Global Ties Arizona Events
2024 CHINA Town Hall
Join Global Ties Arizona and Thunderbird School of Global Management for the annual community discussion event underscoring the importance of U.S.-China relations.
Tuesday, April 30th | 4:00-7:30 pm
at Thunderbird School of Global Management
Discussion Forum | 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the Global Forum (1st Floor)
Networking Reception | 6:00 - 7:30 pm at the Thunderbird Pub (5th Floor)
Forum Only: FREE
Forum + Networking Reception: $10 per person
The National Conversation, facilitated by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, will feature Dr. Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of State.
Moderated by Dr. Doug Guthrie of Thunderbird School of Global Management, this discussion forum brings together thought leaders, experts, and the community for insightful discussions on the vital relationship between the United States and China.
Featured Panelists include:
Dr. Craig Calhoun, Sociologist & Theorist, Arizona State University
Diane Long, Former Head of Adidas China & Liz Claiborne China
Tarun Masapeta, Thunderbird Graduate Student
Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of one of the most significant global partnerships of our time.
Event Agenda
4:00 pm | Opening Remarks from Global Ties Arizona & Thunderbird School of Global Management
4:15 pm | Commentary on the National Conversation & Attendee Discussion facilitated by Dr. Doug Guthrie
Please note that the full national conversation will not be viewed at this year’s event. The national conversation will be available for full viewing via the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ website beginning on April 10th. Attendees are encouraged to view in advance as desired. Only portions will be replayed at the local event.
5:00 pm | Panel & Local Discussion featuring China Experts
6:00 pm | Networking Reception at Thunderbird Pub
7:30 pm | Event conclusion
Parking Information:
Metered street parking is available around Thunderbird School of Global Management. Additionally, guests can park in the UCENT and EVB Parking Garages. Please note that validation is not available.
UCENT Garage Map | University Center Garage (92 E Polk St, Phoenix, AZ 85004) - Download the Parking Map here
EVB Garage Map | Taylor St. Garage (460N N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004) - Download the Parking Map here
Featured Speaker for the National Conversation
Dr. Kurt Campell | Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Kurt M. Campbell was confirmed by the Senate on February 6, 2024, and sworn in as the 22nd Deputy Secretary of State on February 12, 2024. Prior to assuming this position, Deputy Secretary Campbell served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council.
He was previously founding chairman and CEO of The Asia Group, LLC, a strategic advisory and capital management group. From 2009 to 2013, Campbell served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Earlier, he was the CEO and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security and concurrently served as the director of the Aspen Strategy Group and chairman of the Editorial Board of the Washington Quarterly. Among the other positions he has held during his distinguished career, Campbell served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, White House Fellow at the Treasury Department, and as Director of the Democracy Office at the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration.
Campbell was an associate professor of public policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He is the author or editor of ten books including The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia, Difficult Transitions: Why Presidents Fail in Foreign Policy at the Outset of Power, and Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security.
Campbell received his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and his doctorate in international relations from Brasenose College at Oxford University where he was a Distinguished Marshall Scholar. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.
Event Moderator
Dr. Doug Guthrie | Director of China Initiatives & Professor, Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
Doug Guthrie is an expert in international business and trade, technology and society, entrepreneurship and technology transfer, and organizational development.
Guthrie uses his past experience in his teaching at ASU since he was a senior director at Apple in Shanghai, China, where he led Apple University efforts on leadership and organizational development in China.
Guthrie is a professor and the director of China Initiatives at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
He has spent his career researching, writing, teaching and advising companies about organizational development and the Chinese economic reforms.
He received an AB in East Asian languages (concentration in Chinese literature) from the University of Chicago and MA and PhD degrees in organizational sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, he studied in Taipei, Taiwan, during his undergraduate years and conducted PhD research in Shanghai, China. He has authored and edited books, academic articles, popular articles, reports on Chinese economic reform, leadership and corporate social responsibility, and strategic economic development in American cities.
Local Discussion Panelists
Dr. Craig Calhoun | Professor of Social Sciences at Arizona State University
Craig Calhoun is a comparative and historical sociologist, social theorist, and scholar, known for his interdisciplinary work in anthropology, communications, economics, history, international studies, political science, philosophy, and science and technology studies. His latest book, “Degenerations of Democracy,” co-authored with Charles Taylor and Dilip Gaonkar, was published by Harvard University Press in 2022. He edited “The Green New Deal and the Future of Work” with Benjamin Fong (Columbia University Press, 2022) and has collaborated with former students to create widely used anthologies covering classical and contemporary sociological theory. Calhoun has authored nine books and published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, articles, and chapters.
Calhoun currently serves as the University Professor of Social Sciences at Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU, he served as president and director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), president of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), and president of the Berggruen Institute. Calhoun has taught at Columbia University, NYU, where he founded the Institute for Public Knowledge, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also served as dean of the graduate school and directed the University Center for International Studies. In addition, he has been a visiting professor at universities and institutes in the U.S. and abroad, including in Asmara, Beijing, Bristol, Khartoum, Oslo, and Paris, and as an Einstein Fellow in Berlin.
Calhoun's research focuses on contemporary transformations, possible futures, and the political economy of the modern world-system. He is also committed to studying universities and knowledge institutions, democracy, and shifting structures of social solidarity. In his philosophical pursuits, Calhoun explores the relationship between transformation and transcendence in understanding human existence.
Calhoun is actively engaged in advancing political, economic, and social democracy locally, nationally, and internationally. Calhoun serves on the board of the MasterCard Foundation, the American Assembly, the Center for Transcultural Studies, the Pulaski Institution, and Reset Dialogues. Calhoun is also active in speaking and supporting programs for a range of organizations and communities in Arizona, elsewhere in the US, and internationally.
Joining virtually from ChinaDiane Long | Principal, Xanadu-Asia & Co-Founder, On Global Leadership
For over three decades, Diane has had a ringside seat at what can only be described as an economic revolution. Arriving in China’s Anhui Province in 1985, she didn’t understand what economic reform was—let alone what it looked like. Diane’s unique and diverse skill set was developed in the cauldron of a forever-changing landscape as China marched forward with reforms at a scale and speed never before seen in history. Diane has previously held C-suite positions in global corporations such as Liz Claiborne and Adidas as well as executive roles in start-ups. During the ‘90s, she guided multinational corporations in the first stage of market entry, most notably identifying partners, markets, and teams. Currently, she serves as the Managing Director of Xanadu Enterprise, a bilingual, bi-cultural China market-entry firm that provides a range of consulting and operational services to support companies in various stages of entering and operating in the China market. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to assist both first-to-market as well as established firms.
Tarun Masapeta | Graduate Student, Thunderbird School of Global Management
Tarun Masapeta is an MGM student at Thunderbird School of Global Management from India. He is the President of the Campus Ambassadors at Thunderbird and the Vice President of the Foreign Policy Initiative at Thunderbird. In May 2021, he founded Project EIFL (Educate India Financially) which educates high-school students living in low-income households on financial literacy.
