March 2024

March 11, We are saddened to share that IWF NorCal member Jill Tarter's husband and astronomer William (Jack) Welch passed away this week at the age of 90. Together, they co-founded the SETI Institute, which they built to become a world-class scientific research organization. Our deepest condolences to Jill and her family. Read more.

February 2024

February 10, With great sorrow we are sharing the news of IWF NorCal member Marsha Maytum's passing. She was 69, and had been diagnosed with ALS three years ago. Marsha was an award winning architect and was an amazing heart centered individual. She will be missed. Read more.

January 2024

January, IWF NorCal member Sonita Lontoh was recently featured in the main section of the inaugural edition of Women in Manufacturing by Manufacturing Today magazine. The article discusses a wide range of topics including the importance of technology for humanity and diversity of thoughts for long-term value creation. Sonita's section is further complemented with perspectives from five additional women leaders. Read more.

January 31, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Susie Cranston, who has joined Cresset Asset Management as president and chief operating officer. Susie was formerly Chief Operating Officer at First Republic. Read more.

December 2023

December 14, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Leah Toeniskoetter who has been appointed as president and CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. She will take on this leadership role effective January 1st. Read more. 

November 2023

November 18, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member and Founder and CEO of All Home Tomiqua Moss who has been appointed as California's Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Read more.

October 2023

October 3, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Sonita Lontoh, Board Director, SunRun, Inc. who was named one of the 2023 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times. Read more.

September 2023

Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Heidi Kuhn, founder and CEO of Roots of Peace, who received the world-renowned Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice on September 6th during the celebration of the United Nations International Day of Charity at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York. Read more. 

August 2023

Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Barbara Adachi who has been appointed as Ascend Pinnacle's New Executive Advisor! Barbara has been an Ascend member for over a decade, is a proven business leader in professional services, and seasoned board member. She is excited to bring her passion and expertise to Ascend and drive impact in the boardroom.

July 2023

We are deeply saddened to share that after a fierce battle with prostate cancer, John Francis Meillo passed away on January 18. 2023, at home with his family surrounding him. John and his partner, IWF NorCal member Jenny Erwin, had hosted several IWF events in their Pacifica home before moving to Reno in 2018 to be closer to Jenny's son and family. John will be remembered as a skilled technician who could fix anything, a devoted family man, a marathon runner, a volunteer at Spring Training in Arizona and the Vietnam memorial in Washington, DC. His genuine smile, easy going personality and generous spirit endeared to all. 

June 2023

June 7, Congratulations to IWF NorCal Member Hafize Gaye Erkan, who has been appointed as Turkey's next central bank governor. Gaye was the former CEO at Greystone and co-CEO at First Republic and has had a stellar career in the US corporate world in financial services, banking, investment, risk management, technology and digital innovation. Gaye is the first female governor of the Turkish central bank. Read more.

May 2023

May 11, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member and Roots of Peace Founder and CEO Heidi Kühn who was awarded the 2023 World Food Prize for restoring agriculture to de-mined land in former war zones. Read more.

In Memoriam

Former IWF NorCal member Judith Koch passed away in her home in Palo Alto on February 21, 2023. Judy was a IWF NorCal member from 2004 to 2021 and is missed. Our deepest sympathies to Judy's family and friends. Read more.

April 2023

April 16, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Sonita Lontoh who has been selected as one of the commissioners for the 2023 NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) Blue Ribbon Commission. This commission consists of top public company board directors and governance experts who'll study board dynamics and develop recommendations for a stronger board culture, to strengthen governance practices. Read more.

April 7, IWF NorCal member Hannah Kain, President and CEO of ALOM, was named a 2023 Pros to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. This is the ninth time Hannah has been named to this prestigious roster of top industry pros. Read more.

March 2023

March 30, IWF NorCal member Amy McCombs was the second woman to chair the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The CalChamber is the state's leading business related organization and is highlighting the leadership role women have played over the last years as Chair of the Board. The overview article is available here and individual profiles of these outstanding women, including Amy's, are available here.

March 20, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Lori Whitney, Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management for being recognized by Forbes on their 2023 ranking of Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State! Read more.

March 2, IWF NorCal member and CEO of Futuro Health Van Ton-Quinlivan has been named to the list of the Top 50 Women Leaders in San Francisco for 2023. Van joins this year's roster of esteemed women executives and professionals from diverse sectors such as healthcare, technology, banking, and the environment, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their respective fields. Read more.

February 2023

February 26, Belva Davis, a cherished pioneer member of IWF NorCal was featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Watch the video Journalist Belva Davis, a trailblazer who "kicked open the door" - In 1967, at a time when there were almost no Black reporters on television, Belva Davis began working at KPIX in San Francisco; she is believed to be the first Black female TV reporter in the western United States. "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker (who, like many journalists, walked in her footsteps) looks back at her career, and how making a dream a reality became her legacy.

February 9, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Debra Plousha-Moore, whose leadership experience is showcased in this Forbes article "Four Tenets For Fostering Growth On Your Team." Read more.

