Come together to feel empowered and supported with fellow working mothers and caregivers, industry leaders, and advocates at The Boston Globe's Working Mothers Summit.
This event features insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and an opportunity to connect with experts and innovators dedicated to driving meaningful change. Join us and become part of a supportive community for mothers and caregivers in the workforce.
We are currently sold out. You can register for a free, virtual ticket for access to the livestream.
Let's come together to support our working mothers’ village. Please consider bringing extra menstrual care products, underwear, bras, or lightly worn workwear to donate to our non-profit partners, Dignity Matters and Dress for Success.
Join us virtually, for free! The link to join the livestream will be emailed to you the morning of the summit. Our sessions will also be posted to our Globe Events YouTube after the summit's conclusion.
We are committed to making Globe Events accessible. Special rates are available for government, academia, non-profit, startups, students, advocates, and more. If you need financial support to attend the 2026 Working Mothers Summit, please contact events@globe.com.
Due to high demand, we’ve expanded the Summit to a full day of programming. New additions include interactive Table Talks during lunch, a virtual Q&A with Dr. Becky, and a pre-recorded lunch session that will be streamed during the event.
Yes. We have a room block at the Omni for Summit attendees. You can reserve your room using this link. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact Julia.Karam@globe.com
Please contact Events@globe.com
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Morra Aarons-Mele helps leaders build strength by tuning into their inner lives. She teaches executive education at Harvard and advises global organizations. Her forthcoming Harvard Business Review Press book, Sparks: How To Lead and Thrive When Your Brain is Wired Differently contains groundbreaking research on how neurodivergent professionals navigate leadership, and will be published in 2027. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top 10 Voice in Mental Health and honored with the Mental Health America Media Award, Morra hosts The Anxious Achiever podcast and is the author of The Anxious Achiever (HBR) and Hiding in the Bathroom (HarperCollins). A former political and issue advocacy strategist and advisor to three U.S. Presidential campaigns, Morra lives near Boston with her family.
Joanna Lydgate is the First Lady of Massachusetts and CEO of States United, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting the rule of law and free, fair, secure elections. Before founding States United, Joanna was the Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts, overseeing civil and criminal litigation for the state. She previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and as a law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Joanna lives in Arlington, MA and is the proud mom of two awesome teenagers.
Kim Borman brings over 25 years of expertise in private sector management, marketing and operations and a wide variety of experience in building and sustaining nonprofit organizations. She has held senior executive positions at a variety of top Boston advertising agencies as well as owned and managed her own agency, Avenue Brand, in Boston’s South End for several years. Throughout her career, Kim has been committed to equal pay for equal work and has the battle scars to prove it.
Kim also has many years of nonprofit engagement at organizations like Planned Parenthood, The Social Innovation Forum and The Rian Immigrant Center, where she currently sits as the Board Chair on the Board of Directors. Kim earned her BA from Brown University, MS in Advertising from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, and her Master of Publication Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman is a retired USAF Colonel and a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions and a 159-day expedition aboard the International Space Station. She is also a mother, a scientist, a pilot, and an author. A popular public speaker and media consultant, Cady is a regular contributor to ABC, CNN, and BBC for space exploration news. Her book, Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change, has garnered praise for its candid stories and widely-applicable insights. Cady lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts with her husband, glass artist Josh Simpson. They have two adult sons.
Tara Ryan is the Founder of Confidante, an AI-powered reflection and support platform designed specifically for mothers. A leadership coach, Fair Play facilitator, and former sales leader at HubSpot and Brightcove, Tara brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, leadership, and equity. Her work centers on making invisible labor visible and helping women build self-trust, clarity, and sustainable systems of care at home and at work. Through Confidante, Tara is reimagining how AI can support human connection, values-based decision-making, and the realities of modern parenthood.
