For all YAA archived videos, please visit: YAA Webinars On-Demand, or see our partner SIGs for their topics of focus.
July 2021
Failing Up as an Entrepeneur
Accelerate Yale held a fireside chat with Jane Park JD '96, Founder and CEO of Tokki, a social & sustainable giftwrap company inspired by Jane's Korean heritage. Merging reusable physical giftwrap with a digital social experience, Tokki is reinventing gift giving. 10% of the profits from each sale go to organizations that protect our planet. Prior to founding Tokki, Ms. Park was the CEO and Founder of Julep, an on-line first beauty brand now distributed nationally at Ulta stores as well as on QVC and Nordstrom. Ms. Park successfully raised over $50MM in venture capital financing from Sillicon Valley firms including Andreessen Horowitz, and led Julep to a private equity exit in 2016 to beauty rollup funded by Warburg Pincus. A nationally recognized expert in consumer brand building and social commerce, Ms. Park regularly appears on television as well as consumer, technology, and women’s leadership conferences. This webinar was hosted by Accelerate Yale and co-sponsored by Yale Law School and YaleWomen.
The conversation was led by Wendy Maldonado D'Amico '93, Director of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels, and Ellen Su ‘13, team member of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels.
Coming July 14; register here: link to register for Accelerate Yale fireside chat.
May 2021
Fueling Female Founders
Accelerate Yale hosted HearstLab for a conversation about women-led tech startups and the importance of both mentorship and capital for their ultimate success. Featured on the panel were the founders of two HearstLab portfolio companies: Priori, led by Basha Rubin '07, '10 JD and Mirra Levitt '10 JD, and Mental Canvas, founded by Prof. Julie Dorsey. HearstLab provides cash investment and services to early-stage, women-led startups innovating across enterprise technology, data analytics, health, fintech, transportation, and media. The conversation was led by Wendy Maldonado D'Amico '93, director of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels, along with Jacqueline Deval '83, VP, Publisher Hearst Books/Hearst Magazines, and scout for HearstLab. This webinar was hosted by Accelerate Yale and co-sponsored by Yale Law School and YaleWomen, and made possible by the Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups.
March 2021
Clean Energy for All: A Fireside Chat with Steph Speirs '07, CEO of Solstice
Accelerate Yale hosted a conversation on March 24 with Steph Speirs '07, co-founder and CEO of Solstice, about her work to democratize access to clean energy while improving the financial well-being of families and communities. Lauren Graham ’13 MEM, chair of Yale Blue Green, moderated the discussion. Ellen Su ’13 of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels led the live audience Q&A. This webinar was developed and produced by Accelerate Yale, co-sponsored by Yale Blue Green and YaleWomen, and made possible by the YAA Shared Interest Groups.
March 2021
Building an Ethical Fashion Company A Fireside Chat with with Laura Meléndrez
Accelerate Yale had a Women's History Month conversation with Laura Meléndrez (SOM), co-founder of Amor & Rosas, an ethical fashion company based in Mexico City. Laura and her co-founders started the company while still graduate students at Yale. Since then, the brand and its operations have evolved while preserving a commitment to paying a living wage to Mexican artisans and keeping sustainability in mind. This webinar was co-sponsored by YaleWomen and the Yale Latino Alumni Network (YLAN), and made possible by YAA Shared Interest Groups.
January 2021
How to Be an Entrepreneur Without Being A Founder: A Fireside Chat with Jen Wong, COO of Reddit
Join Accelerate Yale for an exclusive conversation with Jen Wong ‘96, COO of Reddit, where she shared her experiences of leading growth at Reddit, Time, Inc., PopSugar, and AOL. She explored the complexities of building a community online, as well as the challenges of creating and scaling company culture.
The session was moderated by Gary Stewart '96, '99 JD, a member of the leadership team of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels. Wendy Maldonado D'Amico '93, Director of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels, led the live audience Q&A.
December 2020
Women, Men, and Food
Featuring Professor Paul Freedman of the Yale History Department, this webinar was co-sponsored with the Yale Food and Beverage Group. Prof. Freedman's book "American Cuisine and How It Got This Way" addresses the perceptions of men and women's food preferences in the 20th century. He discusses how new products such as Jell-O and magazines such as Good Housekeeping and Gourmet alternately reinforced and upended prevailing stereotypes around food and gender.
