FountainBlue’s When She Speaks events have been run and produced since May 2006. Below is a list of past and upcoming When She Speaks programs with links to notes and photos of panelists and participants. Our monthly programs have shifted to an online format in response to the pandemic, and will continue to be held online for the foreseeable future, to better manage content and to provide broader access to a more distributed customer base.
Get Informed and Involved
- Join our free mailing list and receive monthly newsletters with event invitations, notes from prior events, plus a blog on a leadership or innovation topic.
- Upgrade to a paid membership at $10/month and receive a complementary pass to each month’s When She Speaks or Front Line Managers Online program.
- Receive a complimentary pass to an upcoming online When She Speaks or Front Line Managers Online program when you join our mailing list and schedule a meeting to discuss FountainBlue’s coaching and consulting services.
- Corporate Partners can sign up for free by alerting their corporate representative. E-mail us if you’re a partner, but not sure of your corporate contact.
- Notes from past programs are available at https://fountainblue.blog/category/when-she-speaks/.
- For more information about our Front Line Managers Online program, visit www.whenshespeaks.com/frontline.
- For more information about our VIP Roundtable Online program, visit www.whenshespeaks.com/vip.
- For more information about FountainBlue, visit fountainblue.biz.
We hope to see you online at one of our upcoming When She Speaks events!
2023 When She Speaks online programs, all scheduled from 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
Friday, January 20, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
With our Hosts at Jade Global
Find the balance between being uniquely and unequivocally YOU, while also conforming and flowing with expectations and requirements.
This month’s panelists share their strategies and best practices on how to stay original and creative while also following and stretching rules, protocols and requirements, minimizing risks, maximizing opportunity.”
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Amber Barber, Senior Director, Program Management, Jade Global
- Panelist Neela Deshpande, Director Technical Program Management, Operations and Strategic Engineering Operations, Boomi
- Panelist Tejal Thakkar, VP, Transformation PMO and Chief of Staff, Malwarebytes
- with executive introduction by Karin Maday, SVP, Customer Success, Jade Global
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
February 17, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Online
Lead with Passion, Agility, and Resilience
What do you count on when nothing’s normal?
If you are Passionate, Agile, and Resilient, you will shoot over par – building more momentum, creating more opportunities, pivoting more readily. Our panelists share their stories and strategies on how to go farther when nothing is predictable.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Sona Mahavni, Director of Software Engineering, Aruba
- Panelist Susan Norton, Senior Director, Human Resources, BOLD
- Panelist Karen Sun, Senior Director, Partner Marketing, Coupa Software
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, March 17, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Manage Your Mindset, with our online hosts at Coupa
One of the greatest lessons of these tumultuous pandemic-laden years is that Life happens, and generally NOT according to plan! But we’ve all witnessed the different responses to similar circumstances, and recognize the value of a growth-minded, positive and constructive mindset. Our panelists this month will share their stories and best practices on how their mindset – how positive, productive, and responsive they were to their own circumstances – supported themselves and others they touched. Learn how having a more resilient and agile mindset will help us all navigate the next ‘normal’, no matter what that looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds like.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Neela Deshpande, Director Technical Program Management, Operations and Strategic Engineering Operations, Boomi
- Panelist Regina Hancher, Director, Customer Success, Gigamon
- Panelist Christina Lewis, Senior Director, Global Finance, Visa
- Panelist Liza Rothschild, Vice President, Enterprise Sales, Coupa Software
- with opening remarks by Niki Dorsey, Senior Partner, Sales Engagement Manager / Board Member, Empower (Coupa Women’s Program), Coupa Software
Friday, April 14, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Building Employee Experience as the X Factor, Online with Gigamon as host
You can reward, ignore, tolerate or condemn behavior to manage it, but you can’t build a culture and a loyal following by doing so.
The ACTUAL X Factor is the Employee Experience. This month’s panel of experts will share how their focus on building exceptional employee experiences have led to a more satisfied, more productive workforce and community.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Rijuta Bhagwat, Customer Success Manager, Gigamon
- Panelist Lauren (Diehl) Larson, Vice President Global Customer Success, Reputation
- Panelist Felicity Lau, Senior Employee Experience Manager, Coupa Software
- Panelist Mahima Mallikarjuna, VP of Products, Suquino
Friday, May 12, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Expanding Your Circle of Influence
Online with Cisco as our host
Originally introduced by Stephen Covey’s iconic book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, our panelists this month are living examples of how to be more influential, focused, and productive by strategically expanding their circle of influence. We look forward to hearing their stories from the trenches, and their advice for how we too may expand our own circle of influence.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Rajni Dharmarajan, Product Line General Manager, Texas Instruments
- Panelist Niki Hall, Chief Marketing Officer, Contentsquare
- Panelist Alice Okundaye, Sales Engineering Manager Cisco Collaboration Cisco
- Engagement Manager Dennise Gearty, Cisco
- with introduction by host executive Brad Bonin, Global Vice President Sales Engineering, Cisco
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Online Program
Friday, June 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Start-Ups Changing the World
Hosted by ContentSquare, with link sent to confirmed attendees
Start-ups changing the world aren’t just in it for the financial returns. They want to do well while doing good. In other words, the objectives go far beyond financial returns for key founders only.