Leslie Forde is a leading voice in working moms’ well-being, workplace equity, and the future of work. As the Founder and CEO of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs®, she helps organizations understand what working parents and caregivers need to thrive. Her book, Repair with Self-Care, offers a practical framework for reclaiming time and reducing burnout. Leslie turns data into action, guiding audiences to shift culture, policy, and perception. Her core message: self-care is not a luxury... it’s essential. With research, empathy, and urgency, Leslie inspires change where it’s needed most.
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard physician, bestselling author & television correspondent. She was recently named “100 Women to Know in America” for her work in redefining stress, burnout & mental health in the new normal. Before becoming a physician specializing in stress, Dr. Nerurkar was a stressed patient looking for answers. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Time Magazine, CNN, Today Show, Good Morning America, The Mel Robbins Podcast and Diary of a CEO. She is a frequent keynote speaker with talks at TED, Forbes 30 Under 30 and other events.
Aba Taylor is the President & CEO of YW Boston with over 25 years of experience as a facilitator, organizer, consultant, nonprofit executive and board member working to uplift BlPOC communities, women and girls, immigrants, LGBTQIA communities, and cultural changemakers on local, regional, national and international scales. She has held key positions at organizations including the United Nations, the Astraea Foundation for Justice, the Massachusetts Human Rights Commission, the Network for Social Justice, and Interaction Institute for Social Change. Taylor is a graduate of Columbia University and the School of International Training and is passionate about individual and social transformation.
Emily Oster is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. In addition to being a Professor of Economics at Brown University, Emily is the founder and CEO of ParentData, a data-driven guide to pregnancy, parenting, and beyond. ParentData’s weekly newsletter now has hundreds of thousands of subscribers, along with a strong social media community. Emily is also a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm and The Unexpected. She has sold over 1 million copies thus far.
Portia Blunt is the Founder of Bee Blunt, an apparel brand reimagining Classic American style through the lens of Black heritage, translating powerful cultural narratives into timeless design. With more than twenty years in fashion and footwear, she is known for visionary storytelling through product. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Product and Design at Reebok, leading innovation and global product strategy. Portia is also Executive Director of the Footwear Futures Foundation, overseeing the Black Footwear Forum and Sisters in Sole, initiatives advancing Black leadership in footwear through education and community. Her work centers legacy, culture globally.
This candid conversation examines "The Motherload" of stress and burnout among working mothers. Dr. Aditi Nerurkar brings a science-backed, compassionate lens to the realities of high-demand work, chronic stress, and the limited societal and workplace supports many women face. Together, the discussion explores how working mothers are coping in spite of these gaps and offers practical, realistic strategies to move beyond "survival mode."
In this fireside chat, former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman reflects on her experience building a career in one of the most male-dominated fields while raising a family. She shares candid lessons on leadership and self advocacy in environments not designed with working mothers in mind. The conversation explores how redefining success, embracing flexibility, and staying grounded through change can help women thrive.
Join Say More for a live podcast conversation with economist and ParentData founder Emily Oster, exploring how working mothers can make confident parenting and career decisions. She will discuss cutting through misinformation to focus on what works best for individual families, and sharing data-informed insights to navigate tradeoffs with confidence.
The First Lady of Massachusetts reflects on founding and leading an organization through high-stakes professional moments while balancing the realities of a blended family and raising teenagers in today's America. She shares how these experiences have shaped her leadership approach, her parenting, and challenged traditional definitions of working motherhood. The conversation highlights what modern workplaces must do to better support working mothers.
This session covers both: the practical tools that help you meal plan, prep for meetings, and reclaim your time, and the less-talked-about ways working moms are using AI to process decisions and quiet the noise. Come ready to participate — you'll leave with quick wins you've already tried and a new perspective on what AI can do for you.
Please note: This breakout session will not be included in the live stream programming and is available for in-person attendees only.
An inspiring conversation on how working mothers can organize at work, shape HR and leadership conversations, and push for policies that meaningfully support parents and families over the long term.
Please note: This breakout session will not be included in the live stream programming and is available for in-person attendees only.