Thank you to our venue host & event partner:
Event Supporting Sponsors:
For Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact kristin@globaltiesarizona.org.
Worldly Women Collective | Uniting for Justice
Join the Worldly Women Collective as we welcome a delegation of remarkable women from six countries participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
Meet and mingle with our distinguished guests who are at the forefront of a crucial mission: safeguarding the rights of women and children within the judicial system.
We kindly request that attendance to this event is limited to individuals who identify as women. Thank you for your understanding and support of our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space for women's voices.
Admission: $5
*Free for official WWC participants. Want to join?
Discussion Moderated by:
Lisa Daniel Flores, Former Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court
Lisa Daniel Flores is an Arizona attorney. She served the State of Arizona for more than 32 years in various roles, including Assistant Attorney General, State Election Director, Governor’s General Counsel, and Superior Court Judge.
Our panelists include delegates visiting Arizona through a U.S. Department of State International Leadership Program, Global Ties Arizona’s flagship exchange program.
These esteemed advocates and professionals from Fiji, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka, each represent a wealth of knowledge and experience in legal advocacy, human rights protection, prosecution, and research. Their collective mission is to advance the cause of women's and children's rights within the judicial systems of their respective countries and beyond.
Event Agenda
5:30 pm | Meet-and-Greet with Visiting Delegation & Networking
Light appetizers & non-alcoholic beverages provided.
6:00 pm | Welcome Remarks from the Worldly Women Collective & City of Scottsdale
6:10 pm | Opening Remarks from Featured Moderator, Lisa Flores
6:20 pm | Discussion with Visiting Women Delegates from Abroad
7:00 pm | QandA with Attendees
7:15 pm | Group Photo & Continued Mingling
7:30 pm | Event conclusion
More About the Visiting Delegation
This delegation of international women's rights advocates will be visiting to explore the intricacies of the U.S. judicial system, focusing on its policies and legal structures safeguarding women and children. Their agenda includes exploring specialized court systems for addressing crimes against women and children, understanding juvenile justice practices, and examining training programs for law enforcement and legal professionals. Additionally, they aim to understand the role of NGOs in providing support and prevention services, explore restorative justice methods for juvenile delinquency, and foster international collaboration among legal professionals to enhance access to justice for women and children globally.
Global Ties Arizona proudly implements the International Visitor Leadership Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.
Special thanks to our Venue Host:
City of Scottsdale
Worldly Women Collective: Women Impacting Communities through Entrepreneurship
Worldly Women Collective
in partnership with Prestamos Women’s Business Center & Chicanos Por La Causa
presents
Women Impacting Communities through Entrepreneurship
A celebration of women entrepreneurs featuring fellows visiting Phoenix through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative
Event Agenda
5:30 pm | Arrivals
6:00 pm | Welcome from Women's Business Center, GTAZ and Worldly Women Collective, and Chicanos Por La Causa.
6:15 pm | A message from Alicia Nuñez, CEO of CPLC, on the importance of women in entrepreneurship
6:25 pm | Panel with visiting female entrepreneurs from across Latin America & the Caribbean (thru YLAI) moderated by Amber Cordoba
7:10 pm | Q and A with attendees
7:25 pm | Closing remarks
7:30 pm | Event conclusion
About the Celebration
Join us for an inspiring conclusion to National Women's History Month as we shine a spotlight on the remarkable journeys and achievements of women entrepreneurs.
In the spirit of international collaboration, we are thrilled to host visiting women entrepreneurs from various corners of Latin America. These dynamic individuals are actively participating in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, an initiative that fosters cross-cultural exchange and collaboration among emerging leaders. These women are not only making significant strides in their entrepreneurial endeavors but are also catalysts for positive transformation within their communities.
Join us for an enriching experience as we amplify the voices of these trailblazing women, share their stories of triumph, and celebrate the diversity and strength that women bring to the world of entrepreneurship. This celebration is not just a reflection on the past but a powerful affirmation of the present and a call to action for a more inclusive and empowering future.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a celebration that goes beyond borders, connecting and empowering women entrepreneurs in their quest for success and societal impact.
Welcome & Opening Remarks by
Alicia Nuñez
Interim President & Chief Executive Officer
Chicanos Por La Causa
Panel Discussion Moderated by
Amber Cordoba
Director of Business Education and Consulting Services
Prestamos CDFI
Featured Panelists
Participants in the U.S. Department of State's Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative implemented by Global Ties Arizona
Jazmín Chi Aguillón
Founder & Director of Chi Educational Group
Mexico
Jazmín Chi is recognized among the "120 Most Innovative Women in the World 2020" by the Athena40 Organization based in London, UK. With a master’s degree from Harvard University, she has been championing education and philanthropy. As founder and president of CHI Educational Group, encompassing CHI School of Leadership and Business Development, CHI Editorial, CHI Language School, and CHI Foundation, she advocates for transformative initiatives. A seasoned speaker, she shares insights on leadership and personal development worldwide, despite facing adversity. Through her unwavering dedication, she inspires positive change globally, empowering others with love and knowledge.
Camila Izquierdo
Growth Manager of The Female Boss
Ecuador
Camila is a distinguished lawyer hailing from Ecuador, whose passion for purposeful projects knows no bounds. With a fervent commitment to creating positive impacts, she specializes in empowering women and fostering entrepreneurship.
At just 22 years old, Camila embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, founding her first business. Today, she serves as the visionary leader of The Female Boss, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women economically through comprehensive business education and development programs.
Camila's dedication to effective communication is unrivaled, recognizing its power when infused with honesty, empathy, and love. She embodies the values we hold dear at The Female Boss, driving our mission forward with unwavering determination and compassion.
Yaneth Laffaurie
Founder of Iluminando El Futuro
Panama
Yaneth is a leader and co-founder at Iluminando El Futuro, where her primary role involves directing research in the energy and environment sector. Her focus lies in projects aimed at building energy capacity for rural communities and young leaders in Panama. Through her leadership, she strives to identify new opportunities and foster partnerships that contribute to the organization's mission.
Her passion is in connecting knowledge to social problems, particularly in the realm of renewable energy. She firmly believes that renewable energy should not be complex or inaccessible to rural communities or those in need. To her, rural development is intrinsically tied to capacity building and community empowerment.
Iluminando El Futuro is a non-profit organization dedicated to renewable energy, education, and community implementation. They provide education and raise awareness about renewable
energy while working directly with communities to integrate these technologies into their daily lives. The organization plays a crucial role in equipping communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to harness renewable energy sources, address social issues related to energy scarcity, and drive innovative technological advancements in rural settings.
Claudine Reid
Co-Owner, Automation & Systems Strategist of Digitalawah
Jamaica
Meet Claudine, the charismatic female force driving Digitalawah, an innovative software development, and digital solutions company. Hailing from Jamaica, Claudine is the visionary co-founder alongside her husband, Norval.
