSD. Learn how they work with community organizations and professionals to help individuals achieve personal goals and find comfort through the powerful bond established with these highly trained dogs.
Speakers: Dr. Eileen Heveron ’73, Barbara McKown, Carolyn Peters, and Margery Squier
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Join us to hear from two accomplished women who are dedicated to providing intensive mental health services to youth and families, while also co-chairing a conference that tackles the impact of racial disparities and implicit bias in mental health, education, and healthcare. Learn how they are raising awareness and creating change to ensure more equitable access to crucial services for all communities.
Speakers: Melanie Morones and Aisha Pope
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Get an inside look at the world of gaming from the women driving innovation at PlayStation and Sony Interactive Entertainment! Hear their stories, challenges, and tips on how they’re making waves in a dynamic industry – and how you can level up your own career in gaming.
Speakers: Carmen Beal ’06, Alyssa Garcia-Andre ’19, Salena Nunez Flores, and Brianna Wing
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Join a panel of trailblazing women who have held high-ranking positions in government, including the TSA, DHS, and the FBI, as they share their experiences in national security and policymaking. Moderated by a Georgia Tech professor of practice and former DHS Assistant Secretary, this session will highlight their leadership in protecting our country and discuss how their interests influenced their career paths.
Speakers: Mary Ellen Callahan, Holly Canevari, Gena Chieco, and Susan Ferensic
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The arts thrive through a combination of exceptional talent, leadership, collaboration, and dedication behind the scenes. Join the President & CEO, Associate Principal Bass, and the Production Stage Manager from the San Diego Symphony as they share how music comes to life and the many roles that make an orchestra a vibrant and essential part of our community.
Speakers: Martha A. Gilmer, Beth Hall, and Susan Wulff
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Join a panel of women making a difference in women’s health through groundbreaking research on topics like the microbiome, perinatal chromosomal abnormalities, and accessible healthcare solutions. Learn how their work is not only improving health outcomes but also ensuring that advancements in healthcare are accessible to all women, regardless of their background or circumstance.
Speakers: Noelle Acosta, Dr. Jennifer Barber-Singh, and Dr. Yuzhong Liu
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Join the CEO of ATLIS as she dives into the hottest topic in education today – AI in the classroom. From ChatGPT to Gemini, discover how AI is shaping learning, impacting classroom practices, what it means for the future of education, and your role in it.
Speaker: Christina Lewellen
Featuring: Pip Lewis
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Join a powerhouse skincare CEO and a top makeup artist as they break down the business of beauty – how to build a brand, stand out in a crowded industry, and turn passion into profit. Expect real talk, insider secrets, and a little glam along the way!
Speakers: Veronica Koneke ‘91 and Itzel Meza
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OLP sisters, past and present, come together for real talk on college, careers, and life after high school! Get the inside scoop, hear their best advice, and ask all the questions – because who better to guide you than those who’ve been in your shoes?
Speakers: Maggie Brady ’19, Jenna Chandler ‘18, Frances Nagem Kuhn ’04, and Nathalie-Rose Malécot ’16
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Join two educators-turned-entrepreneurs as they share their journey of designing a curriculum that was sold to Rosetta Stone and how they’ve continued creating impactful educational products for teachers and students. As women in business and best friends, they’ll discuss how they’ve blended their personal and professional lives to build the businesses – and lives – they’ve always dreamed of.
Speakers: Maya Goodall and Kristie Shelley
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In this session, women leaders from nonprofit organizations will share how they are dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations, including children facing serious illnesses and families in crisis. Through their work, they provide vital resources, create moments of joy, and offer support that helps uplift individuals and communities in need.
Speakers: Kelli Loper, Jessica St. Clair Muñoz ’99, and Gabriela M. Torres ‘99
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From helping individuals secure their future careers to ensuring access to essential period products, these dynamic CEOs are changing the game. Join the leaders of Working Wardrobes and Dotstash as they share their journeys in nonprofit advocacy and social entrepreneurship, fighting for both accessibility and equity in impactful ways.
Speakers: Bonni Pomush and Mona Powell
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This session features two inspiring women at the helm of transforming affordable housing in San Diego, where their leadership is driving real change. By prioritizing community resilience and equitable access, they’re not only providing homes but also fostering a culture of empowerment. Their work shows how women in charge are creating lasting impact, ensuring that housing is a right, not a privilege, for all residents.
