Speaker Bios
*=2026 Women to Watch Honoree
Author & Co-founder, Artists Against Antisemitism
Session: Live Podcast Taping: GOLDA Girls
Lisa Barr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose novels blend history, art, suspense, and fiercely resilient women.
She is the author of THE SHADOW ARTIST, THE GODDESS OF WARSAW, WOMAN ON FIRE, THE UNBREAKABLES, and the award-winning FUGITIVE COLORS—stories of secrets, survival, passion, and the extraordinary choices women make when the stakes are highest. Her novels have captivated readers around the world, and THE SHADOW ARTIST, WOMAN ON FIRE, THE GODDESS OF WARSAW, and THE UNBREAKABLES have all been optioned for film adaptation.
Before turning to fiction, Lisa built a distinguished career as a journalist and editor, serving as a managing editor for The Jerusalem Post, the Chicago Sun-Times, Moment magazine, and Today’s Chicago Woman. Among the defining moments of her journalism career, she covered the historic White House handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and President Bill Clinton.
Lisa has appeared on Good Morning America and TODAY, bringing the same curiosity, intensity, and passion to her conversations that drive her novels. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and three daughters. (aka: Drama Central).
Founder, The Batterman Group; Global Stylist
Session: Panel Discussion – Creators & Founders: Forging Our Own Career Path
Barbra Jo Batterman, better known as BJ, is an award-winning makeup artist, stylist, entrepreneur, and mentor whose five-decade career has shaped the faces behind music’s biggest nights and some of the nation’s most recognizable figures. As Hair and Makeup Department Head for the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and iHeartRadio Music Awards, BJ has become one of Las Vegas’ most trusted and respected names in beauty.
Her distinguished client roster includes legendary entertainers such as Sir Paul McCartney and Pitbull, as well as Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, BJ’s passion for beauty began in her mother’s cosmetic boutique. She built an early career as a freelance makeup artist and stylist before relocating to Las Vegas in 1990.
Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, her work as a makeup artist for Chanel helped establish her within the city’s highly competitive beauty industry. She later launched her own studio, providing makeup and styling services for photo shoots, commercials, corporate campaigns, and live productions throughout the city. Her artistry and influence have earned her recognition by Vegas Magazine as one of Las Vegas’ premier makeup artists.
In 2011, BJ founded The Batterman Group, Inc., Las Vegas’ premier full-service beauty agency. Under her leadership, the agency has grown into an elite roster of makeup artists, hairstylists, wardrobe stylists, and body paint artists serving corporate, advertising, film, television, live event, and bridal clients. The agency’s client list includes nationally recognized brands and organizations.
Beyond her celebrated career in beauty, BJ has dedicated more than a decade to empowering women in crisis. A longtime volunteer with Unshakeable, a Las Vegas nonprofit serving women affected by domestic violence, human trafficking, substance use disorder, and homelessness, she has coached and mentored countless women on their journey toward financial independence, renewed confidence, and meaningful careers. In recognition of her extraordinary service, ABC affiliate KTNV named BJ a Vegas Stronger Champion.
Drawing upon decades of intimate conversations and life experiences shared from behind the makeup chair, BJ also serves as A Reset Coach and lifestyle mentor, helping women rediscover themselves through intentional self-care, sustainable habits, and small, meaningful steps toward lasting transformation.
Whether leading a team backstage at an international awards show, mentoring the next generation of beauty professionals, or empowering women to reclaim their lives, BJ Batterman’s life’s work has remained constant: helping others see the beauty, strength, and possibility within themselves.
Nova Festival Survivor and Advocate
Sessions: Opening Session Keynote – Antisemitism & Jewish Women; Discussion – Moving Forward with Resilience and Strength: A One-on-One with a Nova Survivor
Noa Beer is a speaker and delegation leader whose work explores post-traumatic growth, resilience, and the role individuals play in breaking cycles of fear, hate, and violence.
A survivor of the Nova Festival massacre on October 7th, Noa has shared her story on international stages, including the United Nations and across the U.S. and Europe. Her work began as testimony, but has since evolved into a broader conversation about what comes after trauma.
Through her experience working with global audiences, policymakers, and intergenerational voices - including Holocaust survivors - Noa brings a unique perspective that bridges personal stories with wider societal questions.
Today, she focuses on how we process trauma, how narratives shape our reality, and how conscious choices, even in the most difficult circumstances, can influence the direction of our lives and our communities.
Her work invites audiences to move beyond witnessing, toward responsibility, connection, and the possibility of change.
Community lay leader, Sondra D. Bender Community Leadership honoree
Session: Panel Discussion – Building Community for Jewish Women
Sophie’s commitment to community service began early on when she vividly remembers watching her grandmother volunteer at Holy Cross Hospital every week. Her grandma’s inspiration combined with the strong values instilled by her parents, built the foundation for a lifetime of giving back. Her first volunteer role, at that very same hospital, set Sophie on a path she has never left.
Sophie graduated from Emory University with a degree in Business. She spent eight years at Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in change management, strategic communications, and process improvement. While working at Booz Allen, Sophie was a known leader in the company’s corporate philanthropy efforts. In addition, she volunteered almost daily before work at Miriam’s Kitchen, receiving the MK Volunteer of the Year in 2014. She also chaired the American Diabetes Association National Capital Area Walk for three years.
