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          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.

          06/18/2025

          11:30am - 1:00pm

          Fairmont Copley Plaza

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          Talent and Competitiveness in 2025: Finding Opportunity in Uncertain Times

          Join the Chamber and Massachusetts Business Roundtable for a deep dive into employer insights, featuring analysis from McKinsey and a panel of experts.

          06/26/2025

          11:00am - 12:00pm

          Virtual

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          Doing Business with Mass General Brigham

          Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on June 26, 2025.

          06/26/2025

          1:00pm - 2:00pm

          Virtual

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          Boston’s Future Leaders

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          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

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          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

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          BIMA

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          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

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Boston Chamber
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          Women's Network
          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.

          06/18/2025

          11:30am - 1:00pm

          Fairmont Copley Plaza

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Special Event
          Talent and Competitiveness in 2025: Finding Opportunity in Uncertain Times

          Join the Chamber and Massachusetts Business Roundtable for a deep dive into employer insights, featuring analysis from McKinsey and a panel of experts.

          06/26/2025

          11:00am - 12:00pm

          Virtual

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Pacesetters
          Doing Business with Mass General Brigham

          Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on June 26, 2025.

          06/26/2025

          1:00pm - 2:00pm

          Virtual

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
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          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
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          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
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          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
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Women's Network logo

2022 Pinnacle Awards

March 3, 2022 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

Event Details

  • For a second year, we have expanded the festivities to a two-day hybrid celebration. On Thursday, March 3, we streamed workshops and fireside chats featuring prominent leaders and relevant content.
  • Then, on Friday, March 4, we officially hosted our 2022 Pinnacle Awards Luncheon. We celebrated our honorees for their commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

Tickets

  • Early Bird Registration Happening Now for 2023!

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Pinnacle Awards is the premier event for women in business, and honors incredible leading women for their outstanding contributions to the workplace and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region. This year, women in Greater Boston have once again shown their resiliency and commitment to success despite national and global crises. We’ll gather more than 1,200 attendees to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our honorees.
Learn About Women’s Network

Questions?

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Staff
Danielle Dorey

Vice President, Programs

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Danielle

Watch the 2022 Pinnacle Awards Now

The 28th annual Pinnacle Awards in-person ceremony at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport on March 4, 2022.

Empowering Leadership virtual workshop with Susan Loconto Penta, Julie Livingstone, Jennifer Harrington, and Pam Everhart.

Overcoming Burnout virtual workshop with Mekala Krishnan.

Moving Up: The Importance of Authentically Bringing With, Rather Than leaving Behind virtual workshop with Bernadine Desanges.

Managing & Mentoring a Hybrid Workforce workshop with Rosanne Williams, Angela Colon-Mahoney, Sanam Razzaghi Feldman, and Mareshia Donal

View Album

Thursday, March 3, 2022 Agenda – Virtual Workshops

  • 11:30 a.m.- 12:10 p.m. | Empowering Leadership

    Virtual Platform
    Baby boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials continue to make changes within the modern workforce. Working with and supporting women across generations creates a positive ripple effect for different perspectives, skills, and collaborative relationships. Join our past Pinnacle Award honorees Jennifer Harrington of HATCH Marketing LLC, Pam Everhart of Fidelity Investments, Julie Livingstone of The HYM Investment Group, LLC, and Susan Loconto Penta of MIDIOR Consulting who will share helpful insight on their career and life paths, lessons learned, and tips on how women like you can become future Pinnacle award winners.

  • 11:30 a.m.- 12:10 p.m. | Overcoming Burnout

    Virtual Platform
    The pandemic and remote work has affected our workforce in many ways. Longer hours combined with the stress of the pandemic turned into burnout and a decline in motivation. Some women joined what has been coined the “great resignation” and are pursuing other careers, are struggling to balance childcare and work, and/or are feeling a lack of purpose in their jobs. Join us as Dr. Mekala Krishnan discusses research on the effects of burnout, how to inspire and lead women who have thought about seeking other job opportunities, and ways to reinvigorate passion when it comes to work.