Reneé Dozier is a licensed Master Electrician, Local 103 Business Agent-Trustee, Elected Chair of the Massachusetts State Board of Electrical Examiners, and but her most important role is being a mother of four. She built her career in the electrical trade through hard work, resilience, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. Renee is passionate about helping women, especially working mothers, access sustainable careers in the trades. She brings honesty, strength, and real-life experience to every space she enters, encouraging women to lead boldly, provide for their families, and never feel like they have to choose between the two.
Marina Middleton is the CEO and Partner at Create & Cultivate, the largest events and media platform advancing women through access, connection, and opportunity. Within six months of becoming CEO, she raised nearly $3M in venture capital as a first-time CEO and first-generation Egyptian immigrant. A former corporate strategist turned founder, Marina has launched the world’s largest festival for women in business and led the development of CONNECT, the largest AI-powered matchmaking platform for women. She previously built campaigns for Fortune 500 brands at Yahoo! and Tumblr and has been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Business Insider.
From smartphones to social media, AI to gaming, today’s digital world is evolving faster than any parent can keep up. And for working moms already juggling careers, carpools, and calendar invites, tech battles can feel relentless.
In this candid, practical session, we’ll break down what’s actually happening online, what risks are real (and which ones are overhyped), and what moms can actually do about it — without becoming the tech police or quitting their jobs to monitor screens 24/7.
You’ll walk away understanding:
-The biggest digital risks facing kids right now
-Where most parents are completely missing it
-What boundaries actually work
-How to protect your child’s mental health — and your own
Because this isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity, confidence, and taking back control in a world that wasn’t built with working parents in mind.
Empowering parents to ask the right questions and confidently advocate for themselves and their children. Leave with tools and strategies to make healthcare decisions with clarity.
Whether you’re changing industries, re-entering the workforce, or stepping into a new role, explore how to navigate career pivots, assess your value, and approach salary and benefits conversations with confidence.
Please note: This breakout session will not be included in the live stream programming and is available for in-person attendees only.
Patrice Meagher is the Founder and CEO of MilkMate, the groundbreaking all-in-one breast pumping solution purpose-built for workplace wellness rooms. A former commercial real estate executive and mother of four, Patrice founded MilkMate to empower parents to succeed at both work and home while helping employers better support and retain talent. Prior to MilkMate, she served as EVP at CBRE, where she completed over 10 million square feet of leasing and championed workplace wellness initiatives. Patrice holds a B.A. in Communications from Boston College, where she remains active as a member of the Council for Women of Boston College Colloquium.
Titania Jordan is CMO and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, helping protect more than 7.5 million kids online. A leading voice in digital parenting safety, she regularly appears on national programs including the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Fox News, SiriusXM, and CNBC. Titania has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, and The New York Times. She is the author of Parental Control and is featured in the documentary Childhood 2.0. Throughout her career, Titania has worked at the intersection of media, tech, and parenting — but “Mom” remains her favorite title.
Nicki Petrossi is a former social media executive turned social media reform advocate. In late 2023, Nicki launched Scrolling 2 Death, a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. It’s a safe space to elevate the human experiences of children online and educate parents on how to keep them safe. In 2025, Nicki launched Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, which supports parents related to issues with school tech, and The Heat is On, an investigative mini-series and parent movement to hold Big Tech accountable for harm to children. Nicki also travels the world as an event speaker, inspiring families, educators and lawmakers through online safety education and awareness.
Dr. Carrie Mackensen is a clinical psychologist, parent coach, and founder of Successful Parent. With over 25 years of experience, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Clinical Director of addiction and behavioral treatment programs, she specializes in depth psychology, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology, the science of how relationships shape the developing brain. She serves on ScreenStrong's Medical Advisory Board and is author of the forthcoming book, Digitally Dysregulated: How Screens Hijack Kids' Brains and What Parents Can Do About It (2026). Most importantly -- she's a mom to two boys, so she gets it.
Tonya Montella is a Career Strategist and ERG Talent Development Partner who helps high-performing women in tech navigate career pivots, position themselves for advancement, and negotiate their worth with clarity and confidence. Over her 20-year corporate career, she transitioned roles six times, earned consistent promotions, increased her salary by 40% in two years, led global teams, and won President’s Club honors before founding Tonya Empowers LLC. Having operated as both an individual contributor and hiring manager, Tonya brings an insider’s perspective on how women can strategically position themselves for the roles they want.