January 2023

January 26, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Jill Nash, a senior public affairs and corporate communications executive, who is being appointed by President Biden as a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Read more.

January 26, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, Wall Street leader and long-time ethical investing advocate, who has been named President of Known Holdings, a finance company that manages assets, while deploying, structuring and shifting capital to fuel the next economy and close the racial wealth gap. Read more. 

October 2022

October 14, We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Lisle Payne, beloved husband of IWF NorCal member Roslyn Payne. Lisle died on Wednesday afternoon at Stanford Hospital. The cause was liver failure due to two complex and rare blood conditions called Hemophagocytic Lymphothistiocytosis (HLH) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Lisle had just gone fishing - catching a tarpon with a fly rod, celebrated his 80th birthday, and then 8 weeks later, he died. The funeral/burial will be a private event, with a party for his friends later this year. Lisle loved his family, friends, and celebrating happy times. Our deepest sympathies for Roslyn and her family.

Congratulations to IWF NorCal members Robbee Baker Kosak and Valerie Red-Horse Mohl who were honored as two of the San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business at its awards celebration on October 13. We are so proud of them and their work to change the world.

October 10, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Yvette Hollingsworth Clark, who has been appointed as executive vice president and global chief compliance officer at State Street Corporation. Yvette brings financial services expertise and extensive compliance and risk management experience to this global financial services firm. Read more.

October 6, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Karen Derr Gilbert, who has been named to Forbes’ second annual "50 Over 50" list. Karen is partner at FTV Capital and among 50 leading female executives recognized in the “Money” category. The 2022 “50 Over 50” list spotlights 200 dynamic female entrepreneurs and leaders who have achieved significant success, often overcoming formidable odds or barriers. Read more.

September 2022

September, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Telle Whitney who was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, D.C. Telle has been recognized for her technical contributions to structured silicon design and for increasing the participation of women in computing careers. Read more. 

August 2022 

August 25, Robert Beresford Williams, beloved husband of IWF NorCal member Carol Mayer Marshall passed away peacefully the morning of August 22, 2022 with family members by his side. "To the last day of his 101 year life, he was fully engaged. He had a smile on his face and said he was “one lucky guy” to have lived the life he did. Details about a Memorial Service will come later." -- Carol Mayer Marshall    

August 11, It is with great sorrow that we share the news of beloved IWF NorCal member Jane Bowyer's passing on August 2, 2022. IWF NorCal member Susie Hoganson shares "When Jane joined IWF NorCal in 2002, she participated immediately at the leadership level as well as the activity level. Jane was always ready for fun such as summer camp. Little stopped her and she lived her life with gusto, energy and enthusiasm. The day before she died was filled with love, laughter, food and games with her family. She will be missed." Read the full tribute here.

Richard Muller, beloved husband of IWF NorCal member Rachel Mueller passed away on July 3, 2022 at home from complications of Parkinson's. A memorial service will be held for Richard on August 20 at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Carmel Valley, followed by a luncheon at the Mueller home. See details here. 

August 4, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member and Senior Executive Vice President of First Republic Private Wealth Management Susie Cranston, who was named Chief Operating Officer of First Republic Bank, effective September 1, 2022. Read more.

July 2022

July 22, Congratulation to IWF NorCal member Min Chen, who is featured on the cover of Forbes Centroamérica presenting the 100 Most Powerful Women. Her startup Wisy is considered one of the most successful startups born in LATAM with headquarters in Silicon Valley. Wisy's breakthrough technology enables the consumer goods industry to leverage AI and predictive analytics to reduce out-of-stocks at physical stores, solving a $1T annual problem.

July 20, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Karen Derr Gilbert, partner at FTV Capital, who was named one of The Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2022 by GrowthCap. The individuals selected for The Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2022 are those who have demonstrated deep expertise in private company investing, portfolio management, firm operations as well as business expansion strategy and execution. Read more.

June 2022

June 27, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Hafize Gaye Erkan, who has been appointed as CEO of Greystone, effective immediately. Her executive responsibilities will commence in September 2022. “I am honored to become CEO at this exciting moment in Greystone’s history and to serve our clients, partners, and dedicated colleagues. I look forward to utilizing my expertise in banking and wealth management to expand Greystone into new areas of financial services and build on the Company’s strong foundation in real estate finance,” Ms. Erkan said. See press release.

June 21, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Heidi Kuhn, Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace, as the humanitarian non-profit organization celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special commemoration in Assisi, Italy, known worldwide as the "City of Peace." Read press release. For the past 25 years, Roots of Peace has worked in war-torn countries around the world to remove the remnants of war, landmines and unexploded ordinances, and restore the land in order to rebuild peaceful communities for generations to come.

April 2022

April 20, IWF NorCal member Maryles Casto, Chairman and CEO of MVC Solutions, shares her views on business travel, Silicon Valley tech titans and the Great Resignation in this interview with The Mercury News. Read more. 

