Wahine Forum brings together women from across Hawaiʻi for the state’s largest leadership and career development conference for women. Connect with professionals across industries, learn practical strategies for the challenges women face at work, and gain new perspectives to help you take your next step with greater confidence. Come ready to learn, connect and rise together.
Jenn Lim is the bestselling author of Beyond Happiness and a Top 50 global keynote speaker known for her work on modern leadership, wellbeing, and connection. Long before “company culture” became a buzzword, she helped pioneer purpose, profit, and people at Zappos and as CEO, led Delivering Happiness—cofounded with the late Tony Hsieh—from a bestselling book into an Inc. 5000 company and global movement.
Jenn has worked with hundreds of organizations, from Fortune 500s and Best Places to Work to startups and governments, helping them build workplaces rooted in happiness, humanity, and sustainable success. She served on the Global Happiness Council for Work & Wellbeing, helping shape conversations around workplace culture and employee experience.
Featured in Harvard Business Review, Inc., and Forbes, Jenn’s talks and insights cut through the noise on what actually drives lasting performance—not just the frameworks, but the human stuff underneath them. Her forthcoming book, Beyond the BS: A Field Guide for Being Human (working title), picks up where happiness leaves off—because real transformation starts with getting real with ourselves first.
7:30am
8:30am
Welcome Remarks
La Pietra Performance
Wahine of the Year Award honoring Catherine Ngo
Keynote Speech with Jenn Lim
9:45am
10:15am
Everything can feel urgent, but not everything deserves the same amount of your time and attention. This session focuses on the practical skill of prioritization: how to separate what needs an immediate response from what will actually move your work, team, or goals forward. Participants will learn strategies for making clearer decisions about where to focus, managing competing demands, and protecting time for the work that matters most.
Moderator: Annalisa Burgos — News Anchor, Hawaii News Now
Speakers:
Career growth is not always a straight line and the ability to pivot is more than just a survival skill – it’s a competitive advantage. Hear and learn from three incredible leaders about how they’ve cultivated an adaptable mindset, led teams through strategic change, and made tough decisions to shift — professionally and personally. They’ll share insights into how they’ve created value, branded their expertise, and navigated new chapters of leadership by meeting the moment and turning opportunities into pivotal career moves. Whether you’re looking to make a lateral shift to gain experience or positioning yourself for a vertical leap, this session will provide practical tools to help you clench your next career pivot with confidence.
Moderator: Olena Heu — Founder, Lilikoi Ladies LLC
Speakers:
As AI becomes more capable, technical skills alone will not determine who stands out. The ability to communicate clearly, build trust, read a room, exercise judgment, adapt quickly, collaborate, and lead through ambiguity is becoming even more important. This session explores the human skills that can strengthen your career in an AI-driven workplace and why they may be some of your greatest professional differentiators. Participants will learn which soft skills are gaining value, where they matter most, and how to develop them in ways that increase influence, credibility, and opportunity.
Moderator: Michelle Kim Stone — COO & General Counsel, Hawaiʻi Employers Council
Speakers:
Explore how stress, hormonal health, and the cumulative demands of leadership can affect performance and well-being. This practical conversation will help women recognize important health signals, manage their energy, and remain effective through every stage of their careers.
Moderator: Tammy Mori-Brownfield — Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Speakers:
11:15am
11:30am
Every person brings a different set of strengths to the table. The strongest teams are not made up of people who all think, work, or lead the same way, but of individuals whose talents complement one another. This session explores how leaders can recognize the “superpowers” within their teams, create space for people to contribute at their best, and build a culture where different strengths are valued. Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening collaboration, filling gaps, and creating a team where everyone has an opportunity to shine.
Moderator: Stevette Santiago — SVP Chief Human Resources and Brand Officer, UHA Health Insurance
Speakers:
Networking is more than collecting business cards or making small talk. It is about building genuine relationships that can lead to new ideas, partnerships, referrals, mentorship, and career opportunities. This session explores how to confidently enter a room, start meaningful conversations, make memorable connections, and follow up with purpose. Participants will leave with practical tools for turning introductions into lasting professional relationships and future opportunities.