  • 12:20 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. | Moving Up: The Importance of Authentically Bringing With, Rather Than Leave Behind

    Virtual Platform
    Join Bernadine Desanges, CEO of Know your Truths. Speak Your Truths., LLC, a consulting company and brand committed to curating brave spaces that empower individuals, organizations, and corporations to engage in difficult dialogues, as she leads this workshop which will lean in on the importance of participants unapologetically elevating the “you” that they already are! Too often, moving up, has also meant leaving valuables behind. Truth is, although influenced by professional and social culture; who and what is left behind, always come down to personal choice! The reasons why we opt-in or opt-out of making such choices, are what this session will focus on.

    Holding a space for introspective reflection on one’s journey of professional and personal growth and contributions; participants will be provided with tools to implement cultural accountability and share in affirmations pertinent to one’s life. There is always a need to encourage and be encouraged to remember the power and strength in unapologetically showing up as you are, while leading the way for others to do the same.

  • 12:20 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. | Managing & Mentoring a Hybrid Workforce

    Virtual Platform
    The past two year has made ‘working remotely’ the new normal. With the help of platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack and Zoom, we have been able to stay in touch with our colleagues and cultivate virtual relationships. Mentoring, a usually in-person occurrence, has also shifted to adjust to the new norm. But with more companies issuing flexible return to office policies, finding a balance between in-office and virtual employees has become a new issue that many are trying to solve. How can we take the lessons we learned from the virtual workforce, and apply them to the new ever changing hybrid workforce?

    With guidance from experts, join us on to examine overall recommendations for how to build a stronger hybrid workforce, virtually mentor and manage a hybrid office.

Featured Speakers

Susan Loconto Penta

Managing Partner & Co-Founder MIDIOR Consulting

Susan Loconto Penta is an engineer, entrepreneur, educator and consultant with a passion for products, technology and teams that has underscored her 33-year career….Read more
Susan Loconto Penta is an engineer, entrepreneur, educator and consultant with a passion for products, technology and teams that has underscored her 33-year career. In her capacity as Co-Founder and Managing Partner at MIDIOR, Susan oversees the delivery of professional services and MIDIOR’s operations. For her clients, Susan is uniquely able to cross organizational and cultural boundaries to facilitate a common product and technology perspective, inspire innovative thinking, optimize organization output and improve financial performance. For 18 years, Susan has also served as an Executive Professor on the adjunct faculty at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business as well as in Northeastern’s Corporate Education programs where she teaches graduate courses in entrepreneurship and innovation. Susan is a frequent speaker on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship and product organizations. Susan is an active supporter of non-profit organizations in the Boston area with a particular focus at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship and disadvantaged populations. Susan currently serves as a Director and immediate past Chairman of the Board for the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE), as Trustee and past Chairman of the Board for Schools for Children, as an active member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Advisory Board, as a trustee with the Children’s Trust, as the Chair of PDMA’s Webcast Committee and as a Program Committee member for The Possible Project. Susan is a founding member of WPI’s Women’s Impact Network (WIN), was a founding board member for WPI’s Collaborative for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and has served on the Management Executive Council for WPI’s Foisie Business School and the Technology Advisors Network. Susan also serves as an advisor to The Third Piece, a retail store and internet property focused on women’s high end accessories and fashion. In the past, Susan served as Treasurer, Chair of Finance and Trustee for Belmont Day School, as Director on the International Board of Directors for the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), as President of the New England Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) and as a Trustee for the Healthworks Foundation. Susan has received multiple awards including, in 2017, the Center for Women & Enterprise Advocate of the Year award and in 2016, the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Achievement in Entrepreneurship from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Other past awards include in 2004, being named to the Boston Business Journal’s “40 under 40” and in 2001, receiving the Ichabod Washburn Young Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from WPI. Prior to founding MIDIOR, Susan held founding, executive, product management and engineering roles at companies including MODA Systems, IDEAssociates, Alcatel and Sprague Electric Company. Susan holds a BSEE degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and an MBA from The CASS Business School in London, England. When not supporting a MIDIOR client or one of her favorite non-profits, Susan can be found outside, in an exercise class or in her kitchen, testing and optimizing recipes.