There must also be social impact, personal impact, environment impact. This month, we will profile a panel of entrepreneurs who are making a difference that’s both financially viable and also provides sustainable, social and environmental impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist to be confirmed
- Panelist Nivedita Ojha, Vice President of Products, FORT Robotics
- Panelist Priya Poolavari, Sr. Director of Engineering, Avalara
- Panelist Debbie Shotwell, Chief People and Culture Officer, Stack Overflow
- with introduction by sponsoring executive Niki Hall, Chief Marketing Officer, Contentsquare
Upcoming 2023 When She Speaks programs, all held from 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. online:
- Collaborate to Innovate, July 14, 2023, hosted by Samsung
- What He Said, What He Meant, August 11, 2023, hosted by Lam Research
- One of ‘The Onlys’, September 8, 2023, hosted by Adobe
- Local Input, Global Impact, October 13, 2023, hosted by Renesas
- Fifth Annual Mentorship Best Practices Panel, November 10, 2023, hosted by ASML
- Sixth Annual Men Who Open Doors Awards, December 8, 2023, hosted by tbd
Thank you to our panelists and hosts for FountainBlue’s 2022 When She Speaks online programs
Fifth Annual Men Who Open Doors Program
Fifth Annual: Men Who Open Doors Panel
Friday, December 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by Reputation
The link to the Online program will be sent to registered attendees.
The *MeToo and other women’s movements before it have broken new ground for women at all levels of the workplace. Much progress will continue to be made with the groundswell of enthusiastic, passionate and powerful women now fully outraged and engaged.
But it’s the MEN-who-open-doors who will help accelerate the pace of change for the women’s movement. This month, we celebrate these types of men, and applaud their efforts to open doors to more women, and a merit-based workplace in general. This month’s discussion will feature a light roasting of the panelist by a nominating representative.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Introductory remarks by Lauren Larson Diehl, Vice President Global Customer Success, Reputation
Men Who Open Doors:
- Michael Erisman, Chief People Officer, Reputation
- Michael Gialis, Managing Director, KPMG
- Gerald Miaille, Vice President Of Engineering, Renesas
- Stefano Zanella, VP of Product Marketing, TDK
This program also features a light roasting and introduction by our nominating executives:
- Pooja Agrawal, Director Firmware & Software, Wireless Charging, Renesas
- Courtney Rainville, Director of Customer Success, Reputation
- Sabitha Krishnamurthy, Senior Director, Cisco
- Debbie Shotwell, Chief People and Culture Officer, Stack Overflow
General tickets are available for $52 a program. A free ticket is available if you sign up for monthly subscription by visiting linda.holroyd.square.site – pause or stop any time.
Thursday, November 10, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fourth Annual Mentorship Best Practices Panel Online Program, Hosted by Coupa
If you have a dedicated, hard-working, and intelligent staff at any level, Mentorship becomes THE difference-maker. Sure, education and experience matter, but Mentorship can frame that education and experience and make them into learning opportunities.
Sponsorship is important, but without Mentorship, it’s hard for the sponsor to make a business case.
Culture is important, but mentorship helps mentees (and mentors) succeed and even thrive in existing culture. Indeed, mentees and mentors can together even shape the culture so that more people benefit.
For our fourth annual mentorship best practices program, we will feature both mentors and mentees.
Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
Mentors:
- Regina Hancher, Director, Customer Success, Gigamon
- Gina Tesla, Vice President, ESG, Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Coupa Software
Mentees:
- Elle Glinn, San Diego State student
- Tabitha Kenney, Customer Success Apprentice, Gigamon
- Milissa Kubal-White, Senior Manager, Global Sales Enablement, Coupa Software
- with opening remarks and panel participation by Gina Tesla, Vice President, ESG, Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Coupa Software
with opening remarks and panel participation by Gina Tesla, Vice President, ESG, Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Coupa Software
Friday, Oct 14, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by ASML, link to be sent to confirmed guests
Local Input, Global Impact
To register for this and other programs, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/programs
Leadership comes from the top down, with the executive vision for delivering a comprehensive and compelling product or service which meets the needs of the market. When executive leaders also have an inspiring vision to contribute to the local community, and for a far-reaching cause, it inspires all employees to give back, to make a difference, while also delivering bottom-line results for the company.
Join this month’s panel of senior executives who will share the corporate community vision, and stories of ‘bottoms-up’ leadership, showcasing how local input is leading to global impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Priscilla Knoble, Senior Director, International Strategy & Product Management, Digital Media BU (Creative Cloud, Document Cloud), Adobe
- Panelist Suchitra Narayen, GVP & Deputy General Counsel, North America Commercial Legal, Informatica
- Panelist Preethy Padmanabhan, Senior Director, Platform Product Marketing, Freshworks
- Panelist Gina Tesla, Vice President, ESG, Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Coupa Software
- with introductory remarks by ASML Executive and Panelist Chris Spence, VP Advanced Technology Development, Brion Technologies
Friday, September 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
It’s not easy to be ‘one of the onlys’ – the Only woman on a team, in a meeting, on a board. Yet many women did just that, which forged new ground for the rest of us. Hear stories from this month’s panel of heroes and learn what we can do together so that ‘the onlys’ continue to succeed, and so that ‘the onlys’ will be joined by others.