April 6, Two IWF NorCal members, Barbara Adachi and Kim Box are 2022 NACD Directorship 100 honorees. Congratulations Barbara and Kim! The annual NACD Directorship 100™ celebrates and recognizes the most influential directors and leaders in the corporate governance community who have demonstrated excellence in the boardroom through innovation, courage, and integrity. See the press release and list of honorees.

February 2022

February 9, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Telle Whitney, CEO of Telle Whitney Consulting LLC, who was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, for "contributions to structured silicon design and for increasing the participation of women in computing careers." Telle spent much of her career working on VLSI technology innovation and following her curiosity to create new and innovative products. 

January 2022

January 11, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Susie Medak on her remarkable 32 years at Berkeley Rep! She will be stepping down from Berkeley Rep in August and plans to work as an executive coach when she moves on. She "helped build Berkeley Rep into a major institution: a reliable purveyor of daring, form-breaking art; a draw for artists around the world; and an incubator of the next generation of playwrights, actors and leaders.” – The SF Chronicle. Don't miss the interview where Suzie discusses her legendary run at Berkeley Rep and 'how the social contract has changed."

November 2021

November 22, Congratulations to IWF NorCal President Barbara Adachi for her appointment to the Board of Directors of Old Republic International Corporation, one of the nation's 50 largest shareholder-owned insurance businesses and a Fortune 500 company. Read more.

November 22, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Jilma L. Meneses, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities, who has accepted a position on Washington State Governor Jay Inlsee’s cabinet. She will lead the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, serving between 2-3 million people annually. Her last day at Catholic Charities will be December 31, 2021. Read more.

November 18, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member and OCSI.co's President & CEO Sandra O. Floyd who was named one of Staffing Industry Analyst (SIA)'s Global Power 150 - Women in Staffing. This is SIA's 7th annual Global Power 150 - Women in Staffing list, which recognizes women for their achievements as well as their attempts to elevate the ecosystem in a variety of ways. Read more.

November 4,Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Sarah Devany, who has been appointed first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, effective Dec. 1. In this role, Sarah will be the number two ranking officer of the San Francisco Fed, and she will oversee the Bank's operations and risk management functions, as well as help design and execute the strategic direction of the organization. Read more.

October 2021

San Francisco Business Times Most Influential

October 7, Congratulations to IWF NorCal members Jennifer Bielstein, Ana Pinczuk, Kirby Rattenbury and Melinda Yee Franklin, who are being celebrated as the San Francisco Business Times' 2021 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business. You are an inspiration to us all! Read more.

August 2021

August 6, IWF NorCal member Susan Brennan has been appointed President and CEO of Romeo Power, effective August 16, 2021. Susan brings to the role more than 30 years of experience as a global leader in the automotive and energy industries. She most recently held the role of Chief Operations Officer at Bloom Energy. Congratulations Susan! Read more. 

IWF NorCal member Suzie Woodward Morris’ beloved husband Dr. R. Curtis Morris, Jr, Professor Emeritus in the Division of Nephrology of UCSF, passed away on July 9, 2021. He was 89 years old and was recently diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma. Please visit the memorial website honoring Curtis and share your memories and tributes. Read UCSF’s obituary.

July 2021

July 22, The Conference Board has elected IWF NorCal member Anna Mok to its Board of Trustees, effective immediately. Anna serves as the Asia Pacific Leader for the Advisory Practice and a Global Lead Client Services Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Anna is also the Co-founder, President, and Chairman of Ascend & Ascend Foundation as well as the Co-founder of Ascend Pinnacle. Read more.

July 12, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Ana Pinczuk who was appointed to Five9, Inc's board of directors in June. Five9 is a provider of cloud contact center solutions. Ana is currently the Chief Development Officer at Anaplan, and is regarded as a seasoned enterprise technology leader with a track record for accelerating business results and innovation for multi-billion dollar organizations, and highly regarded for her transformational leadership style. Read more.

July 8, Diligent Corporation, announced the appointment of IWF NorCal member Yvette Hollingsworth Clark as its newest independent board member. Congratulations to Yvette, who brings extensive risk management and compliance experience and insights from her leadership roles across the financial services industry. Read more.

June 2021

IWF NorCal member Kit Yarrow passed away on May 21, 2020, but because of the pandemic, her family and friends could not hold a formal memorial until June 2021. On June 12, more than 100 people attended a service at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church in Southport, NC to celebrate Kit's life. Kit's husband Russ shared four eulogies that were delivered in Kit's honor and captured so much of this beautiful woman and "A Life Well-Lived." 

May 2021

May 25, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Yvette Hollingsworth Clark for her election to the board of directors at Air Lease Corporation. Yvette is currently president & CEO of Hollingsworth Compliance Consulting, and has held global leadership roles in financial services. Read more.

March 2021

March 17, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Hannah Cain, ALOM President and CEO, who was named as 2021 Supply Chain Pros to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. This is the seventh time that Hannah has received the award. Read more.

January 2021

January 19, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Nuria Fernandez who will be joining the Biden administration to serve in the U.S. Department of Transportation! Nuria, who has led Santa Clara County's Valley Transportation Authority for the past seven years as CEO and general manger said “Now I will be stepping into a national role that is bigger and broader yet will have profound impacts at the local level.” Read more.