December 2020
Meet the Profs! Series, Part 4 – To the Galaxy and Beyond! A Woman’s Journey in STEM Featuring Professor Meg Urry
This Meet the Profs! episode on December 4 featured Professor Meg Urry, who has been profiled in the Yale Scientific Magazine's latest Women's Issue. Prof. Urry, the Israel Munson Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and Director of the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, is a leader in the study of supermassive black holes and galaxies. YSM Editor Isabella Li interviewed Prof. Urry about her journey and leadership as a woman in STEM, in the context of her scientific work as well as advocacy of equality both in and out of academia.
This webinar was produced in partnership with the Yale Science and Engineering Association, the Yale Scientific Magazine, and the Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups. For more information on the YSEA and their Meet the Profs! Series, please visit their website: ysea.org.
December 2020
An Ocean of Untapped Talent: Investing in Black & Latinx Women Founders
Accelerate Yale hosted a conversation with Kathryn Finney ’00 MPH, investor, innovator, and tech trailblazer. Kathryn is the founder of The Doonie Fund and digitalundivided, and a former General Partner in The Harriet Fund, the first venture capital fund focused on Black and Latinx women founders. She shared her perspectives on the need for more Black and Latinx women in tech, her work to create pathways to success for these founders, and why it is smart to invest in this untapped talent pool. Wendy Maldonado D’Amico ’93 and Gary Stewart ’96, ’99 JD of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels moderated the conversation and Q&A.
This webinar was hosted by Accelerate Yale, and co-sponsored by the Yale Black Alumni Association, the Yale Latino Alumni Network, YaleWomen, and made possible by the Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups.
October 2020
Breast Cancer Biology, Technology, and Commercialization: A Bench to Bedside to Market Translational Story
To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Yale Alumni Health Network, YaleWomen and YAA Shared Interest Groups teamed up with the University of Pennsylvania and Susan G. Komen Philadelphia to deliver a webinar that explored the bridge that breast cancer discoveries take between biologic science, engineering and business to bring new science from the bench to the clinic to a sustainable commercial platform as therapeutics. This program featured three Yale alumni who have used their Yale backgrounds in molecular biology, physics, and economics, respectively, to bring novel biology and technology to breast cancer patients. Dr. David Mankoff ’81, Gerd Muehllehner Professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania and Associate Director for Education and Training for Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, and Dr. Lewis Chodosh ’81, Perelman Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and Associate Director for Basic Science for Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, each spoke about the scientific and clinical research side of breast cancer, while Jean Cho ’82, co-founder and CEO of Trevarx Biomedical, Inc., spoke about the journey that new therapeutics take on the business-side to gain approval for treatment. Dr. Jamie Wells ’96, Chair of YAHN, moderated the webinar, while opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Sue Pepin ’87, Vice Chair for YaleWomen, and Elaine Grobman, CEO of Susan G. Komen Philadelphia.
October 2020
“The Way Forward,” A Women's Health Research at Yale Webinar
WHRY held a lively discussion October 1st on how science drives discovery, how studying the biology and social experience of women makes it better, and how better science leads to better lives. This webinar, co-sponsored by the Yale Alumni Health Network, included an introduction by Dr. Nancy J. Brown, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Yale School of Medicine, and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine, followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Dr. Megan Smith, and Jocelyn Maminta.
September 2020
Remembering 50: Women's Leadership Initiative Book Launch
In recognition of 50 years of coeducation at Yale College and 150 years of coeducation at Yale University, the Women's Leadership Initiative at Yale has published a book of stories from alums and current students from Yale College and various professional schools. The book focuses on the experiences of womxn at Yale, as well as how the acceptance of womxn has shaped Yale culture and affected the Yale experience.
Link to YWLI Remembering 50 Page, including video of Book Launch Webinar
August 2020
Winning Women: Yale Women in Elected Office
What does it take to run for office – and win? Watch the August 26 conversation by 50WomenAtYale150 and Patti Russo of The Campaign School at Yale with three Yale women in elected office. Panelists included Lt. Governor of Connecticut Susan Bysiewicz '83, Connecticut State Representative Gail Lavielle '81 MA, and Florida State Representative Dotie Joseph '01. This webinar was co-sponsored by YaleWomen.
