Speakers

Christina Rogers

Global Immigration and Onboarding Manager

Christina Rogers is a Workforce Development Professional with over 15 years’ experience in HR, managing predominantly Immigration and Onboarding functional areas. With career beginnings in HR Operations and Benefits within the Manufacturing and Automotive industries, her focus is in Immigration, Onboarding, Relocation and Compliance with concentration in employment immigration bringing a breadth of experience in sponsoring employees for permanent residence and temporary work visas.

Christina works hand-in-hand with internal clients to develop effective strategies for business immigration while ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations as required by immigration laws, the Labor Department and USCIS. With specialized knowledge of Onboarding and I-9 topics, she works closely with WFD personnel during the recruitment and hiring process and supports and advises on a variety of other topics in WFD.

Holding a BS in Business Administration and Management from Gwynedd Mercy University, Christina graduated magna cum laude and is a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society. She holds a U.S. Employment Immigration credential, HR Management certificate from Villanova University, Predictive Index certification and other non-job related certifications.

Christina is also an active member of the SEI Women’s Network board, participates in other programs and initiatives and has been active in community enhancements working towards bettering her local neighborhood. In her free time the focus is her family and she enjoys home renovations, refurbishing furniture, photography and creating works of art with oil paint.

Connect

Neha Gupta

Social entrepreneur, medical student, and human rights activist

Session Title

Empowered humans empower humans

Neha is a social entrepreneur, medical student, and human rights activist who has dedicated her career to serving vulnerable populations globally. At the age of 9, she founded a nonprofit called Empower Orphans and became the first American to receive the International Children’s Peace Prize from King of Netherlands and Nobel Laureates Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai at The Hague, Netherlands. Empower Orphans has impacted 30k+ children globally and raised $2.4 million. With the support of Facebook and Kids Rights, she also co-founded and serves on the board of State of Youth, an advocacy platform for young changemakers globally. Since its creation in 2019, it has grown rapidly with 130 chapters across the world. Neha has advised nonprofits and youth changemakers globally, spoken at 100+ forums and events like the UN, TEDx, and Trust Women; launched campaigns with international organizations like Microsoft, and has been featured in 300+ newspapers, TV segments, magazines, books, radio shows, etc.

Neha is currently an MD Candidate at Penn State College of Medicine and applying into residency specializing in Emergency Medicine and was selected to be a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society for her academic achievement and Gold Humanism Honor Society for her dedication to service and humanistic care. She is involved in numerous research initiatives focused on healthcare disparities that have been published in the Journal of American Medical Association and the American Journal of Public Health. Given Neha’s varied background, she envisions a career at the intersection of clinical medicine, public health, and innovation.

Kimberly Taloe

Talent Acquisition Manager, SEI

Session Title

Preparing for the interview: Everything you need to know

Kimberly Tayloe serves as a Talent Acquisition Manager for SEI on their Workforce Development team. Prior to SEI, Kimberly worked for a year and a half in government contract staffing in the DC metro area. She started her career at SEI six years ago. Since then, Kimberly has supported talent acquisition throughout the company focusing on attracting, retaining and networking with top talent. Areas of focus for her have been Asset Management, Operations, Corporate Services and Legal. In her tenure at SEI she has implemented Phenom People, a candidate relationship management system, as a product owner and trained the Global Talent Acquisition team on its use. Currently she is a co-program manager for Neurodiversity in the Workplace which brings training, awareness and best hiring practices for internal employees and external candidates that identify as neurodivergent. Kimberly is passionate about the ever changing landscape in the talent market and enjoys figuring out the best approach to attract people to SEI where she loves to work.

Kimberly holds her undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Communications Science and Disorders. She enjoys using her science and clinical background to make a more inclusive corporate environment. Outside of work Kimberly is actively involved with Orphan Network, a non-profit based out of Virginia Beach, where she has led mission trips to Nicaragua. In her free time Kimberly enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband. Once the girls get bigger, she looks forward to once again chasing wanderlust as a family.

