IPWS is happy to announce this year’s independent WLA Jury to judge nominations in the Women Leadership Awards (WLA) 2019. The jury will oversee the selection of top candidates across the seven award categories in the WLA 2019. The WLA nominations were open March 14 – April 10, and the WLA Winners will be announced at the 2019 IPWS Summit on Friday May 31st, 2019 in Shanghai.
Every year, jury members are selected from a broad cross-section of industries and positions to ensure a well-rounded representation of professionals in the judging panel. Their role in business and society is also a reflection of IPWS values: to Connect, Grow, Inspire and Lead.
The six independent Jury members, using the established WLA Criteria Guidelines for each award category, will review all nominations received. The Jury will participate throughout the entire selection process and following the review of all nominations, the Jury will select two finalists for each WLA category, except for Lifetime Achievement. These finalists will be notified On or before May 1st.
On Saturday, May 11th, the finalists in each category (except for Lifetime Achievement) will be required to represent themselves in front of the Jury for a 30-minute in-person session.
The Jury will score and select the recipient of each award category based on the nominees’ presentations, and their recognized accomplishments submitted beforehand through the nomination process.
The winners will be announced and recognized at the Women Leadership Awards ceremony to be featured at the IPWS Summit on May 31st, 2019.
IPWS is delighted to announce the following WLA 2019 independent jury panel:
- Penny Burgess, Managing Director China, WE Red Bridge
- Robin Gerofsky Kaptzan, Senior Foreign Counsel, Duan & Duan Law Firm
- Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
- Stephane Monsallier, Founder & CEO, SYSTEM in MOTION, Founder & Contributor, Shops of the Future
- Elaine Yeo, Asia Tax Director, Corporate Tax & Global Operations, GE
- Zhen Zeng-Liao, Executive Director, Community Center Shanghai (CCS)
- Jury Secretary: Rita Malvone, Business Performance Consultant
The seven categories for the 2019 WLA:
- Business Leader of the Year
- Innovator of the Year
- Young Business Leader of the Year
- Social Contributor of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- HeforShe Man of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement
Penny Burgess
Managing Director China, WE Red Bridge
Penny founded Red Bridge Communications in 2009 with the vision of creating an agency that would provide clients in China with an alternative – a boutique communications consultancy local in its focus, creative in its approach and international in its thinking.
With over 20 years of combined corporate, b2b and brand marketing communications experience, Penny marries the strategic discipline of corporate reputation management with the creative thinking of brand marketing, to deliver integrated, result driven campaigns.
Specialized in providing positioning, market entry, brand development and corporate reputation consultancy, she also has extensive experience advising clients on crisis and issues management.
Solutions orientated and a huge advocate of a partnership approach delivering the best results, she applies this philosophy to not only the business but her longstanding client relationships.
Prior to relocating to China, Penny was a Board Director at Ketchum London where she was responsible for directing the agency’s pan-EMEA integrated accounts and agency networks before transferring to run their Shanghai operations in 2005.
Robin Gerofsky Kaptzan
Senior Foreign Counsel, Duan & Duan Law Firm
Robin Gerofsky Kaptzan is a New York licensed attorney with more than three decades of international business and legal experience in the Asia Pacific region and New York City. She has been based in Shanghai for over 20 years and is a Senior Foreign Counsel of Duan & Duan, one of the oldest and largest Chinese law firms. She supports small to publicly listed clients in a host of industries for a variety of matters (i.e.: corporate, labor, compliance, M&A, dispute resolution), all from a China law perspective. Prior to moving to Asia, Robin was a corporate litigator in New York City for 9 ½ years. Robin has dedicated over a decade of service in leadership roles for the ABA International Law Section and is currently a Deputy to the Section Chair. She has been the recipient of awards from law related associations and frequently presents on China law issues in and outside China and has published numerous articles. She is also actively involved in various community organizations and events.
