Learn more about the featured speakers at MORE’s second annual Reinvention Convention.
Welcome Speaker
Lesley Jane Seymour was named editor-in-chief of MORE magazine in January of 2008. She most recently served as editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, where she spearheaded the magazine's signature cause-related programs, including Time to Talk Day, which raised awareness for domestic violence, and the One World/One Wish campaign for the international relief organization Save the Children. While editor-in-chief of Redbook, she repositioned the magazine, developed new editorial programs and features, and guided the title to a National Magazine Award nomination for Personal Service for its comprehensive Breast Cancer Medbook called "What to Do When You Find a Lump." Seymour has also served as the editor-in-chief of YM, beauty director of Glamour, and contributing editor for Vogue. She is the author of two books: On the Edge: Images from 100 Years of Vogue and I Wish My Parents Understood.
Breakfast Keynote Speaker
Carly Fiorina was the first and, to date, only woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard Company from 1999 to 2005. Fiorina took an unconventional route to becoming a corporate titan, starting as a medieval history major, a law school dropout, and a secretary. She is the author of the bestselling memoir Tough Choices, and in March 2008 was appointed Victory '08 Chairman for the Republican National Committee. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Fiorina Foundation, a philanthropic organization, where she chairs The One Woman Initiative -- A Fund for Women's Empowerment, and is a founding partner of the African Leadership Academy. As Chairman and CEO of Carly Fiorina Enterprises she is bringing her unique perspective and experience to bear on the challenging issues of our world, championing economic growth and empowerment for a more prosperous and secure world.
Laura Landro has been an assistant managing editor of The Wall Street Journal since 2001, and writes frequently about healthcare. Her column, the "Informed Patient," runs on alternate Thursdays. She also writes the "Finicky Traveler" column for the Weekend Journal section. She is the recipient of the Gerald Loeb award for deadline reporting and the New York Women in Communications, Inc. Matrix Award in the newspaper category, honoring her achievements in journalism. Her story, "Dose of Prevention: Six Prescriptions to Ease Rationing in U.S. Health Care" was one of a series of seven Wall Street Journal articles awarded the 2004 prize for The National Institute of Health Care Management Research and Educational Foundation. The series was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2004. Her book, Survivor: Taking Charge of Your Fight Against Cancer, an account of her fight against leukemia and a bone marrow transplant, was published in October 1998 by Simon & Schuster.
Career Master Class
Lisa Johnson is an author, speaker, and agent of change. She currently serves as the CEO of the Reach Group, a boutique consultancy with up-to-the-minute knowledge of market forces, trends, and consumers' buying minds. A leading corporate trainer, researcher, and brand consultant, Johnson is the author of Mind Your X's and Y's and The Free Agent Formula, and is co-author of Don't Think Pink. Her passion is for mentoring women with a fire in their belly and a burning desire to not just do well in their careers, but more important, to do good. Inspirational, passionate, and full of strategies that really work, Johnson has made it her life's mission to live in the center of her sweet spot and to help countless women do the same.
Health Master Class
Pamela Peeke MD, MPH, FACP, is a nationally recognized expert in nutrition and fitness. She serves as Chief Medical Correspondent for Discovery Health Television; is the host of Discovery's Fit to Live series, based on her latest book; and is the featured physician of the award-winning National Body Challenge series. She is also a Pew Foundation Scholar in nutrition and metabolism and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland. While a senior research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Peeke's research helped to define the connection between abdominal fat and chronic stress. She is also the New York Times best-selling author of Fight Fat After Forty and Body for Life for Women. Dr. Peeke has been recognized by the NIH as one of the country's leading physicians in its Changing Face of Medicine exhibit at the National Library of Medicine and has been named one of America's top physicians by the Consumer's Research Council of America. She is a member of the Maryland Governor's Council on Fitness, is advisor to the Clinton Foundation and Alliance for Healthier Generations, and participates as a board member, consultant, and expert to organizations devoted to health and wellness internationally.