Andraya Pulaski Brunau is the chair of Day Pitney’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice. Her practice includes representing businesses in trademark, copyright, trade secret, and commercial disputes, and helping clients build and execute intellectual property enforcement programs. Andraya serves clients in the toy, consumer goods, food and beverage, financial services, and manufacturing industries. As co-chair of Day Pitney Women Working Together, Andraya launched the firm’s bi-annual firmwide WWT Retreat, and designed programs for personal and professional development, including business development, financial literacy and communications training. Andraya enjoys skiing, running, and spending time with her husband, 2 kids, and golden retriever.
Melissa leads the development of signature hands-on play and learning experiences and is responsible for public programming and exhibit development both inside the Museum and beyond its walls. She oversees the functions of child development, exhibits, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math), and humanities. Melissa joined the Museum in March 2018 and formerly served as the Senior Director for STEAM programming.
She started her career at the Museum of Science in Boston, where she was Director of Curriculum Development for the Engineering is Elementary program. She also spent time in the education department at WGBH, Boston’s public television station.
She holds a B.A. in Architectural Studies from Connecticut College and an M.A. in Museum Studies from the Harvard University Extension School.
Alex serves as the City of Boston’s first ever Chief People and Administrative Officer, where she oversees the People Operations Cabinet.which consists of the City’s central department of the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Labor Relations, Public Records, Elections, and the Registry.
Alex has spent her career in people, program, and project management in both the public and non-profit sectors. She is a City Hall veteran, spending over a decade in leadership roles across multiple administrations. She is passionate about creating a modern municipal workforce that will produce the next generation’s leaders. Alex holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University.
Juliana Hernandez is a Boston-raised, self-made entrepreneur of Dominican heritage and the founder of DEZ Collective, a premier luxury event furniture rental company creating elevated experiences across New England. As a Latina founder who has scaled her company into the seven-figure range, she is recognized as a trusted leader in the luxury events and hospitality industry. Her work has earned accolades including Best of Boston 2025, Best of Boston Weddings 2026, and Best of Stoughton Business in 2025 and 2026, along with recognition as an ALX 2024 Honoree and Modern Luxury Dynamic Women Honoree in 2024 and 2025. Juliana continues paving the way for women entrepreneurs.
Heather Hopp-Bruce manages the visual life of opinion content and identity on all platforms. She designs microsites, creates social media campaigns, analyzes and visualizes data stories, strengthens Globe Opinion branding in every way it can be encountered, and celebrates print.
She holds a Certificate from the Harvard School of Professional Development in Digital Marketing Strategy, has been a Society for News Design judge, guest art director at the Savannah College of Art and design, and is a guest lecturer at Lesley College of Art and Design. She was recently profiled as a success story by Harvard School of Professional Development.
Previously, she was the Globe design director: In her four-year tenure, the digital design team under her leadership won 11 Society for News Design awards of excellence (including two for portfolio), one SND silver medal, two SND bronze medals, and an Eddie Prize; her team's work was cited in three ONA finalist honors and one ONA winner. She has personally won over two dozen Society for News Design awards, including commendations for section redesign, features design, infographics, art direction, and portfolio; she also art directed Globe Opinion's 2014 and 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning entries.
Colleen M. Nguyen is the Executive Director of Asian Women for Health, a Boston-based nonprofit advancing health equity through culturally responsive education, workforce development, and community-engaged research. As a nonprofit leader and public health practitioner, she is committed to building systems of care that reflect the communities too often left out of decision-making. She is also the mom to a bright, curious little boy with a complex learning profile and disabilities. Raising him has deepened her commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and healthcare systems that recognize and respond to the full humanity of every individual.
