Cristina Mendonsa is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning multimedia journalist and producer. As the founder of Mendonsa Media, she creates purpose driven marketing narratives and independent documentaries. Her most recent film, “Sacred Texts of War” is airing nationally on PBS stations and appearing in film festivals nationwide. Cristina has reported and anchored for ABC, CBS, and NBC television stations, she now anchors and co-manages the KFBK Morning News for iHeartRadio each weekday. A longtime Folsom resident, Cristina has secured the trust and the stories of leading newsmakers for three decades.
Dr. Amy Shah is an MD and nutrition specialist. She works in clinical medicine, allergy/immunology, and over the last 10 years has developed a world-renowned wellness education platform, successfully launched a growing collection of health and wellness products, written bestselling books, including I’m So Effing Hungry and I’m So Effing Tired, and has made numerous national network appearances. She works to discover less invasive interventions, promote wellness, and teach others how to impact their health via nutrition and exercise — using medication as a last resort. Her goal is to empower people to “save themselves” through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Jamie Cochran is the Chief Operating Officer and Leadership Instructor at Echelon Front, where she leads a diverse team that oversees all business operations and events. Jamie embraces the mindset of Extreme Ownership and implements it across all aspects of her business and life. As a speaker and Leadership Instructor, she makes the connection between the combat leadership principles of Extreme Ownership and how she implements them in her life as a business leader, woman, mother of three, and wife of a former Navy SEAL. Her team also coordinates Echelon Front engagements across the globe, ensuring a world-class client experience.
After earning her degree in Business Marketing and Communications, Jamie served in leadership positions in several organizations to include Glacier Bay, a boutique hedge fund as the Client Relations Director; San Diego State University as a Programs Director; and Tiffany & Company as a Visual Creative Director.
Echelon Front’s mission is to pass on the leadership lessons learned on the battlefield to help everyone develop the skills necessary to take care of their people, lead themselves, and lead their teams to victory.
As chief fiscal officer of the world’s fifth-largest economy, Controller Cohen’s primary responsibility is to account for and protect the state’s financial resources.
Controller Cohen also independently audits government agencies that spend state funds, safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees.
She serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority ranging from affordable housing to crime victim compensation to land management.
Controller Cohen chairs the Franchise Tax Board and serves on the boards of the nation’s two largest public pension funds, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Boards, which have a combined portfolio of $750 billion.
Sadie St. Lawrence is the Founder and CEO of the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI). HMCI pioneers research and education, to optimize human and machine interaction in the new era of knowledge work with AI, serving leading public and private organizations. Prior to HMCI Sadie founded Women in Data™, a non-profit organization with representation in 55 countries, and a community of over 70,000 data professionals. Women in Data earned recognition as a Top 50 Leading Non-Profit and the foremost community for Women in AI and Tech in 2021.
With three degrees in piano performance, psychology, and data science, Sadie’s journey from neuroscience research to over a decade in data science and AI strategy showcases her diverse expertise. Her accolades include being named one of DataIQ’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Data (2024), Dataleum’s 30 Outstanding Women in Data (2023), Top 30 Women in AI (2022), Top 10 Most Admired Businesswoman (2021), Top 21 Influencer in Data (2021), and Top 30 Most Inspiring Women in AI (2021). She has also received the Outstanding Service Award from UC Davis (2019).
Additionally, Sadie’s leadership extends to her role on the White House Council for Equitable Data and AI Training and educating over 700,000 individuals through her data science and AI courses at UC Davis, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.
Nikki Warren is the founder of Kaia FIT, a community-focused fitness franchise with 20 locations, driven by passionate and tenacious owners. With 25 years of coaching experience in strength and conditioning, gymnastics, and nutrition, she empowers audiences to live their healthiest lives. Nikki’s philosophy centers on creating strong leaders and powerful businesses for franchise owners, and strong bodies and minds for clients.
Her coaching includes working with Olympic athletes, helping women set meaningful goals and achieve personal success. She also leads leadership training and business development bootcamps, equipping women nationwide to build thriving businesses and balanced lives.
Beyond Kaia FIT, Nikki’s passion for global well-being is evident through her international wellness retreats and collaboration with Thailand’s government to develop a national P.E. curriculum. Raised in South Lake Tahoe, Nikki balances her professional life with family, including her husband, Ed, their son, Kai, and daughter, Coral, who works alongside her at Kaia FIT.
With over 20 years of public speaking and business coaching experience, she has been featured in Fitness Magazine and has presented at TEDx, Vistage, and Women As Change Makers. Nikki’s innovative approach has empowered thousands of women worldwide to lead stronger, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.