Money Master Class
Jean Chatzky, award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and motivational speaker, has created a global platform to help millions of men and women battle a devastating epidemic -- debt. Jean is a contributing editor for MORE magazine, the financial editor for NBC's Today, a contributing editor for Money magazine, and a columnist for the New York Daily News. She is the author of four books, including Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day, a New York Times and BusinessWeek best-seller. Her latest book, Make Money, Not Excuses is a Wall Street Journal and New York Times best-seller. She has received the Clarion Award for magazine columns from the Association of Women in Communications and has been named one of the country's best magazine columnists by the Chicago Tribune. In addition to her professional work, Chatzky serves on the March of Dimes advisory council and lends her support and expertise to women's services groups.
Luncheon Panel
Moderator
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, actress, musician, author, producer, model, and activist Cybill Shepherd made her film debut in 1971 in the highly acclaimed The Last Picture Show, which led to starring roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Daisy Miller, Taxi Driver, Chances Are, and Texasville. She has starred in three television series including The Yellow Rose, Moonlighting, for which she won three Golden Globes and an Emmy nomination, and the self-titled show Cybill, for which she also won a Golden Globe and served as the show's executive producer. Currently, she portrays the character of Phyllis Kroll in the Showtime original series The L Word. Cybill has performed sold-out concerts around the world blending rock, blues, ballads, and standards as well as her own compositions. In 2000, she released her memoir, Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis, Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood, and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think, in which she tells her remarkable story as only she can, with humor, pathos, and an insatiable lust for life.
Panelists
Polly Draper is the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the Nickelodeon hit series The Naked Brothers Band, based on her award-winning fantasy rockumentary of the same name which premiered on the network in January 2007. The project earned her a nomination for a 2008 Writers Guild Award in the category of Children's Episodic & Specials. In 1998, she marked her screenwriting debut with The Tic Code, inspired by her husband, jazz pianist Michael Wolff, who lives with a mild case of Tourette's syndrome. She co-starred opposite Danny Aiello and John Corbett in the 2000 film Dinner Rush and in 1999 starred in the Broadway play Closer, for which she received tremendous acclaim. In the late '80s, she played Ellyn Warren on the Emmy-winning television series, thirtysomething, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. Draper got her first taste of screenwriting while helping to develop and re-write episodes of the show and eventually began writing her own screenplays.
An Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award winner, S. Epatha Merkerson has won critical acclaim for her work in theater, television, and film. Merkerson, currently in her 15th season on the perennial hit series Law & Order, received a 2006 NAACP Image Award and a 2007 and 2008 NAACP Image Award Nomination for her portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. On stage, Merkerson was recently seen in Come Back Little Sheba on Broadway, for which she received a Tony nomination, a Drama League nomination, and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. Starring in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues as Rachel "Nanny" Crosby, Merkerson also garnered a 2006 NAACP Image Award, a Gracie Allen Award, and an IFP Spirit nomination. She was most recently seen in the independent film Slipstream, written and directed by Anthony Hopkins. Merkerson has co-starred in numerous television movies including Girl, Positive; A Mother's Prayer, An Unexpected Life, It's a Girl Thing, A Place for Annie, and Exiled. Prior to Law & Order Merkerson was a series regular on Peewee's Playhouse, Dick Wolf's Mann and Machine, and the Cosby spin-off Here and Now. On stage Merkerson has performed on and off Broadway in productions including Suzan Lori-Parks' F**king A; August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Piano Lesson; the Young Playwrights Festival's production of I'm Not Stupid; The Old Settler; and Cheryl West's play Birdie Blue.
Performing has always played an important role Vanessa Williams' life. In 1983, she won the Miss America title and in 1988, her debut album The Right Stuff (featuring the unforgettable "Save the Best for Last") went gold and she earned her first three Grammy nominations. Her hit single "Colors of the Wind," the theme song from the Disney animated feature Pocahontas, won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture. In 1994, Williams debuted on Broadway in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and, in 2002, she starred in the Tony Award-winning revival of Into the Woods, earning her first Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Her current role as the deliciously wicked Wilhelmina Slater on ABC's critically acclaimed hit series Ugly Betty has further established her as a pop culture icon. Williams has received three NAACP Image Awards and a total of 11 Grammy Award nominations, among many other awards and honors. In 2007 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Williams supports such causes as education, help for the homeless, ending abuse, women's and children's issues, and the fight against AIDS. She is actively involved with organizations including Green Chimneys, the Open Door, and the Cottage School, and she has been a Board Member of Special Olympics International. Vanessa plans to return to the studio in 2008 to record a new album for Concord Records.
