Innovate Beverly Hills 2019
The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce hosted one of its most grandiose annual gatherings, its Innovate Beverly Hills event on April 25, 2019. Presented by O’Gara and held this year held at the gorgeous Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the awe-inspiring event featured distinguished trailblazing businesswomen, extraordinary leaders and first-class tastemakers who all shared their innovative thinking, driven narratives and professional experiences to captivate the event’s audience. With over 450 people in attendance, the magnitude of its ambiance and inspiring accomplishment and openness on one stage was breathtaking. Kennedy Wilson, Cedars-Sinai, Galvin Gaustad Stein LLC. and Elridge were among the event’s Silver Sponsors, all supporting this meticulously curated event. Current Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch and Councilwoman and past mayor Lili Bosse both prefaced the event and shared their heart-felt remarks to introduce the incredible presenters. Panelists discussed engaging topics such as the relevant climate of their industries and the economic impact shaping business locally and globally. These dynamic keynote dignitaries expressed their powerful insight and showcased their expertise while reminding audiences why it is a critical and yet exciting time to be a woman in power.
Host Dete Meserve, Bestselling Author and Film Producer
She is a highly accomplished independent movie creator and producer, award-winning television shows and best-selling/award-winning novelist. She is also a key member of the executive team at Wind Dancer Films and has played a major role in the independent film and television production industries. Meserve currently oversees worldwide business and creative properties for the film development, finance and production aspects. In accompaniment to her many film accomplishments, she has also won multiple awards for her four novels she has written. Most notable, her first novel “Good Sam” was recently translated into a Netflix production. Her sequel “Perfectly Good Crime” won a “Books that Changed the World” award, and her third novel “The Space Between” is on the international bestsellers list. Her fourth novel “Random Acts of Kindness” was just published earlier this year. Currently, Meserve is working on a fifth book entitled “The Good City.”
Jennifer Ferro, President, KCRW NPR Radio
As President of KCRW, Jennifer Ferro has transformed the organization from being known as Southern California’s flagship public radio station to a worldwide community that connects through a multitude of avenues such as: the discovery of music, news and culture both in person, online and on the air. With her leadership guidance, the organization has created over 100 hours of original programming per week as well as establishing their first-ever, stand alone, state-of-the-art facility in early 2018. KCRW’s presence includes podcasts, original content features, live event streams, a successful social networking community and a successful mobile app. Ferro currently serves as a Senior Fellow for the Luskin School of Public Policy at UCLA. In 2011, she was chosen as a “Los Angeles’ Game Changing Women Leaders Who Make an Impact in LA,” and in 2018 she was awarded the UCLA Award for Public Service.
Sarah J. Kilpatrick MD, Ph.D., Professor and The Helping Hand of Los Angeles Endowed Chair; Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Diversity; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Sarah J. Kilpatrick MD, Ph.D. graduated with honors from Newcomb College, has a Ph.D. in Biopsychology from the University of Chicago, and an MD from Tulane University School of Medicine. In 2011, she was recruited to Cedars-Sinai to her current roles where she has recruited numerous new faculty members, started a family planning program, and developed multiple collaborations with other inter-departments. Dr. Kilpatrick has spearheaded multiple programs in leadership and diversity for the faculty at Cedars-Sinai as well as a UCLA mid-career leadership program for women, and a summer research internship available for college students. With over 90 publications and articles, Dr. Kilpatrick is also currently involved in the national effort to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and developing maternal levels of care.
Payal Kadakia, Founder and Executive Chairman, ClassPass; Founder and Creative Director, Sa Dance Company
As the Founder and Executive Chairman of ClassPass, Payal Kadakia helps provide individuals with all fitness levels access to the best classes and gyms across the US and Internationally. Since the launch in 2013, ClassPass has helped secure over 60 million reservations across 15,000+ studios in 80 different global markets. With a degree in Operations Research from MIT, Payal has also been featured on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list. In 2009 Kadakia founded The Sa Dance Company, whose mission is to increase the awareness of Indian Dance in the mainstream performance market. With her own personal experience and artistic integrity, she has become a true ambassador of Indian dance in Western culture. Payal has been quoted as “the dancer possessing not only stand-out talent but the undying passion, congenial disposition and sharp business savvy to be truly a force to be reckoned with” as the South Asian culture continues to integrate into America.
Laura Schwab, President, Aston Martin The Americas
Laura Schwab is President of the Aston Martin The Americas where she works to promote the world’s most beautiful cars. Schwab joined Aston Martin in 2015 after having spent over a decade and a half in the luxury car market. With a degree from Notre Dame where she attended on a full tennis scholarship, she then received a law degree from the University of Kentucky. Currently, Schwab oversees sales, service, and marketing & communications with customers and dealers. Aston Martin The Americas has played a profound role in the increase in global sales of 58% since 2017. Based in Irvine, California Laura is able to work with some of the best in the business at the company’s regional headquarters.
