New women.nyc advisory board enlists dynamic NYC leaders to further women’s economic advancement

Women.nyc just announced its new board of advisors, a group of bold New York leaders who are joining forces to ensure that the city remains the greatest place in the world for women to thrive.

Alicia Glen, Co-Founder of women.nyc and Former Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, has been named Chair of the 39-person board, whose members hold leadership positions in finance, tech, media, education, and other sectors that drive New York’s economy.

“Women.nyc is a transformative step towards ensuring women of all backgrounds have access to the resources and funding they need for success,” said Glen. “As the program continues to grow, I am delighted to be joined by this group of incredibly accomplished women, who will help us develop a national model for cities seeking to create more inclusive and diverse economies.”

(Glen just wrote an article in Marie Claire about the  board.)

The women.nyc campaign was launched in 2018 to empower women across industries and throughout New York by fighting for gender equity, providing economic opportunity, and spotlighting women’s impact on the City.

Since then, women.nyc has unveiled several pioneering initiatives, including She Built NYC, the program that’s honoring trailblazing women by commissioning  statues in their honor; WE Venture, an investment campaign aimed at dismantling gender barriers and increasing funding access for women entrepreneurs; and the Women’s Fund, a new program from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment that provides grants to support film and theater projects by, for, and about women.

The full women.nyc board will meet twice a year; various subcommittees will convene more frequently to advise on projects that tap into members’ expertise.

“In just one year, women.nyc has changed the conversation around women’s empowerment and equity in New York,” said Faye Penn, Executive Director of women.nyc. “Our incredible advisory board members will help us continue to shape the public discourse and advocate for more resources to help women succeed.”

“As a native New Yorker and the product of New York City Public Schools, I’m thrilled to be joining the women.nyc advisory board to help continue Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen’s work to make New York City a leader in policies that advance women’s rights,” said Audrey Gelman, Founder and CEO of The Wing.

“The NYC startup ecosystem is in an unprecedented moment of opportunity and women are at the heart of that,” said Rebecca Kaden, partner at Union Square Ventures. “They are starting, leading, and building the most important companies of tomorrow and women.nyc will play an important role in bringing the community together to support and empower them.”

“Our future depends on the ability to grow the creative and innovative voices and visions of NYC women; artists, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens,” said Liz Neumark, founder and CEO of Great Performances. “Serving on this board that focuses the resources for success is incredibly exciting for me. I am honored to be a part of this team.”

Members of the board include:

MARGARET ANADU, Managing Director, Urban Investment Group: Goldman Sachs

SIAN BEILOCK, President, Barnard College

GREGG BISHOP, Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Small Business Services*

CELESTE BEATTY, Founder, Harlem Brewing Company

MALLORY BLAIR, Co-Founder + CEO, Small Girls PR

LISA BLAU, Partner, _able

JEAN BROWNHILL, Founder + CEO, Sweeten

KATY CLARK, President, Brooklyn Academy of Music

JOANNA COLES, Former Chief Content Officer, Hearst Media

MARIA CORNEJO, Founder, zero + maria cornejo

ANNE DEL CASTILLO, Commissioner, New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment*

KERRY DIAMOND, Editorial Director, Cherry Bombe

ITA EKPOUDOM, Partner, GingerBread Capital

GALE EPSTEIN, Co-Founder + President, Hanky Panky

SANDRA L. FLOW, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb

DIANA FRANCO, Director, WE NYC*

ANNE FULENWIDER, Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire

AUDREY GELMAN, Founder + CEO, The Wing

CYNTHIA GORDY GIWA, Editor-in-Chief + Co-Founder, Black-Owned Brooklyn

ALICIA GLEN, Chair, women.nyc + Former Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development

SHARON GREENBERGER President + CEO, YMCA of Greater New York

JENNIFER HYMAN, Co-Founder + CEO, Rent the Runway

GAYLE JENNINGS-O’BYRNE, Partner, WOCstar Fund I

JALAK JOBANPUTRA, Founder + Managing Partner, Future\Perfect Ventures

LINDA E. JOHNSON, President + CEO, Brooklyn Public Library

REBECCA KADEN, Partner, Union Square Ventures

SUSAN LYNE, President + Managing Partner, BBG Ventures

JESSICA MATTHEWS, Founder + CEO, Unchartered Power

REBECCA MINKOFF, Founder, Rebecca Minkoff

LIZ NEUMARK, Founder + CEO, Great Performances

LIDA ORZECK, Co-Founder + CEO, Hanky Panky

JAMES PATCHETT, President + CEO, New York City Economic Development Corporation*

JENNIFER RAAB, President, Hunter College

FRANCES A. RESHESKE, Senior Vice President: Corporate Affairs, Con Edison

MARISSA SHORENSTEIN, President: Northern Region, AT&T

JUDITH SPITZ, Founding Program Director, Initiative for Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship

NINA TANDON, Co-Founder + CEO, EpiBone

NICOLE VECCHIARELLI, Founder + Partner, Special Projects

PAMELA WASSERSTEIN, CEO, New York Media

CLAIRE WEISZ, Founding Partner, WXY Architecture and Urban Design

ELLEN WEST, Vice President: Investor Relations, Google

KATHRYN WYLDE, President + CEO, Partnership for New York City

*Denotes Ex-officio member