Kenneth Jarrett
Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Kenneth Jarrett is a Senior Advisor with the Albright Stonebridge Group, a strategic advisory firm based in Washington, DC. He previously served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai from September 2013 to December 2018. Prior to that he was the Greater China Chairman for APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based public affairs consultancy from 2008 to 2013, and before that a U.S. diplomat from 1982 to 2008. During his 26-year diplomatic career, his postings included Consul General in Shanghai, Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, and Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. He also served in Beijing, Chengdu, Singapore, and had several assignments in Washington, DC. Mr. Jarrett has degrees from Cornell University, Yale University and the National War College. He is the recipient of the Magnolia Award (Silver) from the Shanghai government and is a member of the National Committee for US-China Relations.
Stephane Monsallier
Founder & CEO, SYSTEM in MOTION, Founder & Contributor, Shops of the Future
Stephane Monsallier has always been passionate about technology, starting when he learned to code at age 10. He later graduated from Supelec in 1993, top IT engineering school in France. After ten years in Financial IT, he left France and corporate life, to create System in Motion in Shanghai in 2004. His vision was to build a world-class technology consulting company and promote innovation in the Retail and Distribution industries in China. System in Motion progressively built a solid reputation in the service delivery amongst Retailers in Shanghai. He created a retail innovation consulting company, Shops of the Future, to further assist System in Motion’s clients into the challenges of digitalization, new retail, and omni-channel.
Stephane is very active in the startup scene in Shanghai: mentor in Chinaccelerator, advisor in several startups, EO Accelerator Chair in 2016 when he launched the program, and a founding member of la French Tech Shanghai. He is expert, mentor or trainer in several acceleration programs: EO Accelerator, Concept Lab, FashionEx, X-Node CIP, Retail X.
Elaine Yeo
Asia Tax Director, Corporate Tax & Global Operations, GE
Elaine has been with GE for twelve years, most recently as the Asia Tax Director. Prior to this role, Elaine was with Corporate Tax as Regional Tax Leader based in Singapore. Before joining GE, Elaine was Asia Pacific Tax Manager with BP and a tax lecturer in Singapore. Elaine and her family moved to Shanghai from Singapore in June 2015. Elaine has previously resided in Australia and Vietnam for studies and work as well.
Elaine enjoys spending time with her family, friends and a dog she has adopted from the shelter in Shanghai. Elaine likes to bake and cook during her free time.
Zhen Zeng-Liao
Executive Director, Community Center Shanghai (CCS)
Zhen Zeng-Liao, is currently the Executive Director of Community Center Shanghai (CCS), a not-for-profit organization offering broad services and support to the international community in Shanghai. Zhen also serves on the Board of Directors for Tirzah International, an American based non-profit helping women build beautiful lives, families, and communities in the face of justices.
Zhen was born and grew up in China. She graduated from The University of Michigan with a Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering. She is a Barbour Scholar, a prestigious award for female students from Asia and Middle East since 1917. After graduation, she worked at GE Plastics, The Dow Chemical Company, and Dow Corning. In 2009, Zhen took a break from professional career and committed herself to family and volunteerism. She returned to work and became the Executive Director of CCS in 2016.
Zhen believes every woman should find her true passion and there is a season for everything.
Zhen and her husband live in Shanghai. They have 3 grown up children, all working and studying in US.
Rita Malvone, Jury Secretary
Business Performance Consultant
Rita’s unique ability to see both the big picture and the path to get there has led to success and recognition across a range of industries and organizations. She is a strategic advisor, trainer, and coach working globally, both in person and virtually. Rita is a passionate teacher and speaker on strategic planning, leadership skills, and time management. She facilitates and trains on organization development, cross-cultural communication, leadership skill development, team building, and more. She advises on employee growth, small business development strategies, and efficiency. She coaches individuals (ICF ACC track) in many disciplines, including career changes, leadership, upskilling, cross-culture challenges, and executive challenges.
Born in New York to immigrant parents, Rita always knew her life would be led on multiple shores. After several years in international supply chain management for FMCG and automotive companies, she moved to Shanghai in 2012 as a Strategy Manager for Ford Motor Company, with a focus on developing the fledgling Asia Pacific Purchasing Organization. Now, she is an advisor to multiple companies across a variety of industries doing business across borders. She is an active mentor, coach, and champion of women in business. She has a single focus: helping companies and individuals operate better, smarter, and faster.
We’re excited to invite you to celebrate this year’s Women Leadership Awards at the IPWS Summit! Stay tuned for details and ticket information. Contact WLA@ipwsconnect.com with any questions.