Speaker: Denisse Newell and Tricia Tasto-Levien
Maya Madsen is the founder and CEO of Maya’s Cookies, America’s #1 Black-owned gourmet, vegan cookie company. She started the business in 2015, after she struggled to find a gourmet, decadent vegan cookie that satisfied her sweet tooth so she started baking them herself. She started small, sharing her cookies with friends and family and eventually transitioned into the local farmers market scene. Fast forward to now, Maya’s Cookies now operates their own facility to ship their cookies nationwide, have two flagship stores in San Diego and San Marcos and have established themselves as a national brand.
Panels & Topics
Panelists & Speakers ↓
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Noelle Acosta
Digital Health Entrepreneur
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Karen Alleluia
Freelance Illustrator and Owner of KLUIA
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Dr. Jennifer Barber Singh
Founder Inguz Automation Solutions
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Carmen Beal '06
Operations Program Manager
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Maggie Brady '19
Associate Broker at Northmarq
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Mary Ellen Callahan
Professor of Practice, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Cybersecurity and Privacy
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Holly Canevari
Former Deputy Administrator, Transportation Security Administration
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Jenna Chandler '18
Paralegal and Athletic Coach
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Gena Chieco
Life & Executive Coach
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Hilary Cocalis
Founder & CEO of Sipwell Wine Company
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Tamara Y. Craver
President & CEO of Reality Changers
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Alyssa Garcia-Andre '19
Associate Test Engineer at DZX for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Martha A. Gilmer
President and Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Symphony Orchestra
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Maya Goodall
Co-founder of OL&LA at CORE Learning
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Beth Hall
Production and Stage Manager, San Diego Symphony Orchestra
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Christy Heiskala
Survivor Advocate & Business Coordinator at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP
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Dr. Eileen Heveron '73
Executive Director, Pawsitive Teams
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Karen Hsu
Athletic Training and Education
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Sally Koch
Musician
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Veronica Konecke '91
President and Co-Founder of Aloisia Beauty
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Frances Nagem Kuhn '04
Assistant Dean for Finance & Administration in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego
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Christina Lewellen
MBA, CAE, President and CEO of Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools
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Dr. Yuzhong Liu
Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry
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Kelli Loper
Senior Manager of Wish Assist & Community Partnerships at Make-A-Wish San Diego
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Maya Madsen
Founder and CEO of Maya’s Cookies
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Nathalie-Rose Malécot '16
Pediatric Speech Pathologist
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Julia Marentez '97
Educator and Musician
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Barbara McKown
Therapy Dog Program Manager at Pawsitive Teams
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Itzel Meza
Licensed Cosmetologist and Certified Makeup Artist
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Dr. Fernanda Molitor '07
Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist, and Founder of ErgoFox Consulting
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Melanie Morones
ECMH Clinical Social Services Program Director at the YMCA San Diego
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Jessica Muñoz '99
President and CEO at Voices for Children
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Tricialynn Naval '97
Singer, Multi Instrumentalist, DJ and Ukulele Teacher
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Denisse Newell
Director of Housing at the Chicano Federation of San Diego County
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Salena Nunez Flores
QA/DevQA Test Analyst at DZX for Sony Interactive Entertainment in San Diego
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Carolyn Peters
Service Dog Program Manager at Pawsitive Teams
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Bonni Pomush
CEO of Working Wardrobes
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Aisha Pope
Chief Program Officer of Community Programs at San Diego Center for Children
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Mona Powell
Founder of Dotstash
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Jenna Rangel '98
Partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP
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Cassandra Schaeg
Emmy-Award Winning Creator, Entrepreneur, Advocate & Host of Fresh Glass on KPBS & PBS
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Anna Schwartz
Associate Attorney at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP
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Kristie Shelley
Chief Product Officer at CORE Learning
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Morgan Spenla
Founder and CEO of Crafter.com
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Margery Squier
Technology Director at Pawsitive Teams
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Lauren Szumski '20
Registered Nurse at Palomar Health Escondido
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Tricia Tasto Levien
Vice President of Operations at Wakeland Housing & Development Corporation
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Mercedes Tiggs
Educator, Consultant, Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Founder/Owner of Eight 16 Culinary Therapy
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Gabriela M. Torres '99
Litigation Counsel at Disability Rights California
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Dr. Pilar Vargas '98
Principal at Imperial Beach Charter School
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Brianna Wing
QA/DevQA Test Engineer at DZX for Sony Interactive Entertainment and Freelance Sound Designer
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Susan Wulff
Associate Principal Bass, San Diego Symphony Orchestra

