Event Details
In 2020, more than two million women left the workforce and millions more adjusted their work schedules to fulfill caregiver needs. The impact of this disruption is estimated at $64.5 billion in lost wages per year, setting society back decades worth of progress.
This month’s Wake Up Wired focuses on the pandemic’s impact on women — from the wage penalty for motherhood, to the COVID-fueled exodus from the workforce. Let’s discuss how we can address these setbacks and plan for our collective future.
On Monday, March 8, join us for an interactive discussion featuring CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, Investor, Author, Hitha Palepu; Director of Region Growth & Development for Network of Executive Women, Desiree Frey; and our moderator, Founder of Bold Ventures, Jessyca Dudley.
Featured Speakers
Hitha Palepu is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. She's the CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, the founder of #5SmartReads, and an investor in over 15 women-founded startups. Her second book, We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris: How to Use Your Voice, Be Assertive, and Own Your Story, will be published by Little, Brown Spark this fall. Hitha serves on the board of Youth Represent and Feminist Press. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.
Jessyca Dudley has more than two decades of experience working to transform and democratize philanthropy. Her collective experience led to the founding of Bold Ventures, a strategic advisory firm disrupting traditional philanthropy. By building the capacity of BIPOC philanthropic leaders, developing customized equity-centered funder strategies, and facilitating organizational dialogues on race, equity and social justice, Bold Ventures is creating the capacity for racial equity.
Desiree Frey is the Director or Region Growth & Development for Network of Executive Women, a nonprofit learning, leadership and gender equality advocacy organization representing 13,500 members, nearly 900 organizations, 300+ national and regional corporate partners, and 22 regional groups in the United States and Canada. NEW advances gender equality and diversity in the retail, consumer goods, financial services, and technology industries. In her role, Desiree is committed to the success of NEW’s 22 volunteer-led Regions. Prior to her time at NEW, Desiree worked for T-Mobile, Starbucks, and the Clorox Company. She received her bachelor's degree from Kennesaw State University and is currently pursuing an MBA at California State University, Monterey Bay. She currently resides in Seattle, WA with her husband, and has a son attending Washington State University. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and enjoying the Pacific Northwest.
Past Events