Lylah M. Alphonse is editor of Globe Rhode Island and Globe New Hampshire, leading separate teams covering and exploring each state. Previously, she was the Managing Editor for News at U.S. News & World Report, overseeing the Special Reports, Best Countries, Best States, Healthiest Communities, and Cities sections and coordinating news coverage of national issues ranging from politics and policy to higher education and health care. While at U.S. News & World Report, she also helped launch the Healthcare of Tomorrow and College of Tomorrow franchises, served as a moderator at conferences, and developed the publication’s STEM Index, an interactive measure of science, technology, engineering and mathematics activity in the United States. Before joining U.S. News, she was a Senior Editor and Writer at Yahoo.com, where she created and curated the Women in Politics section, edited the Work + Money vertical for Yahoo! Shine, and wrote about news, news analysis, healthcare, childcare, and trends for the homepage of Yahoo.com. Prior to that, she worked at The Boston Globe from 1994 to 2010, editing in the Living/Arts, National News, and Boston Globe Magazine departments and writing for various sections, including book reviews, feature stories, weekly columns on shopping and travel for The Boston Globe, and a regular parenting column on Boston.com. She is the author of "Triumph Over Discrimination: The Life Story of Farhang Mehr," a biography of the first non-Muslim deputy prime minister of Iran, and is a frequent guest on GBH and Rhode Island PBS news shows. Born and raised in Princeton, N.J., Lylah is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and was inducted into the school's alumni hall of fame in 2000.
Beth Teitell has been writing features for the Boston Globe since 2007, and joined the staff in 2010. Her beat is “human behavior,” and she is known for writing with a sense of humor, and for exploring the emotional angles of things that wouldn’t seem to have an emotional angle. For example: Her story on “open concept” homes, and how people were starting to miss the walls they tore down, was really about family relationships. She’s covered bidding wars over rental apartments; the anger from Dunkin regulars when the company changed its rewards program; and the men’s quarter zip sweater, and how it’s a way for rich guys to look approachable and approachable guys to look rich. Before joining the Globe she was a columnist and a reporter at the Boston Herald and a writer at Boston magazine. She is the author of two books, “From Here to Maternity: The Education of a Rookie Mom,” and “Drinking Problems at the Fountain of Youth,” an exploration of our society’s obsession with looking forever young. For years she delivered humorous commentaries on public radio’s popular Marketplace program. She is a seasoned public speaker, and has spoken to groups that have numbered in size from hundreds to literally two people. She is a graduate of Duke University.
Jessica Bartlett is a medical reporter at the Boston Globe, covering hospitals, health insurance and health policy. She has covered health care for nearly a decade, and for most recently with the Globe since 2021.
Her work has focused on the business side of healthcare, with stories on a variety of topics including the evolution of the healthcare market, the pandemic’s effects on health care, health care affordability, legislative reform, workforce challenges and the ongoing hospital capacity crisis. Her story “Voices from the Front Lines,” which included voice testimony from nurses working in hospitals amid the pandemic, won a media excellence award for multimedia journalism from the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
In addition to her frequent articles, she is a regular contributor on Boston Globe Today, and has made frequent appearances on Bloomberg radio and New England Cable News. Prior to her work at the Globe, Jessica reported on health care, cannabis and craft beer industries for the Boston Business Journal, and spent four years covering local news for the Globe. Her work has also appeared in South Shore Living Magazine. A Massachusetts native, Jessica is a graduate of the University of Vermont, where she studied English and studio art.
Kara Baskin writes the award-winning Parenting Unfiltered newsletter and column for The Boston Globe. She also writes about food, quirky behavior, and real estate. She has reported and edited for Boston Magazine, The Boston Phoenix, New York Magazine, and The New Republic. Her book, Everything to Everybody: How to Wrangle Kids, Work, Aging Parents, and Spouses When You Just Want to Take A Nap (Grand Central Publishing), comes out in 2026. She grew up outside Boston and therefore maintains unbridled affection for Market Basket.
Shira T. Center is the Vice President for Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at Boston Globe Media Partners. She leads strategic planning for the company's key tentpole projects, develops A.I. initiatives, and creates programs to boost BGMP's growth and sustainability.