October 2020

October 29, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Kirsten Wolberg, Chief Technology & Operations Officer at DocuSign, the Enterprise winner of the 2020 Bay Area CIO of the Year #ORBIE Awards! “The BayAreaCIO ORBIE winners demonstrate the value great leadership creates. Especially in these uncertain times, CIOs are leading in unprecedented ways and enabling the largest work-from-home experiment in history,” according to Lourdes Gipson, Executive Director of BayAreaCIO. Read more. 

October 26, IWF NorCal member Pamela J. Joyner, trustee at the Getty Trust, the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Tate Americas Foundation, is highlighted in this New York Times article "Black Trustees Join Forces to Make Art Museums More Diverse." She also offered IWF members a behind-the-scenes "Activism Through Collecting: Exploring African-American Art" at last week's IWF World Leadership Conference.

October, IWF NorCal member Jennifer Bielstein, Executive Director of American Conservatory Theater, was named one of the 25 Most Influential San Franciscans in San Francisco Magazine, which honored “local luminaries leading the change in our community. From arts advocates to innovators finding solutions to current challenges, these formidable forces drive change, pushing San Francisco toward the greater good.”

The Peninsula Book Club will be welcoming IWF NorCal member Carol Marshall on October 28 to discuss the book "A Matter of Simple Justice: The Untold Story of Barbara Franklin and a Few Good Women" and work in support of the 19th amendment. An interview with the Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin is available on the IWF Global website here.

Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Heidi Kuhn who will be honored as one of three women whose "Ideas are Remaking the World." Heidi will be presenting on Wednesday, October 21st at the 2020 IWF Virtual World Leadership Conference: Leading in a Disrupted World. 

October 12, IWF NorCal member and San Francisco Business Times & Silicon Valley Business Times publisher Mary Huss' interview with the Nob Hill Gazette "Managing Change with Mary Huss" was published on October 3 and is available here. We also congratulate Mary and the SFBT for a success virtual celebration of the 2020 Most Influential Women in the Bay Area on October 9. IWF Northern California is a proud non-profit sponsor of the event.

In Memoriam

October 1, Our beloved IWF NorCal member, and former board member, Jane Bowyer recently lost her husband Stu of over 60 years to COVID-19 (see obituary). Jane has recovered from COVID-19 and is at home. We send our love and condolences. October 15, New York Times article: Stuart Bowyer, Astronomer Who Lent His Ear to the Cosmos, Dies at 86. 

September 2020

September 3, Congratulations to IWF NorCal President Barbara Adachi who will be an honoree of this year's CEDAW Women's Human Rights Awards for International Comity, which is presented to an individual who advances women's human rights globally. Join us as Barbara receives her award at the upcoming 45 Years of Inspiring an Equal Future: CEDAW Women's Human Rights Awards Virtual Celebration on September 29 at 6:00 pm -- register here. Read more.

September 1, IWF NorCal member Caryn Beck-Dudley became president and CEO of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in June 2020. Before joining AACSB, she served as the seventh dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, a position she held since 2015. AACSB is a nonprofit membership organization representing more than 840 accredited business schools, which “connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.” Read SCU’s press release and AACSB’s profile. 

August 2020

August 26, CalAmp (Nasdaq: CAMP), a global technology solutions pioneer transforming the mobile connected economy, announced that IWF NorCal member Kirsten Wolberg has been appointed to the CalAmp Board of Directors. Kirsten is currently the chief technology & operations officer at DocuSign with over two decades of experience in technology management, information systems and operations from Fortune 500 software industry leaders. Read more.

July 2020

July 23, it is with great sorrow that we share the news of IWF NorCal member Denise Allen's passing. Denise joined IWF in 2009 and served as Treasurer for the IWF NorCal board until breast cancer forced her to step down. She loved running, hiking and the outdoors. and touched many with her warmth and thoughtful presence. Denise will be remembered for the radiant love she emanated and will be deeply missed.

June 2020

June 26, IWF NorCal member Min Chen, CEO of Wisy, Inc., is featured in the cover story of Ellas, a popular magazine in Panama by La Prensa Panamá, about her organization’s partnership with SAP SAP.iO, recognition by Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and how Wisy, Inc. is helping business to prepare for the new economy. Read more.

June 19, IWF NorCal member and President and CEO of LeadingAge California Jeannee Parker Martin has been selected to serve on the Federal CMS Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (aka The Nursing Home Commission). Commission members will collaboratively conduct a comprehensive assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic within nursing homes in order to make recommendations that will inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality of life of vulnerable Americans as the nation continues to battle COVID-19, as well as prepare for future threats to public health and safety. See press release. 

June 5, IWF NorCal member and Founder and President of TMC Financing Barbara Morrison is featured in San Francisco Business Times' "Small Business, Big Mission mini documentary," which follows Bay Area entrepreneurs as they navigate the first two months of the shut down. Watch the mini documentary.