Connect

Franca Felcher

Principal, Interim Division, SolomonEdwards

Session Title

Preparing for the interview: Everything you need to know

Franca Felcher is a wife, mother and successful business executive who serves as the Principal of the SolomonEdwards’s Interim Staffing Practice. She is a Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist (CTS) and has been employed with SolomonEdwards since 2000. More than a 35-year veteran in the staffing industry, Franca began her career in 1987 at Stiver’s, a national staffing firm, serving as their branch manager for over six years. In 1994, she became the branch manager at Acsys, another national staffing firm.

In 2000, Franca was one of the first employees to join the newly formed SolomonEdwards. Over the years, she helped to build their interim staffing practice, leading the hiring and recruiting for clients in interim capacity roles. Franca has not only sourced and built strong client relationships; she has also interviewed countless candidates, placing thousands of them with both Fortune 500 and non-profit clients across the country. Her understanding of nuanced client needs in providing supplemental staff; as well as the candidate market is unrivaled and demonstrated by her management of the firm’s valuable relationship with SEI.

Franca is a member of various community organizations, including The Main Line Chamber of Commerce and the Pastoral Council for her local parish. She enjoys connecting with people of diverse backgrounds and different circumstances. Franca possesses strong leadership and communication skills and takes pride in taking on roles where she can make a difference in her local community.

Married for over 23 years to her incredibly supportive husband, mom of two college-aged boys and two dogs. Franca loves traveling, sunshine and sleep.

Connect

Emily Swope

HR Business Partner, SEI

Session Title

Turning negativity into positive fuel

Emily Swope serves as a Human Resources Business Partner for SEI on their Workforce Development team. In this role, Emily partners with leaders and employees to help in various aspects of HR, including workforce planning and strategy, talent management, employee relations, organizational development, compensation planning, employee engagement, retention, and coaching, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy.

Emily attended the Pennsylvania State University and was a member of the Schreyer Honors College. While at Penn State, Emily earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and minored in Psychology. Emily received the SHRM-CP certification, has participated in Gallup’s Successful Strengths Coaching, and holds a Predictive Index certification. She utilizes these tools every day while working with the employees at SEI.

Britton Bongaardt

Director, Training and Professional Development, Investment Manager Services, SEI

Session Title

The last 15 and the next 15

As the Director of the IMS Learning and Development team, Britton oversees and leads the technical and professional development, engagement and recognition for employees in the SEI’s Investment Manager Services unit. The team’s goal is to help our employee’s understand the why behind what they do every day, provide both career and personal skills to help them grow their careers and offer fun and creative ways to recognize our employees and celebrate our successes. Prior to joining the Learning and Development team, Britton started her career at SEI in our Alternative Operations division of IMS, providing back-office administration for Private Equity and Hedge Funds.

Britton graduated from Ursinus College with a dual major in Business and Economics and Spanish. She has been on the Board of SEI’s Women’s Network since 2019 and currently serves as the Board President.

Andrea Shivery

Technical Talent Acquisition Partner

Session Title

Preparing for the interview: Everything you need to know

I began my career as a Technical Recruiter working at a Technology Staffing agency for 12 years. My focus was placing IT professionals in consulting roles and direct hire engagements with many Philadelphia area clients. When I joined SEI in October 2016, I was originally aligned to support full time hiring in SWP. Over time, that support expanded to TSU, IMU, Marketing, Solutions and Institutional teams as well. I am a partner to the Immigration team for occasional support, and taught our corporate Interview Skills training class for the last year. I have been an active member of the SEI Diversity board, and also participate in the Big Brother Big Sisters program through SEI for the last 4 years.

I enjoy learning about people and their career interests; and how I can assist them in taking on new challenges. I have a degree in Communications, and a minor is Public Relations from Kutztown University. In my free time my focus is my family. I also love music and concerts, food, Philly sports, skiing and other outdoor activities.

Connect

Sylvester Mobley

Founder and CEO, Coded by Kids

Session Title

The power of tech & innovation

Sylvester Mobley is the Founder and CEO of the tech and innovation education organization, Coded by Kids (CBK). He is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at the early-stage venture capital firm Plain Sight Capital.

As the CEO of CBK, Sylvester has led the organization’s growth, from serving fewer than 15 students in one Philadelphia recreation center to working with hundreds of students each week in more than 20 locations across the region. Through CBK, Sylvester works to prepare underrepresented young people to succeed at the highest levels of the tech and startup spaces.