Literally and figuratively, qualified corporate women are earning ‘a seat a the table’ – the opportunity to impact companies at the strategic and tactical level.
This month’s When She Speaks event will feature executives who have earned their seat at the table. Find out how they made this happen, what challenges they face, and how we can all support having more women leaders at the top.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Adriane McFetridge, Director of Engineering, Netflix
- Panelist Lucia Milica, JD, Global Resident CISO and Advisory Board Chair, ProofPoint
- Panelist Kristin Robinson, Head of Legal Compliance, Asana
- Panelist Jami Stewart, Vice President CX Centers America, Cisco
- Panelist Yvonne Thomson, Vice President, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, OpenText
August 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
What He/She Said, What She/He Meant
Conducted Online with our hosts at Renesas
What He/She Said, What He/She Meant
This month’s When She Speaks panel will feature pairs of executives, each sharing some thoughts and ideas on how men and women can work together to better understand what was said and what was meant, so that we can all better connect and collaborate on a common mission.
(We are featuring a range of male and female executives, without implying that all men or all women could or should communicate in any specific manner.)
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Larissa Crandall, VP, Channels and Alliances, Gigamon
- Panelist Michael Dickman, Chief Product Officer, Gigamon
- Panelist Ronald Goossens, Senior Director of Marketing, ASML
- Panelist Lee Wills, US and Global Chief Diversity Officer, ASML
and representing our host company is:
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Vice President, Marketing Communications, Renesas
Friday, July 8, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, with hosts @ Samsung
Today’s tech companies are caught between the drive for revenues and the push to innovate – the need to work together across leaders and companies and the need to compete to win projects, resources, accolades and fundings. This challenge will be amplified in the next normal.
Our panelists will showcase some best practices for supporting both collaboration and innovation leveraging alliances, partnerships, and some original thinking and strategies.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Chinmoyee Deshpande, Sr. Supply Chain Transformation Leader – Cognitive Supply Chain Transformation, IBM
- Panelist Sanchita Gupta, Senior Director Human Resources Business Partner, Samsung Research America
- Panelist Kate Mulligan, Communications & Innovation Programs, Strategy & Innovation for the Office of the CTO, Lam Research
- Panelist Stacey Moser, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), GE Digital Grid Solutions
- with introductory remarks by Roxanne Dos Santos, Director, Workforce Communications and Engagement, Samsung Research America
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Online Program
Friday, June 10, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Start-Ups Changing the World
Hosted by Intel, with link sent to confirmed attendees
Start-ups changing the world aren’t just in it for the financial returns. They want to do well while doing good. In other words, the objectives go far beyond financial returns for key founders only.
There must also be social impact, personal impact, environment impact. This month, we will profile a panel of entrepreneurs who are making a difference that’s both financially viable and also provides sustainable, social and environmental impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Shaya Fathali, Senior Director, Broadcast, Test, Emulation, Medical and Consumer Business Unit, Intel
- Panelist Gayathri Radhakrishnan, Director Venture Capital, Micron
- Panelist Mythili Sankaran, Founding Managing Partner, Neythri Futures Fund
- Panelist Morgan Steacy, VP, Utility Business Development, Utilidata
- Panelist Tina Tosukhowong, Investment Director, TDK Ventures
Friday, May 13, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Expanding Your Circle of Influence
Online with Texas Instruments as our host – link will be sent to registered attendees
Visit https://whenshespeaks.com/register/ to select a registration option
Originally introduced by Stephen Covey’s iconic book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’., our panelists this month are living examples of how to be more influential, focused, and productive by strategically expanding their circle of influence. We look forward to hearing their stories from the trenches, and their advice for how we too may expand our own circle of influence.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Lauren Larson Diehl, Vice President Global Customer Success, Reputation
- Panelist Laura Patton, VP, Business Development, Mechanical Systems Division, Sanmina
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Vice President, Marketing Communications, Renesas
- Panelist Catherine Zinn, Chief Client Officer, Baker Botts
- with opening remarks and panelist participation by Rajni Dharmarajan, Product Line General Manager, Texas Instruments
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, April 15, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Building Employee Experience as the EX Factor
Online with Gigamon as host – link will be sent to registered attendees
To register, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/programs
You can reward, ignore, tolerate or condemn behavior to manage it, but you can’t build a culture and a loyal following by doing so.
