2024 BOARD MEMBERS
Nigeria
Ibukun Awosika
IWEC President
Chairwoman
First Bank of Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria
Ibukun Awosika is the Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and most valuable banking brand. She is also the founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group. The companies in the group include: The Chair Centre Limited, Sokoa Chair Centre Limited, Furniture Manufacturers Mart, TCC Security Systems and Cubes and Boxes Limited. These companies are involved in manufacturing, retail and bank-way security systems services.
Ibukun chairs a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards amongst which are: GEMS Africa, House of Tara International and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), a facility which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in Nigeria. She sits on the boards of Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Digital Jewel Limited and Convention on Business Integrity (CBI). She was Chairman, FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited and Kakawa Discount House Limited. She also served on the board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria; an alumna of the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School; the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain; and Global CEO Program of Wharton, IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS).
India
Harjinder Kaur
IWEC Co-Vice Chair
CEO & Managing Director
Com Vision India
New Delhi, India
Dr Harjinder Kaur Talwar is the Managing Director & CEO of Comvision India.
She holds the unique distinction of being the only women founder of an intelligent transport business (e-toll/FASTag). Her company Comvision has developed several transport & traffic management integrated systems viz-a-viz e-toll, e-parking and e-governance, RFID based permit e-port systems, ANPR based hi-speed tolling, fastag issuance & acquiring, fintech solutions
Harjinder is a member of the National Board of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India that aims to help focus government initiatives and reforms for the growth of the MSME sector in India.
To bring successful women entrepreneurs to the forefront and act as a role model for other women, Harjinder identified hundred successful stories of Indian women MSME entrepreneurs that were published in the form of a compendium; it was launched by honorable minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Nitin Gadkari.
Alongside this responsibility, she is also the Vice President of the Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – an allied body of FICCI dedicated to the MSME sector.
Harjinder is also the co-chair of Empowering the Greater50% initiative of FICCI and the FICCI Ladies Organisation. The initiative aims to augment the entrepreneurial and decision-making skills of women across the economic strata and the geography of the nation. She was the national president of FLO in 2019.
Her other significant engagement includes India Central Asia Business Council, which she co-chairs.
Harjinder is deeply passionate about the cause of women and believes that women have to become financially independent to make a mark in society. She has helped up-skill 3500+ women across India; launched a start- up incubation program that helped about 90 women establish their businesses. She also anchored several workshops for training of women who wanted to start working again after a sabbatical – she started a workshop with IIM Bangalore that gave women an edge in the management of a business.
She also collaborated with the World Bank to encourage diversity & inclusion.
Harjinder was instrumental in the launch of an initiative to recognize the women engaged in the Indian agriculture sector and the publication of a report “Women Participation in Indian Agriculture” that was unveiled by noted parliamentarian Shri Suresh Prabhu.
She has also led from the forefront in the upscaling of 1200+ marginalized women and published a compendium of these women entrepreneurs to enable their access to government and other developmental aid. This report was launched by Shri Om Birla, the honorable speaker of Lok Sabha.
A highly decorated Indian businesswoman, she has been listed among the top 10 women CEOs in the country by India Today and Women Economic Forum’s (WEF) Leader of the decade award in 2018. Her other achievements include:
• IWEC AWARD (International Woman Entrepreneurial Challenge) 2010
• FICCI FLO award 2013 for outstanding achiever during Interstate meeting of 2013-14
• SAARC Women’s Economic Forum Award by Bimstec – SAARC for Excellence in Business category for the year 2016-17.
• Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the SME Chamber of India during the SME Excellence Awards 2017.
• World Sikh Award in 2018 in the category – Businesswoman of the Year
• Jewel of Punjab – 2019
• Jewel of Delhi – Swachh Abhiyan: Nominated by BJP President – Delhi to spread Prime Minister’s Initiative of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ as a campaign for cleaner India for next 5 years.
• Central News Agency, Taiwan: Documentary on achievement in Business and as an Indian woman achiever.
• Invited by Government of Mauritius in 2004 to showcase the work done by her organisation.
Her other engagements include:
• Chairperson, FLO Israel – India Women Business Forum
• Co-Chair, FICCI India Uzbekistan Forum for Business and Entrepreneurship
• Executive Council Member, FICCI
Harjinder Talwar is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Delhi. She received an honorary doctorate from Jharkhand Rai University in 2022.
United States
Pooja Chandra Pama
IWEC Co-Vice Chair
Founder & President,
Ace Health Foundation
Washington DC/ USA
An Indian-born American entrepreneur, Pooja Chandra Pama has comprehensive international business experience in myriad sectors: finance, healthcare, agriculture and real estate. Pama helms several businesses including Praemium ACE Foods, which fosters entrepreneurship on a global scale, and is driven by Pama’s desire for seamlessly integrating community-building and philanthropy. She is also passionate about helping women and families develop sustainable businesses globally.