Moderator: Kelly Simek — Host, Living808 and Empowered Hawaii; Realtor, KHON2; Compass
Speakers:
A panel breaking the silence around two health experiences millions of women face — often alone. From the hot flashes, sleep disruption and mood shifts of perimenopause to the isolating realities of postpartum depression, our panelists share the science, the stigma and the support women deserve at every stage of life.
Moderator: Jennifer Ablan — Editor-in-Chief, Hawaii Business Magazine
Speakers:
Presence is how you connect, communicate, and leave an impression. In this interactive workshop, Ingrid Gavshon explores how story, voice, body language, and intentional presence can deepen credibility, strengthen connection, and help you lead with greater clarity and impact.” WORKSHOP: Ingrid Gavshon, Lecturer and Executive Coach – UC Berkeley
Instructor: Ingrid Gavshon — Continuing Lecturer; Executive Coach; Documentary Filmmaker, UC Berkeley Haas
12:30pm
2:00pm
Being the person who can handle everything can feel like a strength, until it becomes the expectation. Women are often carrying responsibilities across work, family, relationships, and community while still feeling pressure to show up as capable, composed, and always available. This session explores the weight of the “Superwoman” expectation, how constantly stepping in and holding everything together can affect our energy and capacity, and what it looks like to lead and contribute without carrying it all. Participants will explore practical ways to share responsibility, communicate what they need, set healthier expectations, and recognize that putting down the cape does not mean giving up their strength.
Moderator: Kerri Meade — Contributing Writer, Hawaii Business Magazine
Speakers:
There is always a reason to wait. More experience, more confidence, better timing, one more credential, or a little more certainty. But waiting until everything feels perfectly aligned can keep us from opportunities we are already capable of pursuing. This session explores how to move forward before all the pieces are in place, distinguish thoughtful preparation from hesitation, and take meaningful action even when the outcome is not guaranteed. Participants will leave with practical ways to build momentum, trust what they already bring to the table, and take the next step before they feel completely ready.
Moderator: Julie Kaneko — Director of Marketing & Communications, aio Hawaiʻi
Speakers:
AI can be more than a tool you occasionally turn to for help. Used well, it can become part of your everyday workflow, helping you brainstorm ideas, draft and refine content, organize information, prepare for meetings, conduct research, and tackle repetitive tasks more efficiently. This session focuses on practical ways to make AI useful in your actual workday. Participants will explore how to identify the right tools for different needs, ask better questions, build smarter workflows, and use AI responsibly while keeping human judgment at the center.
Moderator: Jaclyn Loo — President-elect, Hawaiʻi Women in Tech
Speakers:
Some conversations are uncomfortable for a reason. Whether it is addressing performance, giving honest feedback, setting a boundary, resolving conflict, or saying something that may be difficult to hear, avoiding the conversation often creates a bigger problem. This session explores why we hesitate, how to prepare for high-stakes conversations, and ways to communicate with greater clarity and confidence. Participants will leave with practical tools to manage discomfort, say what needs to be said, and move important conversations forward while maintaining trust and respect.
Moderator: Melissa Martinez Kim — Principal, Aurea Pacific
Speakers:
3:00pm
3:15pm
The right relationships can change the trajectory of a career. Women who advocate for one another, share access, offer honest guidance, and open doors create opportunities that extend far beyond traditional networking. This session explores the power of pilina and the ways meaningful relationships grow through trust, reciprocity, shared experience, and genuine care. Participants will reflect on the mentors, sponsors, peers, and collaborators who have shaped their journeys and consider their own kuleana to support, uplift, and make space for other wāhine. When one wāhine rises, the strength of the whole community rises with her.
Moderator: Mea Spady — Executive Director, The Kupa’a Network
Speakers:
4:15pm
Olena Heu is an award-winning Hawaiʻi-based journalist, entrepreneur, and marketing professional. A former television news anchor, she founded a media and communications company specializing in storytelling, digital strategy, and brand identity. She holds a master’s in Speech Communication and a Digital Marketing Strategy certificate from Harvard Business School Online.