The ACTUAL Ex Factor is the Employee Experience. This month’s panel of experts will share how their focus on building exceptional employee experiences have led to a more satisfied, more productive workforce and community.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Karthi Gopalan, GM, ISO Industrial Automation BU, Analog Devices
- Panelist Regina Hancher, Director, Customer Success, Gigamon
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Vice President, Marketing Communications, Renesas
- Panelist Diana Pohle, Senior Director, Commercial Analytics & Insights, Myovant
- Panelist Nathan Sheranian, Senior Director Human Resources, Freshworks
- with opening remarks by Paul Hooper, CEO, Gigamon
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, March 18, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Manage Your Mindset, with our online hosts at Cisco
One of the greatest lessons of these tumultuous pandemic-laden years is that Life happens, and generally NOT according to plan!
But we’ve all witnessed the different responses to similar circumstances, and recognize the value of a growth-minded, positive and constructive mindset.
Our panelists this month will share their stories and best practices on how their mindset – how positive, productive, and responsive they were to their own circumstances – supported themselves and others they touched. Learn how having a more resilient and agile mindset will help us all navigate the next ‘normal’, no matter what that looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds like.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Lavanya Gopalakrishnan, VP of CX Global Operations, Cisco
- Panelist Margaret Jones, Head of Content & Women’s ERG Lead, Airtable
- Panelist Louise Lamb, Senior Director, Real Estate & Workplace Operations, Coupa Software
- Panelist Christina Lewis, Senior Director, Global Finance, Visa
- with opening remarks by Lavanya Gopalakrishnan, VP of CX Global Operations, Cisco
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
February 18, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Online
Leading with Passion, Agility, and Resilience, with our hosts at Micron
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Anna Jackson, Vice President, Human Resources, Gigamon
- Panelist Lora Muller, Director of Supply Chain, Tektronix CSO
- Panelist Gayathri Radhakrishnan, Director Venture Capital – AI Fund, Micron
- Panelist Nithya Ruff, Chair, Linux Foundation Board of Directors and Comcast Fellow/Vice President – Open Source Program Office
- with introductory remarks by Shveta Miglani, Head of People Strategy & Experience, Micron
- Building Employee Experience as the XFactor, April 15, 2022, hosted by Gigamon
- Expand Your Circle of Influence, May 13, 2022, hosted by Texas Instruments
- Start-ups Changing the World, June 10, 2022, hosted by Intel
- Collaborate to Innovate, July 8, 2022, hosted by Samsung
- What He Said, What He Meant, August 12, 2022, hosted by Renesas
- One of ‘The Onlys’, September 9, 2022, hosted by Synaptics
- Local Input, Global Impact, October 14, 2022, hosted by ASML
- Fourth Annual Mentorship Best Practices Panel, November 11, 2022, hosted by Coupa
- Fifth Annual Men Who Open Doors Awards, December 9, 2022, hosted by tbd
- Bring Your Full Self to Work, January 21, 2022, hosted by Lam Research
With our Hosts at Lam Research
Bring Your Full Self to Work
Find the balance between being uniquely and unequivocally YOU, while also conforming and flowing with expectations and requirements.
This month’s panelists share their strategies and best practices on how to stay original and creative while also following and stretching rules, protocols and requirements, minimizing risks, maximizing opportunity.”
Fourth Annual: Men Who Open Doors Panel
Friday, December 10, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by Nova Measuring Instruments
The link to the Online program will be sent to registered attendees.
The *MeToo and other women’s movements before it have broken new ground for women at all levels of the workplace. Much progress will continue to be made with the groundswell of enthusiastic, passionate and powerful women now fully outraged and engaged.
But it’s the MEN-who-open-doors who will help accelerate the pace of change for the women’s movement. This month, we celebrate these types of men, and applaud their efforts to open doors to more women, and a merit-based workplace in general. This month’s discussion will feature a light roasting of the panelist by a nominating representative.
Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
Men Who Open Doors:
- Jun (Alex) Gao, Head of Digital Health Lab, Samsung Research America
- Michael van Keulen, Chief Procurement Officer, Coupa Software
- Adrian Wilson, President and General Manager, Nova Measuring Instruments
- Jonathan Wormwood, Product Manager, Lam Research
This program also features a light roasting and introduction by our nominating executives:
- Keren Keisari Hayun, U.S. HR Director, Nova Measuring Instruments
- Louise Lamb, Senior Director, Real Estate & Workplace Operations, Coupa Software
- Kerry Perryman, HRBP, Samsung Research America
- Shazia Tarannum, Pilot Program Manager, Lam Research
Friday, November 12, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Third Annual Mentorship Best Practices Panel
Online Program, Hosted by Pure Storage
If you have a dedicated, hard-working, and intelligent staff at any level, Mentorship becomes THE difference-maker. Sure, education and experience matter, but Mentorship can frame that education and experience and make them into learning opportunities.
Sponsorship is important, but without Mentorship, it’s hard for the sponsor to make a business case.