Together, they embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship that began with the founding of a food bank initiative during their university years, which grew to serve thousands of beneficiaries across the major college campuses in Jamaica and their families. This experience ignited the duo’s passion for leveraging automation to solve operational challenges and maximizing impact as they realized the transformative power of technology in creating positive change.
With a mission to sprinkle a little digital magic and streamline operations for businesses big and small, the team is dedicated to giving SMEs more time, a bigger digital footprint, and a dash of innovation to thrive in the digital age.
Possessing a diverse background in Business Studies, Economics, and I.T., Claudine brings a unique blend of skills and expertise to the helm of Digitalawah. She is excited and committed to sharing her expertise to inspire and empower others to achieve their goals.
Arlenis Indhira Vargas
General Manager & Brand Manager for Cotorristas Group SRL
Dominican Republic
Arlenis Vargas, hailing from the Dominican Republic, is a seasoned Marketer with an enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and allure of fresh starts.
Specializing in Digital Marketing, Branding, and Holistic Business Consulting, Arlenis embarked on my entrepreneurial journey at the age of 19, establishing Cotorristas Group. The company provides top-notch Marketing and Printing services, catering to diverse clientele.
Committed to giving back to the community that has embraced us, the Cotorristas Group instituted an internship program for high school students. This initiative not only imparts valuable Marketing and Graphic Design skills but also fuels the local economy by nurturing young talent, equipping them with the confidence and expertise essential for the workforce.
Driven by a profound dedication to fellow entrepreneurs, Arlenis finds fulfillment in aiding interns in strategy development and process optimization. Her mission is to be a pillar of support and guidance for those embarking on this courageous journey.
Worldly Women Collective: Celebrating the Persian New Year
Worldly Women Collective
presents a special pop-up event
Persian New Year Celebration
Welcoming the new year with a dining celebration at The Persian Room
About the Gathering
Persian New Year is a time for coming together with loved ones, indulging in festive meals, and ushering in hopes for a year filled with prosperity and joy. Join the Worldly Women Collective in celebrating this ancient Iranian tradition known as NoRooz (new day), a revered practice observed for over 3000 years by diverse communities across the globe.
The commencement of the new year aligns with the arrival of spring, coinciding with the spring equinox around the 20th of March, albeit varying annually. In 2024, this auspicious occasion falls on the 19th at 8:06 Arizona time.
NoRooz transcends religious boundaries, uniting individuals from various backgrounds such as Iranians, Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Tajikis, Afghanis, and more. Recognized by the United Nations as an international cultural event fostering peace and solidarity, the festival holds universal significance.
A central aspect of NoRooz preparations involves arranging a 'Haft-Seen' table, adorned with seven symbolic items, each starting with the Persian letter 'S' (seen). These items symbolize distinct wishes for a year filled with happiness, health, and prosperity. Families gather around this table, creating a meaningful connection until the precise moment the new year dawns.
Menu
Appetizers:
Hummus
Yogurt & Cucumber Dip
Dolmeh (Stuffed Grape Leaves)
Greek Salad
Fresh Persian Bread with Basil & Butter
Entrees:
Barg (Filet Minon)
Chicken Kabaob
Koobideh (Ground Beef Kabob)
Chicken Filet
Beef Eggplant Stew
Basmati Rice
Worldly Women Collective: Women in the Foreign Service
Worldly Women Collective
in partnership with Scottsdale Sister Cities & Alliance Française of Greater Phoenix
presents
Women in the Foreign Service
A Fireside Chat with Antoinette Hurtado, Southwest Diplomat in Residence for the U.S. Department of State
We welcome you to join us for continued conversations at Los Olivos Mexican Patio (7328 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251) from 7-9 pm.
About the Event
In celebration of National Women's History Month, join us as we explore the dynamic world of diplomacy through the lens of women in the Foreign Service. Our distinguished guest, Antoinette Hurtado, Southwest Diplomat in Residence for the U.S. Department of State, brings a wealth of experience and insight to the forefront.
Throughout history, women have played pivotal roles in shaping international relations, often overcoming barriers and stereotypes. This conversation will explore the challenges and triumphs experienced by women diplomats, shedding light on their contributions to global diplomacy and the advancement of women's rights worldwide.
Antoinette Hurtado's extensive career in diplomacy provides a unique perspective on the opportunities and obstacles encountered by women navigating the complexities of international affairs. From her firsthand experiences serving in various diplomatic capacities, she offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of diplomacy and the integral role of women within it.
Whether you're an aspiring diplomat, a seasoned professional, or simply intrigued by the intersection of gender and diplomacy, this discussion promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. Join us as we celebrate the achievements of women in the Foreign Service and explore the path towards greater gender equality on the global stage.
Featured Speaker
Antoinette Hurtado
Diplomat in Residence – Southwest (Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico)
U.S. Department of State
Antoinette Hurtado is a career Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) in the U.S. Department of State with 19 years of service. She has served in a number of countries including Australia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Italy, and has studied Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Antoinette joined the State Department after graduate school as a recipient of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. She has a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University. She currently serves as the Diplomat in Residence for the Southwest region. You can learn more about her assignments and experiences here: https://careers.state.gov/connect/dir/southwest/.
Moderator
Suzanne Lawrence
Former Diplomat, U.S. Department of State
Board of Directors, Global Ties Arizona & Worldly Women Collective Member
Suzanne Lawrence retired from the U.S. Department of State following 32 years as a Foreign Service Officer ending her career as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Prior to that assignment, she led the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands. Read more here.
Global Citizens' Coffee Circle
Global Citizens’ Coffee Circle
Thursday, February 29th | 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Courtyard by Marriott Old Town Scottsdale | Diamondbacks Room
3311 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Join us for a morning coffee hour to welcome a delegation of European leaders visiting from 13 different countries to explore the U.S. Electoral Process.
Delegates will be visiting from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania and Spain.
Coffee and pastries provided for attendees.
Cost to attend:
General Admission: $5
Event Agenda:
8:15 AM | Registration Opens
8:30 AM | Coffee and Mingling with Visiting & Community Leaders
8:45 AM | Speaking Program
Welcome | Kristin Allen, President & CEO, Global Ties Arizona
Opening Remarks | Barry Wong, Chair of the Board of Directors, Global Ties Arizona
Special Speaker | The Honorable David Cook, Arizona State Representative & Chairman, AZ House International Trade Committee
Introduction & Remarks from Visiting Delegates
9:15 AM | Continued Visitation among Guests
10:00 AM | Event Conclusion
Special Speaker Bio
Representative David L. Cook
David was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma into a farming and ranching family and grew up being active in 4-H and FFA. In 1985, he moved to Arizona and graduated from Miami High School.
His first career was in the electrical apparatus field; helping farmers with irrigation pumps and controls. After several years, David moved back to Globe and worked for the Department of Corrections (DOC), retiring as a Sergeant with numerous achievements within the department. In his role as a legislator, David uses his 12 years of experience in DOC to understand the needs of the corrections industry and inter-departmental administration.
Read more here.
