CATALYST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Head of Knowledge Transformation & Solution Development
Alix is Head of Knowledge Transformation & Solution Development at Catalyst. In her role, and as a leader within the R&D team, she oversees and delivers the strategic acquisition, refinement, and application of knowledge to create innovative products that address specific challenges or opportunities for Catalyst Supporters and their employees across levels, maturity stages, and geographies. She innovates fit-for-purpose products to transform Catalyst's best-in-class research and thought leadership into actionable solutions that drive mission impact. Alix is a recognized equity and inclusion expert and is a passionate advocate herself.
Prior to her current role, Alix was lead of the MARC initiative and Vice President of Product Content & Strategy. She started her Catalyst career as a primary researcher, where she focused on engaging men, intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity, and culture of inclusion. Across over a decade of work at Catalyst, Alix has authored over 50 knowledge and learning products.
Before joining Catalyst, Alix was as an Advisor for the Permanent Mission of the Cote D'Ivoire at the United Nations, working on post-conflict reintegration programming for women and girls. She holds a BA from Brandeis University and MPH in Global Public Health from George Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Engagement ( Western Canada )
Aliya Ansari joined Catalyst in September 2022 as Director, Corporate Engagement (Western Canada). Aliya is a globally minded fundraiser with a proven ability to connect causes to people and a passion for impact-based philanthropy. She has years of experience in creating and leading fund development and corporate partnerships for national and international organizations and social impact initiatives both as an employee and a volunteer.
Her ambition to effect change means she is also invested in her own community and has a passion to advocate for women of colour and new immigrants to help create diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces in the charitable sector. Aliya's work has spanned from volunteering at a local emergency refugee shelter to supporting her local YMCA and designing sustainable funding models for national and global organizations.
Aliya lived in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Toronto, Canada. She moved to Western Canada in 2020 and enjoys spending weekends in the Rocky Mountains.
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Engagement
Ameera Virani is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years' experience cultivating meaningful strategic partnerships and creating impactful events. Throughout her diverse career, Ameera has worked in the not-for-profit health and education sectors, developing corporate partnerships in philanthropy, research, and cause marketing. She has partnered with some of Canada's leading organizations including TD Bank, Desjardins Financial, Canada Life, Bonvoy, Dairy Queen Int'l and Manulife to drive awareness and raise funds for education, pediatric healthcare, and research.
Ameera brings over 12 years of experience in event management and sponsorship from her time with the Power of Women and Power Within events. At Western University, Ameera co-led the University Advancement task force for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and assisted in developing Western's Black Leadership University Experience program.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Ameera is an avid reader, who enjoys exploring the world through travel and discovering new cultures and cuisines. Her greatest joy comes from spending time with her family and their adored golden doodle, Oscar!
With her experience, strategic mindset, and genuine enthusiasm for building collaborative partnerships, Ameera is dedicated to making a lasting impact and driving positive social change. She is committed to empowering women, fostering inclusivity, and creating memorable experiences that inspire personal and professional growth.
Ameera received her Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and International Management from the University of Ottawa.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, US Corporate Engagement
Amy Luther joined Catalyst in August 2021 as the Director of Corporate Engagement for the Western Region, and in 2022 became Senior Director. Her role is to build strategic partnerships with Supporters and to align them with the resources and tools to create inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Amy brings over 15 years of non-profit leadership experience and 25 years of business experience. She is skilled at working in a progressive, mission-driven team environment and passionate about mission at Catalyst. Prior to Catalyst, Amy worked as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Camber Outdoors where she oversaw their revenue stream and supported organizations in creating inclusive, equitable and diverse workplaces.
Amy holds a BS in Geography with an emphasis in GIS from the University of Utah.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Growth
- in 2016 As an Associate
Andrew Grissom joined Catalyst in 2016 as an associate. As Director of Community Growth, Andrew creates and oversees the implementation of initiatives and programs that encourage community involvement, participation, and dialogue. Andrew leads research and community engagement activities for the Catalyst CEO Champions For Change initiative and is as a subject matter expert on DEI measurement; self-identification; pay equity; pay transparency; global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) trends; employee resource groups (ERGs); gender partnership; and inclusive leadership.
Previously, Andrew co-led Catalyst Practices, a research series that profiles leading-edge organizational DEI strategies, initiatives, and programs. He has served on numerous cross-functional teams, including the Catalyst Award Evaluation Committee.
Before joining Catalyst, Andrew was a librarian at the Paul Barret, Jr. Library at Rhodes College. He received his Master of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Rhodes College. He served as President of the Advisory Board for the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville from 2022-2023.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Events Operations
Angie Silverio is responsible for assisting with the planning and execution of signature Catalyst Events and acts as the project manager for all webinars hosted by the events team. In addition to collaborating on virtual and in-person events, Angie works closely with the Finance and Legal Departments to manage vendor relationships from introduction to execution of services.
Prior to joining Catalyst, Angie worked as a Senior Associate at a nonprofit focused on creating peer groups for Fortune1000 leaders to brainstorm on major social issues and how to utilize their role to make an impact in their communities. In similar roles, Angie also worked at the GVC Chamber of Commerce as an operations manager and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in workforce development.