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Julie Livingstone

Senior Development Manager The HYM Investment Group, LLC

Julie Livingstone is a Senior Development Manager at The HYM Investment Group, LLC, a real estate company in downtown Boston. She is responsible for over $500M of…Read more
Julie Livingstone is a Senior Development Manager at The HYM Investment Group, LLC, a real estate company in downtown Boston. She is responsible for over $500M of development work in Boston. She is dedicated to creating dynamic places to live and grow and make memories. Before joining HYM, Julie was Deputy Chief of Staff at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and worked on national service strategy and operations as an Eli Segal Fellow from the Office of the CEO at the Corporation for National and Community Service in D.C. She also served as an AmeriCorps NCCC member in Gulf Coast communities after Hurricane Katrina. Julie has a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT and a Masters in Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2019, Julie was recognized by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce as the Emerging Executive Pinnacle Award Recipient. She is a member, and former Advisory Board member, of the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program, previously served as a Board member of the Massachusetts Service Alliance and is currently on the Board of the Commonwealth Children’s Center. Julie, her husband, and their two boys live in Boston.

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Jennifer Harrington

President & Founder HATCH the Agency

Jen Harrington founded HATCH, a Boston-based branding + advertising agency in 2009. The agency works with leading brands such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Rapid7,…Read more
Jen Harrington founded HATCH, a Boston-based branding + advertising agency in 2009. The agency works with leading brands such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Rapid7, HP Hood, and Wellington Management to craft their story and build creative programs with measurable impact. More recently, her agency launched a new Talent practice to help clients access independent creative resources. Prior to HATCH, Jen was a managing partner at Trinity Communications, a financial services branding agency where she led account services and managed relationships with top-tier clients including John Hancock, Fidelity Investments, Lincoln Financial and Liberty Mutual. Jennifer is a committed corporate citizen and focuses her support on the arts and fair access to public education. She has served on the Foundation Board at Massachusetts College of Art & Design for more than a decade. She was appointed to the Governor’s Cultural Facilities Fund, whose grants create jobs in construction and cultural tourism. Previously, she served as a Foundation Board member and Marketing Committee Chair for the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, Boston’s only public school dedicated to the arts. During her tenure she was received the All-Star award for her philanthropic efforts to support the school. She serves on the Board of Advisors for Community Cooks and is currently captain for a team of cooks providing fresh meals to a local Transition Center. And she serves on the Corporate Executive Council for GBH, Boston’s local NPR producer and broadcaster. She has been recognized as one of Boston’s ‘40 under 40’ by the Boston Business Journal and in 2021 was awarded the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurship. Jennifer graduated from Boston University with a degree in Art History. She lives outside of Boston with her husband, a public school art and design teacher, and their four children.

