JVS SoCal’s Women’s Leadership Network
Thank you to all those who joined us and contributed to the 12th annual Woman to Woman Conference: Commitment with Compassion
If you’d like to contribute to the JVS SoCal’s commitment, please consider donating
Photo Slideshow
Our Distinguished Host
Lisa McRee
Lisa’s vibrant career includes helping to launch ABC News “World News Now” in 1992. Not long after that, she joined the “Good Morning America” team as co-host. Today, Lisa anchors “LA Times Today” on Spectrum News 1.
As a five-time Emmy Award winner, Lisa is no stranger to award-winning reporting. Of her many decorated stories, her report titled “War Stories from Ward 7-D,” remains her most meaningful. This story inspired Lisa’s ongoing passion for veterans and their families, which is shown through the volumes of volunteer work she does today. She also won the coveted DuPont Columbia Award for reporting and producing this story.
Our Honorees
Rosaline L. Zuckerman WLN Women’s Empowerment Award
Bridgid Coulter Cheadle
An acclaimed entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bridgid is known for her work in education and environmental protection.
She founded Blackbird Collective in 2018, a for-profit public benefit corporation empowering women of color and allies through creative programming studios. In 2020, Bridgid launched Blackbird Alliance, a non-profit supporting members with sponsorship and mentorship. As Principal of Bridgid Coulter Design, she oversees a boutique interior design firm in Santa Monica and Hawaii, specializing in residential, hospitality, and creative office spaces.
Bridgid holds an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts from UCLA and has earned accolades including the National Distinguished 400 Award and a Tony Award for producing “A Strange Loop” in 2022.
WLN Impact Award
Since its inception in 1902, Cedars-Sinai has evolved to become the largest nonprofit hospital in the western United States. Cedars-Sinai’s commitment to the community extends beyond the walls of its hospitals and clinics. The dedication of the physicians, nurses, researchers, support staff and volunteers helps deliver vital health services to people in Los Angeles and around the world.
JVS SoCal is proud to count Cedars-Sinai among our employer partners. Cedars-Sinai has helped us support hundreds of men and women annually enter the medical field through our no-cost training programs such as CareerWorks Medical and HealthWorks.
We wish to acknowledge these Cedars-Sinai physicians who have broken through barriers to achieve success in their fields.
Sarah Kilpatrick, MD
Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Soniya Gandhi, MD
VP, Medical Affairs and Associate Chief Medical Officer
Christina Harris, MD
VP and Chief Health Equity Officer
Joanna Chikwe, MD
Chair, Department of Cardiac Surgery
Irene Kim, MD
Director, Comprehensive Transplant Center
Mary Nasmyth, MD
Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sharon Isonaka, MD
Vice President, Clinical Transformation
Nancy Sicotte, MD
Chair, Department of Neurology
Caroline Goldzweig, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Medical Care Foundation
Christine Albert, MD
Chair, Department of Cardiology
Cristina Ferrone, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery
Peggy Miles, MD
Director, Employee Health Services
Kimberly Gregory, MD
Chair, Department of Maternal-Fetal Mediciine
Speakers
Princess Sarah Culberson
A genuine African princess from Sierra Leone who discovered her royal heritage in her late twenties, Sarah now hosts the Modern Royalty podcast, which explores contemporary definitions of royalty.
She’s a renowned thought leader, TEDx speaker, artist, and educator focusing on biracial and cultural identity. Her journey has been featured on CNN, GMA, and BBC and numerous publications worldwide, inspiring a co-authored book “A Princess Found,” now adapted by Disney for a major film.
With over 15 years in education, she speaks globally at venues like NASA and Princeton University. Sarah is president and co-founder of Sierra Leone Rising, promoting education and clean water, and promoting cultural awareness through cooking. Her efforts earned her the Trumpet Impact Award for fostering inclusivity on a large scale.
Dr. Jorja Leap
Dr. Leap is a faculty member at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and directs the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership.
Her expertise encompasses gangs, violence, and systems change, influencing policy at local, state, and national levels. She advises on gangs for Los Angeles County, serves as an expert reviewer for the National Institute of Justice, and leads research for the Community Based Public Safety Collective.
Dr. Leap’s current focus includes gang and community justice, criminal justice reform, and reentry challenges, particularly for women. She is lead researcher for the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative and evaluates Homeboy Industries’ gang reentry program.
