Educate • Inspire • Connect

Educate Inspire Connect

Programs like Generation W’s annual signature event and bi-weekly REfresh series bring together speakers from throughout the country to educate, inspire, and connect communities. Each program explores thought-provoking topics with the goal of cultivating a greater understanding of today’s most relevant issues, as well as steps we can take to affect change.

Events

Generation W REfresh - January 24

January 24 at NOON on Zoom & Facebook Live
Join the conversation with Danny Goldberg, a serial entrepreneur-turned-keynote speaker who will empower you to get hyper
intentional about your life & career.
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Generation W REfresh - February 7

February 7 at NOON on Zoom & Facebook Live
Join the conversation with Audrey Moran, elected Duval County Judge.
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Generation W REfresh - February 21

February 21 at NOON on Zoom & Facebook Live
Join the conversation with Olenda Johnson, Professor of Strategic Leadership & Leader Development, US Naval War College and
Generation W 2024 speaker!
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Generation W: BELIEVE - April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024 at The University of North Florida
The countdown is on for Generation W 2024! Join us for an unforgettable event that will lift your spirits, open your mind, and connect your heart. With incredibly inspiring speakers, Generation W will be the spark you need to ignite belief within yourself while gaining a better understanding of the world we live in. Don’t miss out on this invigorating community gathering that will motivate and inspire you!
If you cannot join us in person, don’t worry. Unique virtual livestream tickets are available!
Register Now

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Generation W REfresh

May 21, 2025: REfresh on ZOOM & FB Live

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May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Generation W REfresh

May 28, 2025: REfresh on ZOOM & FB Live

Register Now

June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

Generation W REfresh

June 11, 2025: REfresh on ZOOM & FB Live

Register Now

February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024

Generation W REfresh

February 21 at NOON on Zoom & Facebook Live

Join the conversation with Olenda Johnson, Professor of Strategic Leadership & Leader Development, US Naval War College and
Generation W 2024 speaker!

Register Now

March 6, 2024

Generation W REfresh

March 6 at NOON on Zoom & Facebook Live

Join the conversation in celebration of International Women's Day! With Basma Alawee a humanitarian, an engineer, teacher, a writer and an activist who arrived in the United States in 2010 as a refugee. As well as Roya Hakakian, Iranian/American journalist and author.

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April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024

Generation W: BELIEVE

April 5, 2024 at The University of North Florida

Join us for an unforgettable event that will lift your spirits, open your mind, and connect your heart. With incredibly inspiring speakers, Generation W will be the spark you need to ignite belief within yourself while gaining a better understanding of the world we live in. Don’t miss out on this invigorating community gathering that will motivate and inspire you!

Unique virtual livestream tickets available!

Register Now

Previous Speakers

Donna Orender

Founder, Generation W
Donna Orender, CEO of Orender Unlimited, is an innovator, trailblazer, game changer and highly respected business executive.

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Joyce Russell

President, Adecco Group US Foundation
As President of the Adecco Group U.S. Foundation, Joyce is committed to making the future work for everyone. The Foundation launched in January 2019 and focuses on up-/reskilling American workers and helping to ensure work equality for all.

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Sophia Mickelson

Student/Filmmaker/Activist
Sophia radiates thoughtfulness, leadership, caring, and creative soul in her full embrace of the world around her. In her work as a photographer and filmmaker, Sophia seeks to tell stories that span the full palette of the human experience and unpack judgements we don’t realize we carry.

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Jennifer Allyn

Campaign Lead/Climate Voice
Jennifer Allyn leads campaigns at ClimateVoice to move companies to advance climate policy. The mission is to accelerate decarbonization by engaging the private sector as a critical voice for change.

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Michele Meyer-Shipp

Principal, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, KPMG
Michele C. Meyer-Shipp joined KPMG LLP as Principal and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer in August 2018. In this role, she leads the National Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) team and oversees its strategy and objectives, including supporting the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse workforce; inspiring broad perspectives and innovative client solutions; and fostering an inclusive and accessible culture.

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Dr. Edith Eger

Psychologist & Author of The Choice, Embrace the Possible
Dr. Eger is a sought-after clinical psychologist and lecturer, helping individuals discard their limitations, discover their powers of self-renewal, and achieve things they previous thought unattainable.