In 2016, Pama founded ACE Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization which is engaged in educational and practical programs for grassroots women entrepreneurs in many countries. Pama provides enterprising and innovative coaching and mentoring opportunities through her global Masterminds program. Pooja’s philanthropic interests include education, women’s empowerment, the arts, health, the environment, and humanitarian initiatives. Pooja resides in the Greater Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
United States
Sunita Bajaj
IWEC President & Treasurer
Managing Partner
Fortis Lux Financial
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
New York, United States
Sunita Bajaj, a professional in the financial services industry, works to develop sophisticated wealth management retirement and estate planning strategies for high net-worth individuals, families and business owners. She is a member of various industry organizations, including the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Financial Planning Association, FPA and is registered with the FINRA.
As Managing Director at her firm in New York, she is responsible for its overall growth by creating and implementing various programs and strategies to develop multicultural and diverse markets (especially Women, Asian, Hispanics and African-Americans). She has been actively involved in various initiatives and projects related to women entrepreneurship and community development. Sunita serves on the Board of Directors and is the Treasurer for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. She is the NYC Co-Chair of IWEC and VP Treasurer of the organization as well. She also served as the Treasurer of non-profit New York women’s Agenda from 2004 -2009.
South Africa
Anni Wilhelmi
IWEC Vice-Chair
Founder
The Crossing Business Advisory
South Africa
Anni Wilhelmi is founder of The Crossing Business Advisory, a social impact company focusing on organisational strategy, team cohesion and an impactful goal tracking methodology for boards, EXCO’s and teams. Head of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) South Africa and Founder/Chair of Women in Business Advisory (WiBA), both organisations are focused on entrepreneurial development for female business owners and career women.
Anni leads leaders, improves their emotional intelligence quotient and provides tools and methodologies to enhance leadership.
Experienced at guiding management teams and organisations to establish clear, participative and solid strategies, she equips them to balance operations and the conflicting interests of stakeholders.
She is passionate about empowering business leaders and has an appreciation for the challenges that management and organisations encounter everyday. Having first hand experience from multiple businesses, her knowledge is self taught and has been derived from parallel elements of success and deep scars and learnings from a failed business.
South African WPO members contribute R11 billion to the annual South African economy.
Punta Sal Restaurants
Perú
Gabriela Fiorini
IWEC Board Member
President of the Board of Directors
Punta Sal Restaurants
Lima, Perú
Gabriela Fiorini serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the six restaurants Punta Sal, which are specialized in innovative Peruvian seafood cuisine. Punta Sal recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as one of the most important and renowned restaurants in Perú.
In addition to the business, Mrs. Fiorini is a member of the Executive Committee and Director of the Lima Chamber of Commerce as well as President of its Committee of Tourism. She is also one of the members of The Executive Committee of the Lima Chamber of Commerce Commission of Social Responsibility and of the Commission of Woman’s Development.
United States
Fernando Hernandez
IWEC Board Member
Senior Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability
The Coca-Cola Company
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Mr. Hernandez joined The Coca-Cola Company in March of 2021. As a global supplier diversity leader, he leads Coca-Cola’s Supplier Diversity initiatives worldwide. In this role, he and his team focus on the utilization, development and mentoring of diverse suppliers who can provide value-add to Coca-Cola’s supply chain. Specialties include Supplier Diversity, Sustainability, Responsible Sourcing, Multicultural Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Impact Sourcing, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation.
Mr. Hernandez formerly served as Supplier Diversity & Sustainability Director for Microsoft Corporation for 15 years. In this capacity, he drove Microsoft’s strategies to achieve supplier diversity sustainability & objectives. He was responsible for Microsoft’s $2.8 Billion annual Supplier Diversity initiative.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Hernandez served as Senior Vice President of Multicultural Marketing Strategy for Washington Mutual Bank where he established, developed, and implemented comprehensive multicultural marketing initiatives. He formerly served as Executive Director of Multicultural Marketing with AT&T. Mr. Hernandez was the first to establish and implement multicultural business to business and consumer marketing (Hispanic, African-American, and Asian) at AT&T in 1991. This resulted in the creation of a $3 billion market segment.
Mr. Hernandez has received many awards including NMSDC Leadership Award, Island Medal of Honor recipient and Hispanic Magazine 100 most influential Hispanics in America. The American Marketing Association recognized him for his leadership in multicultural marketing.
Spain
Maria Puig
IWEC Board Member
Director of Diversity & Inclusion
IESE Business School
Barcelona, Spain
Maria is a general manager with 30 years of experience in business development and project management in the executive education industry and in consultancy. She started her professional career at Andersen Consulting in the Financial Services Industry reaching Managing Director responsibilities. She joined IESE two decades ago to serve as Director of the Alumni Association and later as Executive Director of the Global Executive MBA Program. She is currently enjoying her role as Director of Industry Meetings, where she gathers academic and business experts in strategic sectors around conferences, summits and publications.
Maria has combined her work at IESE with other responsibilities in Institutions related to Advancement, like CASE, where she served in the Board of trustees; and in initiatives related to Women Entrepreneurs, like the IWEC Initiative, which she has supported from the first years, and the Women-in-Business Committee of the AmCham in Spain. She is also involved in the “Women Angels for Entrepreneurs” group at IESE.