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Pam Everhart

Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations Fidelity Investments

As a 26-year Fidelity Investments veteran with financial services expertise, Pamela Everhart is a senior vice president and Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community…Read more
As a 26-year Fidelity Investments veteran with financial services expertise, Pamela Everhart is a senior vice president and Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations in Fidelity’s Communications, Public Affairs and Policy Group. In this role, Pamela oversees the firm’s state and local government relationships, public affairs, and community relations activities at its Boston Headquarters and across Fidelity’s regions in the U.S. Pamela has led Fidelity’s efforts to deliver financial literary to hundreds of thousands of students in underserved communities in the regions where Fidelity has a footprint. Previously, Pamela led the firm’s advocacy strategy and engagement with government officials in Washington, DC on federal regulatory policy matters that could impact Fidelity’s ability to serve its clients and customers, its products and services, and the firm. Pamela has led Fidelity’s Personal Investing and Workplace Solutions business units’ external retirement and benefit policy development efforts, where she engaged and educated federal and state lawmakers and administrative officials on key policy issues and positions. She has managed the staff and budget of a 200+ compliance team for the firm’s retirement and HR outsourcing services and products provided to corporate, tax exempt and governmental employers. She has held the position of Associate General Counsel, responsible for legal issues arising from the company’s management of retirement plan assets, including application of federal tax laws, regulations, and rulings. Pamela is also a member of all of Fidelity’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and serves as Co-Executive Sponsor for Aspire (Fidelity’s Latino and Black ERG) and a Senior Advisor for the Women’s Leadership Group. Prior to joining Fidelity, Pamela was an associate with the global law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, concentrating in employee benefits and corporate tax matters. She also practiced as a certified public accountant and senior tax manager with EY. Pamela received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and aJuris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where she was an Asst. Managing Editor on the Harvard Women’s Law Journal and a Class Marshall. Pamela worked on the campaigns for former MA Governor Deval Patrick, President Barack Obama, Senator Kamala Harris, among others. Regarding professional affiliations, Pamela is admitted to practice law in MA and before the Supreme Court. She is a member of the MA Bar and the Texas Society of CPAs. She is a Governor-appointed member of the MA MassHire State Workforce Board, the MA Economic Development Council, and the MA Financial Services Advisory Council. She is also a member of the executive board of The New England Council. Pamela is Co- Chair of the Public Policy Leadership Council and a member of the Economic Opportunity Committee at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Senior Advisory Pamela has served as the mutual fund representative to the IRS Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee, where she advised senior IRS officials on a wide range of tax reporting issues. As a leader in the community, Pamela is one of the 19 MA Black and Brown executives who launched the “New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund” to help drive transformative social changes to address systemic racism and racial inequity and was appointed by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh to the Steering Committee member of the Boston Racial Equity Fund. Pamela is active in several community service organizations and sits on several not-for-profit boards, including the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Trustee Advisory Board, Harvard Law School Alumni Association, Association of Corporate Counsel Foundation, the Neighborhood House Charter School (life trustee), and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (overseer Emeriti). She’s also legislative chair of the Boston Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc. and an active member in the Girl Friends, Inc., and Circle-Lets, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pamela is a past member of the board of trustees of the Roxbury Latin School, past president of the Boston Chapter of Links, Inc., and a former president of the Houston Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants. Pamela is married and has two children.

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Mekala Krishnan Headshot
Mekala Krishnan

Partner McKinsey & Company

Dr. Mekala Krishnan is a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey’s business and economics research arm, based in Boston, MA. Mekala’s research…Read more
Dr. Mekala Krishnan is a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey’s business and economics research arm, based in Boston, MA. Mekala’s research has focused on various topics related to inclusive growth and economic development, including women’s role in labor markets, globalization, productivity growth in advanced economies and climate risk. Mekala is a frequent speaker on these topics as well as on broader global trends, and helps advise decision makers, multilaterals, private sector companies, and non-profits on these issues. She has authored numerous articles and her work has been cited in leading business publications, including The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. She co-leads MGI’s research on global gender equality and is an author of the MGI report “The Power of Parity: How advancing women’s equality can add $12 trillion to global growth” and “The future of women at work: Transitions in the age of automation”. She has provided research support to the UN’s High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Mekala is a member of a task force at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at Brookings focused on improving productivity measurement, serves on an advisory board for the Sibley School of Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University, and serves on the board of the Global Fund for Women, a leading public foundation dedicated to improving global gender equality.