August 2020
The Happiness Project: A Book Club Conversation with Gretchen Rubin
50WomenatYale150 presented a second conversation with author Gretchen Rubin ’89, ’94 JD. In this session moderated by Elvira Duran ’05 and Jessica Price ’04, Rubin returned for a discussion of her global bestseller, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT, which was the YAA Book Club selection for August 2020.
This event was co-sponsored by the Yale Latino Alumni Network (YLAN) and YaleWomen.
August 2020
Slow Down and Walk with Okwui Okpokwasili ’96
50WomenAtYale150 presented this exclusive interview with dancer, choreographer, writer, and MacArthur Fellow Okwui Okpokwasili '96, who shared thoughts on the inspiration for her work and craft. Dr. Nadine George-Graves '93, Chair and Professor of Dance at The Ohio State University, moderated the conversation.
This event was co-sponsored by YaleWomen and the Yale Black Alumni Association.
Note: This recording contains adult language that may not be suitable for all audiences.
August 2020
The Future of Digital Health II: HealthVenture & New York Presbyterian
Accelerate Yale hosted the second of a two-part webinar series on the future of digital health on August 12, featuring a conversation between Donna Lecky ’16 MBA of HealthVenture in New Haven and Pamela Sutton-Wallace ’97 MPH, SVP and Regional COO of New York Presbyterian Hospital. They discussed innovations in healthcare technology and how healthcare providers are responding during the COVID-19 pandemic. The session was moderated by Sharon Mwale ’16 MPH of HealthVenture, and the live Audience Q&A was led by Accelerate Yale's Wendy Maldonado D'Amico ’93. This webinar was done in partnership with the YAA shared interest groups and co-sponsored by the Yale Alumni Health Network, the Yale Black Alumni Association, and 50WomenAtYale150.
August 2020
One in Four: LGBTQ+ Women of Yale College - History & Community
50WomenAtYale150 presented a special gathering of LGBTQ+ Yale College alumnae from across the decades, as they reflected on their time at Yale and beyond. The session included a panel with a moderated conversation, and a breakout session for participants to foster community and connection.
Panelists included Kit McClure '73, Alice Y. Hom '89, Veda Hlubinka-Cook '93, Marcela Benitez '07, and Miranda Rector '20. The session was moderated by tinA teresA pihL '93.
This session is co-sponsored by Yale GALA, YaleWomen, and supported by Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups.
July 2020
Happiness in Times of Uncertainty with Gretchen Rubin ’89, ’94 JD
New York Times best-selling author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin ‘89, ‘94 JD joined 50WomenAtYale150 for a discussion on happiness during the time of pandemic. The session was moderated by special needs advocate and journalist Eraina Ferguson ‘10 MAR.
July 2020
Women's Health in the Time of COVID-19
In a July 15th YAA SIG webinar, Yale researchers came together to speak about how COVID-19 is experienced differently between men and women. Leading Yale immunologist Dr. Akiko Iwasaki presented her ground-breaking research that uncovers how the coronavirus affects the biology of women and men differently, teaching us new ways to fight COVID-19. The Director of Women’s Health Research at Yale, Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure, identified how the stress of the pandemic is different for women and men, refining focus for mental health professionals on risk and resilience. Yale Medalist Susanna Krentz '80 moderated the discussion as they conversed about a major new research finding and next steps in investigating sex differences to advance the health of women and men.
This webinar has been brought to you in partnership with the Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups, YaleWomen, Yale Alumni Health Network, Women’s Health Research at Yale, and 50WAY150 (50 Women At Yale 150).
July 2020
Legacy & Leadership: YANA Lunchtime Tea Conversation with Dr. Ivy Taylor '92, First Female President of Rust College
Dr. Ivy Taylor '92 was the first African American Mayor of San Antonio, TX, and is currently the first female president of Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. This intimate conversation about her many “firsts” was hosted by the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Association. Sponsored by YaleWomen and 1stGenYale.