As Sophie continued to grow professionally and philanthropically, she channeled that same passion for service into the Jewish community. She worked hard to further develop her leadership skills by participating in multiple leadership programs through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. A natural leader, she quickly found herself chairing the first DC Good Deeds Day, helping to create Mitzvah Mavens, and leading the Young Women’s Coalition. This led to Sophie, alongside her husband, being awarded the prestigious Jewish Federation’s Jerome J. Dick Young Leadership Award in 2015.
Sophie currently serves on the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Israel Committee, and is Chair of Women’s Philanthropy. Beyond the Jewish community, she is Co-President of the Primary Day Parents Association and Communications Chair for the Landon Parents Association Executive Board.
For Sophie, this work is about more than the present moment, it is about the future. Just as her grandmother inspired her, she hopes to instill in her own children that same lifelong devotion to community and to the Jewish people, carrying that thread forward for generations to come.
Founder of GOLDA and Host of podcast GOLDA girls
Sessions: Closing Session – Hope in Action; Live Podcast Taping: GOLDA Girls
Stephanie Butnick is the founder of GOLDA, the Jewish lifestyle guide, and the host of the podcast GOLDA girls. She's a trusted voice on Jewish culture and identity, and also a recognizable one: Before launching GOLDA, she co-hosted the hit Tablet Magazine podcast Unorthodox for nearly a decade. Stephanie is the co-author of The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything in Between. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Duke University and a master’s degree in Religious Studies and Journalism from New York University. Stephanie lives in New York City with her husband and their two daughters, and loves to moderate thoughtful and accessible Jewish conversations for audiences around the country.
President & Co-founder of the Lebanon-Israel Peace Alliance
Session: Fireside Chat – The View from the Table: Women in Global Leadership
Hagar Hajjar Chemali is the President and co-founder of the Lebanon-Israel Peace Alliance – an advocacy organization that works to advance a Lebanon-Israel peace deal through policy, partnerships, and public narratives. She has been working on Lebanon-Israel peace efforts since January 2025 – a calling that is personal to her as an American of Lebanese descent and of mixed background. (Her mother is Jewish and her father is Christian.)
Hagar is also the Founder and CEO of strategic communications and foreign policy consultancy firm Greenwich Media Strategies and the host and creator of Oh My World – an award-winning geopolitical show and educational series on YouTube. She co-hosts The Threat podcast and is regularly featured on CNN, MSNOW, and Bloomberg, where she analyzes foreign policy and national security. She is also an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Hagar is a former U.S. national security and public affairs official. From 2015-2016, she was Spokesperson and Director of Communications for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under President Obama. Prior to this position, she was Spokesperson for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury where she handled all communications related to sanctions, counter illicit-finance, and enforcement. From 2010-2012, Hagar was Director for Syria and Lebanon at the National Security Council at the White House. Hagar also previously worked as a Senior Policy Advisor on Asia and as a Middle East Policy Advisor in the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, where she crafted the first counter-Hezbollah financing strategy.
Hagar has a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs where she concentrated on International Security Policy and the Middle East. She also graduated from Columbia University’s Barnard College with a B.A. in Political Science.
Attorney and Founder, AllRise Legal Counsel
Session: Panel Discussion – Creators & Founders: Forging Our Own Career Path
Leslee Hope Moss Cohen is the founder and managing partner of AllRise Legal Counsel. AllRise concentrates its transactional practice in securities and startup law, corporate finance, technology law and mergers and acquisitions. With more than three decades of legal experience, including 20 years in large law firms and Wall Street securities practice, Leslee is known for helping entrepreneurs navigate complex legal and fundraising challenges while making sophisticated business matters accessible and practical. Leslee founded AllRise in 2010 with a mission to provide big-firm expertise through a more flexible, relationship-driven model that supports both clients and women in the legal profession.
Most importantly, AllRise has built a new model for attracting and advancing exceptionally talented women attorneys who do not have the time to spend weekends on golf courses and evenings at charity dinners. As a result of her big law experience, including as head of a firm women’s initiative and co-founder of a major female attorney organization, Leslee was well aware that change was desperately needed. She has set out to resolve this issue by intentionally hiring lawyers who need flex-time to take on the projects they want and have time to complete. They are valued as top-notch professionals but also as supportive, loyal and caring individuals who are responsive to their clients and to each other.
Beyond her legal practice, Leslee is a recognized advocate, mentor, and community leader. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Small Business Advocacy Council, co-founded and co-chairs leadership initiatives within the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, and supports entrepreneurs through accelerator and mentoring programs focused on startups, female founders, and innovation. Her accomplishments include being named among Illinois' Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Women Lawyers, receiving the SBAC Advocate of the Year award, and being recognized as an Enterprising Woman of the Year. Known for her commitment to giving back, she actively supports business education, entrepreneurship, and the advancement of women in business and law.
Leslee graduated from the University of Michigan in 1989 (GO BLUE!) and New York University School of Law in 1992.
She lives in the Chicagoland area with her incredible husband, Jon, and is the proud mom of two very special young men, Noah and Brandon Cohen. Leslee was an extraordinarily active participant in the movement to free Soviet Jewish refusniks, one of the highlights of her life being the leadership of a humanitarian mission on their behalves to Russia in 1988. Her dedication to Jewish causes, studying Torah and preserving our beautiful religion and people was deeply instilled by her loving parents, Sheryl and Michael Moss, may they rest in peace, whom she misses dearly every minute of every day.