IWF NorCal member Anne Chermak Dillen has been named to the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (UCEF), a registered 501(c)(3) whose mission is to to ensure that the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), located in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, has the financial resources it needs to educate new generations of young people, form leaders to serve with professional excellence in Ukraine and internationally, and build a Christian foundation for a democratic, prosperous Ukraine. Read more. 

May 2020

IWF NorCal member Kit Yarrow passed away on May 21 after a long and brave struggle with ovarian cancer. "In the last months of her life, as friends reached out to thank her for her friendship, many used the same words to describe her -- "light," "bright," "luminescent," "a beacon." Kit was a light; her physical presence has passed, but her light will always be bright in our hearts." We will miss Kit and we offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends. Read more.  

April 2020

Former IWF NorCal member, noted attorney, philanthropist and long-time Atherton resident Margaret Gill passed away on April 17 at age 80. She will be missed. Read obituary.

April 13, IWF NorCal member and Roots of Peach CEO and Founder, Heidi Kuhn was featured on ABC7 News to discuss her new book Breaking Ground, which will officially launch on April 28. Watch the interview here. And don't miss the IWF NorCal exclusive Virtual Book Launch with Heidi on April 20. If you would like to pre-order the book, it is available at IWF NorCal member Elaine Petrocelli's Book Passage.

During these unprecedented times, it is great to hear some encouraging news from IWF NorCal members Van Ton-Quinlivan and Denise Brosseau. Just a few months ago, Van launched Futuro Health as CEO with Denise, who serves as COO. As we prepare for the potential peak and longer term impact of COVID-19, Futuro is offering FREE Pandemic Readiness Training for nurses. Learn more.

March 2020

March 30, IWF NorCal member and Roots of Peace CEO and Founder, Heidi Kuhn was featured on ABC7 News to talk about the impact the coronavirus pandemic has made on her family as her son and daughter-in-law are both doctors who are treating COVID-19 positive patients every day without the proper protective gear. She is calling on Silicon Valley and companies in the Bay Area to rally together to help healthcare workers on the frontline. Watch interview here.

March 11, Congratulations to IWF NorCal member Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, who has been appointed Chair of the Advisory Board of Stanford's Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity! Read announcement. She was also recently featured in a Forbes article: An Honest Conversation About Leading With Love And Money, With Valerie Red-Horse Mohl. 

On Sunday March 8, Richard Holm, beloved husband of IWF NorCal member Ellen Snee passed away peacefully at The Peninsula Regent in San Mateo. Richard was the loving father of sons Eric and Steven, their wives Suzanne and Cheryl, and his grandchildren Grant and Amanda. Our deepest sympathies to Ellen and her family. Read more.

February 2020

February 5, IWF NorCal member and founder and CEO of The RealReal Julie Wainwright is featured in a WSJ Magazine article titled "How the Failure of Pets.com Spurred Julie Wainwright’s RealReal Success." Read article.

December 2019

December 6, IWF NorCal member Julie Castro Abrams is featured as a Queenmaker in San Francisco Magazine's latest issue titled: "Meet the Bay Area's Pivotal Power Brokers: The Queen-makers." Read article. And on December 4th, Julie spoke at The Commonwealth Club for a lively panel discussion titled: "The Queenmakers: Women Power Brokers in San Francisco." See event details.

September 2019

September 11, IWF NorCal member Beth Devin, 

The interview is about 20 minutes and focuses on Beth's career as well as the significant change in the last many years driven by technology innovation. Watch video. 

On September 5, IWF NorCal member Susie Medak, Managing Director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre was featured in the Mercury News, where she "spills the beans on running the show at Berkeley Rep." She delves into her love of theater and what makes the business of the arts so complicated. Read article. Susie's interview with Inside Philanthropy "Play the Long Game" is also available here.

June 2019

One of our original members, Fran Streets, lost her husband, Cleo, on Saturday, June 1st, after a long illness. His ashes will be placed in Hawaii by close family. We send our deepest sympathy.

May 2019

Congratulations Rachel and Kirsten! Women of Influence!

IWF NorCal member Rachel Perkel is one of 100 Women of Influence being honored by The Silicon Valley Business Journal for her impact on her profession and in the community. "A woman of influence: Rachel Perkel finds perspective through a long career." Read more.  

IWF NorCal member Kirsten Rhodes was recently featured in the SF Business Times article "Influential Women 2019: Deloitte shares its lessons on creating a workforce that reflects the country." Read article.

 

2019 Most Influential Women in Business Congratulations to IWF NorCal members Kathryn Beiser, Beth Devin, Sandra Floyd and Rhonda Morris, who are being celebrated as the San Francisco Business Times' 2019 Most Influential Women in Business.

In addition, IWF NorCal member Carla Boragno of Genentech and Roche is being honored with the 2019 Inspire Award, which recognizes Carla as a trailblazing executive who has spent decades mentoring others and cultivating the next generation of women leaders. Congratulations Carla! Read article.

These passionate leaders in their organizations and their communities will be recognized during the Influential Women in Business awards ceremony in San Francisco on Thursday, May 30. Read more.