Our Generous Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
Terri & Jerry
Kohl
Empowerment Sponsors
Don Levin Trust
and
Ann & Don Levin
Susan W. Robertson
Of Blessed Memory
Carl W. Robertson
Cara W. Robertson
Chip and Carrie Robertson
Jill & Harris
Smith
Luminary Sponsors
Encouragement Sponsors
Karen & Howard
Berger
Susan & Fred
Kunik
Debbie & Rick
Powell
Advocate Sponsors
Allen and Anita Kohl Charitable Foundation
Inspiration Sponsors
Don & Eileen
Coskey Fracchia
Deborah
Kallick
Barbara & Tom
Leanse
Carol
Muchin
Harriet & Steven
Nichols
Leslie & Bobby
Spivak
Enthusiast Sponsors
Impact Sponsors
Joan & Marshall
August
Linda
Brown
Jane Z.
Cohen
Cheryl
Fair
Judy Flesh
and
Judy F. Rosenberg
Brooke & Micah DeKofsky
Rupal
Koshy
Lauren & Larry
Kurzweil
Virginia
Maas
Nicole
Mutchnik
Nancy & Jeff
Paul
Jack
Suzar
Influencer Sponsors
Lawrence P Frank Foundation
Essential Sponsors
Lynn
Bider
Harriet
Bernstein
Jill
Black
David
Bolour
Alexandra
Carter
Nancy & Jeff
Cherry
Lisa
Detanna
Linda
Essakow
Nan
Goodman
Eileen
Goodis
Linda & Jim
Hausberg
Sue
Hochberg
Rachel & Spencer
Kallick
Pam
Kluft
Deborah & Alan
Levey
Joni & Jeff
Marine
Laura
Maslon
Elizabeth Hirsh
Naftali
Robert
Pearman
Dr. Michelle Israel
&
Robbie Shipp
Trinka Stotsky
Soloway
Kathy Keegan
&
Tim Wilson
WLN Ambassadors
Adam
Abramowitz
Arnon
Adar
Sophie
Alpert
Bonnie & Ronny
Bensimon
Lynn
Behar
Fran
Berger
Jamie & Joel
Berman
Joanie
Black
Nancy
Eisenstadt
Nancy
Epstein
Rusty
Feldman
Leland
Felsenthal
Judy
Fishman
Andrea Pflug
Forman
Sharon
Glaser
Vicki
Gold
Jackie
Gottlieb
Katie
Holthouse
Adrienne
Horwitch
Charlie
Isaacs
Janet Wells
Kahane
Carol
Karp
Debra
Kessler
Barbara & Joel
Marcus
Jeannine
Nadel
Christina & Matt
Paul
David
Pelaia
Vicki Reynolds
Pepper
D’Angela
Proctor
Renee
Remeny
Linda
Rosenson
Ellen
Sandler
Robbi & Tom
Schiff
Allison
Segan
Annette
Shapiro
Carrie
Shapiro
Susan
Sugarman
Ilyse
Teller
Peter
Tu
Toby
Waldorf
Strategic Partners
Harry and Yvonne Lenart
Charitable Foundation
Carol Moss
Foundation
Contribute Now!
If you’d like to contribute to the JVS SoCal’s commitment, please consider donating
Our Impact
The Women’s Leadership Network is proud to assist women experiencing career crisis and transition. Thanks to the JVS SoCal programs we support, we are uniquely positioned to help women through this time and see them on the road to recovery.
Since its founding in 2008, the WLN has raised over $6 million dollars to provide free mentoring, career training and job placement support to tens of thousands of women participating in JVS SoCal program across Los Angeles and Southern California. We are able to do this with the support of our members and sponsors of our annual Woman to Woman Conference.
Get Involved
You can help support the WLN by subscribing to our mailing list, making a donation, registering for our conference or becoming a volunteer with our women’s career development programs. Learn more.
Additional Information
If you have questions regarding this annual Conference or the Women’s Leadership Network, please contact
Zsofia Szlovak at 323.761.8897 or by email at zsofia.szlovak@jvs-socal.org
Your gift will empower women to achieve dignity and economic independence through sustainable employment.
JVS SoCal is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
Our Tax ID is 95-1691012