CEO of Jewish Book Council
Session: Live Podcast Taping – GOLDA Girls
Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Naomi is the CEO of Jewish Book Council. She graduated from Emory University with degrees in English and Art History and, in addition, studied at University College London. Prior to her role as executive director and now CEO, Naomi served as the founding editor of the JBC website and managing editor of Jewish Book World. In addition, she has overseen JBC’s digital initiatives, and also developed the JBC’s Visiting Scribe series and Unpacking the Book: Jewish Writers in Conversation. She sits on the board of Jewish Creativity International. Naomi has been named a 2019 36 under 36 by the New York Jewish Week, one of the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life in 2018 by Algemeiner, and was listed on IZZY's 2020 Global Jewish 100 list of people across the world who are moving Jewish culture forward.
Co-founder and President, World Without Exploitation; Co-founder, Brooklyn Cat Cafe
Session: Fireside Chat – The Women Who Brought the Epstein Survivors to Capitol Hill
Rachel Foster has been dedicated to fighting injustice for over 35 years. She is a 2026 TIME100 honoree, the magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Rachel has been an advocate at the Tompkins County Task Force for Battered Women and Sanctuary for Families, a community organizer at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, and an attorney and board officer at Brooklyn Legal Services, as well as a board member of the Citizens Committee for Children, Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, and Community Board Two in Brooklyn. She was Director of New Abolitionists, a national campaign to raise awareness about sex trafficking. Rachel was co-chair of the New York State Women’s Bar Association Human Trafficking Committee.
In 2016, Rachel co-founded World Without Exploitation, the largest national anti-trafficking coalition, and serves as its president. She received the New Yorkers Who Make a Difference Award from United Neighborhood Houses for her work representing disenfranchised New Yorkers and was honored by the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and World Without Exploitation for her outstanding commitment to justice and equality for women and girls. She was an adjunct professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work, teaching a course in sex trafficking, and has given lectures in the US and abroad. Rachel writes on issues of gender-based violence, recently focusing on the search for justice for the Epstein survivors.
In 2016, Rachel co-founded the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, a one-of-a-kind not-for-profit animal shelter and low-cost veterinary clinic, that has hosted over 340,000 visitors and handled over 16,000 adoptions.
As Founder and President of Heights Advisors, she does social impact real estate development, building the first ground up domestic violence shelter in the country, with apartments housing over 100 survivors, that allows families to exit abusive situations with their pets. Rachel developed a transitional family shelter in Brooklyn with 165 apartments housing over 500 individuals and a family shelter in the Bronx with 160 apartments also housing over 500 individuals.
Rachel graduated from Cornell University, recently serving on various university councils, and from Brooklyn Law School where she was an Edward V. Sparer Fellow.
Founder & CEO, Civic News Company
Session: Fireside Chat – AI, Bias, & Influencers: How Jewish Women are Combating Media Challenges
Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of Civic News Company, the publisher of nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat. With 15 local newsrooms across the United States regarded as must-reads by their communities and a team of award-winning journalists and media executives, Civic News Company is a leading model to address the crisis in local news.
Elizabeth co-founded Chalkbeat in 2014. Since its launch, Chalkbeat’s reporting has spurred changes in education funding, legislation, policy, and practice, and is regularly cited and republished in dozens of publications. In October 2020, Elizabeth and the Chalkbeat team launched Votebeat, a pop-up newsroom designed to provide independent, nonpartisan coverage of election integrity. After the success of the pop-up, Votebeat launched as a permanent newsroom in 2022. In 2023, the Chalkbeat team introduced Civic News Company as the parent organization of Chalkbeat and Votebeat, with plans to expand to new geographies. In the summer of 2024, the Civic News Company team launched Healthbeat, their third newsroom. Healthbeat reporters cover public health in New York City and nationally.
Elizabeth is recognized as a national leader in the field of local news. In addition to Civic News Company, she led the Summit for Local News in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation and published the Roadmap for Local News in 2023, helping to spur MacArthur’s $500 million Press Forward initiative for local news. She co-founded the American Journalism Project, the first venture philanthropy firm dedicated to local news, in 2019, and served as the Chair of its Board of Directors. Elizabeth is also a journalist known for her 2014 book Building a Better Teacher, which was a New York Times bestseller and notable book of 2014. She has also written for The New York Times Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and The Atlantic.
Elizabeth has been a Spencer Fellow in education journalism at Columbia University and an Abe Journalism Fellow studying education in Japan. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. in Social Studies from Harvard University, where she served as Magazine Chair of The Harvard Crimson and earned the Hoopes Prize for outstanding scholarly work. Elizabeth lives in Washington, D.C.
Executive Coach and Founder, LRG Coaching; JWI Board of Trustees Vice Chair
Session: Interactive Workshop: What’s Strong With You?
Laura Rebell Gross is an executive coach who helps leaders reconnect with themselves so they can lead others with greater clarity, courage, and humanity. Through LRG Coaching, she partners with founders, CEOs, school leaders, nonprofit executives, and women navigating pivotal moments of transition, helping them create organizations where people flourish and purpose drives the work.
Known for combining deep empathy with thoughtful challenge, Laura creates the space for leaders to slow down, see their situations more clearly, and make decisions that are aligned with both their values and their ambitions. Her clients describe Laura as someone who asks the question they didn’t know they needed, believes in them before they fully believe in themselves, and helps them move from overwhelm to purposeful action. At the heart of Laura’s work is a simple belief: when leaders become more grounded in who they are, they create organizations where other people flourish as well. She sees coaching not simply as a path to stronger leadership, but as an invitation to live and lead with greater purpose, authenticity, and joy.