April 2019

Congratulations Amy Schioldager!
American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) announced that it’s Board of Directors has nominated IWF NorCal member Amy L. Schioldager, former Senior Manager Director and Head of Beta Strategies at BlackRock, for election at AIG’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. See press release.

February 2019

Congratulations Ana Pinczuk! On February 1, Anaplan announced that IWF NorCal member Ana Pinczuk has joined them as SVP and Chief Transformation Officer. "Ana is an outstanding business and reputable thought leader. She has deep expertise related to transformation, product innovation and hyper-growth trajectory, and I am excited to welcome her to our executive leadership team," said Frank Calderoni, chief executive officer, Anaplan. See press release.

January 2019

IWF NorCal member Priscilla Partridge de Garcia passed away at her residence in Clarinda, Iowa on January 15. She was 76. Priscilla was a multi-faceted renaissance woman who channeled her creative energy in many ways including as an artist, clinical psychologist, media personality, teacher, management consultant, fund-raiser and community leader. She will be missed. Learn more.

Former IWF NorCal and NY member Sylvia Chase passed away on January 3 after a short illness. She was 80. Sylvia was a KRON news anchor and award-winning TV journalist. She was an active member of the IWF NorCal Marin/North Bay Book Club and was beloved by many members. She will be missed. Read more. NY Times obituary and tribute.

December 2018

Congratulations Belva Davis!On December 4th, 2018, IWF NorCal member and pioneer journalist Belva Davis was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. The 12th Annual California Hall of Fame event was hosted by Honorary Chairs Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., and First Lady Anne Brown. Tune in!

August 2018

Remembering Madeline Mixer, By Jenny Erwin 
Madeline was a powerful force in spite of her petite frame and soft-spoken demeanor. She cared passionately about women’s issues and worked tirelessly to improve workplace opportunities. She was one of the first Women’s Bureau Regional Administrations and served women in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam. I had met her while working on women’s education and employment issues in Arizona and was grateful for her support as I made the transition to her former position. Actually, I never felt like I replaced Madeline at the Women’s Bureau….no one could replace Madeline. Instead, I felt I helped move her legacy and groundbreaking work forward. She knew the value of IWF with its wide network of accomplished and influential women and wanted me to know these women as well. I am so grateful that she sponsored me for membership and the opportunity to belong to this group. Those of us who knew her will miss her courage, persistence and lifelong efforts to support working women, especially women in the trades. She truly made a visible difference for them and for me. More from the Equal Rights Advocates and SF Chronicle.

July 2018

Cathy Benko appointed to Nike's Board of Directors

On July 12, NIKE, Inc. announced that IWF NorCal member Cathy Benko has joined Nike's Board of Directors. Cathy is also vice chair and managing principal of the consulting firm Deloitte LLP. “Cathy’s proven leadership in advising the world’s most influential technology companies will be a tremendous benefit to Nike’s digital transformation,” said Mark Parker, Chairman, President and CEO of NIKE, Inc. Read more.

June 2018

2018 Most Influential Women in Business

The San Francisco Business Times will be honoring over 100 Most Influential Women in Business on June 5, 2018. IWF NorCal congratulates these distinguished women for this recognition – we have 2 members who are being honored with the Inspire Award, 3 members who are being honored as the 2018 Most Influential Women, and 44 past recipients who are now Forever Influential.

2018 Inspire Awards

Congratulations to IWF NorCal members Paula Collins and Mary Cranston who are being honored with the San Francisco Business Times Inspire Awards! The Inspire Awards recognize women who have achieved the highest leadership roles, and the 2018 recipients are three extraordinary women on corporate boards. In their respective interviews, Paula and Mary speak about the need for more diversity on boards and the importance of being able to persuade others to be an effective board member. They also highlight that networking and mentoring are key components to continue efforts to help improve the number of women on boards. 

Paula Collins Paula is CEO and founder of real estate firm WDG Ventures, Inc. She currently sits on six boards of diverse industries, including organizations in insurance, finance, and arts. In addition, Paula is a director on the IWF NorCal Board!  Link to article (subscription required).

Mary Cranston Mary has served on boards for 25 years. Since she stepped down as CEO and chair of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in 2006, Mary has devoted herself to board service.  Link to article (subscription required).

 

2018 Most Influential Women in Business 

Janet Lamkin   President California, United Airlines

Katharine Martin  Partner, Chair of the Board Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Kirsten Wolberg Chief Technology and Operations Officer Docusign

2018 Forever Influential

Barbara Adachi	Colleen Cervantes	Yvette Hollingsworth Clark	Constance Moore	Amy Schioldager
Katherine August de-Wilde	Paula Collins	Ellen Kahn	Barbara Morrison	Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz
Eunice Azzani	Mary Cranston	Kim Laughton	Whitney Mortimer	Lynn Sedway
Michelle Banks	Lauren Doliva	Valerie Lewis	Shirley Nelson	Dianne Snedaker
Lydia Beebe	Loretta Doon	Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann	Mary O’Hara	Laura Stein
Cathy Benko	Pamela Duffy	Mary Marcy	Mary Pittman	Joan Tucker Fife
Carla Boragno	Mary Francis	Deborah Messemer	Janet Reilly	Janet Widmann
Teresa Briggs	Linda Havard	Nanette Lee Miller	Ellen Richey	Kit Yarrow
Barbara Carbone	Elizabeth Hillman	Anna Mok	Eva Sage-Gavin

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl named ED of IC-SVN 
Valerie Red-Horse Mohl has been appointed the new Executive Director of Investors’ Circle-Social Venture Network, effective June 25, 2018. IC-SVN builds and serves communities of inspired and informed impact investors and business leaders to make social, economic, and environmental change. Congratulations Valerie! 
Read more.  