Worldly Women Collective - Thriving Amidst Challenges: Navigating Biases in the Workplace
Join the Worldly Women as we delve into workplace equality with our panel of speakers that will share insights, stories, and strategies for overcoming challenges that women often face in professional settings. It's an opportunity to share experiences, build supportive networks, and collectively foster more inclusive workplaces.
Cost to attend:
General Admission: $5
(WWC official members can utilize their member code for registration discount.)
We welcome you to join us at Huss Brewing to mingle over drinks after the event
Event Agenda
5:30 pm | Welcome from CO+HOOTS & Brief Tour
5:45 pm | Panel with Discussion led by featured Panelists "Thriving Amidst Challenges: Navigating Biases in the Workplace"
6:45 pm | Panel Conclusion & Invitation to continue mingling at Huss Brewing
7:00 pm | Interested attendees meet at Huss Brewing for no host happy hour
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Tanushree (Tanu) Ghosh
Director, Manufacturing Supply Chain & Operations, Intel;
Founder and Board Chair, Her Rights Global;
Author, Beyond #Me Too, From An-Other Land
Tanushree Ghosh (Ph. D. Cornell University) is Director at Intel Corp., a social activist, and an author. Her blog posts, op-eds, poems, and stories are her efforts to provoke thoughts, especially towards issues concerning social justice. She is a contributor (past and present) to several popular e-zines incl. The Huffington Post US (where her first post on returning to India as the mother of a daughter went viral and was picked up by Yahoo News and where she subsequently authored many successful op-eds on gender, Syria war, mental health, the western media’s coverage of the Brazil Olympic and so on), The Logical Indian, Youth Ki Awaaz, Tribune India, Women’s Web, Thrive Global, and Cafe Dissensus (where she hosted her own segment on social satire titled Black Light). Her literary resume includes poems and stories featured in national and international magazines (Words Pauses and Noises, UK; TUCK, Glimmer Train Honorable mention) as well as inclusion in over a dozen anthologies such as Defiant Dreams (Oprah 2016 reading list placeholder) and The Best Asian Short Stories 2017 (published out of Singapore by Kitaab). Her first single author book is From An-Other Land (Readomania publishing, India). The work was featured on KJZZ, NPR. Beyond #MeToo (Sage Publications) is her second single author work. She is the founder and director of Her Rights Inc. a non-profit committed
to furthering the cause of gender equality and frequently speaks on human rights, social justice, advancement and diversity and inclusion in corporate and non-profits panels. She has been featured on several international podcasts (including the prestigious Women In Manufacturing from Jacket Media) and in the Fall 2021 Diversity Woman Magazine Power 100 list of 100 extraordinary women. She was a winner of the Orange Flower Award (2021) for her short story in the LGBTQ category and was the Winner of Intel’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Advocate of the year for Greater America (2022). Her works have also been nominated for several over social category awards in India. Tanushree is mother to a 11-year old and lives in Chandler, AZ.
Lori Severson
Coach, Consultant & Author
Lori worked in the big business world for over 20 years on the people side of business. She launched her own business as a leadership coach & consultant in 2006, focused on the development of women leaders. She did this while simultaneously adopting a baby internationally. In 2016 she felt called to write a book and published her Amazon best-selling novel: An Unexpected Journey, One Woman’s Whale Tale in the summer of 2017. She has served on the board and/or volunteered for the following organizations: The Girls Rule Foundation; Athena Valley of the Sun; Arizona Women’s Conference and AZ Rain-Rescuing Animals in Need.
She is committed to helping girls and women increase self-esteem and successfully navigate their unique leadership journeys in this world. Raising a teen girl is how she practices at home. While she pursues coaching, consulting and plotting to overthrow the patriarchy, she lives in the desert Southwest with her husband, 17-year-old daughter, three cats, a LOT of books and even more ideas.
Daphine Willingham,
Chair for the Board of Directors, National African-American Women’s Institute, Inc. NAAWLI
Daphine Willingham serves as the Chair for the Board of Directors of the National African-American Women’s Institute, Inc. NAAWLI is a non-profit organization that helps leaders accelerate and elevate their impact by providing an immersive learning experience uniquely designed to support, transform, and empower African-American women with aspirations to lead at the executive level. NAAWLI was founded in 2000 by Dr. Gloria Scott, former National President of Girls Scouts of America, and Dr. Zulma Barrios, former Vice President at the Gallup Leadership Institute.
Professionally, Daphine has extensive leadership experience with State Farm Insurance company, including previously serving as National Chair of State Farm’s African American employee resource group. She has recently returned to the East Valley to open an independent insurance agency on April 1st.
Daphine has an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, where she dual majored in Finance and Risk Management/Insurance. She obtained her MBA with an emphasis on Project Management, as well as her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations.
Personally, Daphine is married with two children and is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she has served in multiple executive board roles. The organization aims to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally through community service, civic, and social action.
Dining for Diplomacy: Lunar New Year
Join Global Ties Arizona in celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
We are thrilled to invite you to our Dining for Diplomacy series, celebrating Lunar New Year on:
February 1, 2024 | 6:00-9:00 pm
Great Wall Cuisine
Join us for an exquisite nine-course traditional Chinese dinner and special cultural performances.
If you would like to be added to our waitlist, please contact Victoria at victoria@globaltiesarizona.org.
🌕 Celebrate Lunar New Year in Grand Style! 🌕
Join us for an unforgettable evening of tradition and opulence as we welcome the Year of the Dragon in grand fashion. Global Ties Arizona proudly presents a Lunar New Year Nine-Course Chinese Dinner with cultural performances, a feast for the senses that promises to usher in good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. We’ll celebrate with:
A Nine-Course Traditional Chinese Dinner:
Savor a sumptuous culinary journey through Chinese cuisine as Great Wall chefs craft a delectable nine-course meal, each dish brimming with symbolism and flavor.
Changing Faces performance.
Traditional Celebrations:
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Lunar New Year culture with traditional red lanterns, lucky red envelopes, and more, all designed to bring you luck and happiness in the coming year.
Beijing opera singers performing the song “Selling Water.”
Cultural Performances:
Marvel at captivating performances that showcase the elegance and beauty of Lunar New Year traditions, including captivating lion dances, demonstrations, and mesmerizing traditional music.
Attire:
Don your finest traditional cultural attire, cocktail or business wear.
Don't miss this enchanting opportunity to embrace the customs, flavors, and vibrant energy of the Lunar New Year in a festive atmosphere. Join us for a memorable evening of delightful cuisine, cultural performances, and wonderful company.
Featured Speaker
Katherine Brown
President & CEO of Global Ties U.S.
Katherine Brown is the President and CEO of Global Ties U.S., a nonprofit organization focused on powering individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. In this role, she directs the organization’s strategy and operations. Since 2018, Katherine has led an expansion of programs and services for the Global Ties Network’s 90+ member organizations and partners, resulting in deeper civic engagement in international affairs.
