Heidi Schisel is Vice President, People & Culture, for Genentech’s Commercial, Medical, and Government Affairs organization. She assumed that position in 2021 after six years with the organization, during which time she successfully took on roles of increasing responsibility across Research & Development, Business Development, and Manufacturing & Quality. Prior to Genentech, Heidi was a Director at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), where she spent 11 years in Human Resources. Heidi earned a Master of Science in Human Resources Development from Villanova University after completing her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at California Polytechnic State University. Heidi is passionate about employee wellness and building a workplace culture that is inclusive and inspiring, where people are empowered to be their full selves, do their best work, continuously learn, and be recognized and rewarded for creating impact. She loves to travel to new places and enjoys playing tennis, running, gardening, and swimming.

Sivona Blake is a proud native of Maplewood, NJ and currently a resident of Harlem, NY. Sivona graduated from the Howard University School of Business where she studied Marketing. Sivona has spent years assisting and cultivating startups and smaller businesses through Technology, Diversity and Inclusion, and Client Relationship Management. She started her career in tech sales then decided to pivot into Human Resources. Sivona started at Citi as an Assistant Vice President of Campus Diversity
Recruitment and was promoted to Vice President of Campus Diversity Recruitment. In her current role, she focuses on leading Citi’s relationships with HBCUs, early insight programs, and increasing diversity within the firm. Sivona also holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California in public administration and policy.

She is a current active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and was initiated into Alpha Chapter in 2014. Sivona holds numerous leadership roles within large nonprofit organizations and is currently a junior board member of the Harlem Boys and Girls Club, a project coordinator for New Jersey Cares, and a young patron for the Apollo Theater. In her spare time she loves spending time with family and friends. She loves to travel, brunch with friends and read a great book.

Jeri Hawthorne joined Aflac in 2019 as the vice president of CorporateHuman Resources at Aflac, Inc. She became SVP, CHRO of Aflac in 2023.In her current role, she leads all facets of the Human Resources functionfor Aflac. She has more than 20 years of human resources experience,specifically as a strategic HR leader, a talent management expert and inglobal human resources.

Prior to joining Aflac, Jeri was the Managing Director/Head of HumanResources for Campbell & Company, a quantitative hedge fund based inBaltimore, MD where she led their human resources, administration teamsand community outreach. Jeri worked at Exelon from 2010-2017, whereshe was the Director of Talent Management and Leadership Developmentand the HR Director for Exelon’s commercial organization. Jeri worked inHR and talent management at T. Rowe Price and has broad experience inglobal human resources. She was Director of Global HR and Employmentat the United States Pharmacopeia, leading the HR strategy for their globalexpansion efforts. Jeri was an expatriate in Copenhagen, Denmark whereshe worked as an International HR consultant at Novo Nordisk A/S. Shestarted her human resources career working as a cross-cultural trainingmanager at GMAC-Global Relocation Services and Berlitz InterculturalServices in New York, NY and Princeton, NJ respectively.

Jeri holds both the SPHR and GPHR. She is a Global Fellow in TalentManagement (the Wharton School). She has an MSc in Social Policy fromthe University of Bath (United Kingdom) and a BA in Political Science fromWheeling Jesuit University.