A chartered I/O psychologist, Fidelma is Vice President of the Talent & Organizational Development team at Zendesk, a technology company which builds software for better customer relationships. Fidelma leads Zendesk’s global org dev, change management, engagement, learning and mobility teams, designing and implementing many initiatives across these teams. Fidelma joined Zendesk in 2015 as EMEA HR Director, and moved in 2016 to their San Francisco headquarters. Fidelma started her career with Accenture’s talent management consulting practice, working with clients in the UK and Ireland on the talent and change management challenges associated with large-scale technology and business model transformations, and previously led Organization Development, HR and Workplace in a fintech company.
Karla Samdahl
Cisco Systems
Karla Samdahl
Cisco Systems
Karla is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition, Executive & Board at Cisco, People & Communities managing the strategic and tactical aspects of overall Talent Acquisition effectiveness. Karla has a proven track record of progressive experience implementing staffing strategies for various market segments, having worked within multiple industries for fortune 500 companies and start up. She has demonstrated ability in executing successful Talent Acquisition development strategies to drive growth and maximum return across multiple business groups.
Karla’s early work leading marketing and business development are what make her a welcome, credible, and influential partner across functions and levels of the organization. She is a relationship builder with an innate ability to observe and understand organizational undercurrents, and she facilitates information exchange helping teams deliver more effectively.
Karla impacts business outcomes by working with executives and key business stakeholders to get what they need through effective prioritization of talent acquisition strategies and staffing requirements, targeting top 20% of talent. Karla holds a MBA with emphasis in Business Organizational Management and Marketing, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/Pre-Law.
Lydia Dishman
Fast Company
Lydia Dishman
Fast Company
Lydia Dishman is a business journalist who writes about the intersection of tech, leadership, commerce, and innovation. She is a regular contributor to Fast Company and has written for CBS Moneywatch, Fortune, The Guardian, Popular Science, and the New York Times, among others. She is coauthor of the book Survive to Thrive. Over the course of her career, she’s interviewed a variety of well-known executives including Diane Von Furstenberg, Gregg Steinhafel, former CEO of Target, Mickey Drexler, former CEO of J.Crew, Christopher Bailey of Burberry, Mary Barra of General Motors, Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Records, Alexis Ohanian of Reddit, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, and other luminaries such as Adrian Grenier, Romany Malco, and Tom Brokaw.
Jim Sinocchi
JPMorgan Chase
Jim Sinocchi
JPMorgan Chase
Jim Sinocchi is head of the global Office of Disability Inclusion at JPMorgan Chase.
He works closely with senior leaders across the firm to establish consistent standards and processes to better support employees with disabilities. The office also supports employees who care for disabled family members.
Sinocchi joined the firm in 2016 to head the newly established office.
Having sustained a spinal cord injury early in his business career, Sinocchi is keenly aware of the issues and challenges facing people with disabilities. He actively creates awareness and understanding of disability inclusion through his blog, View from the Chair. Sinocchi has served on the boards of Jawonio, an organization focused on the well-being and equality of people with disabilities, and the Human Rights Commission in Rockland County, N.Y. He currently serves as a board member of the Viscardi Center’s Board of Directors Inc., a K-12 school in New York for severely disabled students affiliated with The Viscardi School; United Spinal Association, a nonprofit that seeks to enhance the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders; and RespectAbility, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Sinocchi joined the firm from IBM, where he led global workforce communications, creating awareness and understanding of IBM’s Human Resources and Diversity programs, policies and initiatives. He also served as the Corporate Communications Director for IBM’s Workforce Communications organization, ensuring their HR programs complemented their image as a technology leader and employer of choice. In addition, he was the lead co-chair executive for the IBMers with Disabilities Global Council.
Sinocchi received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University. He is married with two grown children and two grandchildren, and resides in the Boston area.
Ronald Reeves
AIG
Ronald Reeves
AIG
Ronald Reeves, CDP is currently Head of Diversity & Inclusion for the United States, Canada, Latin America & Caribbean for AIG. He has been in his current role for three years and has worked for AIG for 20 years. He is responsible for partnering with AIG’s leaders, managers and employees to design, develop and implement a sustainable and measurable D& I strategy that focuses on talent, workplace and the marketplace. Ronald is a Certified Diversity Professional.
Under Ronald’s leadership, AIG has been named to the 2019 DiversityInc’s Top 50 List. AIG has also been recognized as one of the Best Places To Work for LGBT Equality by the Human rights Campaign for eight consecutive years.
Ronald is a seasoned financial services industry training & leadership development professional. With over 20 years of insurance industry experience, he has extensive global leadership and management development experience. He has traveled to over 20 different countries in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific facilitating leadership, management and professional development programs. He is a skilled presenter, facilitator, sales trainer, instructional designer, project manager, executive/sales/life coach & learning officer. Ronald has deep expertise in sales training/coaching, business/technical training as well as management, leadership and professional development. He holds numerous learning & development certifications such as Achieve Global, DDI, Wilson Learning, Results Coaching Systems, MBTI and Facet 5 to name a few.
Ronald also has experience writing state training grant proposals as well as administering million dollar grants. He is a former award winning Sales Agent & Sales Manager for Allstate Insurance Company. Ronald is passionate about diversity & inclusion, leadership/executive development as well as improving sales revenue/production. He received his B.A. in Journalism from San Jose State University. Ronald resides in Los Angeles.