May 2018

Wendy York-Fess named Dean of Clemson University's College of Business
On May 24, Clemson University announced that IWF NorCal member Wendy York-Fess has been named dean of its College of Business. She will begin her new job in mid-July. Wendy will remain a member of IWF NorCal. Read press release.

Lisbeth McNabb joins the Linux Foundation as CFO and COO
The Linux Foundation announced on May 14 that IWF NorCal member Lisbeth McNabb is joining the organization as their Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Lisbeth will manage the finance and operations teams at the Linux Foundation, which builds and advances open technology. Read press release.

April 2018

Congratulations to Bari Havlik for her new role as EVP, Member Supervision at FINRA
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has named IWF member Bari Havlik as Executive Vice President for Member Supervision. Starting April 30, Bari will be responsible principally for leading FINRA's Member Regulation program, which includes surveillance and examination programs for member firms. Bari will remain a member of IWF NorCal. See press release.

Diane Winokur honored as a tireless patient advocate
On Tuesday, April 17, the Foundation Fighting Blindness honored IWF member Diane Winokur at its Annual San Francisco Dinner, Visions for the Future. She has been an active leader nationally and internationally in science and biotechnology, with a keen grasp of the public-private partnership that drives innovation and discovery in the ALS community and beyond. She was honored for the inspiration she gives to this community. See more.

March 2018

Congrats IWF member and Rise Up Founder Denise Dunning 
Rise Up announced a new partnership with and $6 million investment from Cummins Inc. The initiative will expand Rise Up’s global reach in enabling girls and women to transform their own lives, communities, and countries through advocacy and policy change. Watch video of Denise's keynote speech.

IWF member Mary Huss has been named Bay Area market president and publisher of the Silicon Valley Business Journal and the San Francisco Business Times, expanding her responsibilities to lead the two Bay Area media properties owned by American City Business Journals.  See press release.

  

Charlan Nemeth's book published March 20

IWF member, Charlan Nemeth's book "In Defense of Troublemakers: the Power of Dissent in Life and Business" argues that our thinking that consensus is good can be completely wrong. She states that people will make better decisions by embracing dissent. As part of her book, Charlan interviewed and featured six IWF NorCal members.  Learn more.

February 2018

Members Leading Collective Impact Partners (CIP) initiative  
IWF members Denise Dunning, Founder and Executive Director of Rise Up, Mary Pittman, President of the Public Health Institute, and Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women are jointly leading CIP: Women’s and Girl’s Economic Empowerment Advocacy in India to increase the economic power of women and girls in India through a collective impact model. Their efforts will be supported by a $2.1 million grant from The Gates Foundation. See press release. 

November 2017

East Bay Supper Club - America's Future: The Juvenile Justice System

October 2, 2017

By Cindy Eisenberg and Christa Gannon

America’s Future: America incarcerates more children than any country in the world! Why? What does this portend for our future? Christa Gannon spoke to us about emerging local trends, and promising solutions!
Christa is an IWF NorCal Member, lawyer, and Founder and CEO of Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY). She led a discussion about our juvenile justice system, issues affecting our youth, and the impact it has on our economic and social health as a community and country. Nearly 20 years ago as a Stanford Law Student, Christa founded FLY after working with incarcerated youth, who fervently believed other youth could be prevented from their fate AND they wanted to help led the way. Today their ideas are the foundation of FLY’s services that reach youth in three Bay Area Counties (San Jose, San Mateo, and Alameda) and 23 cities. FLY specializes in helping kids who are in the criminal justice system and those who are at risk of entering the system. FLY’s innovative and award-winning approach helps our must vulnerable youth change the trajectory of their lives. Systemic, racial justice, and policy reforms are also critical components of FLY’s success. Christa helped us explore the juvenile justice system, adolescent brain development, and local reform efforts and promising solutions for crime and kids. 

Stanford Business School "Graduates" IWF Class!

October 4, 2017

By Wendy York-Fess and Susan Morse

On a clear, warm autumn day, fourteen of our ladies got "admitted" to the Stanford Graduate School of Business for a few hours. We started the morning by touring the beautiful facilities where lucky students learn and live. We marveled at the brand new student residential space designed by world-renowned architect, Ricardo Legoretta. The highlight of the day was the case study session with the ever-entertaining GSB tenured faculty, Charles O’Reilly. After the class, we had lunch at the amazing student cafe where we enjoyed great food and discussion with our fellow IWF "classmates".

