Presentation Recap | Advancing Female Leaders: The Power of Mentorship

This session focuses on the experiences of female leaders in corporate spaces, the challenges faced and why mentorship is key to growth. Through a dynamic panel, explore the intersection of gender in the workplace and the gradual emergence of professional women in leadership positions within the CNY community and beyond. Take away lessons on how you can further advance your leadership trajectory and help foster and growth opportunities for others within your organization. Sponsored by Berkshire Bank.

PANELISTS:

Angela S. Dixon, Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Berkshire Bank - Angela is responsible for driving Berkshire Bank’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy in collaboration with executive management and each of Berkshire’s lines of business. She also works to enhance the impact of Berkshire’s existing diversity initiatives and programs. Before joining Berkshire Bank, Angela owned and operated Dixon Consulting II, LLC, a management consulting firm focused on DEI and Talent Management. Her company helped organizations create and cultivate DEI initiatives that align with business strategy, expand opportunities for diverse communities, and produce sustainable, measurable impact. Previously, Angela served as vice president for Talent & Inclusion with the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce in Albany, NY, and served as deputy comptroller for Human Resources and Administration at the New York State Comptroller's Office from 2008 to 2018. She has a BA in Political Science and MBA from the University at Albany, and is a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management.

Erin Horne McKinney, Executive Vice President, Innovation & Strategy, Association for Enterprise Opportunity - Erin is a seasoned executive, investor, Womanist, Afrofuturist, activist, advocate, communication scientist, and serial entrepreneur and intrapreneur with more than two decades of entrepreneurship and tech policy, venture capital, economic and business development, inclusion/diversity/equity/access (IDEA) and marketing communications experience. Erin's previous positions include being the first Black CEO of WomenVenture, inaugural managing partner of Inclusion for JumpStart Inc., and as Washington D.C.’s inaugural senior advisor on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Executive Office of the Mayor. She is a founding member of the Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) and serves on the advisory board for Collider's Inclusion Open program (funded by the Kauffman Foundation), and as a board director for Greater Twin Cities United Way, Tubman, and BIA. She also serves as the founding President & CEO of the African American Community Development Corporation (AACDC) in Minnesota and the Managing Partner & Chair of Minnesota Impact Partners (MIP), a real estate development firm.

Dana J. Zanders, Owner, Phill Financial, Inc. - Dana J. Zanders, owner of Phill Financial, Inc., is an independent accountant and consultant with decades of extensive experience in accounting and financial management. Phill Financial, Inc., offers accounting and advisory solutions to support the growth of businesses and organizations across a variety of industries. Dana provides financial guidance, creative insight, and strategic vision to assist in achieving the financial goals of individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Before owning and operating her accounting practice, Dana served in various corporate accounting functions, controller roles, and as finance manager with multi-national, multi-billion-dollar organizations throughout Central and Eastern New York, including Eaton Corporation and The Estee Lauder Companies. Dana has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration in Banking and Finance. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is currently the president of the Syracuse Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

MODERATOR: Monifa Wilcox, Vice President of Human Resources, CenterState CEO