Prior to joining Global Ties U.S, Katherine served in various government roles focused on media and public diplomacy. She began her career at the National Security Council at the White House and went on to serve as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan; Professional Staff
Member at the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives; and Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. She also worked at The Asia Foundation, Bloomberg Opinion, and Meta, where she was in residence as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow.
Katherine is a member of the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy Advisory Board and the Truman National Security Project’s Board of Directors. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies and a former non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Her book, “Your Country, Our War: The Press and Diplomacy in Afghanistan,” was published by Oxford University Press in 2019.
Katherine holds a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Communications from Columbia University.
Event Co-Chairs:
Barry Wong
Nicole Hollenbeck
Christina Mercado-Gonzalez
Thank you to our Title Sponsor for supporting this event:
Worldly Women Collective: Holiday Celebration and End-of-the-Year Gather
Join the Worldly Women Collective and Treffpunkt for our Holiday Celebration and End-of-the-Year Gathering on:
Tuesday, December 12th | 5:30-7:30 pm
Treffpunkt | 14325 N. 79th St. | Suite A, Scottsdale AZ, 85260
We will once again be hosting our WHITE ELEPHANT Exchange! A white elephant gift exchange is a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities, but there is NO NEED to go out and buy a gift - rather we encourage you to find something fun, even wacky, that you already own and would like to re-gift! ($10-15 value limit)
Event contribution is $18 per person (payable by cash or card at venue) and includes German holiday-themed finger foods and a beverage (wine, beer, or N/A beverage). This can be paid in cash or credit card at the venue. (Cash bar available for additional beverages.)
Worldly Women Collective: November Volunteer Activity
Join the Worldly Women Collective and United Food Bank this season of giving to help pack emergency food bags for those in need on:
Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm
United Food Bank Volunteer Center | 358 E Javelina Ave Mesa, AZ 85210
Volunteers will be packing emergency food bags. You can expect lots of walking and lifting of 10-12 pound bags or sorting of food drive donations into boxes.
Please only sign up for this event via the sign up link above if you plan to attend. Registration closes on Wednesday, November 22.
*Registration is limited to 25 volunteers.*
Please wear closed-toed shoes and athletic-type clothing.
Worldly Women Collective Monthly Meet Up - Women in Stem: Careers in Healthcare Technology
In partnership with ASU’s School of International Letters & Cultures, the Embassy of Germany, and Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU, please join us for a special meet up of the Worldly Women Collective focused on:
WOMEN IN STEM: Careers in Healthcare Technology
featuring a special exhibit “Women in Science” of German heritage & language by the Embassy of Germany
& special guest speaker, Amy Walters of City of Hope Cancer Center
Light appetizers generously provided
thanks to a grant from the Embassy of Germany in Washington to ASU’s School of International Letters & Cultures.
Is this your first event with the Worldly Women Collective? Use the one-time free code at registration: TryWWC. (Code is case sensitive.)
About the Featured Speaker
Amy Walters | Vice President, Product Operations, Innovation & Digital Strategy for City of Hope
Amy Walters is a trailblazer who has carved a path for herself in the male dominated information technology industry over the last 20 years. She has spent the last 12 years with City of Hope, formerly Cancer Treatment Centers of America and is currently the Vice President of Product Operations on the Innovation and Digital Strategy team. During her tenure, Amy has been promoted 6 times and has led transformational organization change by enabling cutting edge technology to improve the overall patient experience and enhance health outcomes. She has managed global technical teams which have spanned across the United States, Argentina, Belarus, India, Israel, Philippines, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine. Amy is a board member for the Arizona Technology Council, a member of the Thunderbird Global Alumni Network Advisory Council for the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a member of the Healthcare and Phoenix Innovation Advisory Councils for Vation
Ventures which nurtures startup technology organizations. Amy also proudly serves as a board member and a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters Arizona, a board member for Arizona Assistance in Healthcare, a committee member for Make-a-Wish, a committee member for the American Cancer Society, and a volunteer for the Nick Lowery Foundation (Champions for the Homeless). Lastly, Amy has received notable awards for her career success and dedication to giving back in the community. She was chosen as a Health Care Hero (Non-Physician category winner, 2022), Most Admired Leader (2021), Outstanding Woman in Business (2020) and 40 under 40 (2019) all for the Phoenix Business Journal, one of the Top 25 Women in Technology for Mission Critical Magazine (2021), and one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona including receiving the Innovator Spotlight award for AZ Business Magazine (2022).
About the Worldly Women Collective
The Worldly Women Collective (WWC) is an inclusive space where globally-minded women of the Greater Phoenix area can come together to make new connections, collaborate, socialize, and empower one another outside of standard networking circles. We aim to share experiences across cultures, strategies and support to navigate careers, form collaborations in benefit of the betterment of our communities, and help each other in advancing our professional or personal goals. Participating women come from a variety of origins, languages, backgrounds, and ages. The diversity of our group allows us to share unique perspectives with one another; sharing and learning powerful new lessons, and helping us to become better local and global citizens.
Is this your first event with the Worldly Women Collective? Use the one-time free code at registration: TryWWC. (Code is case sensitive.)
CHINA Town Hall
Current U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns will be the featured speaker for CHINA Town Hall 2023, a national conversation on how the U.S.-China relationship affects our communities. From trade, tech competition, and fentanyl to climate cooperation, national security, and anti-Asian racism, the future of both countries will be determined by their relations with one another and the global community.
Join us for the local viewing and commentary on the nationwide virtual conversation on Tuesday, October 24 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm MST, followed by a local discussion from 5:00 - 6:00 pm MST.
As America’s top diplomat in China and one of the U.S.’ most articulate foreign policy experts, Ambassador Burns is uniquely suited to unpack the challenges and opportunities for both countries as they confront the most critical issues of the 21st century.
Networking reception to follow CHINA Town Hall at Thunderbird Pub from 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm. Light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages provided.
*Local featured speakers to be announced soon! Stay tuned!
Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to China
Nicholas Burns is U.S. Ambassador to China. Nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, he was sworn into office on December 22, 2023.
As Ambassador, he leads a team of experienced, dedicated, and diverse public servants from 47 U.S. government agencies and sub-agencies at the U.S. Mission in China, including at the Embassy in Beijing and at the American Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenyang. He oversees the Mission’s interaction with the PRC on the full range of political, security, economic, commercial, consular, and many other issues that shape this critical relationship.
Ambassador Burns has had a distinguished career in American diplomacy, serving six U.S. Presidents and nine Secretaries of State over 27 years. His State Department roles have included Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the State Department’s third-ranking official and most senior career diplomat (2005-2008); U.S. Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005); U.S. Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001); and State Department spokesman (1995-1997). Before that, he worked at the National Security Council at the White House (1990-1995) where he served as Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs and as Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush during the collapse of the USSR.
Ambassador Burns’ engagement with China also spans decades.
He first visited the PRC in 1988, accompanying Secretary of State George Shultz, and then again in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush. He made subsequent visits with Secretaries Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright, including during the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the PRC in 1997. As Under Secretary of State, he worked with the PRC government on a diverse range of issues, including Afghanistan, North Korea, United Nations sanctions against Iran and U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. As a private citizen, he also created and managed an Aspen Strategy Group policy dialogue with the PRC government’s Central Party School.