Previously, Shira drove strategic alignment and commercial growth for editorial products, including newsletters, newsroom franchises, and events. In 2021, she co-launched the Globe Summit, a celebrated annual conference that highlights the company's journalism and its impact on the region.
In her 15 years as an editor and reporter, Shira specialized in political coverage and audience engagement. As the Globe's political editor, she managed teams covering the New Hampshire primary, City Hall, and the Massachusetts State House. Before joining the Globe, Shira was a political journalist for several national publications based in Washington, D.C., and her writing has been featured in the Boston Globe, Washington Post, Washingtonian, and National Journal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and an MBA from Yale University’s School of Management, completed in May 2023.
Each day it becomes harder for all but the highest earners to get by in this country. Average American workers are beset by lack of opportunity and the fight for livable wages, along with nagging questions about their relevance. Will their skills remain viable in a changing economy with more automation? Will their jobs be sent overseas? Small business owners, meanwhile, face their own challenges. And the labor unions that once hovered over it all are increasingly less powerful.This beat is an exploration of those shifts, with an emphasis on what it all means for our workforce and for families trying to put food on the table. Katie Johnston previously wrote about travel and tourism for the Globe and worked as the paper’s music and entertainment editor.
Mara Kardas-Nelson covers inequality, particularly regarding health, the environment, and economic development. Her journalism has taken her around the world, and her reporting has been featured in The New York Times, The Nation, NPR, The Guardian, and elsewhere. Her first book, We Are Not Able to Live in the Sky (2024), a critical history of microfinance, was shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. Mara also has a background in global health, having worked with South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Partners in Health. Her time in different parts of the world informs the questions she asks, and how she frames her stories. Outside of work, she’s obsessed with the outdoors, and is a proud mom to one human and two dog children.
Anna Kusmer is Head of Opinion Audio at the Boston Globe. She produces and co-hosts the Say More podcast, a weekly show about news, arts, science and politics. Before the Globe, she worked as a radio producer and reporter for various NPR affiliates. She covered climate and environment for The World radio program at GBH.
Shirley Leung is a business columnist and associate editor, and host of Globe Opinion podcast “Say More.” For more than a decade, Shirley has been writing on the intersection of business and politics, as well as gender and diversity issues in the workplace. She is also a weekly contributor to GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” and sits on the board of the New England First Amendment Coalition.
Shirley has won awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, and has been featured on Boston Magazine’s list of “100 Most Influential People.” She has also been a four-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Commentary.
Shirley was also the Globe’s business editor and interim editorial page editor, and president of the New England chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. Prior to the Globe, Shirley was a reporter at The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Princeton University, Shirley started her career at her hometown paper The Baltimore Sun.
Naomi Martin is an assistant business editor in the Globe's Business section, helping reporters tell insightful, powerful stories about the region's economy and its effects on people's lives. Previously, she was a reporter on the Great Divide team covering the intersection of race, inequality, and public education. A Massachusetts native, Martin joined the Globe in 2018 from The Dallas Morning News, where she was part of a team named a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the slayings of five police officers. At the Globe, Martin has covered a range of beats, from hospitals during the start of the COVID pandemic to the business, politics, and societal impact of legalized cannabis. She started her career in Louisiana, covering criminal justice in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for The Advocate and NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, respectively. In Dallas, she covered police, courts, and local government before turning to investigations, including a long-form narrative story, 9 Seconds, that delved into prosecutors’ efforts to convict a police officer charged with murdering Jordan Edwards, an innocent Black teenager. She graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political economy and a minor in Spanish. Martin, who speaks Spanish, also serves on the Globe’s Fresh Start committee which gives people a chance to have their names removed from past news stories. Her awards include The Dallas Morning News’ Reporter of the Year Award for both 2016 and 2017 and the 2021 Massachusetts Psychological Association’s Media Award for a deep-dive into Boston Public Schools student leaders’ accounts of being pressured to participate in unlicensed group counseling sessions.