Culture is important, but mentorship helps mentees (and mentors) succeed and even thrive in existing culture. Indeed, mentees and mentors can together even shape the culture so that more people benefit.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- with opening remarks by Niki Armstrong, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer, Pure Storage
Mentors:
- Peter Holland, VP of Supply Chain, Lam Research
- Milissa Kubal-White, Manager, Global Sales Enablement, Coupa Software, Empower Board Member, Coupa Software
- Ellen Lail, Regional Sales Director, Pure Storage, co-chair Women @ Pure
- Umesh Lakshman, Head of Solutions Architecture, West, Lumen Technologies
Mentees:
- Misa Crocker, Education and Training Program Manager, Pure Storage
- Lilian Hall, Program/Product Manager – Logistics & TMS, Lam Research
- Andrea Rein, Lead Talent Management Consultant, Lumen Technologies
- Aimee Stevens, Operations Coordinator, Coupa Software
with closing remarks by Dena Sikes, Director, National Partners, Pure Storage, co-chair, Women @ Pure
Friday, Oct 8, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by Cisco
Local Input, Global Impact
Leadership comes from the top down, with the executive vision for delivering a comprehensive and compelling product or service which meets the needs of the market. When executive leaders also have an inspiring vision to contribute to the local community, and for a far-reaching cause, it inspires all employees to give back, to make a difference, while also delivering bottom-line results for the company.
Join this month’s panel of senior executives who will share the corporate community vision, and stories of ‘bottoms-up’ leadership, showcasing how local input is leading to global impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Sheryl Chamberlain, Senior Director Global Alliances, Board Chair of Empower, Coupa Software; Chair, Hult Prize Council, Hult Prize Foundation
- Panelist Sharawn Connors, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Micron
- Panelist Julie Cullivan, Serial People and Operations Leader, Cybersecurity Adviser, and Member, Board of Directors, Heartflow
- Panelist Maulie Dass, Senior Director, Cisco Innovation Labs, Cisco
- Panelist Diana Pohle, Senior Director, Commercial Analytics & Insights, Myovant
Friday, September 10, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
One of the Onlys
Online, hosted by ASML
It’s not easy to be ‘one of the onlys’ – the Only woman on a team, in a meeting, on a board. Yet many women did just that, which forged new ground for the rest of us. Hear stories from this month’s panel of heroes and learn what we can do together so that ‘the onlys’ continue to succeed, and so that ‘the onlys’ will be joined by others.
Literally and figuratively, qualified corporate women are earning ‘a seat a the table’ – the opportunity to impact companies at the strategic and tactical level.
This month’s When She Speaks event will feature executives who have earned their seat at the table. Find out how they made this happen, what challenges they face, and how we can all support having more women leaders at the top.
August 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
What He Said, What He Meant
Conducted Online with our hosts at Samsung
As a woman in a technology company, we are at times perplexed and confused by the communication of our male colleagues. We know that not all males (or females) communicate in a specific way, and not all females (or males) respond in a specific way.
But this month’s panel will share some thoughts and ideas on how men and women can work together to better understand what was said and what was meant, so that we can better connect and collaborate on a common mission.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Shari Begun, Senior Director of North America Sales, Dialog Semiconductor
- Panelist Cynthia Dote, Senior Director of R&D, Pure Storage
- Panelist Tamara Rivera, Global Customer Service Director, Viavi
and representing our host company are:
- Panelist Roxanne Dos Santos, Senior Manager, HR Operations, Samsung Research America
- with introductory remarks and panel participation by Michael Polley, Senior VP and Head of Mobile Processor Innovation Lab, Samsung Research America
Friday, July 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Next Generation Collaborations
Online, with hosts @ Intel
Today’s tech companies are caught between the drive for revenues and the push to innovate – the need to work together across leaders and companies and the need to compete to win projects, resources, accolades and fundings. This challenge will be amplified in the next normal.
Our panelists will showcase some best practices for supporting both collaboration and innovation leveraging alliances, partnerships, and some original thinking and strategies.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Cara Bilinski, Executive Director, IT PMO, Maxim Integrated
- Panelist Shaya Fathali, Director of Test, Measurement, Asic Prototyping and Emulation Business Group, Intel
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Demand Creation, Renesas
- Panelist Kavita Shah, Senior Director, Global Strategic Marketing, Nova Measuring Instruments
Friday, June 11, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hosted by Coupa Software
Start-ups changing the world aren’t just in it for the financial returns. They want to do well while doing good. In other words, the objectives go far beyond financial returns for key founders only.