Before founding LRG Coaching, Laura spent more than 30 years as an educator and nonprofit leader. Most recently, she was Senior Managing Director of Girls Education at Student Leadership Network, where she led leadership development and programming for a national network of all-girls public schools in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. She is a Hudson Certified Coach, an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and is trained in Positive Intelligence.
Laura is a trustee of Nightingale-Bamford School and a board member of Riley’s Way Foundation, Jewish Women International, serving on the Executive Committee of each organization. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband of 23 years and their spirited labradoodle. Together they have three college-aged daughters. Outside of coaching, you’ll most often find her training for a marathon, at the theater, or planning her next travel adventure.
Founder of Teach. Give. Inspire. Fridays
Session: Interactive Workshop – Using Your Voice: Public Speaking
Barbara Guterman (WTW ‘23) is a seasoned entrepreneur, passionate business executive, and a veteran community organizer with a desire to create powerful change. Over the last 40 years, Barbara has launched companies and managed businesses in telecommunications, retail, franchising, manufacturing, fine jewelry, and in Internet-based start-ups. Her experience ranges from small business to large-scale public corporations and covers management, operations, sales, investor relations, public relations, community relations, and external affairs. At just 23 years old, Barbara co-created one of the nation’s first competitive local phone companies – the first in its industry to go public, raising more than $80 million and growing to 5000+ employees. Barbara was featured in Forbes' September 1995 issue as a “Woman with a Mission,” and she was the first person to don the cover of Reader's Digest as a distinguished woman entrepreneur. She was also recognized as Ernst and Young’s 1997 Florida Entrepreneur of the Year. Barbara received her B.A. in telecommunication from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of South Florida, where she was named USF’s 1993 Entrepreneur of the Year. She is currently a mentor and partner in several startup businesses and runs the Teach Give Inspire Fridays women’s speakers series, a “Platform for Women to Inform with Passion”.
Barbara is a past president of Congregation Bna’i Tzedek in Potomac and has served as VP of the board of KEEN Greater DC for the last 17 years. She is currently the Chairman of the Menorah Life Board, a Senior Health Care Community in St. Petersburg Florida and is also the President of the Board of So What Else, the largest foodbank in Montgomery County, Maryland. Barbara is being recognized for her philanthropic endeavors as the 2026 recipient of the Irene and Abe Pollin Humanitarian Award, honored by the Bender JCC of Greater Washington. She is a devoted wife and mother to three grown sons, a beautiful daughter in law and two adorable grand children who share her passion for family, business and for giving back.
Executive Coach, Host of podcast, This Changes Things
Session: Live Podcast Taping – This Changes Things
Shoshanna Hecht is an executive and leadership coach with deep roots in clinical therapy — over a decade as a licensed clinician, including couples and relationship work, before finding her way to coaching in New York. That gave her a rare combination: the ability to see what’s happening inside a person and between people at the same time.
She prepares deeply, and she won’t ask the questions you’ve heard a hundred times — she’ll find the one that gets to the center of it. Topics range across leadership, relationships, identity, and reinvention. Whether you’re leading a company, a team, a partnership, or your own life — there’s something here that will lift you up, make you feel more powerful, and will stick with you.
Co-founder and CEO of World Without Exploitation
Session: Fireside Chat – The Women Who Brought the Epstein Survivors to Capitol Hill
Lauren Hersh is an internationally recognized lawyer and activist at the forefront of efforts to combat gender-based violence and exploitation in schools, online, and in the legal arena. She is a Time 100 honoree, the magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2026.
Lauren's work has played a critical role in shaping and advancing legislation designed to dismantle systems that allow those in power to operate with impunity and prey on the vulnerable. Most recently, she has helped lead survivor-driven efforts to advance accountability and transparency reforms in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein case, including the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
She is the Co-Founder and CEO of World Without Exploitation, a national coalition dedicated to ending human trafficking and sexual exploitation. She previously served as Chief of the Sex Trafficking Unit at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, where she led major investigations and prosecutions on behalf of survivors.
A frequently sought-after national expert, Hersh regularly provides media analysis on sexual violence, trafficking, and survivor-centered justice. She has appeared on major outlets, including CNN, and has been featured in The New York Times, TIME and other leading news organizations.
Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Organization for Women’s Susan B. Anthony Award, Mount Sinai Hospital SAVI Award, and New York Law Journal’s 2016 Rising Stars, and she is recognized as one of New York’s New Abolitionists. She has taught at NYU, lectured at the United Nations and the European Parliament, and written extensively on issues of gender-based violence.
Literary Agent & Co-Head of the Books Department, Creative Arts Agency (CAA) Books
Session: Live Podcast Taping – GOLDA Girls
Jennifer Joel is a Literary Agent and Co-Head of the Books Department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in the New York office, Joel represents a diverse group of fiction and nonfiction writers, including literary and commercial novelists for adults and young readers, as well as historians, biographers, memoirists, journalists, strategists, adventurers, and entertainers. Her clients have topped the New Yorks Times’ and international bestseller lists, and they have been nominated for and winners of distinctions including the National Book and Magazine Awards, various Pulitzer Prizes, and the Carnegie Medal.
As an agent, Joel represents category-defining writers across every genre, from picture books and middle grade series fiction to bookclub favorites, thrillers, reported narratives, and business leadership . She also helps many of agency’s motion picture, television and theater clients make their forays into books. And she has led the publishing division’s international expansion, building out the agency's capacity to directly represent authors in the global marketplace.