Victoria McGrane is the politics editor for the Boston Globe's Metro department, and oversees the Globe’s coverage of Massachusetts politics, the state Legislature, the Healey administration, and Boston City Hall. She also coordinates the Globe’s coverage of the 2024 New Hampshire primary.
Prior to this role, she served as a national political correspondent in the Globe’s Washington, D.C., bureau, where she covered the 2016 election and Congress in the Trump era. She spent much of her 20-year career covering policy and politics in the nation’s capital, including six years as a reporter with the Wall Street Journal and, prior to that, Politico, where she covered lobbying and Congress. Her areas of expertise over the years have included financial services and economic policy in Congress; the Federal Reserve and monetary policy; and the 2010 Dodd-Frank law overhauling Wall Street regulation in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
Victoria earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in political economy from the London School of Economics. She got her first break in journalism at The Keene Sentinel, in Keene, N.H., covering all manner of local news, including the 2002 presidential primary. She lives in Reading with her husband and two daughters.
Katie McInerney is the senior assistant sports editor at The Boston Globe. She manages a team of producers responsible for Globe.com/Sports. Their work includes newsletters, social media, and more. She has worked in journalism for more than a decade in newsrooms around the country. McInerney joined the Globe in 2019 from the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she worked as an editor and producer in the sports department. Prior to that, she worked as a front-page and sports designer at the Houston Chronicle and the Tulsa (Okla.) World. Her work has earned accolades from the Associated Press Sports Editors, among other organizations. Katie was born and raised on Nantucket. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in journalism, and serves on the board of directors for The Daily Orange, the student news organization serving SU. She previously served as a board member for the Association for Women in Sports Media.
Michelle Micone joined Boston Globe Media Partners in 2020. Michelle is a data-driven marketing innovator and strategic leader with over two decades of experience building iconic brands and launching new ventures across media, sports, entertainment, and consumer products. As Chief Marketing and Strategic Initiatives Officer at Boston Globe Media, she leads efforts to expand readership and drive growth through consumer insights, experimentation, and innovation.
Michelle’s career spans leadership roles at some of the world’s most recognizable brands. At the National Football League, she served as SVP of Consumer Product Licensing and E-commerce Marketing, managing partnerships across gaming, apparel, hard goods, and on-field categories. Prior to the NFL, she was VP of Licensing at Hasbro, where she led out-licensing strategies and partnerships for a portfolio of beloved brands. Earlier tenure at Hasbro included roles in Global Marketing and Brand Development, creating toy and digital experiences that brought brands to life for millions of consumers worldwide.
Michelle began her career in marketing and market research at Procter & Gamble and Disney, building a foundation in consumer insights and data analysis that has informed her approach throughout her career. She specializes in brand and performance marketing, P&L ownership, new product development, digital innovation, AI applications, and strategic growth initiatives. Michelle holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA in History from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Sabrina Shankman covers the climate crisis for the Boston Globe as part of the Into the Red team. She joined the newspaper in 2021 after reporting for eight years at Inside Climate News, where she covered the arctic. Prior to that, she helped produce shows for PBS/Frontline and reported for ProPublica. She has reported on polar bear attacks from a helicopter, stayed in man-camps on Alaska’s North Slope and tracked the path of a terrorist through India and Denmark. At the Globe, her work helps readers understand climate change-fueled extreme weather events, the emerging science and policy of climate change, and the work being done at the state and regional level to address the crisis. Her work has won national recognition, including from the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Awards, and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. She got her start as a crime reporter at the Taunton Daily Gazette, and has a masters in journalism from U.C. Berkeley.
Enjoy complimentary lunch while connecting with The Boston Globe reporters and Summit attendees.
New Moms
Led by Anna Kusmer, Audio Editor, The Boston Globe
Early motherhood comes with big transitions and lots of questions. Connect with other new moms for support as you navigate the first year and beyond.
Toddler Moms
Led by Shira Center, VP, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, The Boston Globe
From big emotions to big milestones, the toddler years are both joyful and exhausting. Join other moms to talk about parenting through this busy stage while maintaining balance.
