2026 NOW Conference Presenter

Monica Phillips

With more than 20 years of experience leading strategic business teams, Monica Phillips supports leaders at all levels in creating thriving and inclusive workplaces by elevating leadership, mindfulness, and emotional well-being.

She is the founder of the Legal Academy on Equity and Inclusion, and she developed and runs a year-long General Counsel Boot Camp to advance women to the highest levels of leadership.

She has a master’s degree in international education, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, and is a...

Monique Matlock-Dees

Monique Matlock-Dees is an Executive Assistant in the Chancellor's Division at UC Berkeley, where she supports the Chief Campus Counsel and facilitates operations within the Office of Legal Affairs. She is also an ICF-accredited Master Certified Professional Coach and a senior-year psychology student. Her role at UC Berkeley places her at the intersection of leadership and staff experience, offering her a distinct vantage point that is both close to decision-making and deeply rooted in the day-to-day realities of those she serves.

Outside of...

Nathaniel Segal

Nathaniel Segal is a seasoned professional magician and consultant who spends as much time behind the scenes as he does in front of audiences. A graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in applied mathematics and a theater minor, Nathaniel has been featured on Penn & Teller: Fool Us,Masters of Illusion, and at the Magic Castle, Nathaniel has also served as a magic consultant for David Blaine's Las Vegas show, America's Got Talent semifinals as well as the...

Pierre Khawand

Pierre Khawand is the founder of People-OnTheGo and the co-host of the podcast Awakening Mindfulness at Work. Since 2001, he has helped professionals and organizations strengthen productivity, communication, collaboration, and leadership through practical, human-centered approaches. Pierre has worked with leading institutions across higher education, healthcare, technology, and finance, combining organizational effectiveness with mindfulness and well-being. He is the author of several...

Rachel York

UC Berkeley, Associate Director of Admissions | Founder/Coach for Re.Connect

Rachel York is a coach, facilitator, and higher education professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals through change across corporate healthcare and higher education settings. She currently works on the MBA Admissions team at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she supports prospective and admitted students and contributes to initiatives focused on access, community, and the student experience.

Rachel is also the founder of Re.Connect Coaching & Facilitation, where she offers 1:1 coaching and leads reflective, tools-based workshops that help...

Shari Berens

Shari Berens is the Co-Founder of Bright Bridge Strategies, where she draws on over 20 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company in leadership development and organizational transformation to help senior leaders and teams achieve their highest potential.

A champion for effective leadership, Shari guides her clients in building emotional intelligence and self-awareness, enhancing time and life management, and communicating with excellence.

A blessed...

Stacey Robbins

After a decades-long career with the Walt Disney Company, with roles spanning Operations, Finance, HR, and ultimately Leadership Development, Stacey Robbins co-founded Bright Bridge Strategies, where she helps organizations foster growth through intentional leadership and meaningful connection. Her work helps leaders move beyond autopilot, building the bridge between self-awareness and awareness of others to strengthen relationships and create cultures...

Toi B. James

Toi B. James, MPA, PMP, ICF-ACC, bridges technological capability and human readiness. As a certified AI consultant and coach - with MIT credentials in Applied Agentic AI - she specializes in legitimacy risk management during digital and AI transformation. With 15+ years leading organizational change, Toi has authored Talk About It and Human, First: Leading with Trust When Technology Moves Faster Than People and created The Trust Test™ framework for ethical AI decision-making.

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Yuki Burton

Yuki Burton brings over 14 years of experience in higher education, specializing in student success, equity, and access. She currently serves as Director of UC Berkeley’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and is a proud EOP alum. Yuki has led high-impact cross-campus initiatives supporting first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, including programs focused on student retention, yield, readmission and cultivating a sense of belonging. Known for her collaborative and mission-driven leadership, she has navigated organizational change across diverse...