The MARC Summit Speakers

Michael C. Reichert, PhD

Executive Director, Center for the Study of Boys' and Girls' Lives, University of Pennsylvania

Michael Reichert is a psychologist who has worked in a variety of clinical, school, community and research contexts over the course of his career. He serves as Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives, a research collaborative at the University of Pennsylvania, and is supervising psychologist at The Haverford School outside Philadelphia. In clinical practice outside Philadelphia, he has long specialized in work with boys, men, and their families.

He led research teams that have conducted studies of boys’ education, resulting in presentations, publications and professional development workshops for educators throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. He also founded an urban youth development program in the tri-state region around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was recognized as a “promising practice” in violence prevention by the state’s Attorney General.

Reichert’s writing has been published in The Atlantic, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Time, Fatherly, Good Men Project and others. His books include Reaching Boys, Teaching Boys: Lessons About What Works—and Why (Wiley/Jossey Bass, 2010), I Can Learn From You: Boys as Relational Learners (Harvard Educational Press, 2014), and How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men.

Gina Rippon

Professor Emeritus, Cognitive Neuroimaging, Aston University

Professor Gina Rippon is Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, Birmingham. She is a past-President of the British Association of Cognitive Neuroscience and a Fellow of the British Science Association. Her research involves state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to investigate developmental disorders such as dyslexia and autism. She also investigates the use of neuroscience techniques to explore social processes including gender stereotyping and stereotype threat. She is an outspoken critic of “neurotrash,” the populist (mis)use of neuroscience research to (mis)represent our understanding of the brain and, most particularly, to prop up outdated stereotypes. Her book on this topic, The Gendered Brain, published by Bodley Head and Penguin Random House, came out in the UK in February 2019 and in the US in September 2019. She is active in the field of the public communication of science and has spoken at many events in the UK, Europe, the Far East, US, and Australia. She also speaks on the relevance of contemporary neuroscience to diversity and inclusivity initiatives and has given keynote addresses to business organizations and government policy groups, including the UK’s Cabinet Office.

Cristina Santos

Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Total Well-Being and EEO, North America, Sanofi

Cristina Santos is a seasoned professional in the pharmaceutical industry and is currently the Head of Inclusion & Diversity (I&D), Total Well-Being and EEO for North America at Sanofi. In this role, she leads the human healthcare company’s regional efforts to maximize the strength of difference within, enabling a culture where employees are engaged, empowered and included.
Santos has worked in several key commercial roles in the areas of Global Oncology Commercial Excellence, U.S. Sales Leadership, Multicultural Marketing, and Training & Development.  Her passion for I&D sprung from years of devoted energy to global and local council work and leadership of several employee resource groups. She holds a strong belief that in order to achieve significant impact, we must invite the majority to the conversation alongside those traditionally underrepresented…in essence everyone should be included! This is a strong focus, along with efforts to enhance diversity and amplify inclusion at Sanofi.  Her mantras: “See a need, fill a need” and “be the reason for the exception” have been driving forces for many of the opportunities she’s earned personally and professionally. In 2018 she received the Trailblazer Award from the Women of Color in Pharma and her leadership has garnered several recognitions for Sanofi’s Inclusion & Diversity efforts.

When not at work, Santos volunteers her time on the New Jersey State Board for Junior Achievement, is a member of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund NJ Advisory Council and is also an active member of Impact100 Jersey Coast, a women’s collective giving organization. She is a Cornell Certified Diversity Professional (CCDP) earning her certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations, where she is a member of the facilitating faculty at the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution. She has an undergraduate degree in International Business from Florida International University in Miami. A proud wife and mother of four children that always keep life fun and interesting; she was recognized in 2012 as a “Working Mother of the Year” in Working Mother Magazine.

Michael D. Smith

Director, Youth Opportunity Programs and Executive Director, MBK Alliance

Michael Smith currently serves as Director of Youth Opportunity Programs and Executive Director of the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Alliance at the Obama Foundation. MBK Alliance leads a national call to action to build safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they are valued and have clear pathways to opportunity. Smith was part of the team that designed and launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, and was appointed Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Cabinet Affairs for My Brother’s Keeper, managing the initiative and interagency Task Force at the White House.