Fashion Master Class
Isaac Mizrahi is the Creative Director for the Liz Claiborne brand, where he oversees design and marketing for the women's apparel and accessories line. A leader in the design business for almost 20 years, he has been awarded four CFDA awards, including a special award in 1996 for the groundbreaking documentary Unzipped. Mizrahi's women's collection is available both domestically and internationally and can be seen in fashion magazines around the globe. In 2003, he revolutionized the industry by teaming with Target to launch a collection of chic and stylish clothing and accessories for women. He has appeared in films and television shows including Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, and Celebrity Jeopardy! and won rave reviews in 1999 for his one-man, off-Broadway show Les Mizrahi. Television audiences have come to love Mizrahi as the host of his own series on both the Oxygen Network and the Style Network. He is currently shooting his new Web show, which can be seen at watchisaac.com, and writing his first book, How to Have Style, available fall 2008.
Health Panel Discussion
Moderator
Nancy Snyderman, MD, joined NBC News as Chief Medical Editor in September 2006. Her reports appear on Today, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, MSNBC, and MSNBC.com. She has reported on wide-ranging medical topics affecting both men and women and has traveled the world extensively, reporting from many of the world's most troubled areas. A New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Snyderman has written four books: Dr. Nancy Snyderman's Guide to Good Health for Women Over Forty, Necessary Journeys, Girl in the Mirror: Mothers and Daughters in the Years of Adolescence, and her latest, Medical Myths That Can Kill You and The 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life.
Panelists
Laura Berman, LCSW, PhD, is the Director of the Berman Center in Chicago, a specialized healthcare facility dedicated to helping women and couples find fulfilling sex lives and enriched relationships. She has been working as a sex educator, researcher, and therapist for 18 years. Considered a thought leader in her field, Dr. Berman has appeared in numerous national media outlets and is a weekly contributor to the Today show, In the Loop with iVillage, NBC 5 Chicago, and WBBM-FM (B96) in Chicago. Dr. Berman is a columnist for the Sun-Times, has starred in the Showtime television series Sexual Healing and writes The Art of Intimacy, a Yahoo! health expert blog. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life as well as Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman: 10 Keys to Unlocking Ultimate Pleasure. Her most recent book, The Passion Prescription, was released by Hyperion in 2006.
Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, is the founder and director of the UPMC Weight Management Center, based in Pittsburgh. She is also a Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, and Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and an American College of Nutrition board-certified Nutrition Specialist. For more than 25 years, Dr. Fernstrom has devoted herself to clinical and laboratory work, studying and treating both the biology and behaviors relating to obesity and eating disorders. Her community outreach has focused on empowering women and men of all ages to develop a toolbox of positive lifestyle habits that promote good health. A recognized expert in her field, Dr. Fernstrom is an established media resource. She is the diet and nutrition editor for NBC's Today show; has appeared on NBC Nightly News, Fox News, the BBC, and National Public Radio; and has been a guest on 20/20, Dr. Phil, and Good Morning America. She is the author of The Runner's Diet and the co-author of Are You Losing It? Losing Weight Without Losing Your Mind.
Gail Saltz, MD, psychiatrist, columnist, best-selling author, and television commentator, has been called "a voice of wisdom and insight in a world of confusion and contradictions" by Tom Brokaw. Dr. Saltz is a regular health, sex, and relationships contributor to the Today show, for which she hosts the weekly "On the Couch" segment and participates as the expert guest in a range of other related discussions. She writes a weekly relationship column for MSNBC.com, serves as the emotional wellness expert for ivillage.com, and is a frequent contributor to A&E's Biography programs. Dr. Saltz has gained a reputation as the "go-to" authority on a variety of psychological issues, especially those pertaining to women's emotional well-being, and she has appeared on Dateline, CBS News, and the Early Show, Fox News, CNN, Larry King Live, and Anderson Cooper 360, among others. She is the author of The Anatomy of a Secret Life and the critically acclaimed Becoming Real: Defeating the Stories We Tell Ourselves That Hold Us Back.