Yvette Maskrey is the Vice-President of Corporate Development and Strategy for The Solaray Corporation, a clean energy industry pioneer. Her community service includes Board President of the Aloha Council of Scouting America, Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership, Chaminade School of Business and Communication, and ‘Ōlelo Community Media.
Tricia Fetui is Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, overseeing programs, events, membership, marketing, advocacy, HR and operations. A community leader, she serves on several nonprofit and advisory boards. Fetui holds a BS in Business Administration and Management from Hope International University, where she played collegiate volleyball.
Erin Kanno Uehara is a wife, mother, owner of award winning chocolate company Choco le`a, author, blogger, speaker, and community and church volunteer. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education and Business Administration, respectively, and is completing her PhD dissertation in Organizational Psychology.
Jennifer Grems is the Head of School at Hawaiʻi School for Girls at La Pietra, where she leads the institution’s mission to inspire and empower young women to lead lives of purpose. With over three decades of experience in education, she consistently champions student-centered learning and faculty development.
Unyong Nakata is an Organizational Catalyst and the Founder and Principal of Nakata Advisory. With more than 20 years of experience across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, she works with executives, Boards, and teams navigating growth, change, and complexity. Her expertise lives at the intersection of strategy and action.
Michelle Kirk is Vice President and Chief People Officer at Hawaiʻi Foodbank, bringing over 15 years of executive leadership across retail and HR outsourcing. A certified MBTI practitioner and organizational health facilitator, she believes the best leaders inspire rather than motivate and speaks to help others lead with purpose.
Candice Wong is Director of Benefit Services at ALTRES, where she has worked for ten years. She leads over 30 benefits specialists, supports benefit renewal negotiations, and oversees lifestyle benefit offerings. She previously spent 17 years in private post-secondary education, leading student finance operations across 12 campuses.
Amanda Pump is President and CEO of Child & Family Service (CFS), with over 25 years in human services, including 17 with CFS. She leads over 400 employees statewide, expanding CFS’s impact through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to strengthening Hawaiʻi’s children, families, and communities.
Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Mel Pieper is a people-first HR leader who believes employees thrive when they feel valued, supported, and connected. As HR Regional Director, she draws on 27 years of airline experience to foster growth, engagement, and belonging. Guided by service and ‘ohana, Mel leads with empathy.
Michelle Kim Stone is COO and General Counsel at Hawaii Employers Council, overseeing operations, identifying efficiencies and providing legal counsel. With 20+ years in employment, banking, and corporate law, she’s held senior legal and leadership roles at some of Hawaii’s largest companies. She is pursuing Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional certification.
Lauren Zirbel is President and Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association. She champions policies and partnerships that strengthen local businesses, improve food security, and support a resilient food economy. Through advocacy, education, and the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival, she helps Hawaiʻi businesses grow and connects communities with local products.
Dr. Elizabeth Ignacio is an orthopedic surgeon, selected by her peers as a Best Doctor in Honolulu annually for over a decade, and was recognized as a Top Regional Doctor and awarded the Exceptional Women in Medicine by Castle Connolly every year since 2018. She also is Founder of Whole Wellness MD, and is launching Femme Vitale, a well-being program for women based on Lifestyle Science.
Kristen is Director of Talent Acquisition at American Savings Bank, where she leads efforts to attract and connect talented people with meaningful career opportunities. With a passion for developing teams and creating positive candidate experiences, Kristen helps shape ASB’s workforce and supports a culture where teammates can grow and thrive.
Alexandra Sueda, MD is an OB/GYN with Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG) who has guided women through every hormonal stage, from puberty and pregnancy to menopause, since 2007. A working mom of two herself, she knows firsthand how high-pressure careers and family life shape women’s health, and exactly how to protect it.
Kelly Yamamoto, BSN, RN is a midlife women’s health leader and healthcare strategist transforming the systems that shape women’s health. She is a nurse with experience in emergency medicine, quality improvement, informatics, digital health, and leadership, most recently serving as Magnolia Collective Wellness’s Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Jerilyn Hanohano, AICP, is Vice President and Principal at HHF Planners, bringing over 22 years of experience in master planning, federal planning, and land use entitlements. She leads multidisciplinary initiatives across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and internationally, helping shape firm strategy, mentor emerging planners, and strengthen partnerships with clients and communities.
