Eric Ostern is responsible for developing the global partnerships strategy and implementation plans that support brand purpose, drive business growth, and deliver positive social value. He is a member of Unilever’s brand and business teams, providing strategic counsel and ongoing support. Previously, Ostern oversaw sustainability, corporate giving, and community relations for Unilever North America, as well as facilitated the alignment of Unilever’s global sustainability strategy across the Americas. Prior to joining Unilever, he spent more than a decade in a Fortune 10 corporation where he managed corporate responsibility strategies and programs as well as public policy.

Garance Wattez-Richard launched, and has been heading since 2016, AXA Emerging Customers, a business whose objective is to protect tomorrow’s middle class and close the insurance gap across emerging markets. Before developing this business, she spearheaded SheforShield, the first global study highlighting the potential represented for the insurance industry by women as a growing client segment. She started her career at the European Commission in Brussels, went on to work within the Office of the Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, and then spent several years working as a strategy consultant. In 2005, she joined AXA Investment Managers, before becoming global head of external communications for the AXA Group in 2012.

Follow Garance @GaranceWR.

Jessica Hyman is the head of the strategy and operations for the people team at Atlassian, a software company whose mission is to unleash the potential of every team. In her role, Hyman is responsible for overseeing the creation and design of people programs that improve the experience of Atlassians. She also leads Atlassian’s new corporate citizenship strategy. Previously, Hyman led global operations for BSR and worked on projects ranging from women’s empowerment to employee engagement. She is involved in Atlassian’s Foundation and Pledge 1% programs and leads a Women in Tech mentoring group in San Francisco.

As an OpenIDEO ambassador, Alisa Ahmadian works with organizations across all sectors to drive real world impact by dreaming up and implementing custom programs that enable innovators around the world to leverage Human Centered Design (HCD) for social change. She has worked with new partners to develop initiatives that delivered nearly US$7 million in seed funding to leading edge social entrepreneurs in 2017-2018. Previously, Ahmadian held positions in every sector, starting with a community organization role with the Fund for the Public Interest. At the Clinton Global Initiative, she worked with Fortune 100 companies to develop public-private partnerships. She has worked internationally, including in a research role in Sierra Leone and leading business development for a social enterprise in Cambodia. Ahmadian has extensive event and program design experience, having helped produce the Bay Area Women’s Summit, the Professional Businesswomen of California Conference, and others.

Follow Alisa @AlisaAhmadian.

Chhavi leads HERproject’s financial inclusion work globally, including programs and research on wage digitization, and oversees the overall program strategy for corporate engagement and private-sector partnerships on expanding access to products and services for low-income women.

Prior to joining BSR, Chhavi worked for a socially responsible investment firm, where he combined financial and ESG analysis to make sustainable investment recommendations. He also spent several years as an operations manager for Oracle’s Asia-Pacific and Americas regions, opening a new operation in India. He has also developed a CSR strategy for a spirits company in Mexico, developed sustainability reports for companies in India and Saudi Arabia, and worked as a freelance CSR consultant for the Institute of Public Health. He speaks English, Spanish, and Hindi.

Chhavi holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business and an M.A. in International Studies from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. in English and Computer Science from Rutgers University.

Luisa Covaria is the strategy and design director at OpenIDEO—IDEO’s open innovation portfolio. An interaction designer by training and an activist at heart, her passion lies in creating the conditions for radical collaboration, movement building, and social change. Covaria works with private and public sector partners to bridge the gap between innovation and philanthropy. Her focus spans a broad range of social issues, from securing access to education in the global south to women’s safety through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most recently, Covaria worked with a family foundation and impact investment fund to develop a program that aims to maximize every child's potential during their first three years of life.

Follow Luisa @luizzacov.