Her clients include Chris Cleave, Nelson DeMille & Alex DeMille, Kevin Fedarko, AJ Finn, Bonnie Garmus, Stuart Gibbs, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Sarah Knight, Elise Loehnen, Megan Miranda, Michael Oren, Shonda Rhimes, Adam Rubin, Stephen Schwarzman, Dan Senor, Eli Sharabi, Jennifer E. Smith, Chris Whitaker, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Senators Cory Booker and Chris Murphy and former President Joe Biden, among others.
Before becoming an agent, Joel worked as an investment banker in the communications, media and entertainment group at Goldman Sachs.
Joel has been a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, sits on various boards including The Library Council at the New York Public Library, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Creative Community for Peace’s Literary Alliance.
Joel graduated from Harvard University with a joint degree in History and Literature.
Executive Director of Seed the Dream Foundation
Session: Fireside Chat – The View from the Table: Women in Global Leadership
Talia Kaplan is the Executive Director of Seed the Dream Foundation, where she leads a broadportfolio of philanthropic initiatives advancing education, combating antisemitism, strengthening connections between the United States and Israel, addressing gender-based violence, supporting Holocaust Survivors, and responding to humanitarian crises.
Since joining Seed the Dream Foundation in 2013, Talia has helped shape its strategic vision, expand its reach, and deepen its impact across all six areas of focus. Her leadership spans strategic philanthropy, partnership development, and cross-sector collaboration, bringing together funders, organizations, and communities to address complex social challenges. Her work includes developing BICEP, a coordinated approach to Israel education and engagement supporting students on more than 80 campuses nationwide; establishing KAVOD SHEF, a national philanthropic initiative addressing the emergency needs of Holocaust Survivors living in poverty across the United States; and advancing K–12 educational models to combat contemporary antisemitism. As a Founding Sister of I Believe Israeli Women (IBIW), Talia has partnered with JWI to spearhead the development of a global coalition advancing collective action to address conflict-related sexual violence.
Throughout her career, Talia has been dedicated to bridging communities, advancing human dignity, and amplifying the voices of those too often silenced. Before joining Seed the Dream Foundation, she served as Executive Director of a Bay Area-based private foundation focused on combating antisemitism. At the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C., she served as national liaison on the Darfur crisis and led initiatives in interfaith and international affairs. She also worked with World Learning's International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. Department of State initiative, and directed Beth El House, a transitional housing program serving women and children.
Talia holds a Master of Science in Management from the School for International Training and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University, where she studied with her mentor, Professor Elie Wiesel. She also holds a certificate in mediation from the Center for Dispute Settlement in Washington, D.C. She lives in the greater Philadelphia area with her husband and two children.
Sexuality and Relationship Educator, Author, Host of “The Sexy Side of Zionism”, JWI Board of Trustees member
Session: Interactive Workshop – Dating in an Age of Antisemitism
Dr. Logan Levkoff of New York, N.Y., is an internationally-recognized expert on sexuality and relationships. Logan frequently appears on national television and was the host of CafeMom’s Mom Ed: In the Bedroom, the sexuality expert for A&E/FYI’s Married at First Sight, and host of Shape Magazine's video series, "The Sexpert." A popular sex columnist nationwide, she currently blogs for The Huffington Post. Logan speaks on a range of issues related to sexuality and has designed education programs, faculty development, and parent education in many secular and religious schools, universities, medical schools, and community organizations. She is the author of three books on sexual health, including Got Teens? The Doctor Moms’ Guide to Sexuality, Social Media, and Other Adolescent Realities with Dr. Jennifer Wider (Seal Press, 2014). She has been an AASECT certified sex educator and board member.
2018 Women to Watch Honoree
Co-founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief, Her Campus Media; JWI Board of Trustees member
Session: Fireside Chat – AI, Bias, & Influencers: How Jewish Women are Combating Media Challenges
Stephanie Kaplan Lewis (WTW ‘19) is the co-founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of Her Campus Media, the #1 media company for college students and Gen Z, which she co-founded in 2009 as an undergraduate at Harvard. Her Campus Media empowers the next generation of student journalists, marketers, and creatives through its community of 50,000+ college students across thousands of campuses, and powers college marketing programs for some of the world’s largest brands. Stephanie has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Inc. 30 Under 30, and Her Campus Media has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies among other accolades. As a leading force for women's empowerment, Stephanie and Her Campus have partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, and received the Office on Women's Health’s first-ever Partnership Award. Stephanie is also an Innovation Fellow at Harvard and a Boston Marathon finisher. She lives in Newton, Mass. with her husband, two young children, two rescue dogs, and cat.
CEO and Co-founder of Challah Back Girls
Session: Panel Discussion – Creators & Founders: Forging Our Own Career Path
Sara Loffman (she/her) is the CEO and co-founder of Challah Back Girls® (CBG)—a mission driven, small business that unites people through challah, Jewish tradition, and the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). What began as a family passion project during the pandemic has grown into a global movement—shipping thousands of challahs, hosting interactive workshops, and partnering with organizations, brands, and community leaders to build bridges and deepen understanding across diverse communities.
Sara leads CBG full-time from New Jersey, overseeing partnerships, event programming, production, and brand storytelling. Deeply passionate about using food—especially challah—as a symbol of unity and a vehicle for change, Sara creates experiences that nourish the body while amplifying voices and initiatives that advance justice and compassion.
