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Balancing The Conversation
March 27, 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for a very open and honest discussion around gender inequity and how to achieve parity. Inspired by the International Women’s Day theme of #BalanceForBetter, this will not be a one-sided dialogue, but rather an interactive guided discussion. Focused around a solutions-oriented exploration of the challenges that women address as they work toward success, the discussion will center on how to make industry and personal changes to push towards balance.
Moderator:
Mira Veda, CEO and Publisher, Lipstick & Politics
Panelists:
Jonathan Yaffe, CEO, AnyRoad
Jonathan believes in the power of leveraging data to understand how experiences affect behavior. He founded AnyRoad, the first ERM platform (experience relationship management) in order to turn experiences into data and analytics. He is the founder and headmaster of KAIS International School in Tokyo, a unique student-centered school with small classes, student-centered curriculum, students from 26 countries, and a track record of preparing leaders who think for themselves. KAIS provides international English-based education to students in grades K-12, and has been called the foremost boutique international school in Asia.
While living in Japan for ten years, Jonathan also co-founded the Mirai Institute, the first independent think tank in Japan, Midori.so, a network of creative incubators and co-working spaces, and three art galleries. He also serves on the board of Zero Gap, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in business. Jonathan has traveled to 94 countries, lived in Brazil, Colombia, Switzerland, the United States, and Japan, and is a sushi addict.
Chris Ruhl, Principal, PwC
Chris is a Principal in PwC’s Forensics Services practice based in the San Francisco office. With over 15 years of experience, Chris has led international teams focused on Corporate Investigations, License Management & Contract Compliance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Disputes, and Claims Settlements. As a technologist, Chris’s teams provide services leveraging analytics, artificial intelligence platforms and other technologies in concert with deep domain expertise to deliver value to clients.
Chris serves as a founding Co-Chair of the Bay Area Council’s Gender Equity Committee promoting gender equity to improve the economic vitality within Bay Area companies. He holds a Masters of Science in Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
Debbie Bernier, Luxury Property Specialist, Compass
“I’ve been living in Marin County for the past 12 years, although it feels like I was practicing to live here my entire life. Happily bringing my Midwestern salt to the West Coast, I try and infuse a little bit of real-world humor in the midst of all the sunshine and kale. I’ve spent the past six years building a successful real estate business that I am very proud of. However, when asked what my greatest success is, I can easily say it’s my 26 years of marriage to my best friend. Raising my almost 20 year old ranks right up there as well. Every day I try and fail at my attempts towards balance. The glue that holds everything together is my need for sleep and activity. At the end of the day, I decide what’s worth giving up sleep or yoga and the answer is usually ‘nothing.’ I’m passionate about having a career, free time, travel and hobbies. When I’m not working, I’m either binge watching a series on Netflix or head to toe in rhinestones drinking red wine.”