Prior to joining the White House team, Smith was director of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), Senior Vice President of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation, and helped build national initiatives aimed at bridging the “digital divide.” Smith is an Atlantic Institute Racial Equity Senior Fellow and a member of Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s Alumni Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the organization.

Jake Stika

Executive Director, Next Gen Men

As Next Gen Men’s Executive Director and co-founder, Stika is a passionate speaker and facilitator focused on gender-based issues related to the social and emotional development of young men, the health and well-being of men in communities, and gender equity in workplaces.

Stika was named one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40, as well as having earned recognition from Ashoka, the British Council, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. He has spoken at the United Nations as part of the Canadian Delegation, and participated in the UN Women Safe Cities Initiative Global Forum. He is also a proud advisor to the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Canadian Women & Sport, as well as the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter.

David S. Taylor

Chairman of the Board and CEO, P&G and Member, Catalyst Board of Directors

David Taylor is P&G’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. He joined P&G in 1980 and spent the first decade of his career in P&G’s Product Supply organization, where he managed production and operations at a number of plants. In the early 1990’s, Taylor transferred into P&G brand management, where he has helped build many of the company’s core businesses including Baby Care, Family Care, Hair Care and Home Care. He has led global businesses, living and working in North America, Europe and Asia. He was named P&G’s President and CEO in November of 2015 and became Chairman of the Board, President and CEO in July 2016.

Susan Todd

US Director, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Movember Foundation

As the U.S. Director for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Susan Todd brings a unique blend of expertise in the areas of non-profit management and strengthening health systems, as well as a passion for community involvement. She is deepening Movember’s U.S. investment in mental health and suicide prevention by furthering the organization’s mission through partnerships and funded programs.

Previously, she served as the Executive Director of 504HealthNet, a non-profit community-based coalition of primary care and behavioral health clinics in New Orleans focused on improving access to healthcare services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Prior to that she conducted research and analysis to implement components of the Affordable Care Act as an analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. While there, she focused on Medicaid and Marketplace enrollment and financing issues, and participated as a core team member in the White House initiative Strong Cities, Strong Communities. Her earlier experience also includes working for NASA as a scuba diver assisting in spacewalk training for astronauts and teaching English in Argentina.

Todd earned her Masters of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and her BA in International Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. She is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Dnika Travis, PhD

Vice President, Research, Catalyst

Dr. Dnika J. Travis is a recognized researcher, educator, and change leader. At Catalyst, Travis leads research initiatives and manages content creation. Travis’ renowned research on emotional tax experienced by people of color at work, along with her expertise on engaging in tough conversations across differences, have been widely published and featured in top-tier media outlets such as CNN, Fortune, and NBC News. Most recently, Travis co-authored the reports, “Getting Real About Inclusive Leadership: Why Change Starts With You” and “Interrupting Sexism at Work What Drives Men to Respond Directly or Do Nothing.” Prior to joining Catalyst, Travis was on the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work and conducted research on employee voice, leadership effectiveness, and organizational change. Travis earned her PhD from University of Southern California, MSW from the University of Michigan, and BA from Hampton University.

Niobe Way

Professor, Developmental Psychology, NYU and Founder, Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity

Niobe Way, Ed. D., is a professor of Developmental Psychology and founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity at New York University (PACH). She is also past President of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) and co-director of the Center for Research on Culture, Development, and Education at NYU. Her work focuses on the intersections of culture, context, and human development, with a particular focus on social and emotional development and how cultural ideologies influence developmental trajectories. The Listening Project, her current project with Joseph Nelson, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, David Kirkland, and Alisha Ali, aims to foster curiosity and connection in and outside of middle school classrooms across New York City. In addition, she created and teaches a core course for undergraduates at NYU called The Science of Human Connection. The course describes her theoretical and empirical framework developed over three decades and discussed in her latest co-edited book The Crisis of Connection: Its Roots, Consequences, and Solution (NYU Press). Dr. Way has also authored nearly a hundred journal articles and books, including Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection (Harvard University Press) and Everyday Courage: The Lives and Stories of Urban Teenagers (NYU Press). Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and numerous foundations including The National Science Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, The Einhorn Family Charitable Trust Foundation, and The Spencer Foundation. She is a contributor to Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and her research is regularly featured in mainstream media outlets (e.g., New York Times, NPR, Today Show, NBC).

