Sarah Adler
Cofounder of Spoon University, VP Product at Discovery
Sarah Adler cofounded Spoon University, a next-generation food media platform, while she was in undergrad at Northwestern in 2013. Now, Spoon exists on more than 300 college campuses all over the world, with more than 5,000 active student contributors. After going through the Techstars accelerator program and raising $2.5M in funding, Sarah helped grow the team to 30 people and recently sold Spoon to Scripps Networks Interactive, now Discovery, to help reach the next generation of consumers. Sarah is now head of product at Discovery for Spoon University and Genius Kitchen, both of which are youth-oriented food media brands. Sarah was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in the media category in 2018.
Marla Britt Fields, PMP
Sr. Technical Program Manager at Velo3D
Marla Fields received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT. After graduation she moved to San Jose, California to work for Applied Materials where she worked as a process engineer, demo lab manager, product line manager and program manager. She served as the president for the Women’s Professional Development Network at Applied Materials and chaired the Silicon Valley’s Corporate Women’s Initiative Consortium. Recently Marla found a new home at Velo3D – an amazing start up in the 3D printing space perfecting her program management skills. She is a board member for Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley and volunteers with Girlstart and the Greene Scholars Program.
Erika Linford
Vice President, Technology at Southwest Airlines
As a Leader in the Technology Department, Erika is responsible for our Commercial portfolio. In this role, she provides technical solutions and support to our Commercial Leaders and their Teams across Network Planning, Revenue Management, Corporate Sales, and Marketing. Erika and her Teams partner with the Commercial groups to identify and delivery technical solutions that support their business priorities, ranging from new business capabilities that provide incremental revenue value to digital Customer applications.
Erika joined Southwest in 2011 as a Director in Technology, supporting Network Planning & Revenue Management. She was then promoted to Sr. Director, Technology where she led the Office of the CIO (OCIO). In May 2016, Erika transitioned to Sr. Director, BTS- Customer within Corporate Delivery supporting Call Center Teams, including Customer Support & Services and Customer Relations, as well as our Customer-facing Teams in Ground Operations. In this role she had additional responsibility for supporting Southwest’s end-to-end Customer experience.
Prior to 2011, Erika was engaged at Southwest in a consultant capacity serving as Program Manager for Technology’s AirTran Integration-related projects. She also served with the Revenue Management Department as interim Director, Projects & Analysis Development. During her five-year tenure with McKinsey & Company, Erika served clients in the travel and logistics industry sector, including airlines, hotels, and railroad. Prior to McKinsey, Erika worked in the pharmaceutical industry sector for start-up to mid-size companies.
Erika earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and her Masters of Science in Organic Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Erika and her husband Michael have two young children and a very large German Shepard. They enjoy spending time in Colorado – hiking, skiing, and just generally being outside in the fresh mountain air!
Trisa Thompson
Former SVP & Chief Responsibility Officer at Dell
Trisa Thompson recently retired as the Senior Vice President and Chief Responsibility Officer at Dell, with responsibility for Dell’s Legacy of Good program including strategic giving, sustainability, entrepreneurism and DWEN. Prior to this role, Trisa was a Vice President in Dell’s Legal Department for 12 years.
Trisa graduated with honors from The National Law Center, George Washington University. She received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Boston University, where she majored in Mass Communications.
Trisa has served as a judge for the global Circular Awards with the World Economic Forum, working to increase understanding of the benefits of a circular economy. She was also on the national corporate advisory board for the American Red Cross. Trisa received the 2008 Volunteer of the Year award from the United Way of Austin. In addition, in 2014, the National Diversity Council awarded her the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Texas Award and they also named her as one of the Top 50 Women in Technology in 2014.
Trisa is a board member of the LifeWorks Board of Governors, an organization helping homeless teens gain self-sufficiency.
Previously, Trisa served on the Boards of the United Way in Central Texas, the Women’s Giving Network, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, I Live Here I Give Here, and was president of the Zach Scott Theatre and KLRU Boards. She was also a founding member of the Austin/San Antonio Chapter of the Texas General Counsel Forum.
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