Center Team

Founding Director Betsy Myers

Betsy Myers is the founding director of the Center for Women and Business. Prior to her appointment, Betsy was most recently speaking and leading corporate workshops around the world on the changing nature of leadership and women's leadership, work that continues in her role with the center. Her new book -- Take the Lead -- was released September 2011.

Previously, Betsy was a senior adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, as COO and as chair of Women for Obama. She traveled extensively in 2008, speaking to undecided voters, particularly on women's outreach. These efforts included a working partnership with the DNC's Women's Leadership Forum.

Prior to the campaign, Betsy served as executive director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where she focused the center's teaching and research around personal leadership and the fully integrated person.  She also increased the center's efforts around women and leadership while working closely with the Harvard's Women's Leadership Board.

During the Clinton Administration, Betsy was the President's senior adviser on women's issues. As deputy assistant to the president, she launched and was the first director of the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach.  She played a critical role in Clinton's re-election effort in 1996 and figured prominently in shaping the administration's legislative agenda on a number of important issues, including many with significant impact for women.

Myers also served as the associate deputy administrator for Entrepreneurial Development in the U.S. Small Business Administration. In a previous post, Myers was the director of the Office of Women's Business Ownership at the SBA. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, Myers spent six years building Myers Insurance and Financial Services, based in Los Angeles. She specialized in the small business and women's market providing insurance and retirement planning.

Betsy received her undergraduate Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School, where she was a Public Service Fellow.

Susan Adams, Ph.D.
Senior Director and Professor, Management
sadams@bentley.edu

Susan Adams publishes regularly in leading academic and practitioner outlets, focusing on organizational growth and professional advancement. Her current studies concentrate on career barriers that women face and the careers and leadershilp styles of CEOs. Susan's academic insights, shared in and out of the classroom, are enhanced by her consulting work with more than 70 clients. At Bentley, Susan teaches leadership and consulting courses. She has served on and chaired boards of companies and non-profit organizations. Susan is a former Chair of the Management Consulting and Careers Divisions of the Academy of Management, a member of the American Psychological Association and member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. She earned her PhD in management from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Parker Stanzione
Director, Corporate and External Relations
pstanzione@bentley.edu

Parker brings more than 16 years of business management and marketing communications experience to the Center for Women and Business. She has a range of experience delivering results for many large companies and most recently oversaw the online implementation of Microsoft's Corporate Citizenship campaign. She spent five years at Fleishman Hillard in a senior account management role working for one of the firm's largest clients, the Executive Office of the President, ONCDP.  Before that she served as Director of Strategic Audiences at America Online where her role was to develop partnerships for companies such as Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble, Phillips and Time, Inc. Parker spent the early part of her career as an entrepreneur and publisher of a national magazine for youth. In this role, she was chosen as a finalist for the Echoing Green Social Entrepreneurs Fellowship in 1996.  Parker earned a BA from Georgetown University.

Elisa M. Vincent
Associate Director
evincent@bentley.edu

Elisa Vincent joined the center for Women and Business from Bentley’s Women’s Leadership Institute, which was incorporated into the center in 2011. She joined Bentley in 2010 after working for 10 years in higher education administration.  Most recently, Elisa managed the international activities at Boston University’s, School of Management, Undergraduate Program, including the development and implementation of management programs abroad. Her background includes working with students of all ages and from many diverse backgrounds. Along the way, her students have taught her that learning is a life-long process and that it is important for women to assess, develop, and nourish their professional skills throughout their lives and careers.  Elisa earned a BA in English and Italian Studies and has an EDM in Higher Education Administration, International Education from Boston University.

Toni Wolfman
Executive Advisor
twolfman@bentley.edu

Toni Wolfman joined the Center for Women and Business from Bentley’s Women’s Leadership Institute, which was incorporated into the Center in 2011. She has served Bentley since 2005 as Executive-in-Residence, working with faculty, students and alumnae on issues affecting women in business and the professions, serving as a liaison between the university and senior women executives and professionals, and participating in research and programming for current and future women leaders. Toni brings to her position nearly 30 years of legal practice, primarily at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston, where she was a partner in its litigation department focusing on the resolution of complex commercial disputes. As an advocate for the advancement of women in business, Toni leads the corporate board search effort for The Boston Club, is past president of ION, serves on the Board of Trustees for Smith College, and heads Women Corporate Directors-Boston. Toni is an alumna of Smith College, holds an MA from Columbia University, and earned her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Administrative Support Staff

Dee Speros
Assistant to the Founding Director
dsperos@bentley.edu

Dee Speros joined the Center for Women and Business from Bentley’s Women’s Leadership Institute, which was incorporated into the center in 2011. She joined Bentley in 2007 as the Administrative Assistant, working closely with the Director. Dee administered and applied university policies as well as coordinated the events for the Institute assuring the smooth operation of all. She has more than 15 years experience in academia - supporting executives, coordinating events for special projects, overseeing and training students, along with bringing a corporate style approach to the center. Dee is a graduate of the Boston School of Business.

Center for Women and Business Fellow

Opal Leung
CWB Fellow
leung_opal@bentley.edu

Opal Leung, is the first doctoral student to be sponsored by the Center. She is a Canadian national who holds an HonBSc in Physics and Philosophy from University of Toronto, BM in Music Production & Engineering from Berklee College of Music, ALMM in Management (with a concentration in organizational behavior and human resources) from Harvard Extension School, and a MS in Organization Studies from Boston College. Past occupational roles include English teacher (in Japan and Canada), Canadian naval reserve musician, and studio supervisor in Boston. Her current research interests are anchored in role transitions, with an emphasis on micro-role transitions, such as going from being a parent to company employee (or vice versa). While at Boston College, Opal co-authored a book chapter with Jean Bartunek for Denise Rousseau's Handbook for Evidence Based Management (forthcoming). She presented her work on people who hold dual occupational roles, at the 2010 Academy of Management Conference in Montreal, Canada. Most recently, she received a Best Reviewer Award in the Careers Division for the 2011 Academy of Management Conference in San Antonio, Texas.