TheALUMS Conference

Genentech’s Flywheel Effect: Fueling an Executive Champion Community Beyond the “Yes”

Join Joe for a session that goes beyond the initial handshake. We’ll explore how to transform a one-time executive 'yes' into continuous, powerful sponsorship.

Learn how Genentech keeps leaders engaged in the gAlumni network, not just as talent advocates, but as strategic partners who drive business development and industry influence.

We'll dive into the "flywheel" model, where the program's own success becomes its greatest champion, creating a sustainable, purpose-driven community that thrives even as leaders retire or move on.

Brigitte is a FTSE 100 Corporate Affairs & Marketing Director with extensive C-Suite experience in Media, Financial Services, Tech and Telecoms industries having led global teams from both UK and US. She also advises several different types of company (public and private) of varying sizes and sectors on reputation management, brand strategy, employee engagement, regulatory affairs, public policy, ESG, DE&I and crisis communications. 

Charlotte oversees all aspects of Jenner & Block’s hiring and lawyer development. As co-chair of the Hiring Executive Committee, she works with hiring partners in each of the firm’s offices to coordinate and implement the firm’s associate and lateral partner hiring.

She is a recognized thought leader in the legal profession on hiring, development, diversity and inclusion. She is a former past president and longstanding member of the Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP), and she has been a featured speaker at programs sponsored by the American Bar Association, the Practising Law Institute, the Illinois State Bar Association and numerous law schools.

Kathleen is Director of Corporate Development at IBM, where she leads strategic initiatives and transformative deals that shape the company’s growth and innovation across industries. Over her 29-year career with IBM, she has held a range of leadership roles spanning corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, and finance management. Based in New York, Kathleen brings deep expertise in strategy, deal finance, and cross-functional collaboration, helping IBM forge impactful partnerships and deliver long-term value.

PwC Alumni Live

PwC Alumni Live is PwC’s flagship alumni event, designed to celebrate and amplify the achievements of its global alumni community. With nearly 80,000 active network members spanning industries and roles, the event spotlights select alumni who share insights on innovation, leadership, career transitions, and impact.

Chris is the co-author, along with Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha, of the New York Times bestseller, "The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age", which teaches managers how to recruit, manage, and retain the entrepreneurial employees your business needs to succeed.

Chris has earned two degrees from Stanford University, with distinction in both, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar.

He has also founded, advised, or invested in over 100 high-tech startups since 1995, including 9-figure companies like Ustream (investor, advisor, CEO) and UserTesting.com (advisor).

RAF Galaxy is the Royal Air Force’s pioneering global alumni network, uniting serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and civilians connected to the RAF. It provides a secure, digital space for members to stay connected, share opportunities, and support one another throughout their professional and personal journeys. Through Galaxy, the RAF fosters lifelong community, promotes rejoining and reservist opportunities, and celebrates the enduring pride and shared identity that define the RAF family.

Established in Nashville in 1855, Southwestern Family of Companies is one of the largest and oldest private corporations in Tennessee comprised of family member companies across a range of industries, all with the shared goals of building people and positively impacting communities worldwide.

Dr. Alison M. Dachner is an Associate Professor of Management at the Boler College of Business at John Carroll University and co-founder of AcademEx Management Consulting. With over a decade of experience in research, teaching, and consulting, she specializes in topics related to management and leadership.

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Dachner served as Director of Education for an international call center, received her M.B.A. from Cleveland State University, and earned her Ph.D. from The Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Dachner’s scholarly research explores how evolving workplace dynamics as well as characteristics of distinct employee populations influence careers, career transitions, and the effectiveness of organizational strategies aimed at engaging, retaining, and developing both current and former employees and students. In addition to her academic publications, her work has been featured in various media outlets, reflecting her ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between research and practice.

Dave McAleer is a former U.S. Army leader whose career spanned both conventional and Special Operations Forces, including service with USASOC and JSOC, where he led elite recruiting teams and later served as Executive Officer to the J1 at Joint Special Operations Command. Since retiring from active duty, Dave has applied his expertise in talent acquisition as a senior recruiter, Vice President of Talent Acquisition, and now as a Strategy Advisor at The BRIEF Lab.

A passionate advocate for the military community, he has coached and mentored hundreds of Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Military Spouses - achieving an exceptional 95% placement rate. Dave continues to champion effective communication, career readiness, and connection between the military and corporate worlds, helping Veterans “communicate with clarity, get noticed, and get hired.”