Beauty Master Class
Moderator
Genevieve Monsma, Beauty Director at MORE magazine, has been covering the hair, skin, and makeup market for more than decade. She previously served as Beauty Director at Shape, Deputy Beauty Director at Marie Claire, Beauty Director at CosmoGirl, and Associate Beauty Editor at Redbook. She has appeared as a beauty expert on NBC's Today, MTV, and VH1. Genevieve lives in New York City with her husband and 5-year-old son.
Panelists
Sharon Giese, MD, PC, employs her encompassing approach to cosmetic surgery, which focuses on strengthening confidence-improving beauty inside and out. She combines her background in art, science, medicine, and psychology to deliver customized treatments for each patient. A fourth-generation surgeon, Dr. Giese is trained as a biochemist and is credited with groundbreaking research on the effects of large-volume liposuction to improve pre-diabetes and cardiac risk factors, as well as weight loss.
Over the past decade-plus, native New Yorker Rita Hazan has established herself as one of the most sought-after colorists in the world, known for setting beauty trends and reinventing celebrities. She has most recently created signature color looks for stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Debra Messing, Rachel Weisz, Keyshia Cole, and Renee Zellweger. Hazan owns and operates her namesake salon, a 6,000 square-foot full-service beauty mecca located at 720 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The loyalty of Rita's celebrity and personal clientele is attributed to her innate understanding of what looks best on women from a woman's perspective, her keen eye for detail, and her warm, down-to-earth personality. Gifted with a literal "golden touch," Rita is revered for her work on blondes -- though her work spans the colors of the rainbow -- and as the go-to expert for corrective color Rx.
Juan Carlos Maciques has been a true power player in the hair industry for the past 15 years. Part of the Rita Hazan Salon team since 2005, Juan Carlos approaches hair with a fresh outlook and likes to keep things sexy with lots of movement. Renowned for his incredible updos, Juan Carlos styled all of the models for the Rita Hazan Salon website (www.ritahazansalon.com). Over the course of his career, he has worked on an array of fashion shows, award ceremonies and advertising campaigns including Victoria's Secret, Marchesa, ADAM Adam Lippes, Badgely Mishka, Michael Kors, Vivienne Tam, Jill Stuart, Versace, Valentino, Custo Barcelona, VH1 Fashion Music Awards and House of Levande, as well as on album covers and varied music videos. Celebrity clients have included Michelle Williams, Jaime Pressly, Alicia Silverstone, Rosario Dawson, Christine Baranski, Bette Midler and Jennifer Lopez among others. Juan Carlos is also a frequent contributor to leading magazines and websites such as Elle, Glamour, Lucky, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar and Self, providing quotes, analysis and ideas for stories. Allure has also recognized him in their Four Star Directory as one of New York City's top hairstylists. Juan Carlos has appeared on television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, MTV's TRL, The View, Ambush Makeover, Channel 7 News and the E! Network.
Celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn joined the Giorgio Armani Beauty team with the launch of the brand in September 2001. As the US frontman for Giorgio Armani Beauty, Tim has traveled internationally hosting special events, training, and promoting the beauty line. His words of wisdom have graced the pages of MORE, W, Elle, Glamour, Lucky, InStyle, Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. Tim has been featured as one of the “25 Beauty Stars" in W magazine and has worked backstage at several award shows including the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the ESPYs. Additionally, Tim has been featured numerous times on television programs such as the Today show, Extra, and E! Entertainment. Tim has worked with a number of celebrities such as Glenn Close, Debra Messing, Victoria Beckham, Kim Cattrall, Gwen Stefani, Kate Bosworth, Minnie Driver, Ziyi Zhang, and Brooke Shields. He has designed faces for Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Naomi Campbell, Katie Holmes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore.
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Originally published on MORE.com, July 2008.