Angie holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management and Administration from The City College of New York and a master's degree in Nonprofit Management and Fundraising from Northeastern University.
Angie lives in New York City and travels back and forth between New York and the Dominican Republic, her homeland. In her spare time, Angie loves reading, outdoor activities, exploring dessert shops in the city, and dancing.
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Young & Rubicam
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Catalyst Europe
As a Senior Associate in Catalyst's Europe office, Anna Manuzzi works with leading global organisations as a Relationship Manager to create more diverse, inclusive and flexible workplaces. She has extensive experience in Economic and Social Policy - working closely with Congressmen, Ambassadors, and members of the European Parliament.
Her passion lies in personal development and providing the tools for positive change in others' lives. She believes that to change a culture, we must come from a place of understanding and start on the individual level. As a yoga teacher and facilitator, she does exactly that.
Currently based in Switzerland, Anna is a dual citizen (Italy + USA) who grew up in the States and continued with her academic and professional career in Italy. In her free time, she likes to read, hike, listen to Oprah's Super Soul Conversations, and explore different cultures through language and cuisine. Anna speaks English, Italian and German.
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Xerox
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Managing Partner
Job Titles:
- Director, in - Person Events
As the Director of In-Person Events, Ashley is responsible for creating and executing all in-person events for Catalyst, including the in-person side of hybrid events and conferences such as the annual Catalyst Awards Conference & Gala, Catalyst Honours, and internal events. Her role is accountable for all aspects of delivering in-person high-end executive experiences.
Ashley is passionate about events and has been in the events industry for over 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management with a focus on Entertainment and Sports Management. She comes from the sports world, recently serving as Events and Travel Services Supervisor for Concacaf, the governing body of association football (aka soccer) in North and Central America and the Caribbean. She has also managed many high-level tournaments, congresses, board meetings, and galas.
Ashley is an avid traveler and has had the opportunity to visit countries that she had not considered to be part of her bucket list. This has allowed her to explore new cultures and ways of communicating. Ashley was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she currently resides with her toddler twin girls.
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Engagement & Government Affairs ( Canada )
Ashley Mac Isaac-Butler is the Director, Corporate Engagement & Government Affairs. Ashley provides advice and assistance to Catalyst supporter organizations in Eastern Ontario and Atlantic Canada, helping them to leverage Catalyst's expertise and resources to create inclusive workplace. Additionally, Ashley leads and provides advice and recommendations on the development of Catalyst's public positions on various social and governmental policies and issues in Canada.
Ashley has over 15 years of experience in government and corporate relations. Prior to joining Catalyst, Ashley was the Senior Manager, Advocacy at Rethink Breast Cancer where she was responsible for developing and executing the only national advocacy/government relations program in Canada for women under 45 who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
She holds a BA with double major in Human Rights and Criminology from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Partner / Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Job Titles:
- SVP, Global Head Enterprise Account Group
Job Titles:
- Corporate Board Director & Advisor
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / Altria Group, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Target Corporation
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Bank of America
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources / Nestlé USA, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Implementation Partner
Job Titles:
- Global Head of Inclusion / HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
Job Titles:
- Europe Consultant, Netherlands
Job Titles:
- Commissioner
- Chief Executive Officer / Deloitte
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Aluminum Company of America
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Advisory Services
- Senior Associate, Advisory Services, Catalyst, Inc
Charlie joined Catalyst in 2019 as a librarian in the Information Center where he answered complex custom research questions and created knowledge products on a range of DEI-related topics. In 2022, he joined the Advisory Services team where he manages Speaking Engagements and works on programming and strategy projects with Supporters. Prior to joining Catalyst he worked in academic and public libraries in both research and instruction roles. He holds an MLIS from Simmons College and a BA in International Studies from Virginia Tech.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Vice - President, Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President and Culture Officer / the Home Depot, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chief D & I and Talent Acquisition Officer / Bank of America
Job Titles:
- Research Fellow, Women and the Future of Work
Danielle Jackson, PhD, is a research fellow at Catalyst in the area of Women and the Future of Work. Her research interests include workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on understanding barriers to advancement across gender, race, and ethnicity. She has consulted with organizations on these issues and currently works at digitalundivided as a research director, advancing initiatives related to Latina and Black women entrepreneurs in the innovation economy. She earned her PhD in Sociology with a certificate in Africana Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY.
Job Titles:
- Director, Talent Acquisition
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / BMO Financial Group
Job Titles:
- Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- President, Campbell USA / Campbell Soup Company
- Retired President & CEO / Campbell Soup Company
Job Titles:
- Director, US Supporter Success ( South Region )
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- EVP
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of the Board / J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, Catalyst Canada
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer / KPMG LLP
Job Titles:
- CEO and Senior Partner / KPMG LLP
Job Titles:
- Vice President, People & Culture
Job Titles:
- Global Chief Executive Officer
Job Titles:
- General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer / Lead, Frontline Employees Initiative
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Global Communications
Job Titles:
- Global Vice President of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion / Unilever
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Revenue Operations & Strategy
Job Titles:
- Product Manager, Learning Products
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of PMI Turkey
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman & CEO / General Motors Corporation
Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with preeminent thought leadership, actionable solutions and a galvanized community of multinational corporations to accelerate and advance women into leadership-because progress for women is progress for everyone.