Jesse is an accomplished trial lawyer and former combat arms Soldier, known for his tenacity in the courtroom and his trusted counsel to clients. Drawing on his dual experience in military service and civil litigation, he brings a unique perspective to complex commercial disputes, class action defense, and employment matters involving trade secrets and unfair competition. A recognized authority on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Jesse’s insights have been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and other national outlets.

His dedication to public service has earned national acclaim, including the prestigious Jefferson Award for his pro bono work on behalf of Soldiers and Veterans. Today, Jesse continues to balance a thriving legal practice with a deep commitment to supporting the military community and advancing fair employment practices.

Dr. Erin E. Makarius is a Professor and Chair of the Management Department in the College of Business at the University of Akron and co-founder of AcademEx Management Consulting. She earned her M.B.A. from John Carroll University and her Ph.D. from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Makarius has several years of experience in human resources and management, including working at and consulting with a variety of companies in the financial, insurance, and consumer products industries. Her research interests include understanding and facilitating boundaries such as organizational, work-life, technological, and international boundaries, with emphasis on the role of relationships, reputation, and remote work. Her academic research has been widely published in journals such as the Journal of Management, Organization Science, and Harvard Business Review, among others, and has received international media coverage, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes magazine, and Financial Times.

Maya is a seasoned technology executive and board director with deep experience in digital transformation and innovation. Over her career, she's held leadership roles in product management, consumer strategy, and digital services, guiding teams that develop customer-centric platforms and drive growth. Maya also advises organizations on leveraging technology to scale operations, improve user engagement, and stay competitive in evolving markets.

Her work reflects a passion for bridging strategy and execution - helping companies harness digital capabilities while aligning with long-term vision and stakeholder value.

Rochelle is a successful entrepreneur and business leader with extensive public company experience, known for helping global organizations transform, expand into new markets, and drive sustainable growth. She has partnered with some of the world’s largest companies to deliver breakthrough results, combining strategic insight with operational excellence to achieve record revenue performance.

With an ability to turn underperforming divisions into thriving, high-growth enterprises, Rochelle brings a rare blend of vision, determination, and leadership. Her work is defined by a commitment to driving meaningful transformation - building stronger businesses, more engaged teams, and lasting impact.

Steven is an accomplished technology executive and engineer with a record of leading large-scale digital transformation in complex, high-impact environments. As Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Progyny, he oversees the company’s technology strategy, ensuring that innovative, resilient, and adaptable systems empower Progyny’s mission to redefine fertility, family building, and women’s health benefits.

Previously, he spent nearly three decades at American Airlines, where he led major technology functions including customer platforms, infrastructure, and enterprise systems. Known for his people-first leadership philosophy, he builds cultures where teams feel valued, empowered, and inspired to deliver exceptional results.

Jenny is an experienced recruiter and connector who has spent nearly two decades helping people navigate career moves, promotions, and professional growth. Currently with Vaco by Highspring, she partners with Accounting and Finance leaders across the Bay Area to build high-performing teams and lasting professional relationships.

Before joining Vaco, Jenny led talent acquisition at Slalom Consulting, where she helped grow one of the country’s top consulting firms while championing a people-first, relationship-driven recruiting philosophy. Known for her energy, empathy, and ability to bring people together, Jenny thrives on creating supportive communities where individuals and organizations can succeed together.

Jillian Kaminski serves as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice Chairman and Global Head of Alumni Relations at BlackRock, where she spearheads the firm’s alumni strategy and engagement. 

Overseeing a global network of tens of thousands of BlackRock alumni, she designs and delivers programs, events, and communications that foster meaningful connections, professional growth, and ongoing value for both alumni and the firm.

When Ryan began exploring how to engage former team members, the goal was to understand what 'belonging' could look like after someone moved on. Through early brainstorming and pattern-finding, the team discovered that alumni relationships naturally fit within the larger team member experience, from recruitment and onboarding to alumni to potential return.

In this session, Melinda shares how Ryan charted a people-first approach to alumni engagement that honors connection, celebrates growth, and reflects the firm’s core values of flexibility and relationships.

After graduating with a B.S. in Finance from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in 2003, Matt spent several years in both the banking and pharmaceutical industries before pursuing his Ph.D in Management from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina (2016). His research seeks to understand the link between individual and organizational performance, and how organizations can appropriate value from an increasingly mobile workforce, with particular interest in star employees. His work has been published in the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Personnel Psychology. He is also a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal.

Fuse is A&O Shearman’s digital innovation hub - a space where lawyers, clients, and tech founders collaborate to develop cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of law.

Since its launch in 2017, Fuse has become an ecosystem for LegalTech innovation, with alumni playing an integral role in identifying promising start-ups and joining selection panels.