Beyond CBG, Sara consults with emerging ventures on marketing, event planning, and digital strategy, helping founders turn meaningful ideas into lasting impact.
"You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” — Pirkei Avot 2:16
Creator and Host of People Jew Wanna Know podcast
Session: Live Podcast Taping – People Jew Wanna Know
Margarita is the creator and host of People Jew Wanna Know podcast where she interviews remarkable Jewish people every week. Her show has over 150 episodes with notable Jewish guests like Jeff Garlin, Andrew Zimmern, Modi Rosenfeld, Aleeza Ben Shalom, Shai Davidai, Dan Ariely, Noam Bardin, Dara Horn, among many others.
Originally from Ukraine, Margarita immigrated to the United States as a Jewish refugee, an experience that deeply shaped her perspective and commitment to storytelling and the Jewish community.
Through her work, she has built a platform that emphasizes empathy, rigorous thinking, and meaningful dialogue across diverse perspectives in Jewish life. She received her Bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota in Supply Chain, Business Law and Spanish, and her Master’s from University of Pennsylvania in Behavioral Science.
Founder, TM Creative Consulting and Ten Seven Stories
Sessions: Creators & Founders: Forging Our Own Career Path; Closing Session – Hope in Action
Tess Mendelson is the owner and Creative Director of TM Creative Consulting, a digital marketing and content strategy firm that helps businesses and mission-driven organizations grow through strategic storytelling. She partners with nonprofits, Jewish and Israel advocacy organizations, and small businesses to showcase their work, strengthen their brands, and create meaningful digital experiences through social media, content strategy, and visual storytelling.
She earned a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from The George Washington University, graduating summa cum laude. Her passion for mission-driven communications led her to found TM Creative Consulting, where she combines journalism, design, and digital strategy to help organizations connect with their audiences and amplify their impact.
Tess is also the founder of Ten Seven Stories, a documentary storytelling initiative created in response to her experiences witnessing the rise of antisemitism on college campuses following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel. Through live interviews conducted in communities and on college campuses with survivors, victims' families, first responders, and others directly impacted by October 7, she documents firsthand testimony to preserve history and combat misinformation. Through documentary filmmaking, journalism, educational resources, and digital storytelling, Ten Seven Stories is dedicated to ensuring these voices are heard by future generations.
Outside of her professional work, Tess teaches heated yoga sculpt, bakes challah each week, and is always pursuing her next creative project.
Co-founder of Hineni
Session: Closing Session – Hope in Action
Brandy Mitnick and Julia Zuroff are the co-founders of Hineni Jewelry Co., a mission-driven brand inspired by the concept of Hineni—a powerful commitment to showing up with presence and purpose.
The two first connected while pursuing their MBAs at Columbia Business School, bonding over a shared desire to create a venture with impact. Julia, whose career spans startups, venture capital, and strategic finance, saw an opportunity to merge her professional expertise with her passion for meaningful work. Brandy, with a background in sales and marketing, brings her talent for building authentic connections and her enthusiasm for event planning, and mindfulness to the brand.
Together, they have spent the past year dedicated to building a movement rooted in connection, community, and giving back.
Co-founder, Dinah Project; Israeli Attorney & Women’s Rights Expert
Session: Fireside Chat – The View from the Table: Women in Global Leadership
Ayelet Razin Bet Or is an Israeli lawyer, public policy leader, and internationally recognized advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, and survivor-centered justice. Over the course of more than two decades, she has worked at the intersection of criminal law, public policy, legislation, and international advocacy, helping shape Israel’s response to sexual and gender-based violence and advancing the rights of women and survivors.
Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, Ayelet became one of the leading voices working to secure international recognition of the sexual and gender-based violence committed during the attacks and against hostages in captivity. As a co-founder of the Dinah Project, she helped lead the effort to build the evidentiary and legal foundation documenting these crimes and to bring the findings before international institutions, policymakers, and human rights experts. Her work has focused not only on recognition and accountability for the crimes of October 7, but also on the broader implications of conflict-related sexual violence for women’s rights and international law.
Ayelet began her legal career as a criminal prosecutor at Israel’s State Attorney’s Office, an experience that gave her a deep understanding of criminal investigations, evidence, prosecution, and the challenges faced by victims within the justice system. She later served for five years as Legal Advisor and Head of Policy and Government Relations for the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, where she became a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual violence. She represented the rape crisis centers before government ministries and the Knesset and played a leading role in legislative and policy reforms designed to strengthen victims’ rights, expand access to legal assistance, address statutes of limitations in sexual offenses, and improve the state’s response to gender-based violence.
In 2022, Ayelet was appointed Director General of Israel’s Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, where she led national policy on gender equality and worked across government and civil society to promote women’s representation in decision-making, combat violence and discrimination, and integrate gender perspectives into public policy. Her career has given her a rare perspective on institutional change: she has worked both from within government and from civil society to challenge and reform the systems responsible for protecting women’s rights.
Today, Ayelet is the founder and director of the Nitzan Fund for the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality, supporting initiatives that strengthen women’s leadership, equality, and social impact in Israel. She also teaches at Reichman University and continues to work internationally on gender-based violence, women’s rights, and the protection of victims in conflict and crisis.