As a Managing Partner with Plain Sight Capital, Sylvester works to identify, invest in, and support high-potential, underrepresented tech founders to help them successfully scale their startups.

Sylvester graduated from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and completed the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Venture Capital Executive Education Program.

Sylvester is also a veteran of the war in Iraq, serving in three branches of the United States military (Marines, Air Force, and Army) for over 12 years.

Sylvester’s awards and honors include the 2018 Philadelphia Award, the University City Science Center Nucleus Cultivator Award, the Please Touch Museum Portia and Otto Sperr Legacy Award, the Philadelphia 76ers Game Changer Award, the Philadelphia Business Journal Veterans of Influence Award, the Philadelphia Business Journal Tech Disruptor Award, the KYW Game Changer Award, the Philadelphia Academies Stand and Deliver Award, and a Philadelphia City Council resolution.

Currently, Sylvester serves on the City of Philadelphia Pathways to Reform, Transformation & Reconciliation Steering Committee, the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Economic Opportunity Cabinet, and as the co-chair of the Digital Literacy Alliance Advocacy, Policy, and Long-Term Funding workstream. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT) and Philadelphia Academies.

Megan McCloskey

Program Manager, Workforce Relations and Initiatives, SEI

Session Title

Special Olympics: Igniting the inclusion revolution

Megan serves as the Program Manager of Workforce Relations and Initiatives at SEI. In this role, she serves as the project manager for programs and communications initiatives related to the core functions of Workforce Development, including learning and development; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and leadership development. Prior to her current role, Megan worked as a Global Communications Specialist, driving the public relations and communications strategy across SEI’s businesses. She also worked as a Marketing Associate for SEI’s Global Institutional Group.

Megan earned her bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University. She also serves as a Board Member for the SEI Women’s Network. In her spare time, Megan enjoys coaching Track and Field and working on DIY projects.

Areas of expertise

Communications
Workforce Relations
Project Management

Linda Scavone

Director of Risk for SEI Private Trust Company, SEI

Session Title

Making bravery a habit

Linda is responsible for establishing a holistic and forward-looking approach to managing key business risks for SEI Private Trust Company (SPTC), including a framework to support and serve as a key enabler to achieve SPTC’s strategic initiatives. She and her team provide oversight to ensure that SPTC remains in compliance with its regulatory obligations. Linda works cross-functionally with the legal, audit, compliance and ERM teams to build and manage a common infrastructure that ensures risk identification, management, mitigation and reporting.

She previously held roles providing IT and business process assurance and consulting services. As a director on SEI’s Internal Audit team, she partnered with stakeholders across SEI to improve processes, governance and internal control. Prior to joining SEI in 2010, Linda was in the IT Advisory Group at KPMG, LLP, leading engagements with clients across various industries.

Linda earned her bachelor of science in business administration from Saint Joseph’s University.

Denis Okema (He/Him)

Director for Diversity and Inclusion

Session Title

DEI is an inside job

Denis Okema is a Certified DEI practitioner with over ten years of experience. He joined SEI as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Before, Denis held similar roles as Director of Diversity Engagement and Inclusion with Reliance Standard Life Insurances, and Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Cristo Rey Philadelphia. Denis Okema transitioned into DEI work after eight years in international development engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa, working primarily on conflict mitigation and resolution, peacebuilding, HIV/AIDS prevention, and livelihood programs. Denis graduated from Makerere University with B.S. in Development Studies. He went on to work for different international development agencies such as USAID, Danish International Development Agency, World Vision, Mercy Corps, and International Alert. He went on to graduate from Chestnut Hill College graduate school with a M.S. in Administration of Human Services and was an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College. He completed a Diversity and Inclusion leadership certificates from The National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), Certificate in Bridging Difference from UC Barkley and an Advanced Certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Connect

Heather M. Corkery, CFA

Managing Director, Institutional Client Service

Session Title

Financial literacy and investments 101

Heather Corkery serves as a Managing Director responsible for oversight of the Client Service Directors and Institutional Middle Office within the Client Portfolio Management Team. Her teams work closely with Client Portfolio Managers across the nonprofit, corporate, healthcare, multiemployer and public markets.