There must also be social impact, personal impact, environment impact. This month, we will profile a panel of entrepreneurs who are making a difference that’s both financially viable and also provides sustainable, social and environmental impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Priya Poolavari, Sr. Director of Engineering, Avalara
- Panelist Gayathri Radhakrishnan, Director Venture Capital, Micron
- Panelist Priya Ramachandran, Vice President – Engineering & Operations, BetterCloud
- with introductory remarks and panel participation by Sheryl Chamberlain, Global and Regional System Integrator Alliances, Coupa Software
Friday, May 14, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Expanding Your Circle of Influence
Online with Oracle as host
This month’s panelists are experts at creating and expanding their ‘Circle of influence’ – the areas of their life where they can actually change and impact, as described originally by Stephen Covey’s ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’. They will share their best practices on the importance of self-awareness and proactively and strategically focus on understanding yourself and expanding your circle of influence.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Amber Barber, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Global chairperson, Women in Global Operations ERG, Lam Research
- Panelist Roxanne dos Santos, Senior Manager, HR Operations Samsung Research America
- Panelist Claudia Galvan, Principal Technical Program Manager, Oracle
- Panelist Carina Fang, Director Program Management, AMD
- with introductory remarks by David Ortiz, Senior Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Oracle
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, April 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Building a Culture of Trust
Online with Renesas as host
Building a Culture of Trust means that there’s a ‘People-First’ mindset in thinking, words and actions, while also running a company that’s doing well – financially, technologically – while doing right by it’s people, by its industry, for the good of the earth.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Demand Creation, Renesas
- Panelist Sanchita Gupta, Director, Human Resources Business Partner, Samsung Research America
- Panelist Shikha Mittal, Senior Director of Product Management, VMWare
- Panelist Sandy Yu, Global Lead, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Advisory Boards (CAB/PAB/ISV), Oracle
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, March 12, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Be the Brand You Seek to Be, with our online hosts at Maxim Integrated
Your brand distinguishes you from others, it speaks for you when you are not there, it represents what you’ve done in the past, and helps others decide what you can do in the future. This month’s panel will specifically speak about how to build an Authentic brand, how to be Differentiated with your brand, and how to build Credibility through your brand.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Marie Le, Chief Marketing Officer, Good Deeds
- Panelist Laura Owen, Chief Human Resource Officer, Maxim Integrated
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Demand Creation, Renesas Electronics
- Panelist Monika Thakur, Vice President, SaaS Engineering, Oracle
- with opening remarks by Karthi Gopalan, Product Line Director, Mobile Power BU, Maxim Integrated and
- closing remarks by Cara Bilinski, Executive Director, IT PMO, Maxim Integrated
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
February 12, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Online
Career Agility in the Age of Digital
Link will be sent to registered attendees
What happens when your career plan doesn’t go as planned? Whether it’s a choice that you’re making, changing market dynamics or larger macro trends, our careers are now more an obstacle course than a hopscotch game. This month, our panelists will share their career journey to date and how circumstances within and outside themselves have taught them to be more agile and more proactive in managing their careers.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Alyson Crafton, Managing Director, Global Information Systems, Lam Research
- Panelist Stacey Moser, VP Global Sales Operations, Tektronix
- Panelist Suchitra Narayen, VP Commercial Legal, Informatica
- Panelist Vidya Venkatesh, Director, Global Product Strategy (Urologic Cancers Portfolio), Exact Sciences
- Panelist Roma Wadhi Ghai, HR Director – Office of CTO & Sales & Marketing, Maxim
- with an introduction by Kimberly Harr, Sr Director Pilot Operations, Lam Research
Order your tickets online: $50 each for general admission
Friday, January 15, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
With our Online Hosts at Micron
The recent changes and stresses through the pandemic can either make us more UNITED, or more DIVISIVE.
This month, we feature a panel of experts sharing best practices on how to build collaboration and unity, and how doing so is generating exceptional business results.
Every senior leader has had their share of obstacles and challenges – whether it’s in completing a project, managing an employee, establishing a partnership, and, of course, leveling up within an organization. This month’s panel will feature advice and insights for leveling up in roles and titles and impact, as well as leveling up your skill set and experience. 
We Are All One Panelists
2020 When She Speaks Programs
Online with hosts at Western Digital
We Are All ONE
The recent changes and stresses through the pandemic can either make us more UNITED, or more DIVISIVE.
This month, we feature a panel of experts sharing best practices on how to build collaboration and unity, and how doing so is generating exceptional business results.
Every senior leader has had their share of obstacles and challenges – whether it’s in completing a project, managing an employee, establishing a partnership, and, of course, leveling up within an organization. This month’s panel will feature advice and insights for leveling up in roles and titles and impact, as well as leveling up your skill set and experience.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Amber Barber, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Global chairperson, Women in Global Operations ERG, Lam Research
- Panelist Louise Lamb, Director, Real Estate & Workplace Operations / Board Member, Empower (Coupa Women’s Program), Coupa Software
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Demand Creation, Renesas
- Panelist Suchitra Narayen, VP Commercial Legal, Informatica
Order your tickets online: $50 general admission
E-mail us at info@whenshespeaks.com if you’re interested in becoming a corporate partner for this year, for a fee of $2500, plus processing fee.
Samsung Research America, 665 Clyde Ave., Mountain View, CA
A Seat At the Table
See invitation with bios at https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/seat
Literally and figuratively, qualified corporate women are earning ‘a seat a the table’ – the opportunity to impact companies at the strategic and tactical level.
This month’s When She Speaks event will feature executives who have earned their seat at the table. Find out how they made this happen, what challenges they face, and how we can all support having more women leaders at the top.
Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
Panelist Coco Brown, Founder and CEO, The Athena Alliance
Panelist Barbara Massa, Executive Vice President, People & Places, FireEye
Panelist Nivedita Ojha, Senior Director – Product Management, Edge Devices & Cloud, Mobile, SaaS, Citrix
Panelist Sonya Pelia, CMO, Cira Apps Ltd; Board Member, How Women Lead
Panelist Ronit Polak, VP Quality Assurance, Palo Alto Networks
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Thursday, February 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
One Plus One Makes Eleven
CITRIX, 4980 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
To see bios and to register, https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/eleven
The best solutions are not always the most logical ones. Including and empowering a diverse workforce increases a team’s ability to solve a wider range of problems, and innovate in many more wide-ranging ways.