The interactive lecture led by Professor O’Reilly dealt with the importance of culture in driving organizational excellence. He made the case for the supremacy of culture over strategy and other management practices, summarizing with "Culture eats strategy for breakfast!"  Many of us came away feeling we had learned things applicable to our own organizations. 

Linda Moriarty kindly described her take on the morning event. “I was excited to attend “grad school for the day”, but this we so much better than I imagined. The process of reading the case study in preparation set the stage. Then Charles O’Reilly’s presentation was just superb! On top of that, being an architect, I was so glad to experience the Legorreta project as well as see the redesign of classrooms for greater flexibility.”

All participants graduated with Honors!

Legacy Foundation Celebration Event - Past, Present, and Future
October 11, 2017
By Barbara Adachi

On October 11, 2017 the IWF NorCal Legacy Foundation held its inaugural Celebration Event to honor the Past, Present and Future. The event was held at the Orrick headquarters in San Francisco, with Orrick also donating the wine, beverages and table arrangements. Starting with a reception and silent auction, we had over 55 guests attending including representatives from Year Up and Girl Scouts of Northern California, our two Legacy partners. It was a fantastic evening focused on raising awareness of the Legacy Foundation and to recognize the donors and leaders who have built this great organization.

We were delighted to have many of our Legacy past Presidents present including Diane Winokur, our first President, Eva Auchincloss, Marianne Briscoe, Van Ton-Quinlivan and Sue Sprunk.  A special recognition was given to Sue Sprunk and Barbara Creed for their leadership in creating the Legacy Foundation Partnership Project.

One of the highlights of the evening was the panel discussion featuring two outstanding young women leaders: Angelica Pineda from Year Up and Jasmine Abude from Girl Scouts of Northern California. With excellent questions from our moderator, Jan Yanehiro, we found their personal stories to be both impressive and inspiring. It was wonderful to hear about their personal journeys and how their two organizations have shaped their lives and the impact of Year Up and Girl Scouts. For the Legacy Foundation, it was heartwarming to hear how our contributions are having an impact on their lives and their future.

The Legacy Foundation also celebrated and thanked the many donors who have supported the Foundation through the years through giving of their time, talent and treasure. As outlined in the Legacy Foundation Annual Report we have over 70 donors who have contributed in the last three years and 35 who have contributed in multiple years.

In looking forward, Barbara Adachi shared that the Board is focused on three distinct strategic tenets: Leadership, Impact and Connectivity.  For 2018, the Legacy Foundation will be reinvesting in our two current partners, Year Up and Girl Scouts of Northern California for 2018. During 2018, the Legacy Foundation Board will be reviewing and solidifying the selection criteria for a new partner for 2019 as Year Up will be completing its third year.

On behalf of the Legacy Foundation Board, we want to thank all of the attendees who came to celebrate the past, present and future. Thank you to our leaders and donors who have made the Legacy Foundation what it is today…the future is bright and we look forward to greater connectivity with our IWF Northern California members. 

Enjoy more pictures from the event on the IWF Flickr account. 

Prioritizing Breast Cancer Prevention: The Theory of Change
November 2, 2017
By Ellen Kahn

An intimate group shared a beautiful dinner and an informative talk about the impact of the environment - in particular cleaning products and body care products - on the incidence of breast cancer.  On November 2nd, Ellen Kahn hosted IWF members and guests at the law offices of Sideman & Bancroft at Embarcadero One.  We marveled at the beautiful nighttime view of Coit Tower and the North Bay while enjoying wine and refreshments.  

Jeanne Rizzo, RN and CEO of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) presented a compelling and passionate overview of the work she and her team have been doing.  BCPP has been instrumental in driving research and Jeanne shared highlights of their recent report "State of the evidence 2017: an update on the connection between breast cancer and the environment".  The organization also works hard to encourage legislation to make products safer and most recently celebrated the signing into law of California SB 258, The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 .  Jeanne encourages us all to carefully read labels and keep it simple, the fewer ingredients with fewer chemicals and fragrances the better. IWF members are encouraged to look at the important work of BCPP; check out the website www.bcpp.org.

A Morning at ABC News
November 8, 2017
By Cindy Kasabian

On Wednesday, November 8, nearly 30 IWF members spent the morning getting a behind-the-scenes look at the taping of the 11am ABC 7 Newscast hosted by anchorman Reggie Aqui and meteorologist Mike Nicco, both of whom spent lots of time after the show answering questions and taking photos.

We then gathered for lunch where we had a question and answer session with vice president of news, Tracey Watkowski, who talked at length about the challenges of television news coverage in the internet age. She also provided interesting insights into how ABC 7 covered the recent fires. This was followed by a truly remarkable panel moderated by our host for the day, Cheryl Jennings, with Jan Yanehiro and Thuy Vu. Topics ranged from how the news business has changed over the past three decades, to sexual harassment in the workplace and all of the recent coverage that topic has had. Panelists candidly shared their unique experiences and answered questions from our group for more than an hour. Such a great day of shared insights and expertise!