June 2020
The Next Innovation Revolution: Biology, Engineering & the Science of our Future
A convergence of biology, engineering, and the sciences is unlocking new research and discoveries that promise advances to cure disease, feed our planet, save the environment, power our world, extend lives, and more. Yale Bio+Tech Alumni Group, YaleWomen, Careers Life and Yale, and the Graduate School Alumni Association collaborated to bring you this fireside chat that will introduce a future of convergent advances and living machines that will transform our world.
Dean Lynn Cooley of the Yale Graduate School gave a Yale welcome and introduction, and SOM alum Katie Rae moderated a conversation with Dr. Susan Hockfield, former Yale Provost, MIT Professor and MIT President Emeritus. Dr. Hockfield discussed the new research and discoveries currently being unlocked within the convergence of biology, engineering, and the sciences – research that promises advances to cure disease, save the environment, power our world, and more. Yale alum Paul Bosco, a leader with this new group, gave a brief introduction, while Stephanie Double (Director, SIGs, YAA) gave closing remarks.
The Yale community is welcome to get involved with the new Yale Bio+Tech Alumni Group via their facebook page (facebook.com/groups/yalebiotech/), or by emailing the group’s leaders at [email protected]
This webinar has been brought to you in partnership with the Yale Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups, Yale Bio+Tech Alumni Group, YaleWomen, Careers Life and Yale, and the Graduate School Alumni Association.
May 2020
Vida Americana Exhibit at the Whitney Museum: An Exclusive Conversation with Assistant Curator Marcela Guerrero
Yale alumni art historians presented a webinar May 1 about Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 1925-1945 at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Assistant Curator Marcela Guerrero discussed the influence of Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Siqueiros on the work of Jackson Pollock and Jacob Lawrence. Wendy Maldonado D’Amico ’93 and Cristina Cruz Gonzalez moderated the discussion, with Q&A from Isabella Lores-Chavez '12.
This webinar was brought to you in partnership with the Yale Alumni Association shared interest groups, the Yale Latino Network, Yale Museums, the Arts and Culture Facebook Group, the Yale Alumni Art League, and YaleWomen.
April 2020
Women and the Coronavirus Pandemic
This is a difficult time for everyone, and we are all experiencing the extraordinary stress and strain that the coronavirus pandemic is having on our physical and mental health.
As the country adapts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prepares for a lengthy economic recovery, many women face unique challenges based on their roles and economic status.
For example, when the pandemic forced the loss of jobs, the majority of those who were first to lose employment were women.
“Most people who live below the poverty line in this country are women, in particular – single mothers, women of color, and older women who live alone,” said Women’s Health Research at Yale Director Carolyn M. Mazure, Ph.D. “So, many women who were struggling just to pay their bills are in even greater economic jeopardy with attendant health consequences.”
Moreover, in addition to usual home and childcare responsibilities, women are 60 percent of those who provide unpaid care for children with special needs or adult friends and family members. Consequently, the added burdens caused by the pandemic amplify the struggles these women have in providing much-needed yet unpaid care to others.
Dr. Mazure spoke of these and other issues relevant to the health of women Thursday in the first of a series of weekly “A Conversation Between …” webinars hosted by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Mazure was inducted into the Hall in 2009.
The conversation, between Dr. Mazure and Geena C. Clonan, the Hall’s Founding President, focused on what early research is telling us (and not telling us) about the gendered effects of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as how Yale’s clinical and research efforts are leading efforts to defeat this disease and restore public life.
April 2020
Careers, Life, and Yale: Career Transitions II
How Yale Alumni Successfully Navigated Professional Change
Are you considering or facing a career change? Careers, Life, and Yale, the YAA Board of Governors, YaleWomen, and 1stGenYale present the second annual Career Transitions webinar. This webinar is led by Kameka Dempsey ’99, an executive coach and leadership consultant. She is joined by panelists from sectors as diverse as the performing arts, business, cultural institutions, and tech.
This webinar was brought to you by the Yale Alumni Association (Careers, Life, and Yale) with co-sponsorship by YaleWomen and 1stGenYale.
