Lisa Hughes, News anchor for WBZ-TV News

Award-winning journalist Lisa Hughes is a news anchor for WBZ-TV News weekdays at 5PM, 6PM and 11PM with co-anchor David Wade. Hughes joined the station in June 2000 after working as a correspondent for CBS Newspath, the CBS-TV Station Group’s satellite news service.

In her first year with WBZ-TV, Hughes was named Best Newcomer in TV News by Boston Magazine and Best News Anchor by the Improper Bostonian. Hughes was honored by the Idaho Press Club for Best Live Shot in 1994, and Best Live Shot and Best Series in 1993. The Idaho State Broadcasters Association also recognized Hughes for Best News Story in 1993-1994.

Among her many honors for her work in journalism, in 2014 Hughes received both a Columbia DuPont Award as well as a 2013 George Foster Peabody Award as part of WBZ-TV’s team coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings. In 2008 Lisa received an Emmy Award for On-Camera Talent Reporter. In 2007, Lisa won a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her at-home interviews with the candidates running for governor. Lisa was an Emmy Award nominee in 2000 for News Anchoring and received an Emmy Award for Hard News Story in 1996.

Candy O’Terry, Associate and Executive Coach at Brunner Communications

Candy O’Terry is an Associate and Executive Coach at Brunner Communications, specializing in executive presence, presentation skills, public speaking and scriptwriting, media training and women’s leadership training.  An award-winning broadcaster, Candy spent 25 years on the air in Boston reaching through the radio to connect with listeners in a memorable, authentic way. An accomplished singer and recording artist, Candy’s CD Dream Come True contains 5 songs which receive both national and international airplay.

During her radio career, she created and co-hosted Magic 106.7’s Exceptional Women show, which would go on to become the most successful public affairs radio program produced by and for women in the nation. In 2015, Candy was named Massachusetts Broadcaster of the Year.

An honors graduate of Boston College with a degree in English, Candy is the Co-Founder & President of Boston Women in Media & Entertainment. She is a devoted mentor, serving on the boards of Dream BIG, Strong Women, Strong Girls and the Council for Women of Boston College.

Carol Fulp, President and CEO of The Partnership, Inc.

Carol Fulp is , New England’s premier organization dedicated to enhancing the competitiveness of the region by attracting, developing, retaining and convening multicultural professionals. During its 30 year history, The Partnership has collaborated with nearly 300 corporations who have sponsored more than 4,000 multicultural executives and professionals in the organization’s innovative leadership development programming. Fulp has expanded offerings by creating the C-Suite Program for multicultural executives at the highest levels of corporations. The program was launched at the home of then Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick and subsequently they have become co-chairs of the program.

Prior to The Partnership, Fulp was Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Brand Management at John Hancock Financial. Here she led the company’s marketing and sponsorships departments, while directing the company’s $12 million philanthropic giving program. Under her leadership, the company created the largest corporate summer jobs program of its kind in the country and received the Points of Light Foundation’s Corporate Excellence Award. Previously, Fulp was the Director of Community Programming and Human Resources for WCVB, the ABC-TV Boston affiliate. She also served as the Corporate Employee Relations Manager for the Gillette Company.

Given her leadership in business and public service, President Obama appointed Fulp as a Representative of the United States of America to the Sixty-fifth Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Governor de Jongh appointed her as a trustee of the University of the Virgin Islands where she served for five years. Boston Mayor Menino and subsequently Mayor Walsh appointed her as trustee of the Boston Public Library where she served for seven years. Mayor Walsh also appointed her to the City of Boston Compensation Advisory Board. And Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg named Fulp to her Advisory Committee on Wage Equality.

Boston Business Journal has listed Fulp as one of the “50 Most Influential Bostonians” and in 2015 Boston Magazine listed her as one of the “50 Most Powerful People in Boston.”

Kristina D. Tsipouras, Entrepreneur. Author. Community Leader.

Kristina Tsipouras is a 32-year old serial entrepreneur and Massachusetts native who launched her first company at the age of 25. 

Kristina moved home to Boston and launched a ready-to-drink iced-tea beverage that became an overnight success. Her beverage was picked up in several national retailers, she was a top finalist in the Mass Challenge class of 2015, a finalist in Under Armour’s Cupid’s Cup Startup Competition — where, she pitched her idea in front of 3,000 people to Daymond John of Shark Tank, Karen Katz, CEO of Neiman Marcus, and Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour. She later moved on to establish the fastest-growing women’s network in Boston, Boston Business Women.

The group has over 8,000 active members, a membership program for entrepreneurs and corporate women, and hosts a 1,200 person conference that takes place each spring and attracts speakers from Arianna Huffington to CEOs like Melanie Whelan of SoulCycle.

Kristina’s most recent success is in her brand of beauty products, Moroccan Magic organic argan + essential oil lips balms. After only one year in business, Moroccan Magic is available in CVS nationwide and everyone from The Today Show to the cofounder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, calls it, “the best new drugstore lip balm.”

Kristina is also a published author, Huffington Post blogger, and an active mentor and volunteer to young women interested in entrepreneurship. She and her brands have been featured in USA Today, Forbes, The Boston Globe, and many other high-profile publications.

Megan Costello, Executive Director of The Office of Women's Advancement 

Megan Costello grew up outside of Boston in Reading, Massachusetts. She came to Boston in 2005 to attend Suffolk University where she earned her degree in Sociology: Health and Human Services.

Her passion has always been in politics and government, especially ensuring that women’s voices are heard and included. Since graduating in 2009, she has worked for a variety of elected officials and campaigns. In 2009 she began working for Setti Warren who was running for mayor of Newton. When he won in 2009, Megan managed his transition and then joined him in the mayor’s office where she served as Executive Assistant and then Director of Community Engagement.

In 2012, she joined President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign in the swing state of Iowa. There she was a Region Field Director, managing 21 out of 99 counties. After returning from Iowa, Megan worked to elect Senator Ed Markey as Statewide Volunteer Director. Shortly after Senator Markey’s election, Megan joined Marty Walsh’s campaign for mayor as his Campaign Manager.

Megan spent many years on the campaign trail, but decided to join Mayor Walsh's administration because her passion has always been to advance women in politics and government. Megan currently lives in Dorchester and in her free time enjoys cooking, cycling, and doing yoga. She also sits on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Political Action Committee; on the External Advisory Board of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) at UMass Boston; and is a member of the Boston Women's Workforce Council.