Moms of Tweens and Teens
Led by Beth Teitell, Columnist, The Boston Globe
Teenage years bring evolving family dynamics. Connect with other moms navigating life with teens while sharing insights on communication, boundaries, and preparing kids for adulthood.
Moms of Children with Disabilities
Led by Heather Hopp-Bruce, Director of Visual Strategy for Globe Opinion, The Boston Globe
Connect with other mothers navigating the unique joys and challenges of raising children with disabilities. Share experiences and encouragement in a supportive space designed for understanding and community.
Public Service While Parenting
Led by Victoria McGrane , Deputy Director, Audience, The Boston Globe
Meet and network with mothers running for office or involved in civic leadership. Discuss the realities of public service, balancing family life, and why moms’ voices matter in shaping our communities.
Sandwich Generation Moms
Led by Lylah Alphonse, Editor, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, The Boston Globe
Connect with other individuals juggling responsibilities for both aging parents and growing children while maintaining personal and professional balance.
Sports Moms
Led by Katie McInerney, Senior Assistant Sports Editor, The Boston Globe
Balancing athletics, family schedules, and personal life can feel like a full-time job. Connect with other moms supporting children in competitive and recreational sports while managing it all.
Step Moms
Led by Michelle Micone, Chief Marketing & Strategic Initiatives Officer, Boston Globe Media
Blended families don't come with a manual. Come share what's worked, what hasn't and build connections with other stepmoms navigating blended family dynamics. Share experiences, challenges, and the unique perspectives that come with this important role.
Natanja Craig Oquendo has spent her career centering the voices of Black and Brown communities, inspired early by activists challenging systemic injustice. After recognizing gaps in philanthropic decision-making, she helped transform the field by building grassroots strategies for major foundations. With over 20 years of experience, she now serves as Executive Director of the Boston Women’s Fund, where she has expanded grantmaking, grown partnerships, and strengthened commitments to equity. A respected leader and advisor, Natanja has received multiple honors for her impact. Beyond her work, she values family, community, and the joy of everyday moments, with her greatest role being that of mother and grandmother.
This session covers both: the practical tools that help you meal plan, prep for meetings, and reclaim your time, and the less-talked-about ways working moms are using AI to process decisions and quiet the noise. Come ready to participate — you'll leave with quick wins you've already tried and a new perspective on what AI can do for you.
Sona Antonyan is an education leader with more than 25 years of experience in academic program development, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. She oversees multiple schools at RSM and helps expand access to rigorous mathematics education across the Northeast. With a background in math education and educational research from Boston College, Sona is passionate about developing students’ analytical thinking, resilience, and love of mathematics. She believes strong learning communities connecting students, parents, and educators are key to helping young people reach their full potential. A researcher at heart, Sona applies insights from learning science and pedagogy to guide innovative strategies and support meaningful, sustainable educational growth.
Ashwini Nadkarni, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and academic physician who helps individuals build well-being through practical, evidence-based mental health care. Her areas of expertise include workplace belonging, gut–brain health, and the impact of social media and digital tools on mental well-being. Her work has been featured in major media outlets and widely followed platforms, including Mel Robbins, bringing accessible mental health insights to all audiences.
As both a physician and a parent, Dr. Ash understands firsthand the challenges of balancing caregiving, career, and self-worth. Through her clinical work, writing, and speaking, she empowers patients and parents to advocate for themselves, trust their instincts, and prioritize their well-being without guilt
Dr. Felicia Newhouse is the founder of AI-Powered Women, a global leadership ecosystem preparing organizations for the emerging AI economy. Anchored by its flagship conference at MIT, the platform integrates virtual academy, certification, and enterprise AI leadership readiness programs to help women build applied AI fluency and decision-making capacity. Her work is grounded in her doctoral research in transformational learning and how leaders navigate rapid change personally and professionally. Together with her team, she brings interdisciplinary leaders across sectors to build the human infrastructure required for responsible, human-centered AI adoption at scale.