FOROMET DC
SPEAKERS
YANIRE BRAÑA
Yanire is a 2001 graduate of the IE Business School. Yanire has more than fifteen years of international experience in marketing, training, leveraging information technology, and change management processes. Since 2007, she has dedicated most of her time to supporting women business leaders through mentoring, training, communications and networking activities. She previously worked for Accenture, Banco Popular, IDB, World Bank, and Booz Allen Hamilton.
SHERRIE BAKSHI
Sherrie is a communications and web strategist with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, communications and web development, working closely with associations and nonprofit organizations. She is also a published writer with articles appearing in PRSA’s Tactics, Charleston Magazine and Qatar In-flight Magazine. Sherrie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
ANGELO DELL' ATTI
Angelo has over 25 years of experience as an advisor, financier, and investor in over 50 cross-border transactions worldwide. He has worked in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central Asia and Europe and invested over $5 billion of equity and debt for projects in emerging markets. He has direct experience in a wide range of private sector development solutions and financial products. He previously worked for the Suez Group, the EBRD, and JP Morgan.
ESTRELLA JARAMILLO
Estrella is the cofounder of B-wom, a digital coach for women’s health. She graduated in Translation and Interpreting (English, German) and started her professional career in Berlin as Coordinator of the Spanish Department for RedBee Media She is leading the company’s expansion in the United States and aims to provide better self-care and wellness management resources to women, so they can lead healthier lives.
DEISE LEOBET
Deise Leobet is the International Director for Business Development – North America for IE Business School. She has extensive experience in business development, communications, and journalism. She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, and an MBA from IE Business School.

CONCEPCIÓN GALDÓN
Concepción is an Economist by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She holds a Master in Public Administration and International Development by Harvard Kennedy School. Concepción holds a PhD in International Economy and Development by Universidad Complutense de Madrid. At IE she has the mandate to promote Social Innovation across Schools and Programs, encourage more research in Social Innovation and reach out to organizations and partners.
DELORIS WILSON
As an activator, social entrepreneur and social impact strategist, she runs the day-to-day operations of BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative, while also researching DC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and its impact on women. Previously, Deloris served as a business development consultant for a variety of start-up ventures, including co-founding the Islands Innovation Institute, Vivifi – a civic-technologies firm for social good, as well developing and implementing a nationwide minority entrepreneurship training program.
AMITA SHUKLA
She is a thought leader, innovator, and entrepreneur focused on creating and scaling transformative innovations for human health, well-being, and potential. She is the founder and CEO of Vitamita and the author of Enduring Edge: Transforming How We Think, Create and Change and the Mind Tool Box: Powerful Mantras to Unlock the Mind’s Potential. Previously, she served as a venture capital (VC) investor at New Enterprise Associates, one of the world’s largest VC firms, where she invested in cutting-edge healthcare innovations.
MARIELLA ZUÑIGA
Mariella has been involved in operational management, leading teams in Rehab Services for more than a decade. An Occupational Therapist with an MBA from IE Business School, she has served in many leadership roles in various healthcare agencies driving compliance, results, and profits. She consults for the DC Office of the Aging for the Safe At Home Program. Mariella also established AdaptiveHomeLiving, LLC focused on providing assessments, information, recommendations for living and aging in place.
YURANI SANDOVAL
Yurani is a single mom with more than 7 years of project management experience and MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins School. She is appasionate to help single parents to excel. She has created SingleParentPower, the only one-stop-shop bilingual, diverse and inclusive community for single parents in the greater DC area. Yurani is currently participating as a mentee in MET Community mentoring program
LEAH WALD
Leah successfully co-founded and led two social entrepreneurial companies, Veterati and Trilokya Strategic Agency and served as a founding advisor to Naadam Cashmere. She began her career at 19 working at the World Bank in the Africa Region reporting directly to the Vice President. After completing her Master of Science in Management from IE Business School, she worked as a financial analyst to the CEO of Vital Financial.
SUSAN JOSEPH
MICHELLE GITLITZ
Michelle Gitlitz concentrates her practice in the area of securities law, representing corporations, investment companies, and hedge funds in corporate, regulatory, and litigation matters. Michelle also counsels clients on the intersection of law, business, and technology, including issues related to distributive ledger technologies (blockchain), smart contracts, virtual currencies, and artificial intelligence.
CELESTE CARRASCO
Celeste is responsible for executing national strategies that achieve corporate legislative and regulatory objectives, presenting company positions to external stakeholders in key issue areas. In 2015, Celeste was honored as City Year Idealist of the Year and also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. In 2016, Celeste received the herMANA Award from the MANA organization.
XINA EILAND
Xina Eiland is the owner of X+PR, a results-driven public relations and new media agency. A seasoned communications professional with more than 15 years of experience, Xina specializes in media relations, outreach and strategy development. In addition to specializing in media and community outreach, multicultural marketing, and event planning, Xina has established herself as a rising star in the social media space, executing cutting-edge strategies to maximize the impact of her clients’ initiatives.