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Bernadine Desanges

Founder & CEO Know Your Truths. Speak Your Truths., LLC

Bernadine is the founder & CEO of Know Your Truths. Speak Your Truths., LLC; a consulting company and brand committed to curating brave spaces that empower individuals,…Read more
Bernadine is the founder & CEO of Know Your Truths. Speak Your Truths., LLC; a consulting company and brand committed to curating brave spaces that empower individuals, organizations, and corporations to engage in difficult dialogues that lead to internal professional and personal shifts within inequitable infrastructures. She embarks on this work as a client-focused dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. Bernadine’s experience developing strategies to support the advancement and development of people of color inform her compassionate, yet critical approach of engagement. Driven to take a stand against perpetuating achievement, economic, and opportunity gaps further, Bernadine is fueled by leaders and organizations with deep commitments to understanding the power and influence of transparent introspection when discussing and determining solution-based practices that address systemic inequalities plaguing humanity in the workforce. Bernadine prioritizes authenticity, humility, and vulnerability from her clients and unapologetically vocalizes assumptions and perspectives people are often afraid to acknowledge publicly. Learn more about Bernadine and opportunities to work with her at BernadineTruth.com and follow her on Instagram, @Bernadinetruth.

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Roseanne Williams

Learning & Leadership Development Director Accenture

Rosanne Williams serves as a Learning and Leadership Development Director at Accenture, an organization with over 650,000 employees. She has spent her career driving…Read more
Rosanne Williams serves as a Learning and Leadership Development Director at Accenture, an organization with over 650,000 employees. She has spent her career driving innovation, thought leadership and impact in workforce development for organizations across industry sectors and geographies. Rosanne has spent her entire professional career at Accenture, first as a strategic advisor and transformational program lead to external clients, then as a leader in Accenture’s Talent organization, where she has spent the last 12+ years driving strategic initiatives to help people develop the capabilities they need to reach their potential. Rosanne has personally led a hybrid workforce for several years and draws on her experience as she helps business leaders discover, inspire and grow exceptional people in the new normal way of working. Rosanne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross, and an MBA from Boston University.

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Angela Colon-Mahoney

Vice President People and Business Services Otsuka

As the Vice President, Angela leads the enterprise in supporting all People and Business Services. Angela is driven by the belief that people can thrive and can…Read more
As the Vice President, Angela leads the enterprise in supporting all People and Business Services. Angela is driven by the belief that people can thrive and can achieve their professional ambitions while balancing work and family priorities. With this in mind, Angela works with her team to develop innovative programs, tools, opportunities, insights and support services geared toward overcoming current and future business challenges. Her approach to leading the function ensures alignment between individual contributions and broader business goals. With a focus on creating culture as a competitive advantage both for short-term and long-term business outcomes, Angela is helping Otsuka place a strategic focus on succession planning, organization design, and advanced human-capital practices. In addition to fostering a strong sense of mission and purpose, Angela focuses on building capabilities in people analytics, streamlining HR systems and enhancing business partner consultancy, talent and leadership development, change management, and organizational effectiveness. Before joining Otsuka in 2018, Angela served in a variety of senior roles, leading human resources and transformation at The Estée Lauder Companies, Unilever, Tyco and The City of New York, among others. She has coached CEOs and C-suite officers around the globe and established global centers of expertise in talent acquisition, talent management, learning and development, total rewards, and HR communications. Angela has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St John’s University and a Master of Science in Organization Change Management from The New School University, both in New York.

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Sanam Razzaghi Feldman

Vice President, People Strategy Rapid7

Sanam Razzaghi Feldman leads global people strategy and development initiatives across Rapid7 as the VP of People Strategy. In her role, she is responsible for driving…Read more
Sanam Razzaghi Feldman leads global people strategy and development initiatives across Rapid7 as the VP of People Strategy. In her role, she is responsible for driving the design and execution of talent strategies in a way that is tightly aligned with business goals and deeply rooted in Rapid7’s unique culture and core values. She joined the company in 2014 and has helped evolve the people focused strategies through a time of rapid growth, an IPO and multiple acquisitions. With the goal of creating a career experience of a lifetime, Sanam is passionate about developing leaders and teams that are agile and thrive in times of intense growth or transformation. Her expertise lies in leader development, team effectiveness, change management and organizational design. Prior to joining Rapid7, Sanam held leadership positions at the Walt Disney Company and Bank of America where she worked in various people strategy and leadership development roles helping teams optimize performance during periods of change and evolution. Earlier in her career, she built her talent and change management expertise as an organizational effectiveness consultant at Mercer and Towers Watson. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal and her Masters of Arts in Social Organizational Psychology from Columbia University in New York.