Au is the Chief Financial Officer at HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union with over 20 years in the financial services industry. She serves on the Hawaiian Humane Society Board, Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership Advisory Board, and U.S. Japan Council.
Jennifer Diesman is HMSA’s Senior Vice President, External Affairs, guiding public policy, advocacy, and communications efforts and community health investments through corporate giving and HMSA Foundation. She’s the board president of the Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Her superpower is bringing people, purpose, and possibility together
Over 14 seasons as head coach of University of Hawaiʻi women’s basketball, Laura Beeman amassed 244 victories and nine postseason appearances. She led the Rainbow Wahine to three Big West Championship titles, four regular-season crowns and three NCAA Tournament appearances, earning four Big West Coach of the Year awards.
Katie Bennett, Esq, MSW is the founder of Family Mediation Hawaii, a settlement-focused law firm helping families resolve conflict and avoid litigation. Parents can protect their child’s well-being and minimize the stress, cost, and time necessary to resolve their divorce. It Doesn’t Have to Get Ugly.
As VP of HR at Anthology FINN Partners and SHRM Hawaii State Council Director, Edwina brings deep talent leadership expertise to today’s AI-driven workplace. Holding degrees in psychology and education, she helps professionals strengthen essential human skills—like critical thinking, adaptability, and emotional intelligence—to thrive alongside evolving technology.
Kerri Meade is a writer and journalist whose work has been featured in Business Insider, Hawaii Business Magazine, The Bump, Babygaga, and Sailing Anarchy. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Education and a master’s in English. She resides in Honolulu with her husband, 3 boys, and labrador named Coconut.
Dr. Sandra von Doetinchem is President and Founding Board Member of Hawaiʻi Women in Tech, connecting women across Hawaiʻi’s technology workforce to skills, opportunities, and each other. She is also Founder & CEO of Skilled Tomorrow, advancing longevity-smart approaches to workforce development, learning, and the future of work.
Tammy Mori Brownfield is Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. A former TV reporter, she brings 20+ years leading teams across health care, education, legal and transportation. Married to a Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief, she knows the juggle of demanding careers and three daughters.
Jennifer Ablan is Editor-in-Chief of Hawaii Business Magazine. A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate and former Ka Leo editor-in-chief, she previously led editorial teams at Pensions & Investments, the Financial Times and Reuters, and is known across Wall Street for her coverage of America’s top investors and high-profile billionaires.
Alicia Higa is Executive Director of ʻElepaio Social Services and Chief Community Health Officer at Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Born and raised in Waiʻanae, she brings over 20 years of experience advancing Indigenous food sovereignty, Food is Medicine, and culturally grounded solutions that strengthen health and community resilience.
Diana Brown is Chief People Officer for Servco Pacific Inc. and President of the Servco Foundation. A Servco Executive Committee member, she oversees strategic human capital initiatives and leads Communications and Community Relations for Hawaii Mobility. She has domestic and international HR leadership experience and is a certified executive coach.
Alexis is Manager of Loyalty & Customer Insights at Zippy’s Restaurants, where she runs the Zipster Rewards program and uses AI to turn customer data into executive-level insights, including research helping shape Zippy’s mainland expansion strategy. She lives in ʻAiea with her French bulldog, Lady, her favorite non-AI BFF.
Agatha Viernes-LeGros is Senior Vice President and Director of the Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurs at Bank of Hawaiʻi, where she leads experts guiding owners through growth, succession and legacy planning. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor, she brings two decades of banking experience to Hawaiʻi’s family enterprises.
Dr. Melinda L. Bihn became Head of School at ʻIolani School in July 2026, the first woman appointed to lead the school. An educator and independent-school leader for more than three decades, she champions academic excellence, student well-being, faculty development, and inclusive communities, always placing every student at the center.
