Deborah Birx
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In a landscape that’s ever-evolving, the ability to pivot isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential. But what if, instead of merely adapting, you could ride the crest of these tidal waves of change and channel their power? This electrifying keynote unveils the art and science of leveraging monumental shifts in business, technology, and society. With riveting real-life examples and breakthrough strategies, you’ll learn not just to navigate, but to ignite innovation like never before. Supercharge your company’s journey, transforming challenges into unparalleled opportunities for growth. Let’s not just keep pace—let’s redefine it.
In today’s dynamic business landscape, we need leaders who break barriers and drive transformational change. Join us for an impactful fireside chat, “Trailblazing Leadership: Igniting the Path to Success” led by the acclaimed global leader, Sylvia Acevedo. This talk dives into the heart of audacious leadership, showcasing how it sparks innovation and resilience. Through personal anecdotes and captivating storytelling, Sylvia challenges conventional perspectives, inspiring new ways to imagine opportunities for career advancement and explore new ideas. This session isn’t just about leadership—it’s about the courage to maximize you and your organization’s potential to make a lasting impact. Join us to be inspired, enlightened, and empowered to ignite your journey towards trailblazing leadership.
Innovation Unleashed is a powerful keynote from by Sylvia Acevedo, the highly awarded leader known for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. In an ever-changing business environment, staying competitive demands relentless innovation. Sylvia will demystify how to leverage this power to drive growth and stay ahead of the curve even in the most challenging environments. This talk isn’t just about innovation—it’s about boldness to transcend boundaries, creativity to envision the unimaginable, and tenacity to bring visions to life. It’s about redefining the way you see and create value through captivating storytelling of hard learned lessons. Embark on this journey with Sylvia, and you’ll leave not just inspired, but equipped with actionable insights to foster innovation and secure your competitive edge in today’s dynamic world.
This inspiring dialogue with one of the most formidable leaders of our time, Sylvia Acevedo, is especially relevant during Hispanic Heritage Month. Ms. Acevedo has been celebrated globally, recognized by Bloomberg as “one of the world’s most influential Latinos,” and spotlighted in Smithsonian’s book “30 Inspiring Latino/a’s that have shaped the United States.” Sylvia embodies the strength of Hispanic leadership.
In this special keynote address, Sylvia recounts her remarkable trajectory—from her early days as a rocket scientist at NASA, to a prominent technology executive at Apple, IBM, and Dell, to a dedicated White House Education Commissioner under President Obama, and to her inspiring tenure as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. Her tenure at Girl Scouts was transformative, integrating STEM programming and leading the charge as over 1 million Girl Scouts earned STEM badges. Today, Sylvia is a pioneering global leader on numerous corporate boards.
By sharing her life’s journey, Sylvia underscores the resilience, courage, and relentless persistence that have characterized her trailblazing career. With her inspiring narrative, she illuminates the powerful role that these traits play in fostering innovative leadership and effecting meaningful change. This talk is more than a personal story—it’s a celebration of the power of the embracing your potential, who you are and its transformative impact on leadership. Sylvia inspires you to embrace and celebrate your own potential, using it as a source of strength, resilience, and innovation.
Sylvia Acevedo is a renowned figure who has continually broken barriers and redefined women’s leadership. Recognized as one of the world’s most influential Latinos by Bloomberg and featured on InStyle’s “Badass 50: Women Changing the World” list, Sylvia’s story is a beacon of inspiration for women around the globe.
In this talk, Sylvia shares her remarkable journey from her early career as a NASA rocket scientist to being a tech executive at giants like Apple, IBM, and Dell. Not stopping there, she served as a White House Education Commissioner under President Obama and as the innovative CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. Here, she instilled a passion for STEM among a generation of girls, resulting in over 1 million STEM badges earned under her leadership. Today, Sylvia stands as a triumphant Latina on several corporate boards.
Sylvia’s tale isn’t just a personal success story—it’s a testament to the power of every woman’s resilience, courage, and unwavering persistence in the face of challenges. Her trajectory serves as an empowering narrative for aspiring women leaders and disruptors.
Biography
Sylvia Acevedo is a highly awarded leader and in demand speaker who has made an enduring impact across diverse industries, excelling in both corporate and public sectors as a pioneering trailblazer. Beginning her career as a rocket scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Sylvia’s journey took her through executive roles at renowned companies such as Apple, Autodesk, Dell, and IBM. Sylvia currently serves on the Public company Corporate Board of Directors of Qualcomm and Credo Technologies.
From 2016 to 2020, she was the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, modernizing the organization with over 126 new STEM badge programs. Sylvia also served as a White House Commissioner during the Obama Administration.
Sylvia authored the bestselling memoir, ‘Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist,’ promoting perseverance and self-determination.
Sylvia holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Industrial Engineering from New Mexico State University and a Master’s engineering graduate degree from Stanford University, where she was one of the first Hispanics, male or female, to earn such a degree. Sylvia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Washington College, and in 2022, Duke University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Science.
Sylvia is an inspiring and trailblazing leader, she reminds company leaders and employees of their inherent greatness in making a difference in their life and the lives of others regardless of their background and challenges.