Mid-Management Panel
- Host – Michele Heyward, Founder, PositiveHire
- Guest – Francesca EscotoCertified Professional Coach & Kimberly White, Charis Advisory Group & Karrin Mayfield Felton, Smart Program Manager
Positive hire is a tech startup, focuses on connecting experienced Black, Latina, and Indigenous women, who are scientists, engineers, and technology professionals to management roles. We do subject matter expert positions as well. But the importance is, our numbers are small, but we are mighty, and we deserve to be there. We remove more barriers so that we continue to grow and excel in our careers.
I’ve spoken to many Black, Latinx & Indigenous women in STEM aspire to advance their careers into management. Often the only people they have to ask about getting a promotion are white men. The path to promotion is often different for men and women especially for women who are Black, Latino, or Indigenous. During this 75-minute panel discussion, you’ll learn how two Black women and a Latina advanced their careers into middle management. Don’t forget to watch the video till the end!
Francesca Escoto
She is an engineer by trade with a passion for entrepreneurship as a form activism. Francesca helps streamline operations, automate business processes, and divisive strategies for long term business viability.
Ms. Escoto also manages software dev projects, and is a Certified Scrum Master, certified Project Management Professional, and Certified Professional Coach. She has been featured in the stages and pages of MIT Media Lab, Forbes, WPI, Code2040, SXSW, SHPE.
She is raising 3 fabulous ladies, dances salsa, paints, and writes. Francesca is Advisory Board Member for SXSW, Chairman of the Board for Allapattah CDC, a non profit fighting gentrification in Miami, Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and is co-creator of the Black and Brown Founders Bootstrapping Bootcamp.
Karrin Mayfield Felton
Karrin is a self-professed geek who has over twenty years of engineering experience and technical leadership in the private and public sector. Her career achievements have been in the area of process optimization, data analytics, human capital management, recruiting, workforce development, program execution (design build, quality assurance, acquisition, STEM outreach) within manufacturing, the Department of the Navy, and Marine Corps.
Currently assigned as the Program Manager for Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program Manager under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), where she develop a pipeline of talent to support the growing technical expertise critical to national security functions.
With each opportunity, Karrin continue to serve as a change agent who employs a data driven approach to solving problems; manage with a people first leadership style to mentor and develop the next generation of STEM talent and implement strategic direction resulting in high performing teams and sustainable processes.
Karrin’s leadership, peers and colleagues recognize her as a STEM advocate, mentor, dynamic speaker and thought leader who pursues intentional outreach that prepares students and early career professionals to succeed while facing emerging challenges.
Michele Heyward
Michele Heyward is founder and CEO of PositiveHire, a tech company engineered to bridge the gap between enterprises and underrepresented women in STEM professions. Michele is a civil engineer who is an experienced project manager in the energy sector armed with technical sales and technology transfer experience.
Michele’s vision is to not only help black, Latina and indigenous women find inclusive workplaces, but to prepare enterprises to receive them, and help those enterprises recruit them. This approach makes PositiveHire the premiere recruiting platform for black, Latina and indigenous women professionals.
Michele has a B.S. degree in civil engineering and a M.S. degree in industrial management, both from Clemson University. A South Carolina native, Michele enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, Toastmasters, and making connections personally and professionally. Michele has a passion for engaging with others on social media.
Kimberly White
Kimberly White is an executive leader, strategic thought partner, and managing director of The Charis Advisory Group, a strategy consultancy that transforms organizations by identifying and solving the challenges that stand in the way of growth and progress.
Highly regarded for her inclusive leadership practices and collaborative problem-solving style, Kimberly helps companies align their performance goals with their vision and mission. Her entrepreneurial approach consistently drives innovation as she develops, operationalizes, and executes new business initiatives and turnarounds. Whether partnering on multimillion-dollar technology rollouts, guiding people investments, or managing change, Kimberly leads all business opportunities with highly articulated data to support operational scalability, fiscal responsibility, stewardship, and measurable, sustainable results.
Kimberly thrives on being a catalyst in organizations – sparking new ideas, well-thought-out strategies, and meaningful change in individuals and teams. She knows how to establish and build trust, empowering her colleagues and teams to define their goals with actionable plans to achieve their maximum potential. Honesty, transparency, accountability, and open communication are hallmarks of her approach to bringing clarity and synergy to projects and processes.
Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Accounting with a double Master of Science degree in Finance and Strategic Management. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, able to implement, perform, interpret, and apply Lean Six Sigma at the highest level of proficiency. Her love of learning extends to teaching, offering classes in Accounting and Strategic Management at John F. Kennedy University.
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