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Mareshia Donald

Associate Director, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Vertex

Mareshia Donald is Associate Director, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, MA. Prior to joining Vertex, Mareshia led the Summer…Read more
Mareshia Donald is Associate Director, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, MA. Prior to joining Vertex, Mareshia led the Summer Scholars and Postbaccalaureate Research InternShip & Mentoring (PRISM) Programs at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and Education and Diversity efforts for the Center on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems at MIT. Mareshia holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Brandeis University and Bachelors of Arts degrees in Neuroscience and Behavior & Language Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has served on the boards of the Association for Women in Science-Massachusetts Chapter, the Housing Corporation of Arlington and the Fisher Science Biology Program. She presently serves on the North Suburban YMCA Board of Advisors and WBUR’s Community Advisory Board–where she is also a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force.

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Friday, March 4, 2022 Agenda – In-Person Ceremony

  • 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. | Registration & Networking

    Find your name badge and enjoy coffee, tea, and mimosas while conversing with other guests.

  • 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. | 2022 Pinnacle Awards

    Celebrate our honorees while dining on a wonderful lunch!

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

450 Summer Street , Boston , MA , 02210

Get Directions

FAQs

  • WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY REGISTRATION?



    • Networking with the region’s top leaders, inspiration from our incredible honorees, and plated lunch and dessert with your choice of water, coffee, or tea.
    • Dietary restrictions? Please notify a server and they will be able to assist you.
    • If you choose to add on the virtual workshops, you will have access to all sessions offered on March 3rd!

  • WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

    An interest in connecting with professionals from all industries and career stages and a curiosity to learn from this year’s honorees.

  • WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

    Please come dressed for your day!

  • HOW DO I GET THERE?

    Virtual Workshops


    • You will be sent an access link closer to the event.

    In-Person Awards

    • For helpful tips on traveling to the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport click here.
    • The Omni Seaport is within walking distance of the MBTA’s North Station, Silver Line (Congress St @ World Trade Center Station).
    • Valet and self parking is available. We do not offer parking validation.

  • WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?

    For the Friday March 4th in person Awards Ceremony, registration & networking begins at 11:00 a.m. If you arrive earlier than 11:00 a.m., kudos to you for beating the traffic! The program will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m.

  • CAN I REGISTER AT THE EVENT OR DO I NEED TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE?

    Please resister in advance, tickets for the in person luncheon are limited and will sell out. Onsite registration will not be accepted.

  • COVID-19 POLICY (for in-person awards ceremony)


    • You are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the CDC.
    • You will wear a mask indoors when not eating or drinking.
    • You have not had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell that cannot be attributed to another health condition.
    • You have not had contact with a person known to be infected, potentially infected, or exposed to someone infected with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days. (Prior to the event date)

  • WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?

    All individual ticket cancellations and refund requests must be received at least seven (7) business days prior to the event to avoid being charged or to receive a refund. There are no cancellations permitted for any table sponsorship. There are no exceptions.

  • PRESS & MEDIA

    Press and media wishing to cover the Pinnacle Awards should RSVP to Casey Baines.

    Email Casey

Thank You Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts logo

Past Honoree Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Event Host

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport logo

All ticket cancellations and refund requests must be received at least seven (7) business days prior to the event to avoid being charged or to receive a refund. There are no cancellations permitted for any sponsorships. There are no exceptions.

In the case the Chamber cannot execute the in-person Awards Luncheon due to unforeseen circumstances and therefore must change to a virtual format, pricing will adjust and we will contact you on adjustments to your billing.

Accessibility

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, please let us know so that we can accommodate. If you have any questions about the venues, event formats, or virtual platform, please contact us at [email protected].

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Suite 1701
Boston, MA 02110
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