This month, we will cover best practices for team development and its impact on creativity and innovation.
- When you have the right new person, it adds many-X value to the team, product and company.
- When you think in a different way, it adds a new dimension to the team, product and company.
This month’s panel will share their best practices on how to recruit, retain and develop a divergent workforce, while empowering them to think both inside and outside the box to deliver results.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Indira Joshi, Director of Technical Marketing, Emerging Memory Solutions, Micron Technology
- Panelist Shikha Mittal, Director, Product Management & Strategy, VMware
- Panelist Marissa Schmidt, Senior Director of Product Management, CITRIX
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, March 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Overcoming Imposter’s Syndrome
Online access details are available to confirmed attendees. E-mail us at info@whenshespeaks.com if you have registered but have not received the call details.
For bios visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/imposter
Many powerful and accomplished women have an internalized fear of being exposed as an imposter, a fraud. This ‘Imposter Syndrome’ makes even competent, successful women less confident about their outcomes, more likely to belittle their accomplishments.
This month, our panelists will talk about how imposter syndrome has affected their own development, and that of those around them. We will strategize on how to best support each other in overcoming imposter syndrome.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Jane Divinski, serial entrepreneur and engineering leader
- Panelist Joyce Eng, Senior Director, Strategy, Program Management, User Experience, Roche
- Panelist Krista Pavlakos, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Demand Creation, Renesas Electronics
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Panelist Lori Kate Smith, former Director, Marketing Programs, Machine Learning (ML), ARM
FountainBlue’s When She Speaks, Women in Leadership Series
Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
A People-First Mindset
Maxim Integrated as host, with event taking place online. A calendar invitation with link details will be sent when registration has been confirmed.
To see bios for more information, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/people
Companies with a ‘People-First’ mindset focus not just on the engineers who are key to innovation, not just on the sales and marketing staff who bring in the money, not just the executives who set the direction, but on ALL key players from all departments. Growing a company and a culture takes focusing on growing the full ecosystem of people within and outside the organization.
Successful companies strategically and consistently put people first, and provide them with the support and resources to execute for the short term, and in the long run.
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Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
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Panelist Sharawn Connors, VP, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, Micron
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Panelist Rita DeStaso, Services Account Executive, Strategic Enterprise, Microsoft
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Panelist Monica Kaldani-Nasif, Chief People Officer, Kateeva
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Panelist Tracy Laboy, Executive Director of Human Resources, Maxim
Friday, May 8, noon – 1:00 p.m.
What He Said, What He Meant
Online with Oracle as host – link will be sent to registered attendees
For bios, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/hesaid
The breakthrough book ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’ describes how men and women communicate differently. For this month’s interactive panel discussion, our panelists will provide insights about how corporate men communicate, and translate for us what men say into what men mean.
Topics for discussion include different communication styles, different modes of behavior, different emotional needs, and even different conflict management styles.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Marilyn Becker, Senior Director, People Analytics, Western Digital
- Panelist Carina Fang, Director, Program Management IoT Division, Synaptics
- Panelist Regina Lawless, Global Director, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, Micron Technology
- Panelist David Ortiz, Senior Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Oracle
- Panelist Stacey Porter, VP of People Operations and Strategy, Outset Medical Inc.
Friday, June 12, noon – 1:00 p.m.
Start-Ups Changing the World
Hosted by Cisco Online, Webex link will be sent to confirmed attendees
Invitation details at https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/startups
Start-ups changing the world aren’t just in it for the financial returns. They want to do well while doing good. In other words, the objectives go far beyond financial returns for key founders only.