Ayelet has represented Israeli expertise in international forums, including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, UN human rights mechanisms, and OECD forums, and regularly engages with international policymakers, diplomats, legal experts, and women’s rights organizations. She is currently a candidate for membership in the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Throughout her career, Ayelet has combined legal expertise with public leadership and advocacy—moving between the courtroom, the Knesset, government, civil society, and the international arena. At the heart of her work is a consistent commitment: ensuring that violence against women is recognized, documented, and confronted, that survivors are heard and protected, and that women have an equal voice in shaping the institutions and decisions that affect their lives.
Former District Attorney of Westchester County, New York; JWI Board of Trustees member
Session: Fireside Chat – The Women Who Brought the Epstein Survivors to Capitol Hill
Miriam (Mimi) Rocah was elected as District Attorney of Westchester County, New York, in November 2020, winning office through a grassroots campaign against an incumbent. During her four years as DA, she modernized the Office, aggressively pursued gun and violent crime, developed better ways to serve crime victims, and instituted sensible criminal justice reforms including a Conviction Integrity Unit. During her time in office post October 7, 2023, Mimi organized law enforcement and other prosecutors to issue statements and take action in solidarity against antisemitism. She also worked with advocates for the victims of October 7th in her personal capacity, writing, speaking, and hosting hostage family members, scholars and activists from Israel on panels and events.
Prior to her time as DA, Mimi served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) for nearly 17 years, where she rose to be a Division Chief and was involved in the prosecution of organized and violent crime, public corruption, sex trafficking and child exploitation. She has been a frequent commentator on MSNBC, NBC News, CNN, and numerous podcasts on topics relating to law, justice, women’s issues and antisemitism, and has written and published dozens of opinion pieces on those topics. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Pace University School of Law and Fordham Law School. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Mimi is a graduate of Harvard University and New York University School of Law.
Author and Advocate
Session: Opening Session Keynote – Antisemitism & Jewish Women
Alyssa Rosenheck is a bestselling author, advocate, and one of Architectural Digest’s Top 50 Interior and Architectural Photographers in the United States. Her debut book, The New Southern Style (Abrams), reframed creativity as a vehicle for resilience, courage, and connection - revealing how art has the power to humanize our differences and remind us of our shared humanity. In her second book, White. Blonde. Jew. - a call to end extremism, speak up, and reclaim center - she took the words used against her and made them her newest title (BenBella, dist. Simon & Schuster). White. Blonde. Jew. is currently nominated for the Sophie Brody Medal by the American Library Association for outstanding achievement in Jewish literature.
Beyond her creative career, Alyssa is a leading voice in the fight against antisemitism and a fearless advocate for Israel. She was honored with the 2025 and 2026 Hero Against Hate Award by the ADL and is a founding member of Artists Against Antisemitism. Since October 7, she has traveled to Israel multiple times as a post-war delegate, participated in UN Diplomacy Week with the AJC, and collaborates closely with organizations including the AJC, ADL, StandWithUs, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, and CUFI. She also serves on the Advisory Council of TILE for the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States. Her grassroots impact is wide-ranging: she has mobilized communities alongside state legislators, played a key role in stopping two BDS resolutions at the city council level, and is actively engaged with the Tennessee-Israel Caucus. She regularly publishes op-eds challenging BDS, anti-American, and antisemitic ideologies, and speaks on college campuses to educate and equip the next generation to stand for truth and defend democratic values. Alyssa's work is a testament to the belief that creativity is not merely a personal pursuit - it is a collective responsibility and a force for building stronger bridges.
Networking Coach, Speaker, and Founder of Connection Catalyst
Sessions: Opening Session Interactive Workshop; Panel Discussion – Building Community for Jewish Women
Rachel Rozen is a networking coach, speaker, and founder of Connection Catalyst, where she helps professionals build high-value relationships that create opportunities, strengthen influence, and accelerate career growth.
After more than 20 years in hospitality and customer success, Rachel rose to become a Chief Customer Officer before discovering that the relationships she had built throughout her career were her greatest professional asset. During a career transition, she committed to having 300 intentional conversations in a single year, transforming her network and inspiring the launch of Connection Catalyst.
Today, Rachel teaches a modern, relationship-first approach to networking that moves beyond transactional tactics and awkward small talk. Through coaching, workshops, keynote speaking, and curated networking experiences, she helps individuals and organizations build authentic connections that lead to trust, collaboration, and long-term success.
Rachel believes the strongest networks are built long before you need them. Known for helping people turn "icky" networking into "sticky," lasting relationships, she empowers people to invest in their social capital today so their future selves have relationships to lean on tomorrow. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, and cheering on the New York Mets and Syracuse Orange.
Advisor, Forum AI; Cofounder, Punchbowl News
Session: Fireside Chat – AI, Bias, & Influencers: How Jewish Women are Combating Media Challenges
Rachel Schindler is a New Jersey native and co-founder of Punchbowl News, a nonpartisan media outlet focused on Washington's political power dynamics. She led product strategy and audience development, building newsletters, podcasts, and community events for readers spanning Capitol Hill insiders to political enthusiasts. Before founding Punchbowl News in 2021, Schindler worked at Facebook (now Meta) in global strategy and news partnerships, following roles at POLITICO and Capital One. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.
Beyond journalism, Schindler demonstrates a strong commitment to public service through volunteer work with vulnerable populations. For over a decade, she has been involved with Experience Camps, providing support for children who have lost a parent or caregiver. She has also volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and is on the board of Of Home, Family and Future (OHFF), a NYC non-profit which supports foster youth and domestic violence survivors. Schindler currently resides on Manhattan's Upper West Side with her husband.
