Women in Leadership Signature Series

Angie Kolar

April 24 Virtual: “ Leading with Integrity:  An Interview with Norfolk Southern’s Chief Compliance Officer,” featuring Angie Kolar, VP & Chief Compliance Officer, Crisis Management for Norfolk Southern

Angie Kolar oversees Norfolk Southern Railway’s business ethics and compliance functions, playing a pivotal role in enhancing its safety culture, regulatory oversight, and operational integrity across one of the nation’s leading railway networks. Join us for an in-depth discussion focused on corporate and individual integrity, ethics, and responsibility to the safety of everyone touched by its operation.

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Hannah Palmquist

May 15 Virtual: “Building & Leading Community Coalitions to End Human Trafficking,” featuring Hannah Palmquist, Sr Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General Chris Carr and Human Trafficking Unit Chief for the State of Georgia

Atlanta has been identified among US cities with the highest rates of child sex trafficking. This month’s featured guest leads the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases and provides training to local, national and international audiences. This event offers timely exploration of how women leaders can drive systemic change, safeguard potential victims, and improve outcomes for the Atlanta community and beyond.

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Denise Smith

June 12 In Person: “Pioneering Innovation through AI,” featuring Denise Smith, Chief Innovation Officer, AI Innovision

Join us for an interactive event at the Commerce Club, with our featured guest and leading AI expert who will provide hands-on instruction on augmenting professional and personal life with AI. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops and learn how to unlock the potential of AI, and how AI can be a catalyst for meaningful, people-first transformation.

Christine St.Clare

July 17 Virtual: ““Crafting a Lasting Legacy of Women’s Empowerment,” featuring Christine St.Clare, Corporate Board Member, Community Leader, and Lifetime Achievement Award, Women of Influence (2025)

With a storied career at one of the Big Four US accounting firms, our distinguished featured guest now dedicates her efforts reinforcing a lasting legacy of empowering women. Whether you are aiming for the boardroom, seeking to elevate women in your organization, or looking to make a meaningful community impact, Christine’s insights are sure to offer a roadmap for sustainable, people-centered leadership and lasting change.

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Tori Kaplan

August 21 Virtual: “Translating Vision Into Strategy and Strategy Into Impact” featuring Tori Kaplan, Founder, The Tori Collective, LLC and 2025 Onboard Excellence Award Honoree

A proven innovator at the intersection of business, responsibility, and impact, our guest speaker will share valuable insights from navigating a corporate executive career rich with impact at two major U.S. corporations, managing through multiple crises, transitions, and large-scale growth.  She continues to serve organizations seeking to keep sustainability central to long-term strategy, aligning stakeholder engagement goals with financial and operational priorities, and envisioning a future where culture, community, and business sustainability drive exceptional performance.

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Danielle Donehew

September 18 In Person: “Leading in the Fast-Growing, Big Business of Women’s Sports,” featuring Danielle Donehew, Executive Director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association; Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025

After a winning career playing women’s basketball for Georgia Tech, working with the famed Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers, leading as the EVP of the Atlanta Dream, our featured guest is now the executive director of the WBCA – an association of “leaders and teachers, dreamers and winners.” Wherever you are in your career, this event offers timely insights into leading in a dynamic, high-growth sector. Gain actionable strategies and unparalleled access to one of the game’s foremost leaders.

Elizabeth Lotardo

October 16 Virtual: “Leading Yourself,” featuring Elizabeth Lotardo LinkedIn Learning Instructor, HBR Contributor

We’ve asked Elizabeth to return for her engaging realism about work, leadership, and finding satisfaction in both, “Despite Imperfect Bosses, Weird Economies, Lethargic Coworkers, Annoying Systems, and Too Many Deliverables,” according to the subtitle of her book. This time, we’ll explore the themes of her latest book and how self-leadership is especially critical in these seemingly chaotic times. Elizabeth brings practical tips and tools on how to focus on what we can control to find greater joy, meaning, and purpose at work, starting with leading yourself first.

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Lynda Coffman

November 20 Virtual: “Elevating Women: Tangible Strategies for a Dynamic Workforce,” featuring Lynda Coffman, CEO, Women In Aviation International and former President, United Ground Express

This month’s featured guest is an engineer, aviation executive, and now CEO of Women In Aviation International which boasts more than 20,000 members across 120 countries.  Her work is focused on breaking barriers, building mentorship, and creating more inclusive opportunities for women in aviation and aerospace; we will discuss the applicability and relevance of her work to all non-traditional opportunities for women.

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Marina Cooley

Debbie McKinley

January 16 Virtual: “From Farm Roots to Corporate Impact:  A Marine, a Mentor, and the Making of a Chief People Officer,” featuring Debbie McKinley, Chief People Officer, Herschend Family Entertainment.

Our featured guest brings a compelling perspective on leadership – from growing up on a farm, to graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, to serving as a Marine Corps Officer, to rising to the top of corporate America. This event is a unique opportunity to discover how embracing diverse roots can shape powerful leaders.

Jackie Parker

February 20 Virtual: “Beyond Diversity: Building Belonging at Scale – A Global Leader’s Playbook for 27,000 Employees in 40 Countries,” featuring Jackie Parker, Chief Talent & Diversity Officer for Global Payments

Learn from a top global leader how to strengthen overall organizational health while delivering People, Access, and Belonging strategies across a vast workforce. We’ll highlight her track record of fostering inclusive cultures, scalable practices, and practical insights on leading change, measuring impact, and creating environments where every employee can thrive.

Serena Sacks-Mandel

March 13 In Person: “ Empowered; Frame Your Narrative, Own Your Power,” featuring Serena Sacks-Mandel, Author, “Empowered; Frame Your Narrative, Own Your Power.”

Come hear Serena Sacks-Mandell discuss her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a high-level tech executive, how she navigated through personal struggles, making them into learning opportunities, leading to empowerment and tremendous success. She turned the lessons into a guide for others, titled, “Empowered; Frame Your Narrative, Own Your Power.” Meet Serena in person at the Commerce Club for what promises to be another inspiring and informative event.