Ambassador Burns has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, and has received fifteen honorary degrees, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, and the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.
A graduate of Boston College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Ambassador Burns is currently on a public service leave from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where he was the Goodman Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations and founded the school’s Future of Diplomacy Project.
Presenting Panelists
Dr. Brian J. Dille
Brian Dille grew up in Southeastern Idaho where he tired of the constant snow and wind. After attending college at Brigham Young University in Utah, he attended graduate school at Arizona State University. There he received a Ph.D. in Political Science, emphasizing the political psychology of foreign policy decision-making.
He has taught political science at Mesa Community College since 1999. In addition to teaching courses in world politics and American government, he directs the Model United Nations program and hosts a high school MUN conference every February.
He published a textbook for Model UN designed to be used by high school and community college students. He also published Arizona Voices, a textbook on the state’s history and government.
While brought to Arizona by his wife, Brian has developed a love for the state’s beauties and people. He is happy that his four children are 5th-generation Arizona natives. He enjoys hiking, archery, running & biking.
Dr. Stephen MacKinnon
Trained in Chinese Studies at Yale and the University of California, MacKinnon is an emeritus professor of History and former Director of the Center for Asian Studies at Arizona State University. He taught courses on the history of the People's Republic of China for thirty years. His first trip to mainland China was in 1972, meeting with Premier Zhou Enlai and others. Along with numerous articles and book chapters, he is the author of Power and Politics in Late Imperial China (1981); China Reporting: An Oral History of American Journalism in the 1930s and 1940s (1987); Agnes Smedley: Life and Times of an American Radical (1988); Wuhan, 1938: War, Refugees, and Making of Modern China (2008). MacKinnon has lived and taught extensively throughout China and in institutions across the United States on U.S.-China relations.
Dr. Jeffrey Timmermans
Dr. Jeffrey Timmermans is the Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism and director of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism. He has more than two decades of experience as a financial journalist and journalism educator, having worked as a reporter in Tokyo for The Wall Street Journal and as a managing editor for Dow Jones Newswires in Hong Kong and Singapore. He also worked for Bain & Company, leading the global strategy consulting firm's public-relations efforts in Asia. Timmermans joined ASU Cronkite in 2021 from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he served for more than 10 years as the director of HKU’s undergraduate journalism program and was an elected member of HKU Senate. In that time, Timmermans developed a comprehensive postgraduate business-journalism curriculum widely considered the best in Asia and taught news reporting and economics to undergraduates. He also founded a successful media consulting firm with multinational clients including JPMorganChase, Credit Suisse, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), CBRE, and Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. A former governor of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong, Timmermans served from 2014 to 2021 as Head of Judges for the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards, the region’s preeminent awards for journalism. He has a B.A. from Colgate University, a M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a Ph.D. from The University of Hong Kong. He is married with one exceptionally precocious daughter and is proud to be a Sun Devil with Lion Rock spirit.
Global Citizens' Coffee Circle
Join us for a morning coffee hour to welcome a delegation of visiting leaders from around the world focused on Transparency & Accountability in Government.
Coffee and pastries provided for attendees.
Event Agenda:
8:00 AM | Arrivals and mingling
8:15 AM | Brief Speaking Program
Opening Remarks from Global Ties Arizona | Kristin Allen, Executive Director, Global Ties Arizona
Welcome on behalf of the City of Scottsdale | Jackie Johnson, Diversity Director, City of Scottsdale
Special Remarks from Arizona State Representative, Justin Wilmeth (District 15)
Introduction of Distinguished Visiting Leaders traveling through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program* | Paige Holtsclaw, IVLP Program Officer, Global Ties Arizona
8:45 AM | Continued mingling and visitation amongst guests
10:00 AM | Event Conclusion
*Delegates and countries represented:
African Union - Ms. Isuan Mary Funke AGBEBAKU IZOBO, Legal Advisor - African Peer Review Mechanism, African Union
Albania - Ms. Klesta Hysi, Lecturer Faculty of Law, University of Tirana
Australia - Ms. Sumeyya Illanbey, Journalist, The Age
Bulgaria - Ms. Diana Vasileva EFTIMOVA, Chair of the Board, Institute for Public Environment Development
Croatia - Mr. Filip SUSAC, Deputy Mayor, City of Vukovar
Egypt - Mr. Mohamed Yehia Hussien Mohamed AZMY, Senator, Egyptian House of Senators
Estonia - Mr. Karl Sander KASE, Head of Communications, Pro Patria Party
Lebanon - Mr. Ziad MIKATI, Senior Public Policy Analyst, Office of the Lebanese Prime Minister
Nepal - Mr. Pradeep Pariyar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu
Palestinian Territories - Mrs. Rana ALRISHMAWI, News Editor and Programs Host, Maan News Agency
Saudi Arabia - Mr. Mahdi Ali M ALDAWOOD, Commercial Director, LaPrairie Group of Companies
South Africa - Mr. Khume, Member of Provincial Legislature, Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Sri Lanka - Mr. Charana Lakpriya KANANKEGAMAGE, Attorney-at-law, Self-Employed
Taiwan - Mr. Chih Hung LIN, Councilor, Kaohsiung City Council
Thailand - Mr. Kittidej CHANTANGKUL, Director, Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago - Ms. Jeniece SCOTT, Local Government Councilor, Ministry of Rural Development
Tunisia - Ms. Fadoua EL OUNI, Project Officer, Carter Center
Tunisia - Mr. Anis WAHABI, Co-Founder and Associate Certified Public Accountant at Consultancy Firm AWT
Zimbabwe - Ms. Simangele MOYO NYEDE, Senior Research Officer, Mass Public Opinion Institute
*some participants not publicly identified
PLEASE SEE HERE FOR PARKING INFORMATION
SkySong: ASU's Scottsdale Innovation Campus (Building 3 | Room: Synergy II (Ground floor)) | 1365 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Transatlantic Perspectives
Join us in welcoming 12 European leaders from 12 countries for a discussion about foreign policy issues concerning Europe and the United States including the changing roles of international organizations, trade trends, counter-terrorism and security, and more.
Global Ties Arizona is pleased to partner with Treffpunkt, Alliance Française of Greater Phoenix, and the Italian Association of Arizona for this event.