2025 Woman to Watch
Founder of Pearl & Rose
Session: Panel Discussion – Building Community for Jewish Women
Lisa Schneider is the founder of Pearl & Rose, a growing national community that curates in-person events and resources for women in midlife who are embracing their next chapter with purpose, curiosity, and joy. After more than 15 years as a graphic designer creating brand experiences for luxury events, Lisa shifted her focus to what she calls her most meaningful project yet: rebranding midlife.
A passionate connector and creative strategist, Lisa brings a fresh and empowering lens to aging, helping women find community, conversation, and inspiration through meaningful experiences, engaging content, and trusted partnerships.
Lisa lives just outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband of 32 years, Brett. With two grown sons living in Los Angeles, she’s fully embraced her empty nest and is loving the freedom, fun, and fulfillment that midlife can bring.
Author, actor, leadership consultant and recovering lawyer, JWI Board of Trustees Chair
Session: Live Podcast Taping – People Jew Wanna Know
Pam Sherman is a nationally-syndicated columnist (the Suburban Outlaw), actor, recovering lawyer and leadership consultant. Today Sherman coaches and conducts programs for leaders all over the world about leadership communications and how to find their EDGE: Explore, Dream, Grow, & Excite™. She is a keynote speaker, has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, advertising agencies and is a highly rated global resource for leadership groups, including, EO, Vistage Worldwide and YPO. Her portrayal of legendary columnist Erma Bombeck in “At Wit’s End” played to sold-out audiences around the country. Sherman was recently quoted in the New York Times regarding leadership and emotional authenticity. www.thepamsherman.com
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Senior Sales Manager at Oracle; YWIN Representative for JWI’s Board of Trustees
Session: Panel Discussion – Building Community for Jewish Women
Elizabeth Slotnick is a community builder, a sales leader, and a firm believer that young Jewish women do their best work when they have a place to belong.
Originally from Richmond, VA, Elizabeth has lived in the DC area, San Francisco, and Seattle before settling in northern New Jersey. Her path with JWI’s Young Women’s Impact Network (YWIN) began in San Francisco, where she was new to the city, saw the YWIN launch event, and went to meet people. She found a community there, and she took that lesson with her when she moved to Seattle and felt the absence of a strong young Jewish women’s community.
Elizabeth built YWIN Seattle from scratch, starting with blind friend dates, moving to Shabbat dinners, and building to a large community launch event in October 2023. The chapter now has more than 200 community members. To deepen her local engagement, she became a 2024 Leadership Fellow with the Seattle Federation’s Courageous Leadership Incubator.
Today, Elizabeth serves as the YWIN Representative to the JWI Board of Trustees. She is also a Fellow on the Hadassah Foundation Board of Directors, where she works alongside other board members to support organizations benefiting Jewish women and girls in the United States and Israel. A lifelong reader, Elizabeth reviews books for the Jewish Book Council, combining her passion for reading with her commitment to promoting Jewish authors and their stories.
Outside her Jewish communal work, Elizabeth is a Senior Sales Manager at Oracle. She is often the youngest woman leader in the room, which has challenged her and made her a better leader in her community. She holds a BA in Government and Sociology from the University of Virginia. A self-described coffee snob, she is always up for finding the best local roaster, wherever she lands.
Cofounder, Chief Legal Officer, and Head of Impact Deposits at First Women's Bank
Session: Live Podcast Taping: This Changes Things
Melissa is a banker, commercial litigator, serial entrepreneur, senior executive, board member and lifelong advocate for women and girls. She co-founded First Women’s Bank in 2021, the only bank in the country with a strategic focus on the women’s economy. The Bank’s mission is to close the gender lending gap, empower women economically and elevate the women’s economy. Prior to launching First Women’s Bank, Melissa practiced law at Jenner & Block and Arthur Andersen LLP. She was also a founder and Managing Partner of Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, a trial and litigation boutique law firm based in Chicago.
Melissa is deeply involved in impact, advocacy and community focused organizations. She is a longtime board member and former board Chair of Personal PAC, a leading Illinois political action committee focused on advancing reproductive rights in Illinois. She is also a founding board member of Project 50, a federal PAC formed to support reproductive rights in states across the country. For many years, she represented minors in Chicago as a volunteer attorney with the ACLU’s Judicial Bypass Coordination Project. Currently, Melissa serves on the Board of the Jewish Federation of Chicago and is a partner in Social Venture Partners. She is on the Advisory Boards of Hypatia Capital Management and Next View Global Water Technology Fund, L.P. Melissa is also a Trustee of the Jewish Women’s Foundation and a member of the Chicago Club and the Economic Club of Chicago.
Melissa is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Maryland School of Law. Originally from Columbia, Maryland, she now lives with her husband in Lincoln Park. They have six adult children.
2025 Woman to Watch
Co-founder of Hineni
Session: Closing Session – Hope in Action
Brandy Mitnick and Julia Zuroff are the co-founders of Hineni Jewelry Co., a mission-driven brand inspired by the concept of Hineni—a powerful commitment to showing up with presence and purpose.
The two first connected while pursuing their MBAs at Columbia Business School, bonding over a shared desire to create a venture with impact. Julia, whose career spans startups, venture capital, and strategic finance, saw an opportunity to merge her professional expertise with her passion for meaningful work. Brandy, with a background in sales and marketing, brings her talent for building authentic connections and her enthusiasm for event planning, and mindfulness to the brand.
Together, they have spent the past year dedicated to building a movement rooted in connection, community, and giving back.