There must also be social impact, personal impact, environment impact. This month, we will profile a panel of entrepreneurs who are making a difference that’s both financially viable and also provides sustainable, social and environmental impact.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Heather Callender-Potters, Co-Founder, Vice-Chairman and Chief Business Officer, PharmaJet
- Panelist Karthi Gopalan, Product Line Director, Mobile Power BU, Maxim
- Panelist Lata Hariharan, President and Founder, SVAST
- Panelist Gayathri Radhakrishnan, Director of Venture Capital, Micron
- Panelist Julia Zhu, Senior Manager, Cisco
Friday, July 10, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say
Online, with hosts @ Samsung
Invitation details at https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/saywhatyoumean and notes are available at http://fountainblue.blog/2020/07/10/saywhatyoumean
This month, our panel of expert communicators will share their secrets on how to directly and authentically ‘say what you mean’, even when it’s awkward to do so, while also ‘mean what you say’ – being clear about intentions and reasons and following through with words and actions.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Cara Bilinski, Executive Director, IT PMO, Maxim
- Panelist Tracy Meersman, Director Sales Enablement, Skybox Security
- Panelist Suchitra Narayen, VP Commercial Legal, Informatica
- Panelist Priya Poolavari, Director of Engineering, Core Data Platform / Data Intelligence, Samsung
August 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
One of the Onlys
Conducted Online with our hosts at Lam Research
Invitation details including bios are available at https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/theonlys
Meeting Notes are Available at http://fountainblue.blog/2020/08/14/onlys
It’s not easy to be ‘one of the onlys’ – the Only woman on a team, in a meeting, on a board. Yet many women did just that, which forged new ground for the rest of us. Hear stories from this month’s panel of heroes and learn what we can do together so that ‘the onlys’ continue to succeed, and so that ‘the onlys’ will be joined by others.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Antoinette Hamilton, Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Lam Research
- Panelist Indira Joshi, Head of Technical Marketing, Emerging Memory Solutions, Micron
- Panelist Monika Thakur, Vice President, Product Management, Oracle
- Panelist Lisa Violet, Chief Auditor, Varo Money
Friday, September 11, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Embracing the Creative in a Tech-philic World
Online, hosted by Texas Instruments
Link will be sent to registered attendees
For more information including bios, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/techphilic
Notes from the meeting are available at https://fountainblue.blog/2020/09/11/creative-2/
Most people think that innovation is for the nerds, the geeks. But consider the fact that the most transformational ideas are about extending existing solutions and technologies into new areas, into new solutions. That takes a creative mind, a creative process.
You need both the technologists who can implement a solution and the creatives who can imagine and deliver that solution. This month’s panelists describe how the creatives collaborate with the techies to create solutions which address the needs of their customers in a world rich with tech.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Hope Bovenzi, Sector General Manager for Automotive Infotainment, Texas Instruments
- Panelist Revathi Narayanan, Chief Of Staff, Compute and Networking BU, Micron
- Panelist Preethy Padmanabhan, Head of Platform Product Marketing, Freshworks
- Panelist Charu Roy, Senior Director, Product Management Fusion PLM, Oracle
- Panelist Urvashi Sheth, Senior Vice President Client Services, Intermedia
Friday, Oct 9, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by Aruba HPE
Who Moved My Cheese?
To see a detailed invitation with bios, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/cheese
For notes from this conversation, visit https://fountainblue.blog/2020/10/09/cheese2020/
Successful women and men create their own rules, their own brand – their own personal way of making things happen. Most of the time, they learn to play within the rules first, and then make their own rules. Whether they play within the rules, or make up their own rules, but the results speak for themselves. Hear how and why they broke the rules and learn how breaking the rules and even changing the system has made a difference for these leaders and all they touch.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Win Chang, Western Region Public Sector State and Local Sales Consulting Director, Oracle
- Panelist Sona Mahavni, Director – SW Engineering, Aruba HPE
- Panelist Nicole Sharratt, VP of User Experience, FICO
- Panelist Kim Willetts, Senior Director, Global Brion Division, ASML
- with opening remarks by Partha Narasimhan, CTO, Aruba HPE
When She Speaks: Ways to Lead
Friday, November 13, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online – Link will be sent to registered attendee
For more information including bios, visit https://www.tikkl.com/fountainblue/c/lead
There is no ONE right way to lead, as different things work for different people. Everyone brings a unique blend of experience, training, instincts, and personality into their own leadership style. And all ‘good’ leaders bring good results for the product, for the team, for the customers, for the company.
Find out how this month’s leaders created and defined their unique style, how they are expanding and growing their impact leveraging this style, and what they recommend for others as they define a style fo their own.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Niki Armstrong, Vice President, Global Employment, Compliance & Litigation, Pure Storage
- Panelist Sheryl Chamberlain, Board Chair Empower (Coupa Woman’s Program) and Global and Regional System Integrator Alliances, Coupa Software
- Panelist Karthi Gopalan, Product Line Director, Mobile Power BU, Maxim
- with opening remarks by Ellen Lail, Pure Storage
Third Annual: Men Who Open Doors Panel
Friday, December 11, 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Online, hosted by Coupa Software
The *MeToo and other women’s movements before it have broken new ground for women at all levels of the workplace. Much progress will continue to be made with the groundswell of enthusiastic, passionate and powerful women now fully outraged and engaged.
But it’s the MEN-who-open-doors who will help accelerate the pace of change for the women’s movement. This month, we celebrate these types of men, and applaud their efforts to open doors to more women, and a merit-based workplace in general. This month’s discussion will feature a light roasting of the panelist by a nominating representative.
- Facilitator Linda Holroyd, CEO, FountainBlue
- Panelist Chris Allexandre, Senior Vice President & Executive, Renesas
- Panelist Ronald Goossens, Senior Director of Marketing, ASML
- Panelist Gabe Perez, VP Coupa West Sales, Coupa Software
- Panelist Sajid Sadi, Vice President of Research, Head – Think Tank Team, Samsung
- Panelist Nathan Sheranian, Senior Director Human Resources, Freshworks
- with opening remarks provided by Sheryl Chamberlain, Director Alliances, Coupa Software, Board Chair Coupa Empower
Men Who Open Doors – 2020