Elizabeth A. Vazquez is the CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world. She is a world leader in women’s economic empowerment and global supplier diversity and inclusion.  

As the head of WEConnect International, Ms. Vazquez is responsible for mission delivery and measurable impact. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women’s business enterprises that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with member buyers. The WEConnect International WECommunity supports and promotes women-owned businesses based in over 120 countries, including local support and certification in almost 50 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The organization also helps to develop the capacity of large buyers to source more products and services from underutilized suppliers, including women-owned businesses globally.  

Ms. Vazquez is the co-author of the book, “Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change Our World.” She sits on several boards of directors and councils including the Procter & Gamble Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. She “rang the bell” at the New York Stock Exchange in 2019 in support of women business owners around the world and is a W20 Representative to advance G20 commitments.  She also served as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment from 2016-2017.  

Ms. Vazquez is an advisor to a long list of corporate, government and multilateral leaders, including WEConnect International members with over US$1 trillion in annual purchasing power. She has served as a trainer and guest lecturer on international trade and gender inclusive growth to graduate students at several business schools and universities such as American University, Arizona State University Honors College, Brown University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, MIT, Oxford University, Tufts University, University of Johannesburg, University of Ottawa, and more.  

She was born in Mexico, has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University, and was honored by the Barrett Honors College as an Inspiring Alumni for making significant contributions in her career and community. She has a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University where she studied development economics and international negotiation as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and is the recipient of the 2018 Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award for outstanding graduates who are making a meaningful impact in the world. She also completed graduate seminars at Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School of Government, the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, and Sookmyung Women’s University in South Korea.  

https://weconnectinternational.org/

Elizabeth A. Vazquez is the CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world. She is a world leader in women’s economic empowerment and global supplier diversity and inclusion.  As the head of WEConnect International, Ms. Vazquez is responsible for mission delivery and measurable impact. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women’s business enterprises that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with member buyers. The WEConnect International WECommunity supports and promotes women-owned businesses based in over 120 countries, including local support and certification in almost 50 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The organization also helps to develop the capacity of large buyers to source more products and services from underutilized suppliers, including women-owned businesses globally.  

Ms. Vazquez is the co-author of the book, “Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change Our World.” She sits on several boards of directors and councils including the Procter & Gamble Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. She “rang the bell” at the New York Stock Exchange in 2019 in support of women business owners around the world and is a W20 Representative to advance G20 commitments.  She also served as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment from 2016-2017.  Ms. Vazquez is an advisor to a long list of corporate, government and multilateral leaders, including WEConnect International members with over US$1 trillion in annual purchasing power. She has served as a trainer and guest lecturer on international trade and gender inclusive growth to graduate students at several business schools and universities such as American University, Arizona State University Honors College, Brown University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, MIT, Oxford University, Tufts University, University of Johannesburg, University of Ottawa, and more.  

She was born in Mexico, has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University, and was honored by the Barrett Honors College as an Inspiring Alumni for making significant contributions in her career and community. She has a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University where she studied development economics and international negotiation as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and is the recipient of the 2018 Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award for outstanding graduates who are making a meaningful impact in the world. She also completed graduate seminars at Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School of Government, the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, and Sookmyung Women’s University in South Korea.

Francine A. LeFrak is the President of the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and the Same Sky Foundation Fund. A successful social entrepreneur, women’s rights advocate, and philanthropist, Francine founded a trade initiative, Same Sky, to help women who were invisible become visible through the dignity of work. Her work with Same Sky began with survivors of the Rwandan genocide and continued in the US with women who were recently released from prison and needed a second chance.   

As a social entrepreneur, she has helped hundreds of women and girls to use their talents to find opportunities for success.  Through job training programs and providing access to education, her foundations have paved pathways for people to rise out of poverty.  As a philanthropist, Francine uses what she has learned and witnessed firsthand to help all women rise up to use their talents. Her focus is on women’s empowerment through the development of financial muscles and self-confidence through access to education, training and microgrants.  Francine is proud of her latest project, the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being at Barnard College that focuses on the three pillars of wellness (financial, physical and mental), the first of its kind in the country.  