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Dr. Richard Lapchick

World-Renowned Human Rights Activist
Human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, internationally recognized expert on sports and social issues, scholar and author Richard E. Lapchick is often described as “the racial conscience of sport.”

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Patrick J. Geraghty

President and Chief Executive Officer, GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation
Pat Geraghty is President and Chief Executive Officer of GuideWell, a $19 billion mutual insurance holding company headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. A mission-driven health solutions enterprise, GuideWell is the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care.

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Delana Lewis

Student/Activist/Artist
Delana’s mission is to create and affect the black community through art and creativity, and all over the world. She believes that expression through art is healing and allows for better human connectivity.

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Margo Georgiadis

President & CEO, Ancestry
Margo Georgiadis is the President and CEO of Ancestry and also serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Bringing together content, science and technology, Ancestry is a human centered company with a mission to empower journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives.

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Ita Ekpoudom

Partner, Gingerbread Capital
Ita is a Partner at venture capital firm GingerBread Capital, which backs high growth female founded companies. Her mission is to engage, educate, and elevate the next generation of successful women business leaders and investors.

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Tina Lifford

Actress/Author
Hollywood veteran Tina Lifford plays the vivacious breakout character Aunt Vi on the critically acclaimed television drama, Queen Sugar. She has played over 100 characters in her long-standing career, including notable roles on Scandal and Parenthood.

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Winnie Lerner

Managing Partner, Finsbury
Winnie Lerner is the Managing Partner for Finsbury’s North American operations. She specializes in counseling CEOs and other senior executives, Boards of Directors and outside advisors through complex situations, including changes to leadership, sensitive litigation, control contests, shareholder activism and governance, cybersecurity and data privacy issues, SEC investigations and regulatory issues.

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Dr. Olenda Johnson

Professor of Strategic Leadership and Leader Development, U.S. Naval War Collage
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Dr. Olenda E. Johnson is Professor of Strategic Leadership and Leader Development at the U. S. Naval War College – a graduate-level institution for highly select military officers and government civilians.

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Testimonials

Previous Events

Explore our past events to relive the magic and discover what you’ve been missing!

Generation W 2019 Learn More Generation W 2020 Learn More Generation W 2021 Learn More Generation W 2023 Learn More Generation W 2024 Learn More Generation W 2025 Learn More

Connect, Be Inspired, & Learn Something New

Catch up on the latest episodes of Generation W’s REfresh with host Donna Orender. A bi-weekly conversation series featuring renowned guests from a variety of fields.

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Win When They Say You Won't

Author and Former Fortune 50 Exec., Daphne Jones shares her winning approach to help you set your mind higher, break through obstacles, level up your success, and achieve your dreams!

Unleash Your Inner Visionary

Step into the world of Natalie White, a trailblazing entrepreneur who dared to challenge the status quo in the realm of basketball shoes. From college senior to CEO let her story ignite the fire in you to dream big and make it happen!

Uplifting AANHPI Voices

An insightful conversation with Gia Vang, Co-Founder of the Very Asian Foundation and Jeannie Diefenderfer, Founder & CEO of courageNpurpose, LLC about the ways we can honor, celebrate, and see ourselves reflected in all the different ways!

REfresh Your Mind

Amy Pope-Latham, licensed clinical social psychotherapist and owner of Coastal Beaches Therapy provides valuable tools and reminders to slow down, breathe, and nurture our inner selves.

Our Brains & Behavior

Get to know the 86 billion neurons that make you unique! Neuroscientist and professor, Dr. Chantel Prat shares her field-leading research into the mysteries of our brains and how our brain design and experiences shape who we are and how we interact in the world.

International Women's Day

Celebrating amazing women from around the world with guests including Fay Arjomandi, Founder and CEO of mimik Technology, Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Founder and Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana and Niloofar Rahmani the first female fixed wing Air Force aviator in Afghanistan.

The Stories We Share

A special conversation in honor of Black History Month with Award-Winning Social Scientist, JeffriAnne Wilder, IBM Global Managing Director, Marietta C. Davis, and WSP Senior VP & Principal Director, Jannet Walker-Ford.

The Power of Women in Sports

A conversation with three amazing guests, Kayla Durden, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, and Suzy Whaley who have dedicated themselves not only to their chosen sports but to helping the next generation of female athletes realize their limitless potentials.

Educate • Inspire • Connect