Elaine Fujiwara is Chief Customer Officer at Hawaii Dental Service (HDS), overseeing customer experience and strategic direction for sales, communications, marketing, and group services. She has 30 years of experience at HDS and serves as a board member for Parents and Children Together and Retail Merchants of Hawaii.
Gloria Brooks is Chief Operating Officer at Pali Momi Medical Center, managing clinical and business operations for the 118-bed facility in ʻAiea. She previously served as Vice President of Hospital Operations and led health information services at Straub and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health. She brings over 30 years of healthcare experience.
Ingrid Gavshon, MBA, is a UC Berkeley Haas continuing lecturer, executive coach, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, storytelling, and human connection. She challenges leaders to find their voice, speak with courage, and lead with authenticity, courage, and humanity.
Kelly Simek hosts KHON2’s Living808 and Empowered Hawaii, where she celebrates Hawaiʻi’s people, culture, businesses, and sustainability efforts. A University of Hawaiʻi Broadcast Meteorology graduate, she has spent more than a decade connecting with the community through storytelling. Kelly is also a Compass realtor and passionate supporter of local businesses.
Dr. Tarah Sullivan Suiter is an Engineering Program Manager at Oceanit specializing in biomimetics, advanced materials, and aerospace technologies. Her research spans feather-based textiles, AI-optimized space armor, and nanomaterials. She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. in NanoEngineering from UC San Diego.
ERIKA KAUFFMAN is a Hawaiʻi-born marketing, communications and brand executive with 20+ years shaping brands across luxury, hospitality, entertainment and business. Founder of EPR+, she advises leaders at the intersection of reputation, culture and commerce. A former Miss Hawaiʻi, Kauffman brings global perspective, Hollywood fluency, and a network to every conversation.
Melissa Kim is cofounder of Aurea Pacific, a social media and experiential marketing agency, and is a statecraft strategist guiding leaders through high-stakes events. Her non-linear career spans public affairs, PR, sourcing, operations, and international relations, most recently serving as Director of Events & Protocol for Governor Josh Green.
Trini Kaopuiki Clark is a longtime Hawaii leader dedicated to storytelling, community impact, and service. As President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Hawaii for 7+ years, she helps grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. On November 2, she becomes HMSA’s VP of Strategic Communications & Marketing.
Stevette Santiago is SVP, Chief HR & Brand Officer at UHA Health Insurance and a Hawaiʻi HR executive. A Certified Catalytic Engagement Coach and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, she helps organizations build workplaces by recognizing individual strengths, creating complementary teams, and knowing when to lead—and when to let others shine.
Anuhea Alapai is Chief of Staff and Corporate Secretary at Parker Ranch, connecting strategy, governance, operations, and people in service to community and stewardship. She holds degrees from the University of Portland and UH Mānoa, serves as an alakaʻi with Hālau Manaola, and is a mother of two.
Elisia Flores is CEO of L&L Franchise, Inc., with over 230 L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurants across the country and in Japan. She sets the company’s strategic vision and drives growth initiatives, developing key partnerships, strengthening the brand across markets and implementing national revenue generating programs for franchises.
Erin Takamine brings 25 years of accounting and advisory experience, helping organizations navigate challenges. Her community involvement includes board service with Junior Achievement of Hawaii and Navian Hawaii. Together with her husband, she established an endowed scholarship supporting Hawaiʻi public school graduates pursuing accounting degrees at UH Mānoa.
Jaclyn Loo is a marketing leader, angel investor, and founding board member of Hawaiʻi Women in Tech. With nearly 20 years of experience in tech, she most recently led global product marketing initiatives at Google for the Pixel smartphone portfolio and is passionate about empowering women with technology.
Jenn Moura is an award-winning data scientist and founding director of Hawaiʻi Women in Tech, empowering women to grow their tech careers. With over a decade of enterprise data and analytics experience, she leads Mayu Systems, a Claude Certified Services Partner, guiding organizations through responsible AI implementation and hands-on education.
Exclusive Banking Sponsor – American Savings Bank
Diamond Sponsor – Kaiser Permanente
Lounge Sponsor – The Systemcenter