In her preceding role, Heather worked as a Director on the Solutions Team where she was responsible for the development of new products, processes and approaches to open architecture and alternatives programs across the Institutional Group’s global client base. She has also held positions on the Client Investment Strategy Team within the Investment Management Unit and on the Advisory Team supporting the needs of SEI’s global institutional clients and prospects.

Bachelor of Science in Integrated Business and Engineering, Lehigh University

FINRA Series 7, 63 and 24

CFA Charterholder, CFA Institute

Member of the Financial Analysts of Philadelphia

Year started with SEI: 2004

Year started in investment industry: 2004

Connect

Patricia Cook

Founder and President, Patricia Cook & Associates, Inc.

Session Title

Business dining etiquette

Patricia Cook, the President of Patricia Cook & Associates, has been fostering success and confidence in others for over 30 years. As a graduate of the University of Michigan’s business school, and with 15 years of Commercial Lending experience at a large financial institution, Patricia is uniquely positioned to understand the intricacies of social interactions and relationship-building in the business world. Having worked as both a Vice President and Relationship Manager, and as Head of Recruitment and Manager of the Commercial Credit Training Program, Patricia gained first-hand experience in Financial Analysis, Relationship Building, and recruiting, managing, and training a high functioning team. She also learned that success was about more than accumulating analytical skills and technical knowledge.

From her place in the financial industry, Patricia began to notice the changing world of business relationships—from increasing international and cross-cultural interactions, to the increased prevalence of texting, tweeting, and other technology-based forms of communication. She realized that forming trusting, positive, face-to-face, relationships was more important than ever, but that it was getting even more difficult to figure out how to do so effectively.

Since forming Patricia Cook and Associates, Patricia has worked with large banks, consulting firms, accounting firms, law firms, corporations, and universities around the country. Her guidance has helped the individuals in these organizations strengthen relationships, communicate respectfully and inclusively, feel more comfortable and effective in any professional situation, as well as retain and attract clients in these highly competitive times.

Connect

Keynote Speaker

Stephanie Adams

Executive Vice President, Head of Wealth Platforms & Operations, Truist

Session Title

Life’s little moments, making a big impact

Stephanie M. Adams, CTFA, CISP, CMFC, AIF is the Head of Wealth Platform & Operations for Truist Wealth. Stephanie has thirty years of experience in the financial services industry, specifically focused in the areas of wealth management, operations, private banking and trust administration. In her current role, she is responsible for establishing the overall strategy and direction for Truist Wealth’s Platform & Operations team which includes Brokerage, Trust, Investment and Specialty Operations, along with the Wealth and Fiduciary advisory support and Platform Effectiveness teams.

Prior to transitioning into this role, Stephanie served as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Trust Services for the BB&T Wealth & Retirement Division where she led the Personal Trust, Retirement & Institutional Services and Trust Support Services teams. Before re-joining BB&T in October, 2018, Stephanie served as Executive Vice President & Head of Trust, Chief Fiduciary Officer for TIAA, FSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA. Additionally, she has served as Senior Vice President and Director of the California Trust Center for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and as Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Group Director for the states of Kentucky and Tennessee for BB&T Wealth.

Stephanie earned her BBA (magna cum laude) and MBA from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. In addition to her industry certifications, she has passed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) examination.

Stephanie resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Zack.

Connect

Suzy Levy

Managing Director, The Red Plate

Session Title

Being nice does not equal being inclusive

Suzy Levy is an executive who specialises in delivering complex global change programmes. Her experience is wide-ranging; from sales & marketing effectiveness to major technology upgrades, new product launches and organisational mergers, but Suzy is best known for her leadership of the people agenda. She uses her business transformation background, along with analysis of data and human behaviour to deliver cultural change and inclusive outcomes for clients.

Suzy works with companies, universities, charities and governments to drive systemic change. She is currently Managing Director at The Red Plate (and inclusion and diversity consultancy), a Non-Executive Director at the UK Department for Education, a member of the Strategic Race Board at the UK Home Office, a member of the Advisory Board at Foundervine, a third-sector coach at Impetus and a Board Trustee at The Women’s Sport Trust.

Keynote Speaker

Ryan Hicke

Chief Executive Officer, SEI

Session Title

The last 15 and the next 15

Ryan Hicke is Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the global business strategy and execution for the company across our three pillars of expertise: investments, operations, and technology. He also serves on our Board of Directors.