The event is free admission, though food and beverage will be available for a charge and is payable at the event. The pricing is as follows:
German buffet with 1 non-alcoholic beverage = $20
German buffet with 1 alcoholic beverage = $25
Additional beverages or beverages without buffet may be purchased separately
Delegates & countries represented:
Austria - Ms. Siobhan Kathleen GEETS, Editor/Reporter at Foreign Affairs Desk, Profil
Germany - Ms. Britta JACOB, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for International and European Union Affairs, Greens National Party Headquarters
Ireland - Ms. Caitriona HEINL, Executive Director, The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy
Italy - Mr. Pierluigi TESTA, Founder and Chairman, Rome-based think tank Trinita’ dei Monti
Republic of North Macedonia - Mr. Vlado MISAJLOVSKI, Member of Parliament, Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia
Republic of Turkiye - Ms. Muzeyyen Hilal SARI, Foreign News and Economy Editor, DUNYA daily Economics & Supplements
Romania - Ms. Carmen Marinela GAVRILA, Foreign & European Affairs Senior Correspondent – News and Current Affairs Department, Radio Romania – The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
Serbia - Mr. Nikola STOJANOVIC, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Serbia, Office of the Prime Minister, Government of Serbia
Slovak Republic - Mr. Robert ZOLAK, Foreign news editor, TV TA3
United Kingdom - Mr. Hudson ROE, Special Adviser, Conservative Campaign HQ
*some participants are not identified
Worldly Women Collective September Meet Up: OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION
Celebrate Oktoberfest with the Worldly Women Collective at Treffpunkt!
Tuesday, September 26th | 5:30-7:30 pm at Treffpunkt
14325 N 79th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
There will be a $15 entrance fee at the door that covers light appetizers and one non-alcoholic beverage.
Alcohol can be bought at your own expense.
Global to Local: Workforce Trends That Will Shape Arizona
Global Ties Arizona in collaboration with Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, presents:
JOIN US ON:
Tuesday, September 19th | 2:00 to 5:00 PM
ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law - Great Hall
111 E. Taylor Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
In-person and Online at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89290960212
for a dynamic forum exploring issues and opportunities for Arizona’s rapidly evolving labor force, its place in the global market, and key impacts on business owners, employees, and citizens.
WITH FEATURED SPEAKER:
Kevin Cassidy of the
United Nations’ International Labour Organization
Kevin Cassidy is Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods & Multilateral Organizations, United Nations’ International Labour Organization Office for the United States & Canada.
Event Agenda
1:45 pm | Registration & Check In
2:00 pm | Welcome by Global Ties Arizona & ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
2:15 pm | Keynote Remarks by Kevin Cassidy
3:00 pm | Panel 1: Women at Work Today: Employment Gains & Obstacles
4:00 pm | Panel 2: AI in the Workplace: Challenges & Opportunities
5:00 pm | Conclusion of Forum
Women at Work Today: Employment Gains & Obstacles Panelists
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching implications for economies and societies worldwide. One of the most pressing issues it has brought to the forefront is the impact on women's employment. This panel discussion delves into the multifaceted challenges and opportunities surrounding women's participation in the post-COVID workforce. Our expert panelists will provide insights into the unique obstacles faced by women, offer potential solutions, and discuss the importance of gender equity in the recovery process.
AI in the Workplace: Challenges & Opportunities Panelists
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the workplace and revolutionizing hiring practices. This panel discussion will explore the profound impact of AI on businesses, employees, and job seekers. Our panel of experts will offer an overview of the potential of AI in the workplace, with an emphasis on the opportunities and legal risks of employment discrimination in decision-making.
Join us for a Networking Reception at the Thunderbird Pub from 5:30-7:30 pm following the forum.
This forum is free and open to all and is offered in-person and online.
The link to join the virtual event will be available upon registration, and the event will also be live-streamed via the Global Ties Arizona YouTube channel.
Global Ties Arizona believes that this discussion forum may qualify for up to 2.5 hours of CLE "Continuing Legal Education" credit.
The forum may be defined as an Interactive CLE and meets content, program, and setting standards. Click here for more information and further description. Certificates will be provided upon request from attendees and learning materials will be available at the event.
Keynote Speaker & Moderator
Kevin Cassidy
Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods & Multilateral Organizations
International Labour Organization
Kevin Cassidy holds nearly four decades of international development experience and is currently the Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United States.
Mr. Cassidy has worked in several UN offices during his career including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on the issue of landmines, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Ban Ki-moon), the UN Department of Public Information and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), New York.
Panelists - Women at Work Today: Employment Gains & Obstacles
Vanessa Garcia
Managing Partner & Executive Recruiter
Performant Scout
First-generation Dominican American and Penn State graduate, Vanessa studied abroad in Sydney, Australia where she was inspired to be a lifelong learner with a passion for contributing to diverse communities. After a unique opportunity working in luxury goods sales on cruise ships in the Caribbean, in 2012 she joined a local recruiting firm. Vanessa and her business partner, Stacey Rouse, then launched Performant Scout in 2015 to take advantage of their vision, passion, strategic collaboration and deep experience in the executive search space.
Ashley V Kelly
Sr. Business Consultant & Vice President
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Ashley Kelly has over 19 years in business and commercial banking. Within her line of business, she focuses on supporting Minority, Women and Veteran-owned businesses. The mission is to establish a community of support designed to address the challenges that small businesses face: lack of access to information, procurement opportunities, and access to capital through 1:1 Mentoring. She is helping to advance racial equity by supporting underserved small businesses in the Phoenix community with tools and resources to help them improve their financial wellbeing.
Ashley has spent most of that time working with business owners and creating opportunities for those companies.
Marian Zapata-Rossa
Partner & Employment Attorney
Snell & Wilmer
Marian defends emplyers against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, and represents emplyers in disputes involving employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and non-compete agreements. She also advises emplyers on al aspects of the emplyer-employee relationship with a focus on providing clients with business-oriented solutions to identisy and midigate ricks and support diversity and inclusion.
Panelists - AI in the Workplace: Challenges & Opportunities
Dr. Charla Griffy-Brown
Vice Dean & Professor of Global Digital Transformation
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Dr. Charla Griffy-Brown is an accomplished professor, board member, and consultant who leads transformational change. She works extensively in digital innovation, helping organizations leverage new opportunities through analytics, risk evaluation, and emerging technology deployment to achieve their strategic objectives. She also has extensive experience working with executives in information security. Her track record includes working with C-level executives and boards for public and private companies across different verticals, including manufacturing and services industries. Having lived and worked extensively in the Asia-Pacific region, she brings a global perspective enabling her to engage with executives to identify and solve mission-critical problems as well as design strategy.
Minky Kernacs
CEO and Co-founder
Mercurio Analytics
Minky Kernacs is the CEO and co-founder of Mercurio Analytics, a data management and analytics company focusing on helping government agencies address social challenges such as homelessness, addiction, and trafficking. With over 20 years of experience delivering mission-critical solutions to organizations globally, including the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Nike, JDA Software, and Orbital Sciences, Minky is recognized as a thought leader, technologist, and speaker in AI, data science, governance, and information security. Her passion for leveraging data to address societal challenges has earned her a reputation as a visionary leader. Minky's expertise and commitment to excellence inspire innovation, enabling Mercurio Analytics to provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to diverse global needs.
