SHE-CESSION: Seizing the Moment to Lead Global Change for Women in the Workplace
Women’s equal participation and leadership in business and politics is essential to a post-pandemic global economic recovery. Join international elected officials and business leaders to discuss why the current SHE-CESSION is NOT a “status quo moment” but an opportunity to seize the moment to create an inclusive and equitable world of work that works for all.
Emily M. Dickens, J.D.
Emily M. Dickens, J.D., serves as SHRM Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary. She is the executive responsible for coordinating staff to implement the CEO's vision, serving as corporate secretary for the SHRM Board and subsidiary boards, as well as managing external partnerships and providing oversight for the Government Affairs division.
Dickens is an attorney with significant and progressive experience in government, higher education and the non-profit sector. She has served as a member of the leadership team at the University of North Carolina system, the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Her prior roles include general counsel, chief relationship officer, senior vice president, vice president for public policy and assistant vice president for federal relations. Dickens has also worked at Duke University and Fayetteville State University in administrative and external affairs roles.
Emily is actively engaged in board service. She formerly served on the Fayetteville/Cumberland (NC) Chamber of Commerce (Secretary of the Board), the Cumberland County Workforce Development Board, the North Carolina Partnership for Defense Innovation Board, and the Educational Advancement Foundation. She is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina Central University, and chairs the International HBCU Task Force for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Susana Suarez Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Dr. Susana Suarez Gonzalez with over 30 years of experience is the Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. since November 2016. Based in New York at IFF’s headquarters, Ms. Suarez Gonzalez is responsible for championing the growth and development of IFF people. She leads the creation and implementation of the IFF Global Human Capital Strategy across the enterprise and works to build talent and organizational capability through IFF’s established Human Capital platforms. Her modus operandi ‘Results tHRu People’ reflects a Human Resource approach where each IFFer’s uniqueness unleashes their potential. Some have considered Ms. Suarez as one of the first pioneers of what in the past decade has been coined as “HR with an attitude.”
Prior to joining IFF, Ms. Suarez Gonzalez spent 25 years at Fluor Corporation, where she held leadership positions across several business groups and functions including project engineering, marketing, sales, finance, general management and human resources. Immediately before her current role at IFF, Ms. Suarez Gonzalez held the position of Senior Vice President Global Operations, Human Resources with Fluor, and was responsible for the global execution of HR services as well as all corporate HR functions, encompassing total rewards, learning and organizational design, HR technology, talent acquisition and talent analytics.
Recognized as a strategic thinker and results-driven multilingual executive, Ms. Suarez Gonzalez is a proven transformational leader. Her global mindset is a direct result of having lived and worked in over 15 countries and having fulfilled executive, leadership and country management roles.
Having published two books and authored or co-authored numerous industry articles, Ms. Suarez Gonzalez has been recognized throughout her career for her professional achievements. In addition to her work in Human Resources, she serves on special volunteer projects and events that focus on children. Ms. Suarez Gonzalez holds an executive MBA from the IUDE University and a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Oviedo in Spain where she graduated summa cum laude and is currently attending Harvard pursuing a master’s in International Relations with a focus on Social Justice. She lives between New York City and Madrid with her family.
Camille A. Olson
Camille is a trusted advisor to national companies facing high-profile legal, policy, and media challenges, especially in situations with significant reputational risk. She excels at helping clients navigate complex issues and turn abstract risks into actionable decisions. Camille is renowned for her expertise in crisis management and legal strategy, making her an invaluable asset to her clients.
A partner at Seyfarth, Camille co-chairs the National Complex Litigation practice group and leads the Complex Discrimination Litigation practice group. She is also a member of the firm’s National Labor and Employment Law Steering Committee. With nearly 30 years of experience, Camille has represented clients in employment discrimination, harassment, wage-and-hour disputes, and independent contractor matters across the country.
Camille’s distinguished trial record includes serving as lead defense trial counsel in high-stakes cases involving harassment, discrimination, and systemic policy violations. She has also worked as outside counsel to boards of directors and executive teams on sensitive internal investigations. Her sophisticated approach to litigation has led to numerous successful resolutions, often on the eve of trial or through creative motion practice.
In addition to her legal practice, Camille has regularly testified before the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, EEOC, and Department of Labor on key legislative issues. She has served as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity policy subcommittee since 2013, advocating for employer perspectives on critical employment laws.
Camille earned both her B.A., with Highest Honors, and her J.D. from the University of Michigan. As an undergraduate, she was awarded the Eita Krom Scholar distinction for her published thesis. Her extensive legal and policy contributions make her a sought-after speaker and a leading voice in the field of complex litigation.
Sean T. Sullivan, SHRM-SCP
Sean Sullivan serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer and is responsible for providing human resources leadership, vision and service delivery for SHRM, the world's largest HR professional society.
Sullivan has over 25 years of experience in human resources strategy and operations. He has built his career across multiple industries, including health care, defense, technology, IT, and manufacturing, applying his expertise to help grow and support diverse business models.
Prior to SHRM, he was Vice President, Human Resources for Tufts Medical Center, an internationally respected academic medical center in downtown Boston. He was responsible for all aspects of human capital practices and labor relations in support of the healthcare, research, and teaching mission of the oldest permanent medical facility in the country. Under his leadership, Tufts Medical Center launched innovative initiatives in workforce development and diversity and inclusion while strengthening strategic partnerships with community-based organizations and enhancing equity in patient access to healthcare.
Sullivan has held senior leadership positions for technology firms in the defense and intelligence industries, including senior vice president for human resources with Leidos, a global IT and technology firm. He led due diligence and integration efforts for international mergers and acquisitions. He helped establish the Leidos Relief Foundation and served as its first president. He played a key role in the re-design of the human resources function for SAIC when it was spun off from Leidos in 2013. Earlier in his career, Sullivan took on roles of increasing responsibility at Northrop Grumman and TRW, including the support of global business units in systems integration and manufacturing.
With a passion for workforce development, he has been a guest speaker at the Close It Summit, the Colloquium on Global Diversity, the Work Rebooted Conference and other forums. He has been a member of Innovate+Educate's Innovative Business Hiring Council and the Healthcare HR Leadership Forum. He holds an MPA from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, from which he also earned his undergraduate degree in political science.
This speaker is a member of the SHRM Speakers Bureau.