Gerald Lema - Chairman, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Managing Director
Job Titles:
- President & CEO / Business Council of Canada
Job Titles:
- Director of US Supporter Success
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Research
Job Titles:
- Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired President & CEO
Job Titles:
- Europe Consultant Germanic Region
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Deloitte & Touche LLP
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / the Coca - Cola Company
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Former Global Vice Chair / Dentons US LLP
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Strategy and Research / Brodeur
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Corporate Engagement
Job Titles:
- Principal, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Research and Chair, Catalyst Award
Job Titles:
- Director, Supporter Success EMEA
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, HR & Corporate Affairs / Avon Products, Inc
Job Titles:
- Associate Librarian, Information Center
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Engagement, Central Canada
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / General Motors Corporation
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Sara Lee Corporation
Job Titles:
- Chairman, President & CEO / P & G
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Multimedia
Job Titles:
- Global Senior Director, Facilitated Learning Design
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Knowledge Architect and Writer
Job Titles:
- Director, US Corporate Engagement
Job Titles:
- US Chair and Managing Partner and Americas Managing Partner
Job Titles:
- Head of Learning & Development
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Services & Community
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Vice Chairman / Pfizer Inc.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Global Diversity & Inclusiveness Officer
Kathy Warden - CEO, Chairman, President
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer / Deloitte
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, US Supporter Success
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer / Bechtel
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Women and the Future of Work
Job Titles:
- Director of Virtual Events
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Editorial
Job Titles:
- Chief People Officer / the Coca - Cola Company
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, EMEA
Job Titles:
- EMEAI Office of Inclusion
Job Titles:
- VP Diversity & Inclusion / Shell International
Job Titles:
- Head of Diversity & Inclusion ( EMEA )
Job Titles:
- Director, Lead for Equity & Inclusion
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs / Avon Products, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chief Governance Officer, VP & Corporate Secretary / Prudential Financial, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Gender and Diversity KPI Alliance
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Chairman, President & CEO / Lockheed Martin Corporation
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- Senior Vice President, Public Relations / at & T Communications
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- Retired CEO & Chair Emeritus / Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
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- Vice President, Community Growth and Engagement
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Kimberly - Clark
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Pitney Bowes Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- EVP
Job Titles:
- President & Chief Executive Officer / McDonald 's Restaurants
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- Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer / Solvay
Job Titles:
- Global VP Talent, Leadership Development & DEI / Otis
Job Titles:
- Head of Digital Transformation
Job Titles:
- Director, Expert Community
Job Titles:
- Attorney, Commercial Contracts
Job Titles:
- Director of Brand & Integrated Marketing
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO / KPMG LLP
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Chairman / ABB Ltd.
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity, Culture and EX Officer
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Chairman & CEO / Colgate - Palmolive
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Colgate - Palmolive
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Corporate Engagement, EMEA
Job Titles:
- Director, Production Editor
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Global Corporate Engagement
Job Titles:
- Chairman & CEO / Merck & Co., Inc.
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- Executive Director / Motorola Foundation
Job Titles:
- SVP Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer
Job Titles:
- Corporate Board Director & Advisor
Job Titles:
- Director of Development & Expert Community
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- Managing Director, Women on the Move / JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Job Titles:
- Director, Supporter Acquisition
Job Titles:
- VP, Global Learning Design
Job Titles:
- Associate, Learning and Development
Job Titles:
- President & CEO / Steelcase Inc.
Job Titles:
- Director, Program Operations & Implementation
Job Titles:
- Board Director, Advisor and Author
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Central Desk
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Deloitte
Job Titles:
- CEO, Corporate Services Worldwide Member of the Global Executive Committee
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- Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion / Morgan Stanley
Job Titles:
- Vice President Corporate Diversity
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Implementation Team
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- President & CEO / Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Corporate Engagement
Job Titles:
- Executive Director Global Body Manufacturing Engineering
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing and Business Services Officer
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner, Americas, and Executive Sponsor of Inclusion & Diversity
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- President / Smith College
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Chairman, President & CEO / Texas Instruments Incorporated
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Texas Instruments Incorporated
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired Chairman & CEO / Kimberly - Clark
Job Titles:
- SVP and Chief People Officer / McDonald's
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- Canada CEO / Dentons Canada LLP
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- Senior Director, UK Corporate Engagement
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired President & CEO / BMO Financial Group
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Content Strategy & Creative Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources / Union Pacific Corporation
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Job Titles:
- Director, Knowledge Curation, Repackaging, and Solution Design
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice - President, Enterprise Real Estate and Workplace Transformation
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Engagement ( Canada )
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- EVP
Job Titles:
- Honorary Director
- Retired CEO / BMO Financial Group