Agenda

8 – 9 a.m. Breakfast and Registration

Vendors: Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Jennifer’s Handmade Soap, Kitchen Sink Candle Co. and T. Jazelle

9 – 9:20 a.m.

Welcome!

Valerie Fleishman, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association

Christine Schuster, R.N., MBA, President & CEO, Emerson Health, MHA Trustee and Former Board Chair

Kim Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Emcee Welcome: Eileen Curran, Director, Public Relations, Franciscan Children’s

9:20 – 10:10 a.m.: Leadership Blind spots: Identify and Overcome What’s Holding You Back

Modupe Akinola, Professor, Columbia Business School and Host, TED Business Podcast

What are the leadership blind spots and common pitfalls that hold back so many senior managers and executives? How do you formalize a process to make better decisions? How do you persuade and influence key stakeholders? Drawing on deep research and delivered with an easy-going grace, Modupe shows you how to leverage the unique portfolio of skills, talents, and backgrounds of those you manage to drive for your team and your organization and be that effective, even inspiring, leader.

10:10 – 10:30 a.m. BREAK

Meet & Greet the Keynote, Vendors & Exhibits Open

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Leadership in Times of Uncertainty: Building Team Resilience When It Matters Most

• Lindsay Gainer, R.N., President and Chief Operations Officer, MGB Medical Group
• Yvonne Hao, Chief Operating Officer & General Partner, Flagship Pioneering; former Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Dorosella (Dora) Green, Head of Health Equity, Community Health-US Public Affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals  
• Dallas Ducar,R.N., Executive Vice President, Donor Engagement and External Relations, Fenway Health

Moderator: Aimee Brewer, MPH, President & CEO, Sturdy Health

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, uncertainty is a constant. But strong leadership can turn disruption into opportunity. This panel explores how leaders can foster team resilience, maintain trust, and drive performance during challenging times. Hear from experienced women executives who’ve led through crises and learn practical strategies to support and strengthen your teams when it matters most.

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Women’s SPOTLIGHT Series: Health & Wealth

Closing the Women’s Health Gap & Creating Strategies and Structures that Drive Change

Lucy Pérez, Senior Partner in McKinsey & Company’s Boston office, Global Leader, McKinsey Health Institute, leader of Life Sciences practice

Despite advancements in medicine, significant disparities persist in women’s health research, access, and outcomes. Lucy will discuss actionable solutions from policy reform to inclusive research to build a more equitable future for all women.

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LUNCH & Networking

Vendors and Exhibits Open

12:30 – 1:15 p.m.: How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critic and Perfectionists

Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders and author, How To Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists

Perfectionism, conflating who we are with our performance, never feeling good enough. Any of this sound familiar? Perfectionism is a mindset that demands us to perform as superbly as possible to be considered sufficient as a person. But… it’s a misnomer: perfectionism isn’t about striving to be perfect. It’s about never feeling good enough. You don’t need a “new you”, you don’t even have to do anything overtly differently. Small shifts in mindset can help us discover a kinder, gentler regard for ourselves without abandoning all that our hard work and high standards have gotten us, and Dr. Hendriksen will show you how.

1:15 – 1:45 p.m.: Fireside Chat

Anne Klibanski, M.D., President & CEO, Mass General Brigham; MHA Board Chair-Elect

Christine Schuster, R.N., MBA, President & CEO, Emerson Health; MHA Trustee and Former Board Chair

Join us for an engaging conversation with a leading healthcare CEO as she reflects on her journey driving meaningful change both within her organization and across the national landscape. From advancing local initiatives to shaping broader system transformation, she’ll share insights on leadership, innovation, and what it takes to move the ball forward in healthcare today.

1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: Leading with Purpose, Powered by Courage

• State Representative Marjorie C. Decker, 25^th Middlesex District, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health
• State Senator Cindy Friedman, 4^th Middlesex District, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
• State Representative Tram T. Nguyen, 18^th Essex District, Chair of the House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability
• State Representative Adrianne Pusateri Ramos, 14^th  Essex District, House Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing

Moderator: Emily Dulong, Vice President of Government Advocacy and Public Policy, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association

In times of uncertainty, rapid change, and growing public scrutiny, leadership in the public arena demands more than policy expertise. It requires conviction, courage, and a deep sense of purpose. This conversation features legislators who have navigated the complexities of governance, advocacy, and public service with integrity and resilience. Through personal stories and lessons learned, they will share how they balance competing priorities, build consensus across divides, and make bold decisions guided by values rather than convenience. Whether you’re leading a team, a community, or a cause, this discussion will inspire you to lead with heart, purpose, and the courage to make a difference.

2:30 p.m.: Final Reflections & Closing Remarks