Learning objective: Foster leadership and professional growth Leaders must possess certain competencies to excel in their roles. Women leaders often face unique challenges in the workplace regarding perceived competence compared to men. By developing key leadership competencies, women leaders can better overcome these obstacles. In this session, our panel will discuss how building confidence, demonstrating competence, and cultivating a strong leadership presence can improve leadership standing. Attendees will learn the importance of effective communication, emotional intelligence, networking, and connecting with other women leaders. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Identify competencies that build confidence. 2. Explore key elements of leadership presence. 3. Recognize characteristics that enhance effective leadership communication and demonstrate emotional intelligence. 4. Examine strategies for becoming an impactful female negotiator. 5. Discover best practices for developing a network of women leaders.

2. Women in Leadership Panel (1155):
Enhancing Confidence, Communication, and
Negotiation Skills
Saturday, October 14, 2023 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
House Rules: We are looking forward to a fun and engaging conversation
1. Safe Space: Judgement free, Open, Honest, and Real
2. Submit questions via Sli.do tool or raise hands at the end
3. Keep an open mind

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Your Panel Today
Moderator: Dr. Whitney Gaskins, Assoc. Dean, University of Cincinnati
Speaker: Alena Brown, Director, PepsiCo
Panelist: Maria Thorpe, Director, US Navy
Panelist: Dr. Brooke Hirsch, Sr. Laboratory Services Manager

4. Dr. Whitney Gaskins, Associate Dean of Inclusive
Excellence, Community Engagement and New
Faculty Development
I earned my Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical
Engineering/Engineering Education. In 2009, I founded The Gaskins
Foundation, a non-profit organization, who launched the
STEMulates year-round K-12 program, which is a free of charge
program that introduces more students to math and science, that
currently offers programming in five cities.
My Advice:
1. Authenticity is one major key to success
2. There is no mentorship guru – have more than one mentor

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Alena Brown, Director, IT Lead – Sourcing &
Procurement
In her current role as the Technology Lead at PepsiCo supporting the
sourcing & Procurement functions, Alena drives the IT strategy and delivery
of solutions for the business. Alena partners closely with key business
stakeholders to identify latest solutions, technology assessment, solution
road-mapping and delivery to drive the digital transformation journey. Her
18+ years at PepsiCo have offered a range of diverse experiences from
Global Real Estate Workplace transformation, Business Relationship
Management, Project Management Office, SAP and Global Procurement.
Prior professional experiences include Operations, Supply Chain & Financial
Planning w GAP, Inc. She received her B.S. in Marketing, International
Business and French from Penn State University, University Park, PA. Alena
resides in Beacon, NY with her husband, Nate and the their three children
Claire, Ava and Whitaker.
My Advice:
1. Foster meaningful relationships
2. Take action, even when it’s scary
3. Don’t be afraid to network

6. Maria Thorpe, Director, Systems Acquisition Group,
Human Systems Engineering Department
I currently work for the Federal Government as an Executive leader
in Engineering. I am a speaker, mentor, co-author and real estate
accountant. I’ve mentored numerous students and professionals in
STEM. I have spoken at various events, including local schools and
colleges inspiring girls and empowering women, about being the
best they can be with the gifts and talents that God gave them.
My Advice:
1. Get a mentor, Be a mentor.
2. Stay positive in the face of adversity

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Dr. Brooke Hirsch, is a Senior Laboratory Services
Manager with Actalent, a global leader in
engineering and sciences services and talent
solutions.
Brooke oversees a team responsible for solutioning and delivery of
all laboratory services projects to clients across North America. She
has more than 20 years of research, laboratory services, project
management, and leadership experience in life sciences, including
work as a Vice President of Operations for a specialized assay
development services company. She holds certification in Project
Management from PMI, Lean Management, and is an ASQ certified
Six Sigma Green Belt. Brooke earned her B.S. degree in
Microbiology from Colorado State University and her PhD in
Molecular Biology form the University of Colorado Health Sciences
Center.
My Advice:
1. If you don’t ask, then the answer is already no. Don’t fear
rejection
2. Be your own best advocate

8. Questions?

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Thank You!