April 2020
Bienvenida Salud: Sustainable Change for Indigenous Women and their Communities in Peru
Led by the Yale Alumni Association, this webinar, from April 29, 2020, taught alumni participants about the Kukama people who live in the Loreto region of Peru and highlighted the programs that have made Minga Peru a successful model for programs throughout Central and South America. For over thirty years, Minga Peru has been supporting and strengthening communities in the Loreto region of Peru with an innovative program based on communications through radio and grassroots leadership development for women. The Yale Alumni Service Corps is partnering with Minga Peru on a program in the summer of 2021: YASC Along the Maranon. Kathy Edersheim ’87, producer for the YASC Peru 2021 program, moderated the webinar with speakers Luis Gonzales, co-founder and program director of Minga Peru, and Jenna Houchins, sustainability advisor at Minga Peru for Amazon programs.
This webinar has been presented in partnership with Yale Alumni Service Corps, Yale Alumni Shared Interest Groups, Yale Day of Service, Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance, and YaleWomen.
April 2020
Food Fight: How the Restaurant and Catering Industry is Pivoting to Survive in a COVID-19 World
Accelerate Yale, Yale Food + Drink, and YaleWomen presented a webinar on April 28th at 8 pm spotlighting alumni Jessie Gould '04, Founder and CEO of Ox Verte, and Wanting Zhang FES ‘11, Co-Founder and COO of junzi kitchen. Jessie and Wanting discussed the impact and challenges faced by the retail food sector in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wendy Maldonado D'Amico '93, Co-Founder of Yale Food + Drink and a member of the leadership teams of Accelerate Yale & Yale Angels, moderated the discussion. Grace Hsieh '07, Co-Founder of Accelerate Yale & Yale Angels and Board member of the Yale Alumni Non-profit Alliance (YANA), led the audience Q&A. This session was supported by YAA Shared Interest Groups.
April 2020
Navigating and Thriving in Remote Work Environments
Accelerate Yale, YaleWomen, and Careers, Life, and Yale present a conversation with Catherine Stewart '05, Chief Business Officer at Automattic, who has served as a senior executive of the company's 1,300-person, globally distributed workplace over the past 5.5 years. In a discussion moderated by Grace Hsieh '07 and an Audience Q&A led by Wendy Maldonado D'Amico '93, Catherine shares her perspective on the benefits and challenges of navigating – and thriving in – remote work environments.
Catherine Stewart '05 is the Chief Business Officer at Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. She is responsible for building Automattic's revenue-generating operations and helped grow the company’s valuation from $1B in 2014 to $3B in 2019. Catherine received an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a BA from Yale University.
Grace Hsieh '07, Co-Founder of Accelerate Yale and Yale Angels, serves as a marketing and operations advisor to senior leadership teams across the tech, consumer, financial services, healthcare, education, luxury, and tourism sectors. Educated at Yale and Wharton, Grace is a Board Member of the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance (YANA) and has had 4 solo piano performances at Carnegie Hall.
Wendy Maldonado D'Amico ‘93 spent ten years as a remote freelancer after her daughter was born. With expertise in project management, marketing, communications, and events, she works at the Yale Alumni Association (YAA) on #50WomenAtYale150. She holds a BA in English from Yale University, a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
This webinar was brought to you by a partnership of Yale Alumni Shared Interest Groups and Accelerate Yale, with co-sponsorship from YaleWomen and Careers, Life, and Yale.
August 2019
Women, Men, and Food
On August 27th, Professor Paul Freedman spoke about Women, Men, and Food, an excerpt from his upcoming book: "American Cuisine and How It Got This Way." He discussed perceptions of men and women's food preferences in the 20th century, and how new products such as Jell-O and magazines such as Good Housekeeping and Gourmet alternately reinforced and upended prevailing stereotypes around food and gender. Moderated by Wendy Maldonado D’Amico ’93, YAA Board of Governors.
This webinar was brought to you by a partnership of Yale Alumni Shared Interest Groups, YaleWomen, and the Yale Food and Beverage Group. Please click the link below to view the recording.
Link to American Cuisine Webinar
Link to The Yale Food and Beverage Group, an online global Facebook community
January 2019
Careers Life and Yale — Career Transitions
YaleWomen and Careers, Life, and Yale (Yale Alumni Association) present a webinar on career transitions.
Moderated by Jennifer Ebisemiju Madar ’88, this webinar features four Yale women alums sharing their career-transition experiences due to job loss, re-entering the workforce after taking time off to raise one’s children, or a desire to re-invent oneself and switch careers entirely.