Before her work as a social entrepreneur and philanthropist, Francine had a successful career on Broadway and as a social issues film producer where she garnered multiple Tony, Emmy and Peabody awards.  In recognition of her humanitarian efforts, she received the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from the French Government, The Women Together Award from the United Nations, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2009), and The Human Spirit Award from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.  Francine is a long-time member and Chair Emerita of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board.

Dr. J. Chris Ford is an experienced serial entrepreneur, researcher, and expert in building inclusive innovation ecosystems and programs for intellectual property monetization for Federal agencies, universities, corporations, and investors.  Currently, Dr. Ford is Principal Scientist and Research Faculty at Florida International University and University of Houston, respectively. Additionally, Dr. Ford is CEO of M2M Ventures, a firm specializing in patent monetization, grant capture, and venture capital services. From 2012-2017, Dr. Ford was Technical and Technology Transfer Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Key results were analysis and valuation of DOE’s patent portfolio for novel monetization strategy (i.e. 20,000 patents with a present value of $77 billion); Assessed and aided more than 40 ventures for technology transfer and commercialization projects for DOE ranging from cybersecurity & information technology, renewable energy, energy storage, oil & gas, and biotech firms;  Led the design and implementation of DOE’s Lab-to-Market initiative; and served on President Obama’s Executive 2nd Term committee for Economic Development. Most recently, Dr. Ford served as a policy volunteer on the Biden-Harris campaign. Dr. Ford received his BS, MS, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and BS in Mathematics and Dual Degree Engineering from Morehouse College. Currently, Dr. Ford resides in South Florida with his wife and daughter.

Benita Fortner is the recently retired director of supplier diversity for Raytheon Company where she concluded her forty-seven-year career in the aerospace and defense industry. During her career, Fortner served on many government and industry councils, boards and chaired the National MED Week Planning Committee from 2002–2004. She was named Chair Emeritus in 2005. She is a past chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s Chairperson’s Committee and WBENC - Women's Business Enterprise National Council’s Board of Directors. Fortner has received a myriad of awards and recognition including the Clarion Award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council, induction into the WBE Hall of Fame and the Bill Alcorn Award from WBENC.

Adrienne Trimble is the President and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). She is a known thought leader for advancing corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Trimble brings to this position the same executive vision and record of achievement that defined her remarkable career at Toyota Motor North America, where she served as General Manager, Diversity & Inclusion.

Laurie Dowling is President of The Dowling-Woo Company, a woman and minority-owned small business.   Laurie is a consultant who works with non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises on strategic issues including diversity, general management, fundraising, executive search, strategic planning, management development, and Board development.     As a consultant, Laurie is Executive Director for the National Utilities Diversity Council, a national non-profit organization that conducts research to educate, develop best practices and guide efforts that will promote diversity in the utilities industry in the areas of governance, employment, procurement, language access/customer service, and philanthropy.   Among her clients have been the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, the Museum of Latin American Art, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.    For eight years Laurie was Executive Director of the Office of Executive Education Programs of the UCLA Anderson School of Management where she was responsible for oversight of all aspects of one of the world’s top executive education programs, from corporate relationship management and sales to curriculum design and program operation -- serving over 1,500 executives annually and taking the Department from #23 in the world to #11 (Financial Times ranking).

Mayank Shah is the Founder & CEO of Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK). Before moving to the UK from India in 2000, Mayank ran a successful business for 16 years procuring steel and hardware for some of the largest OEMs and infrastructure projects in India. Mayank has an MBA from Leeds University and has conducted his doctoral research on supplier diversity; based on his vast business experience and passion to advocate for diverse and inclusive supply chains, Mayank founded MSDUK in 2006 and has now become a globally recognized supplier diversity advocacy network that is making a positive difference and promoting inclusive economic growth.

MSDUK is the UK’s premier non-profit membership organization championing diversity and inclusion in public and private sector supply chains. Since its inception in 2006, the organization has worked with and supported over 3000 ethnic minority businesses and 120 Fortune 500 firms, generating more than £700m worth of business for ethnic minority businesses. 

Visit: https://www.msduk.org.uk/

Denise Gregg is the COO of AppleOne Canada.  She has over 30 years of client care experience in sales, training, operations and client relations.

Talent Champion, Trainer, Motivator, Activator, Leader, Change Agent, Writer and Coach.  Denise has also worked as a Business/Life Coach and has a Degree in Journalism.

Janice’s sister Zest joins Ask JBH.