Melissa L. Shingles
Attorney at Law
Littler Mendelson
Melissa L. Shingles is an attorney in the Phoenix office of Littler Mendelson, the largest global employment and labor law practice devoted exclusively to representing management. Melissa represents and counsels management in traditional labor law matters as well as in all aspects and stages of employment litigation, arbitration and mediation, including claims involving federal and state statutes related to discrimination and harassment, retaliation/whistleblowing, wrongful discharge, unfair competition, and trade secrets and restrictive covenants. Melissa also assists companies in developing employee handbooks and policies to comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
Thank you to the following partners for supporting this event.
Interested in sponsoring our event? Please contact Kristin Allen at kristin@globaltiesarizona.org for sponsorship opportunities.
Worldly Women Collective August Meet Up hosts Mandela Washington Fellows
Join the Worldly Women Collective for the August Monthly Meet Up at Thunderbird School of Global Management!
During the month of August, Global Ties Arizona will host two Mandela Washington fellows from Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau for a professional development fellowship, and they will share their experiences and learnings with the Worldly Women Collective.
Evening's Agenda:
5:30 PM | Arrivals and Welcome by Global Ties Arizona
5:40 PM | Special Speakers: Mandela Washington Fellows
Special Video Remarks from Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau
6:30 PM | Mingling at Thunderbird Pub
7:30 PM | Event conclusion
Young Diplomats Program: Connect with Young African Leaders
We invite you to come meet and mingle with young leaders visiting from African nations (Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, and more!) that will share more about their countries, the work they are doing to impact their communities and hear from them how you can make a difference in your community and the world!
City Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff of Glendale will welcome everyone and join us for the event.
We hope that you will join us to put the diplomacy skills you learned in June into action once again and help represent Arizona with our visitors from Africa! Light refreshments will be provided. This is a free event!
This event is for 10th-12th grade students from high schools across The Valley
Meet the Fellows!
Aua Jau
Aua Jau is a Social and Human Rights Advocate in Guinea-Bissau - West Africa as well as a Co-Founder and the Executive Secretary of the Guinean Association for Fighting Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking – AGLUCOMI-TSH.
Graduated in International Relations, Aua is currently the Head of the Political Section and Social & Charity Actions at the South African Embassy in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Before that, she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in her Home Country. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Aua plans to create a Foundation that will promote children's development and fulfill their rights and carries out actions with a direct impact on children and their communities.
Souhaib Ali Youssouf
Souhaib Ali Youssouf is a young African leader from Djibouti focused on education literacy. At age twenty-five, Souhaib is also a poet and translator in 4 languages. He aspires to explore the power of inclusion and diversity within his community as an author of poems. He believes that social entrepreneurship skills play a pivotal role in solving social problems in his community.
As the founder of a literary organization, Souhaib has accumulated over seven years of experience in literature and culture. He has actively contributed to the promotion of literature and the nurturing of cultural activities in his community by authoring two books and co-founding two literary associations in Djibouti. Additionally, he works as a trainer and is employed at Tamini Insurance. Souhaib holds a master's degree in English Literature which was earned through the desire to serve and make a lasting impact on the Djiboutian community. Souhaib's passion for literature, dedication to promoting education literacy, and commitment to social entrepreneurship exemplify his drive to create positive change in Djibouti. By harnessing the power of words and cultural activities, he seeks to uplift his community and tackle social issues effectively.
Jeremiah Thoronka
Jeremiah Thoronka is an innovator, Entrepreneur, and Scholar with intimate knowledge of energy, climate change, environment, sustainability, and development. In 2021, he was laureate of the inaugural Global Student Prize, Africa Youth, and Young Innovator of the Year. He is also a laureate of the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work - Africa and was listed among the 100 Most Influential Africans. He is cited for demonstrating outstanding excellence in innovating Clean Energy Systems, promoting Locally Sustainable Solutions, and Youth involvement in Sustainable Development Goals. He holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Sustainability, Energy, and Development from Durham University as a Commonwealth Shared Scholar and a Bachelor's (BA Hons) degree in Global Challenges from the African Leadership University.
Worldly Women Collective May Monthly Meet-Up at NOVLE!
Join the Worldly Women Collective for the May Monthly Meet-Up at NOVLE!
The group will hear from a representative from Adelante Healthcare who will present about the status of women's health in our community and vaccinations.
Thank you to Novle Community Activators for hosting, and Adelante Healthcare for sponsoring food and beverage.
Additionally, we will be joined by visiting entrepreneurial fellows (men & women) being hosted by Global Ties Arizona from May to June. Participants hail from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, and Venezuela. Come meet the fellows!
About the Worldly Women Collective
The Worldly Women Collective (WWC) is an inclusive space where globally-minded women of the Greater Phoenix area can come together to make new connections, collaborate, socialize, and empower one another outside of standard networking circles. We aim to share experiences across cultures, strategies and support to navigate careers, form collaborations in benefit of the betterment of our communities, and help each other in advancing our professional or personal goals. Participating women come from a variety of origins, languages, backgrounds, and ages. The diversity of our group allows us to share unique perspectives with one another; sharing and learning powerful new lessons, and helping us to become better local and global citizens.
*Save the Date: Our June monthly meet-up will be on Wednesday, June 28th.*
Is this your first event with the Worldly Women Collective? Use the one-time free code at registration: TryWWC.
Worldly Women April Monthly Meet Up
Join the Worldly Women Collective for the April Monthly Meet Up at Testal Mexican Kitchen!
Meet and mingle with globally-minded ladies looking to expand their professional and personal networks through positive interactions with women from across diverse cultures and backgrounds. You will undoubtedly make new connections and probably put any second (or more!) language skills you have to good use!
Burritos with chips and salsa generously provided by Testal Mexican Kitchen (limited number). Beverage and all other menu purchases must be made on your own.
About the Worldly Women Collective
The Worldly Women Collective (WWC) is an inclusive space where globally-minded women of the Greater Phoenix area can come together to make new connections, collaborate, socialize, and empower one another outside of standard networking circles. We aim to share experiences across cultures, strategies and support to navigate careers, form collaborations in benefit of the betterment of our communities, and help each another in advancing our professional or personal goals. Participating women come from a variety of origins, languages, backgrounds, and ages. The diversity of our group allows us to share unique perspectives with one another; sharing and learning powerful new lessons, and helping us to become better local and global citizens.
Is this your first event with the Worldly Women Collective?
Use the one-time free code at registration: TryWWC.
Global Citizens' Coffee Circle
On April 6th, join us for a morning coffee hour to welcome a delegation of 21 emerging leaders from around the world focused on Transparency & Accountability in Government.
Delegates visiting from Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Republic of Kosovo, Liberia, Malawi, Moldova, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of North Macedonia, South Sudan, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Trinidad & Tobago, and Tunisia will be joining us for our coffee circle!
You'll get the opportunity to connect with international leaders in government, policy advocacy, journalism, law enforcement and NGOs.
We hope to see you there.
***
*Thank you to the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program for sponsoring this event.*
Global Ties Arizona proudly implements the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, bringing hundreds of current and emerging leaders across industries from around the world to meet their counterparts in Arizona, exchange best practices, and make lasting connections.
Donations to Global Ties Arizona, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, are appreciated.