Punam V. Saxena is a TEDx speaker and a 2x author of the books Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond which was #1 on Amazon, and Powerful Parenting: 101 Ways to Stay Positive, a parent affirmation journal, both of which received 5 stars from both Mom’s Choice Awards and Reader’s Favorite. As a second-generation Indian American and over 30 years of advocacy, Punam speaks on the unique experiences of cultural bias, the Model Minority Stereotype, parent engagement in schools, Asian student challenges, and empowering South Asian womxn voices. Her signature TEDx talk, The Key to Student Success, highlights the minority experience in school while growing up as “other.”

Chantel C. Smith is a dynamic business consultant, DEI leader, and sought-after speaker dedicated to driving business transformation through people-centered strategies. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in strategy development, talent management, and organizational effectiveness, helping companies build sustainable and inclusive workplaces.

Before transitioning to full-time consulting, Chantel served as Vice President of Global DEI and Talent Management at a leading PR firm, where she spearheaded large-scale initiatives to enhance workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into business operations. Her expertise spans corporate, agency, and nonprofit sectors, where she has partnered with leaders to develop high-impact programs that drive measurable change.

Chantel’s approach blends strategic planning, data analysis, and long-term transformation to help organizations implement scalable, sustainable solutions. She has led initiatives that increased leadership diversity, improved talent mobility, and elevated both employee and client experiences. A recognized thought leader, she frequently speaks on DEI strategy, brand positioning, and business innovation.

Chantel holds a B.S. in Professional Communications and an MBA. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, embracing new experiences, and giving back to her community.

Janessa is a Partner in KPMG’s Deal Advisory and Strategy (DAS) practice specializing in financial due diligence (FDD). With 21 years of experience, Janessa leads our East & Southwest FDD practice, Women in Advisory efforts and serves as the Deal Advisory & Strategy People & DEI Leader. In 2018, Janessa established the Women in DAS initiative and leadership council. As part of that effort, she spearheaded the practice’s premier women’s leadership development program for high-performing DAS directors that has evolved into a broader Advisory-wide Momentum Leadership program suite for developing talent at the manager and director levels. Janessa also championed and successfully launched our exclusive KPMG Executive Leadership Institute for Women (KELIW) program in our Boston market, which is KPMG’s commitment to skills development, leadership training and network advancement for women executives that continues to be a market leader today.

René Brooks is a late-life ADHD success story. After being diagnosed 3 times as a child (age 7, 11, and 25), she was finally able to get the treatment she deserved. René decided that her passion for helping others should be put toward people with this disorder who are struggling in silence or shame. She started Black Girl, Lost Keys to empower black women with ADHD and show them how to live well with the condition.

Falguni Patel is a seasoned Customer Program Manager with over 20 years of distinguished experience in the technology industry. She excels in orchestrating the delivery of innovative products and services, driving value creation through innovative solutions, robust deployment strategies, and expert program management. 

As a trusted resource and mentor at Cisco, Fal collaborates closely with leadership to identify and leverage opportunities that empower customers with transformative tools and solutions, fostering business growth and enhancing employee success. 

Her commitment to nurturing talent is further exemplified by her long-standing leadership role within the Women of Cisco Employee Resource Group, where she has served as both a chapter leader and board member. 

Fal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), underscoring her dedication to excellence and continuous professional development. 

Cassie Pederson is an accomplished client leader with extensive experience in building and leading global teams, shaping strategic vision, and driving cross-functional collaboration to deliver impactful results. She is passionate about innovation and aligning strategies with both organizational goals and customer needs.

With a proven track record of executing growth strategies, Cassie maintains a sharp focus on customer success. She is widely recognized for her leadership, authenticity, and commitment to mentorship, empowering others to achieve excellence.

Cassie holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Human Resources, from North Dakota State University.

Susan Smith is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of marketing experience in the travel and auto industry. As the Sr. Manager of Regional Marketing at AAA-The Auto Club Group, she excels in leading a remote team across 14 states, driving strategic marketing initiatives and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Susan’s leadership extends to her role in developing, leading and now supporting the Women in Leadership ERG, where she champions talent retention and attraction through innovative programming and workshops. Her efforts have significantly enhanced company culture, promoting inclusivity and professional growth. Susan’s ability to inspire and guide her team has been instrumental in achieving consistent brand success and customer engagement.  

Steve Pemberton’s journey is about defying seemingly insurmountable odds to become an award-winning author, trail-blazing corporate executive, world-renowned speaker and life transformation coach.

His first book, A Chance in the World became a USA Today best-seller and made him the subject of a film about his life. He has been profiled in numerous publications and talk shows, from CBS Evening News and People Magazine to The Today Show. The many stories of overcoming that he so often receives led him to write his best-selling follow-up, The Lighthouse Effect, which recounts the lives of ten seemingly ordinary people he met along his life journey. The overwhelming response to The Lighthouse Effect is what led Steve to create The Lighthouse Academy, the inspiring life-coaching platform that is transforming lives, each and every day.

Steve also brings another perspective to his work. In his professional life, he has served as a senior human resources executive in companies and organizations whose mission was to help people better their lives. From Monster.com to Walgreens, he was immersed in the daily work of driving higher levels of organizational performance, advancing diversity and inclusion efforts and helping employees achieve a healthy work-life balance while developing the leadership skills that would advance their career.

Wherever his travels have taken him, Steve has made a steadfast vow to help those in need-to be a lighthouse for those trying to find their chance in the world. For his extraordinary courage and his selfless commitment to helping others, Steve has earned extensive national recognition, from several honorary doctorates to the coveted Trumpet Award and the prestigious Horizon Award bestowed by the United States Congress. Steve is also the husband of Tonya Renee and the loving father of their three children, Quinn, Vaughn and Kennedy.

Anthony Romano is an Associate on the Assessment and Strategy team at Seramount. He is a successful higher education professional with extensive sales experience and is passionate about growth and continuously enhancing his skills.

Prior to joining Seramount, Anthony served as a Partner Development Representative at EAB for nearly two years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Stony Brook University.

Anthony is originally from Long Island, New York and currently resides in Richmond, VA. In his free time, he enjoys live music, discovering new restaurants, and photography.