IESE is the graduate business school of the University of Navarra, and has been at the forefront of management education, developing and inspiring business leaders who strive to make a deep, positive and lasting impact on the people, companies and society they serve. IESE offers a portfolio of MBA and executive programs in their campuses in Barcelona, New York, Sao Paolo, Munich and Madrid. With more than 45,000 alumni from 100+ countries and faculty representing 30+ nations, IESE develops executives from around the world. IESE has strong partnership with over 22 leading business schools around the world and it develops programs in conjunction with institutions such as Harvard Business School or Wharton, among others. IESE has been ranked the #1 business school in the world in Executive Education by Financial Times in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
IESE Business School is committed to the executive development of women around the world by promoting their enrollment in IESE´s executive programs, a scholarship for Women in Leadership and publishing cutting-edge research on gender balance at work.
Spain
Mar Santana Rollan
IWEC Board Member
Chief Executive Large and Medium Companies
CaixaBank
Madrid, Spain
Mar is a Senior banking executive with 25-year experience and proven track record in charge of business units and teams in the main banking industry areas, moving from Retail Banking, Risk Analysis, to SME, Business, Corporates and currently as Head of Foreign Trade & Treasury. She was recently promoted to her current position.
This extensive experience has enabled her to acquire a comprehensive and integrated vision of the banking industry, leading high-performance teams and successfully increasing efficiency and productivity.
A well networked and successful manager who builds internal and external relationships through exceptional problem resolution, ownership and follow-through. Ability to keep a level head at all times, evaluate opportunities and risks, and also deliver innovative new solutions to enhance new and existing business opportunities.
Participation in CSR activities to improve awareness of CaixaBank´s responsible banking and social commitment.
Holding a BA in Law from the UC, an Executive MBA from ESADE Business School, and a Management Degree (PDD) from IESE Business School, she has also attended advanced management programs at Texas University and Henley Management School.
United States
Wendy Shen
IWEC Board Member
Founder & CEO
Nagala & FLOMO USA
New Jersey, USA
IWEC Awardee 2013 & IWEC supporter financially for several years
Wendy Shen is the President/CEO of Nygala Corp. Nygala Corporation is the number one source for premium quality, super-value priced gift and accessory merchandise for the discount retailer. Offering a comprehensive retail-support program and the widest selection of everyday and seasonal goods, Nygala Corp. is the premier supplier of high-quality gift bags and tissue paper, decorative frames, stationery, gift-wrap accessories, seasonal gift and decorative items, teacher/classroom supplies, plush, stationery and school supplies. Nygala Corp. displays more than 8000+ unique items in their 10,000+ sq. ft showroom in their headquarter, Moonachie, New Jersey and has 100,000+ sq. ft. of warehouse for domestic delivery East and West Coast on the timely fashion.
Nygala Corporation is a proud member of and certified by WBENC(Women’s Business Enterprise National Council), WPO (Women Presidents’ Organization), and IWEC, International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge.
Specialties: Importing/foreign sourcing & negotiation/factory based supplier/understand buyers & suppliers or factories, planogram/schematic layout design, private label program, domestic and direct import program, Sourcing, Inspection, and Logistic expertise for any FOB Orient Program.
United States
Lori Epstein
IWEC Board Member
Founder & CEO
Lori Epstein Consulting Group
New York, USA
Lori Epstein, President of Lori Epstein Consulting Group, is a well-respected attorney and expert in sophisticated Estate, Business and Retirement case design. Ms. Epstein has a very impressive resume, including her current position providing invaluable case design, training and marketing support to Fortis Lux Financial. Lori focuses much of her energy on planning for non-traditional couples, families with a child or dependent with special needs and planning for women and small businesses. She is currently driving a Financial Planning growth effort for Blue Ocean Wealth Strategies, a major MassMutual Firm.
Lori’s most recent corporate position was Vice President of MassMutual’s Advanced Markets and Financial Planning organizations. Prior to that, Lori was a Vice President at MetLife responsible for Estate, Business and Financial Planning.
Prior to joining MetLife, Lori maintained a private law practice in Manhattan concentrating on Estate and Business Planning and Elder Law. She is a member of the Trusts and Estates, Women in Law and LGBTQ Law sections of the New York State Bar Association, as well as FINSECA (formerly the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting). Lori is very involved with the Bar Association’s Committee on Employee Benefits and Life Insurance; drafting cutting edge law proposals impacting NYS Municipal Employees. Ms. Epstein serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Venture Fund and in 2014, was a recipient of the Fund’s Highest Leaf Award which honors women whose business or professional contributions have significantly impacted their industry. She is a recipient of the Women on the Move award from The Arthritis Foundation which honors women of achievement who are role models in their professional, philanthropic, or individual endeavors.
Lori is a sought after speaker on such topics as Estate Planning, planning for the modern family and individuals with special needs, as well as helping women plan for a secure financial future. She has been a featured speaker at numerous national events including Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), and MetLife’s Women’s Sales Forum. Lori is a proud member of Toastmasters International, SEC Roughriders Club of NYC.