The event was opened by Ludwig Decamps, NCIA General Manager and executive sponsor of the RISE initiative, and UPS EMEAI President Daniel Carrera, and included remarks from Carol Macha, NCIA Chief Information Officer and Sarah Ragle, NCIA Business Manager.
"Just as our mission requires us to be agile and forward-thinking, so does our commitment to our people. Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women to thrive at NCIA is a key priority for me," stated NCIA General Manager during this open remarks. "Making progress towards diversity, integration, inclusiveness, and integrity in our working environment, and moving towards closing the gender gap in STEM is captured as a key commitment of the NCIA five-year strategic plan," he explained welcoming the initiative.
"We have a shared commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we're taking concrete steps to advancing women's leadership at every level. I hope this will be an example for other organizations, said Daniel Carrera, President of UPS EMEAI in his opening remarks, welcoming the partnership with NCIA to share experiences and collaboration. "The value of diversity in our workplace cannot be overstated - it drives innovation, strengthens resilience, and fosters collaboration. Embracing DEI is not just the right thing to do - it's essential for our success and growth."
The panel discussion was moderated by Sujin Chan-Allen, NCIA Legal Adviser, and saw the participation of senior leaders from both organizations, including Jennifer Upton, NCIA Chief of Acquisition; Sylvie Martel, Chief Operation Analysis; JoDawn Whitlock, Vice President UPS Digital; and Luciana Caciuleanu, Human Resources Vice President EMEAI.
The panel discussed RISE's mission and focus of equipping women with the tools-resourced groups to empower other women. Panellists shared insights, personal experiences, and advice on achieving leadership as a woman. They also reiterated that it is not possible to achieve the mission without collaboration and partnerships, with both male and female colleagues, as well as companies such as UPS.
RISE, which stands for Revitalize, Inspire, Strengthen, and Empower, is an NCIA's Staff Resource Group (SRG) organized by senior women in NCIA, championed NCIA General Manager and Chief of Staff, and supported by our Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing team. It offers opportunities to engage with Members and Allies through events, networking, forums, and mentoring opportunities, reflecting on our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women to thrive in.