Nicole Kalil
Podcast Host, Speaker and Author of “Validation Is for Parking”
Nicole Kalil is an in-demand speaker, coach, and author of “Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat the Confidence Con.” Host of the top 1% podcast "This Is Woman’s Work," Nicole is passionate about eliminating gender expectations and redefining leadership. As a former Fortune 100 C-suite executive, she’s coached hundreds of leaders, sharing practical tools to build confidence. Nicole offers unique insights into organizational success and empowers women to define their roles on their own terms. She’s a wife, mother, and business owner who enjoys reading, traveling, and is a devoted cheese enthusiast.
Featured Speakers
Grace Chon
Commercial Animal Photographer & Bestselling Author
Grace Chon is a commercial animal photographer and bestselling author known for her iconic and expressive portraits of animals. After leaving a successful career as an art director to pursue photography fulltime, her work quickly gained international attention, appearing on viral media platforms and in publications around the world. She is the author of the books, “Waggish: Dogs Smiling for Dog Reasons,” “Puppy Styled: Japanese Dog Grooming Before and After,” and “What Kind of Dog Is That?” Through her photography, Grace celebrates the personality, humor, and extraordinary presence of animals, reminding us of the deep connection we share with the living world.
Dr. Shola Ezeokoloi, MD
Internal Medicine Physician, Corporate Wellness Strategist, and Executive Coach
Dr. Shola Ezeokoli, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, corporate wellness strategist, executive coach, and internationally recognized speaker who helps high-performing professionals thrive without sacrificing their well-being. After experiencing severe burnout early in her medical career, she transformed that experience into a mission to help others lead and succeed without losing themselves in the process. As the founder and CEO of Balance with Dr. Shola, she partners with organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, workplace well-being, and organizational culture. A certified professional life coach and author of multiple books, Dr. Shola is passionate about equipping women with practical strategies to manage conflict, establish healthy boundaries, and lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Marcie Frost
CalPERS Chief Executive Officer
As the CEO for California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), Marcie Frost oversees a $2.4 billion annual budget and three lines of business: pensions, health benefits, and investments. With an investment portfolio of more than half a trillion dollars, CalPERS is the largest U.S. public pension plan, administering a defined benefit retirement system for 2.3 million California public employees and their families. CalPERS is also the nation's second-largest purchaser of health care, covering more than 1.5 million lives. Prior to joining CalPERS, Marcie spent 30 years as a public servant in Washington State, where she was named executive director of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
Cassie Holmes
Expert on Time & Happiness, Author of “Happier Hour,” UCLA Professor
Cassie Holmes is an award-winning UCLA professor and leading expert on time and happiness. Author of “Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most,” she explores how protecting the time we have boosts well-being and fulfillment. Her research, featured in top journals and media outlets, reveals that balancing daily schedules leads to greater happiness. Cassie’s popular course, Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design, empowers students to build meaningful lives. She has received numerous honors for her scholarly contributions and is a faculty affiliate with The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute.
Michelle Lawson
CalPERS Technology Business Management Division Chief
Michelle Lawson is CalPERS’ Chief Technology Business Officer, leading the Technology Business Management Division within the Information Technology Services Branch. She provides strategic direction and policy guidance across enterprise solutions, data analytics, service management, project and portfolio management, information management, budget operations, and IT human resource management. Known for aligning technology initiatives with business objectives, she strengthens collaboration across teams and supports the needs of CalPERS team members, employers, and members. Through her leadership, Michelle helps translate complex technical needs into practical business solutions that drive innovation and organizational effectiveness.
Kathy Lester
Retired Chief of Police, Sacramento Police Department
Kathy Lester was appointed chief of police for the Sacramento Police Department in 2022, bringing nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience. She began her career in 1994 as a dispatcher, became a community service officer in 1995, and a sworn police officer in 1996. She has worked Patrol, Traffic, Recruiting, Internal Affairs, Criminal Intelligence, as an Executive Lieutenant, and oversaw police services for the Sacramento City Unified School District. Prior to joining the Sacramento Police Department, Lester served in the U.S. Army. She attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California where she became fluent in Russian, later serving as a military interpreter, combat medic, and range master. Kathy retired from the Sacramento Police Department in May 2026.
Julia Logan, MD, MPH
CalPERS Chief Clinical Director
Dr. Logan is the Chief Clinical Director at CalPERS, the second largest purchaser of health care in the United States. Dr. Logan oversees clinical policy for the CalPERS health plans and leads the department’s clinical quality and health equity work. Prior to coming to CalPERS, Dr. Logan was the Associate Medical Director at the California Department of Health Care Services. She is board certified in public health and general preventive medicine as well as family medicine. She continues to volunteer her time clinically and is on the faculty of the California Department of Public Health Preventive Medicine Residency Program.
Dr. Ninez A. Ponce
Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP, is the director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and Professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. She leads the California Health Interview Survey, a national model for health data on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and immigrant populations. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, Ponce has published extensively and is recognized for advancing data equity and health policy to improve care for marginalized communities.
Dr. Sheila Robinson, Ed.D
Founder & CEO of Executive Woman Media
Dr. Sheila A. Robinson, Ed.D., is a transformative leader in professional development and executive coaching, with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations build inclusive cultures where all talent can thrive. Founder and CEO of Robinson & Associates Communications, LLC, she leads Executive Woman Media and NBL Solutions, delivering leadership development, wellness, and belonging programs for Fortune 500 companies and professionals. A bestselling author, podcast host, and award-winning speaker, Dr. Robinson combines academic rigor, business insight, and a commitment to advancing women’s leadership. Her work has influenced organizations nationwide and earned recognition for innovation, impact, and leadership excellence.
Adele Lopez Tagaloa
Board Member, OCERS
Adele Lopez Tagaloa is a dedicated public servant in her third term on the Orange County Employees Retirement System Board, where she chairs the Audit Committee and serves on other key committees. With experience in public service, labor advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and the semiconductor industry, Adele brings a collaborative, people-centered approach. As a third-generation union member, she is committed to workplace fairness and retirement security, understanding the importance of pension programs for public employees. Beyond her board service, Adele promotes pension governance, civic engagement, and educational access, while holding leadership roles in various organizations and volunteering in her community.
Yenli Wong
Partner & Director of Health Worker Capacity, McKinsey Health Institute
Yenli is a core leader in McKinsey’s Healthcare Practice, serving major not-for-profit and for-profit health systems and providers. She focuses on complex, large-scale transformations to improve patient experience, optimize operations, and empower healthcare workers. She is also the Director of Health Worker Capacity at the McKinsey Health Institute, a non-profit-generating institute within the firm. The institute aspires to catalyze action to add a collective 45 billion years of higher-quality life for all people around the world.