Her Career Story - Speaker Series Event on Black Women's Significant Impact & Influence In Business - In-Person & Virtual
In celebration of Black History Month, join us for a Her Career Story Speaker Series Event on Black Women's Significant Impact & Influence in Business featuring Aisha Thomas-Petit - Chief Diversity Officer of AMC Networks, Janaé Henderson - Executive Director, Head of Corporate Sponsorships and Events, Americas, Enshalla Anderson - Director, Global Head of Brand Strategy & Creative for Google Cloud, and moderated by Shelly Lombard - Experienced Public Company Board Director (formerly Bed Bath & Beyond); Founder of Schmooze.
Join us as we shine a spotlight on the remarkable journeys and achievements of Black women leaders who have left an indelible mark on the business landscape.
In this powerful gathering, our distinguished panelists will share their career stories, highlighting the significant impact they've made in their industries. Gain valuable insights into the strategies and experiences that have shaped their paths to success.
This event is not just a tribute to Black History Month but a celebration of resilience, innovation, and the influential contributions of Black women in business.
Also, this event is in partnership with Good Rapport. Good Rapport creates modern sustainable attire for ambitious women, and they will have a pop-up shop at the event providing attendees with a 30% discount.
We will be virtually live-streaming the event via Zoom in addition to the in-person experience for those who want to attend in NYC at Her Workplace - 25 West 39th Street, 11th Floor.
We look forward to meeting you! ✨
About the panelists...
Aisha Thomas-Petit - Aisha is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a leading provider of quality health insurance products and services to New Jersey families and businesses. In her role, Thomas-Petit is responsible for all aspects of human resources including, compensation and benefits, talent acquisition, talent management, leadership development, labor relations, employee engagement and organizational development and effectiveness. She plays a key role in developing business aligned HR strategy and promoting a culture of accountability and inclusion.
Prior to her current role, Thomas-Petit served as Chief People & Diversity Officer of AMC Networks where she was responsible for the company’s overall people and culture and diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. She joined the company in 2020 as AMC Networks’ first Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer to build on and advance the company’s DEI foundation and strategic areas of focus.
Before joining AMC Networks, Thomas-Petit held various leadership roles over 7 years at ADP including serving as their Chief, Diversity, Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer as well as Division Vice President of the company’s Major Accounts and Canada division.
A seasoned HR executive, Thomas-Petit also spent more than seven years at Barclays Capital (including 2+ years at Lehman Brothers before it was purchased by Barclays), where she ultimately became the HR Director for Global Operations, driving people strategy for over 4000 employees globally, and partnering with the Global Head of Investment Bank Operations to drive talent and performance management, development and compensation. Prior to Barclays, Thomas-Petit spent eight years at JP Morgan Chase, where she held several roles including Vice President, HR for Shared Technology & Operations and Investment Bank Operations, leading people strategy for a newly merged global organization of 2400 employees.
Thomas-Petit has been recognized by Cynopsis as a Top Woman in Media, by Cablefax Magazine in their Most Powerful Women and Diversity lists, and by Moves Magazine as a Moves Mentor Leadership award recipient.
She is currently a member of the board of directors for the New Jersey City University Foundation and The Opportunity Network, as well as a member of the strategic advisory board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Union, and Hudson Counties and the board commissioner of the Rahway Housing Authority.
Thomas-Petit holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Business Strategy from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Syracuse University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She resides in New Jersey with her family.
Janaé Henderson - Janaé is Executive Director, Head of Sponsorships & Events, Americas Division at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).
With over 20 years of experience in event marketing and management at leading financial services corporations, Janaé has been responsible for the strategic planning of executive-level, high-touch programs and events. She has successfully built, developed, and led thriving teams while serving as counsel and trusted advisor to executive partners.
As a dedicated mentor for several organizations and a former member of the Bronx Board for Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Janaé is a champion for volunteerism and supporting underserved youth, with a special focus on girls of color.
Janaé is a passionate diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate, leader, and ally, who has been at the forefront of DEI initiatives.
With her years of experience in the financial services industry, Janaé has seen firsthand, how commitment and awareness around diversity and inclusion have evolved. Understanding that there is still so much work to do is what motivates her to create opportunities that continuously amplify and empower diverse voices.
Enshalla Anderson - Enshalla’s career has taken her from Wall Street to management consulting to “agency land”—with stops along the way in New York, London, Istanbul, and Caracas. And now she serves as the Global Head of Brand Strategy and Creative for Google Cloud. Enshalla is passionate about building brand love for Google’s fast-growing cloud portfolio. And strongly believes that the “B” in B2B Marketing doesn’t have to stand for boring.
Enshalla earned her BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and her MBA from Harvard Business School. When not working, Enshalla is busy with her husband and two teenage sons, who share her passion for Star Wars and Marvel.
Shelly Lombard - Shelly Lombard worked on Wall Street for over 35 years. When she began her career, she was one of only a handful of women who specialized in investing in distressed companies. Shelly helped launch the bank debt trading desk at Chase Manhattan Bank, now JP Morgan. From 2003 to 2010, she was a high yield bond analyst for a subscription research firm whose clients included institutional investors, mutual funds, and hedge funds. During that time, Shelly was one of the most quoted automotive analysts on Wall Street, frequently appearing in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and on CNBC.
After her Wall Street career, Shelly began serving on corporate boards. She has served on the boards of Bed Bath & Beyond, INNOVATE Corp, Alaska Communications, Spartacus Acquisition Corp, and Craft 1861. Shelly recently launched Schmooze, which supports and encourages professional women to build their network of business relationships by providing an alternative to the typical golf trips and sports box seats. Shelly believes that business relationships can close career gaps and that relationships are built through sharing experiences. Schmooze hosts events that women can invite clients, potential clients, contacts, and colleagues to, for the purpose of building business relationships that can lead to career advancement, board seats, or start up investments.
Shelly has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Government from Simmons University.