Jason Wilson

CEO of The Yunion, Director of The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy, Author, Speaker

Jason Wilson is a non-profit CEO and author with a commitment to inspiring transparency, healing, and openness among people everywhere. Founder and CEO of The Yunion (pronounced union), Wilson has more than 14 years of experience in training and developing young black men. Under his leadership, The Yunion has effectively reached more than 10,000 youth and young adults in Metro Detroit. An expert in Emotional Stability Training®, Wilson created the Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy (CATTA) which has garnered numerous acknowledgments and awards for its work teaching boys how to introspectively confront and conquer their negative emotions with composure. After seeing the positive impact of The CATTA, Wilson was led to share his own journey in overcoming trauma with a broader audience. He is the Amazon best selling author of Cry Like a Man: Fighting for Freedom from Emotional Incarceration, a memoir that follows the generational abuse, abandonment, and emotional suppression of Wilson’s family, and the redemptive power of God through tears, vulnerability, and ultimately healing.

Wilson has been frequently celebrated for catalyzing local and national systemic change. His innovative approach to emotional and mental health for males has been featured and recognized by President Barack Obama, Dr. Oz, CNN, Huffington Post and more. Personally, one of Wilson’s greatest achievements is his family, as the husband of over 20 years to wife Nicole and the proud father of two beautiful children, Alexis and Jason II.

Mike Wirth

Chairman of the Board and CEO, Chevron and Member, Catalyst Board of Directors

Michael K. (Mike) Wirth, 59, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Chevron Corporation. He was elected to these positions by Chevron’s board of directors in September 2017 and assumed the roles on February 1, 2018. Prior to his current role, Wirth served as vice chairman of the board in 2017 and executive vice president of Midstream & Development for Chevron Corporation from 2016 – 2018. In that role, he was responsible for supply and trading, shipping, pipeline and power operating units, as well as corporate strategy, business development, and policy, government and public affairs. Wirth was executive vice president of Downstream & Chemicals from 2006 to 2015. He served as president of Global Supply and Trading from 2003 to 2006. In 2001, Wirth was named president of Marketing for Chevron’s Asia/Middle East/Africa business, based in Singapore. He also served on the board of directors for Caltex Australia Limited and GS Caltex Corporation in South Korea. Wirth serves on the board of directors of Catalyst, the board of directors and executive committee of the American Petroleum Institute, and the executive committee of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of The Business Council, the National Petroleum Council, the Business Roundtable and the American Society of Corporate Executives. Wirth joined Chevron in 1982 as a design engineer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado in 1982.

Nalo Zidan

Founder, #BlackGirlMasculine

Nalo A. K. Zidan is a Queer Black writer, organizer, and Trans-Masculinist whose work pushes at the normative boundaries of gender and sexuality. While completing her degree in Women’s & Gender Studies at Louisiana State University, Zidan founded BlackGirlMasculine, a non-profit organization created to reimagine and complicate conversations around nuanced masculinities. For over six years, Zidan has been a noteworthy contributor to academic and corporate dialogue on shaping safety in the workplace, LGBTQ+ rights, and building accountable masculinities. Along with being a 2019 TEDxLSU speaker, Zidan was a 2020 Masse/Remillard Gender & Sexuality Award recipient for her groundbreaking work on de-gendering masculinities in the human body. When she isn’t expanding scholarship, Zidan shares most of her time with her partner and baby turtle Nalito in Detroit, Michigan.