Ryan’s 24-year career at SEI includes 11 years in asset management and 13 years in technology across various parts of our business, with his tenure evenly split between U.S. and global experience. Prior to being named CEO, Ryan was Chief Information Officer overseeing the information technology strategy and investment operations for the company. Ryan also previously served as head of our Technology Unit, as well as a Managing Director in our U.K. wealth management business.

Ryan holds a degree in Finance from Saint Joseph’s University. He also serves on the board of directors for the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies.

Keynote Speaker

Adriana Carrig

Founder and CEO, Little Words Project

Session Title

Turning negativity into positive fuel

Adriana Carrig is the Founder and CEO of Little Words Project. Bullied from a very young age, Adriana made bracelets to help herself through difficult times. While in college, she made them for her sorority to build community and encouragement. It didn’t take long for her to realize that this simple product could become a vehicle of kindness and self-love for the masses. Since 2013, the company has grown from her parent’s basement to an influential and community-first lifestyle brand. Today her company has over 100,000 direct online customers, 750 wholesale accounts and opened retail locations on Bleecker Street in Manhattan, Pier Village in Long Branch, with four more locations coming this year.

Connect

Keynote Speaker

Reshma Saujani

Founder, Girls Who Code and Marshall Plan for Moms

Session Title

Making bravery a habit

Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms. She has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Reshma’s new book Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It’s Different Than You Think) presents a bold plan to address the burnout and inequity harming America’s working women today. She is also the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, and her influential TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection,” has more than five million views globally.

Reshma began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. During the race, Reshma visited local schools and saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code. She also served as New York City’s Deputy Public Advocate, where she created innovative partnerships to support DREAMers and promote campaign finance reform, among other initiatives.

In her nine-year tenure as the CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma grew the organization to one of the largest and most prestigious non-profits in the country. Today, Girls Who Code has taught 300,000 girls through direct in-person computer science education programming, and reached 500 million people worldwide through its New York Times-bestselling book series and award-winning campaigns. In 2019, Girls Who Code was awarded Most Innovative Non-Profit by Fast Company.

In response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s moms, Reshma launched the Marshall Plan for Moms to advocate for policies that value women’s labor in and out of the home. The movement has framed the national conversation about how we support moms and is backed by A-list celebrities, activists, and business leaders. Reshma has successfully worked with House and Senate leaders to introduce “Marshall Plan for Moms” legislation at the federal level and is continuing to act as an outside agitator to change culture through creative awareness campaigns.

Reshma is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and Yale Law School. Her innovative approach to movement building has earned her broad recognition on lists including: Fortune World’s Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World; and Fast Company 100 Most Creative People, among others. She is the winner of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.

Reshma serves on the Board of Overseers for Harvard University and on the Board of Overseers for the International Rescue Committee, which provides aid to refugees and those impacted by humanitarian crises. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Economic Club of New York, and as an ex-officio Trustee of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their sons, Shaan and Sai, and their bulldog, Stanley.

Connect

Sandy Ewing

Executive Vice President of SEI, Head of SEI Family Office Services and SEI Regulatory Services

Session Title

Life’s little moments, making a big impact

Sandy Ewing is an Executive Vice President of SEI and Head of SEI Family Office Services and SEI Regulatory Services, where she is responsible for working with SEI’s business segment leaders to advance business opportunities and execute growth strategies for these offerings in existing and new markets. A 27-year SEI veteran, Sandy brings more than 40 years of financial services experience, spanning the wealth management, trust, custody, and securities servicing industries.

She previously served as Head of TRUST 3000® for SEI’s Private Banking business, responsible for developing and executing the group’s strategic direction, including business development, relationship management, service delivery, and project and solution management. Sandy is also a board member of SEI Private Trust Company. Prior to joining our company in 1995, she built her career through management positions at two large regional banks.

Sandy has held a number of leadership positions during her tenure our company. She is an advisor to the SEI Women’s Network and SEI Diversity and Inclusion, and her impact is felt broadly, as she often leads panel discussions and leadership sessions, while passionately serving as a mentor, ally, and advocate for employees across the company globally.

Sandy is an executive board member and treasurer for New Leash on Life USA and a board trustee for the Eluna Network.

Connect

Do you have an inspiring leader or ally in your organization?