Our Guest Speakers
Mary Ellen Iskenderian
Mary Ellen Iskenderian is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking (WWB), the world’s largest network of microfinance institutions and banks.
Mary Ellen leads the WWB global team, based in New York, in providing hands-on technical services and strategic support to 39 top-performing microfinance institutions and banks in 27 countries. WWB network members are diverse in geography, size and structure but united in the firm belief that microfinance must remain committed to helping poor women access innovative financial products and services and information. The network serves more than 24 million micro entrepreneurs, 82 percent of whom are women.
Mary Ellen joined WWB in 2006 and under her leadership the WWB works to ensure that women continue to be represented in this evolving industry as both clients and leaders. Mary Ellen worked for 17 years in senior management at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank. Previously, she worked for the investment bank Lehman Brothers.
Mary Ellen also serves on the Board of Directors of Kashf Microfinance Bank in Pakistan and is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Mary Ellen holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in International Economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Francine LeFrak
Francine LeFrak is an award-winning theatrical, television and film producer, a successful entrepreneur and a distinguished philanthropist. As a producer, Francine's work has drawn attention to social issues of global significance, including HIV/AIDS, conflict and intolerance. Her films have been screened at major international film festivals such as Cannes, London, Munich, Milan and Sundance. Francine's productions have been recognized with Tony, Emmy and Peabody Awards.
In recognition of Francine's humanitarian efforts, she received the Women Together Award from the United Nations, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and the Human Spirit Award from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. She's been named Woman Who Cares by the United Cerebral Palsy and USO Woman of the Year to name a few.
In 2008, Francine founded SAME SKY, a socially-conscious jewellery line that enables female artisans to achieve economic self-sufficiency. SAME SKY's inaugural project in Kigali, Rwanda, provides employment to HIV-positive survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Proceeds from jewellery sales are reinvested into expanding the business to other regions of the world spreading the "women helping women" mission of SAME SKY.
Lauren Bush
Lauren Bush is the CEO and Co-Founder of FEED Projects, a company with the simple mission of creating good products that help FEED the world. Each FEED bag sold provides hungry children with school meals through the United Nations World Food Programme, with which Lauren has been involved as an Honorary Spokesperson since 2004.
In 2007, Lauren started FEED Projects LLC with her business partner, Ellen Gustafson. By 2008, FEED Projects had donated over $5 million dollars to the UN World Food Programme's School Feeding operations. Lauren is also Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of FEED Foundation, a non-profit organization with the vision of building a sustainable food system for a well-nourished world. In 2008, Lauren launched a new fashion brand, Lauren Pierce Atelier. By sourcing eco-friendly fabric and fabric that has been handmade by artisans around the world. It is a women's wear line prides itself on developing products of the highest environmental and humanitarian standards.
Lauren began her career as a model, where she was featured on the cover of various publications such as Glamour, Tatler and W magazine. She has received the Marie Claire Prix De La Moda Humanitarian Award, being honored as one of Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in 2009, given the Humanitarian Award by the Accessories Counsel in 2010, and was also included on Inc's "30 Under 30" List in 2010
Femi Oke - Moderator
Femi Oke is an international journalist and broadcaster. She became known for her reporting on Africa after joining CNN International in 1999, where for nine years she hosted and reported for CNN's weekly award-winning African affairs programme 'Inside Africa'.
She began her career as a junior reporter for the United Kingdom's first talk radio station, LBC. She then went on to work for commercial radio throughout her school and university career. After graduating from Birmingham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Language, she joined the BBC as a radio reporter and producer. For the last twenty years, she has worked for BBC television and radio, Sky TV, Wire TV, National Geographic Channel and CNN.
Currently based in New York, Femi brings a distinct, international tone to her role as special correspondent for national radio news show, 'The Takeaway', broadcast from the studios of WNYC Radio and online across America with the New York Times, the BBC and Public Radio International. As well as her radio commitments on 'The Takeaway', Femi also contributes stories and broadcasts for the BBC.
