2023 Speakers

Andrew Davis is the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Sony Music Entertainment based in New York. In his role, Davis is charged with leading the Company’s global human resources function; including talent acquisition, talent management, compensation and benefits, as well as organizational development and corporate strategy. Davis will take on the key role of championing a culture of excellence and innovation across Sony Music’s global operations in 60+ countries.

Throughout his 22+ years in Human Resources, Davis has held several key positions of increasing responsibility at Yum Brands, Best Buy Company, The Home Depot and most recently served as Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer for Lennar Corporation where he was responsible for the areas of business transformation, talent management, organizational and performance management, learning and development as well as benefits for the Company.

Prior to Lennar, he spent more than a decade leading human resources teams and strategies at The Coca-Cola Company. During his tenure at the Company, he held several key positions of increasing responsibility including leading the Southeast Asia Human Resource function while based in Cambodia. Additionally, he served as the Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer where he was instrumental in driving strategic initiatives across 200+ countries.

Davis serves as an independent Board Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Adventist Health, one of the largest Westcoast healthcare systems, based in Roseville, CA. He is also a member of Emory’s Goizueta’s Business School Corporate Advisory Board, and a governing body member of Florida’s Chief Human Resource Officers’ Association. Davis is also a regular guest lecturer for business schools throughout the Atlanta and Miami area.

Davis has been honored and featured by multiple organizations, including being named Emory Goizueta’s Business School Centennial Honoree; CAA World Congress of Sports featured speaker; Bentonville Film and Essence Music Festivals featured speaker; and Black Enterprise Top Executive in Corporate Diversity. He is the recipient of the Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation Captain of Industry Award and Honoree for the South Florida Business & Wealth’s 2021 Excellence in Human Resource Awards.

Davis received his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland and his MBA from Emory University – Goizueta School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis also holds several Human Resources certifications in assessment systems and skills training.

Davis is a native of Jamaica, West Indies and proudly calls himself a ‘Ja-Merican’

Marni McDowell is a highly experienced professional who has dedicated her career to promoting Health & Wellbeing, Employee Experience & Engagement within organizations. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Global Health & Wellbeing at Micron Technology (a 40 000+ strong Fortune 500 leader in innovative memory solutions), Marni leads the wellbeing, experience, and team member advocacy teams. Holding a PhD in organizational psychology, as well as a Master of Science in Wellness Promotion, Marni is well-equipped to address the complex issues around employee health and wellbeing. Having spent the past 15 years in corporate health and wellbeing and having worked with some of the most trusted brands including Intel and Apple Inc, Marni has acquired extensive knowledge and skills that enable her to ensure the health and wellbeing of employees while enhancing their overall experience and engagement.

Sarah Waltman is a seasoned HR professional with expertise in Talent Management & Performance, Transformation & Change, and Organizational Development & Effectiveness. Waltman has a proven record of accomplishment, improving the performance of global businesses by designing learning structures and comprehensive talent initiatives, such as succession planning, performance management, development plans, and behavior assessments. She excels at aligning management and employee development training strategies, ensuring that the organization is at peak performance. With her arsenal of skills and experience, Sarah is supercharging productivity within Dentsply Sirona, the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies- with a workforce spanning 9000+ employees.

Amanda Miller is a skilled HR professional with a focus on Rewards & Benefits and Employee Experience & Engagement. With extensive leadership experience in Compensation, Benefits, Executive Compensation, HR Systems, Data & Analytics, People Management Operations and Recruitment, Miller has demonstrated the acumen to drive Total Rewards at Trinity Industries (North America’s premier provider of railcar products and services), ensuring that their talent force of 3000+ employees feel valued and engaged while receiving the appropriate compensation and benefits for their work. Holding a bachelor’s degree in professional human resources Certification (PHR) and Certified Compensation Professional Certification (CCP), Miller is excellently positioned to assist senior leaders in developing an effective total reward strategy by identifying the key goals and objectives of the business and aligning the total reward package with those goals.

Mercedes Escala leads Talent, Learning & Employee Experience at Genesys, a 7000+ employee strong software firm that sells customer experience and call center technology to mid-sized and large businesses. Leading regional and global teams in both generalist and specialist areas, Escala embraces challenges with curiosity and passion, leading the transformation around skills, while driving the best employee experience.

A people leader professional with over 30 years’ experience, Mercedes is superbly suited to guide senior leaders in upskilling their internal talent pool to become an impactful and competitive force, through aligning them with their company’s overall performance management and talent development goals.

Kimberly Shariff leads the implementation of Penguin Random House’s companywide DE & I strategy, overseeing the development of a broad-based vision for the company’s future, ensuring the creation of books for everyone, by everyone, out of a culture where all feel welcome and empowered.

Having contributed her knowledge to major platforms like the American Ballet Theatre, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Black Entertainment Television, Kimberly has been commended for her keen ability to analyze the existing infrastructure of complex organizations, and then implement strategy to enhance inclusive culture, operational efficiency and channels of communication, without sacrificing culture, artistic integrity or entrepreneurial spirit.

As Chief People Culture Brand & Communications Officer, Tara Lockyer oversees human resources, change management and communications for ATB Financial (Alberta’s largest home-grown financial institution with a 5000+ talent count).

Lockyer currently serves as Advisor to the Official Administrator of AHS; and member to the Premier’s Skills Council. Prior to ATB, she was Manulife’s Global Head of Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness and CIBC’s Head of Enterprise Business Engagement and Implementation for Global HR. Tara’s wealth of skills and experience in people leadership perfectly equips her to help senior leaders understand and navigate generational differences in the workplace.

Deanne Harrison is the EVP, Global People & Organizational Management at IntouchCX, a leading global BPO specializing in customer support, advanced technology, and customized strategies. With over 20,000 team members worldwide, Deanne focuses on scaling IntouchCX’s culture through continuously evolving their people, programs, and solutions. She emphasizes DEI and Well-being & Resilience to provide growth opportunities for individuals and empower them to reach their potential. Before joining IntouchCX, Deanne spent over 15 years in management consulting for executives, boards of directors, and organizations, providing guidance on organizational development, guiding organizations to reconcile differing perspectives, and helping people leaders to create a harmonious and inclusive work environment for all employees.