Dr. Natalie Stavas is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. She
specializes in work with vulnerable children, victims of abuse, and decreasing youth violence.
Described as a healer, educator, and Boston community leader she received the 2012 Change Maker
award from The Boston Foundation.
On April 15, 2013, Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon. Just blocks away,
she heard explosions and ran towards them. Arriving at the scene she went to work administering CPR,
applying tourniquets, and triaging the wounded.
Following this event, President Barack Obama, Katie Couric, and Anderson Cooper honored her for her
actions. Improper Bostonian magazine named Dr. Stavas one of “Boston’s Best” and The Boston Globe
awarded her with “2013 Bostonian of the Year” – an honor bestowed upon those that shape the biggest
story of the year in a remarkable way.
After the bombings, Dr. Stavas increased her efforts in preventing childhood violence. She became a
weekly medical contributor for Boston’s Fox 25- discussing issues affecting children and young adults, a
mentor for Sole Train- a non-profit guiding inner-city youth on a path towards their full potential
through running. In early 2014 she helped partner Prescription for the Outdoors with Boston Medical
Center’s pediatric team.
This advocacy goes beyond borders- traveling to Haiti throughout the year Dr. Stavas provided medical
care to children and helped strengthen their fragile medical infrastructure. A documentary featuring this
work as a medical pioneer premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest film festival.
Dr. Stavas is currently a leader in education and research. She serves as the Program Director for Child
Protection Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. In this role she mentors medical
students, residents, and fellows towards a path of fulfillment in medicine. Her research on caring for
vulnerable children has won awards and been highlighted on multiple media outlets. Since the COVID-19
pandemic, Dr. Stavas has focused her research on how COVID-19 is affecting children’s health as well as
physical wellbeing.
Dr. Stavas has been featured in Runner’s World, The New York Times, LA Times, The Boston Globe, The
New Yorker, Time, and People magazine..
Monday, July 11: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Grand Opening Ceremony & Keynote: Running Towards Chaos
An avid runner, Natalie’s philosophy for success is…. “You Run Toward.” This philosophy was never more apparent than on April 15th 2013. She had just run 26 miles and was about to finish the Boston marathon when the bombs detonated at the finish line. Instead of turning around and running away with the crowd, she ran towards the chaos and saved 4 lives that day.
Natalie Stavas attacks every obstacle with the same attitude: “You run towards that which you fear, that which challenges you, that which is oppositional.” Natalie speaks to audiences about her experience as a first responder and what ultimately led her to make that fateful decision to run into a terrorist attack.
Domains: TBA
CE Credits: TBA
Motivated by her passion to correct societal “isms” like racism, sexism, classism and plain old stupidism,
it is Risha Grant’s personal mission to expose the subtleties and values of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
while shining a light on the impacts they create. From her race, gender and lifestyle choices, to growing
a small business and tackling economic, moral, and business issues, every area of her life intersects
diversity.
Founder & CEO of Risha Grant LLC, an award-winning diversity consulting and communications firm, as
well as an edgy, educational and motivational speaker, author Risha Grant is an internationally
renowned diversity, inclusion and bias expert. She covers these topics through different media including
Risha Talks, her online courses and in her book, That’s BS! How Bias Synapse Disrupts Inclusive Cultures
and the Power to Attract Diverse Markets.
Risha uses honest, humorous, and vulnerable storytelling to motivate audiences to embrace the inner
tough work of Radical Acceptance while honoring diversity, equity, and inclusion without evoking
feelings of judgement or assigning blame. Her audiences leave with shifted hearts and minds that lead
them to treat others with empathy, kindness and compassion.
These audiences have included Google, Levi Strauss, Nestle Purina, Xerox, YouTube, Procter & Gamble,
Discover Card Financial Services, Samsung Electronics America, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, USAA,
U.S. Airforce, U.S. Navy, Intuit, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and
Harvard University, to name a few.
She’s been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, HR News, The Financial Times, Glamour
magazine UK, Off Script, Bloomberg Media, Black Enterprise, Radioactive Radio, Take the Lead Radio,
The Dream Catcher podcast, Money for Life podcast, among other local, national and international
media.
Risha has received numerous honors such as being named one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Women
Leaders in HR by PeopleHum in 2021, 40 Top Women Keynote Speakers by Real Leaders, NBA OKC
Thunder Changemaker Award and Top 100 HR Expert as well as 1 in 9 Speakers Turning Crisis into
Opportunity by Entrepreneur magazine in 2020, three years consecutive Engagedly Top 100 HR
Influencers in 2019, 2020 and 2021, 2018 Inclusive Leadership Award, and Entrepreneur of the Year
2017.
In her no-holds-barred style, renowned diversity and inclusion thought leader Risha Grant teaches and
empowers attendees about unconscious bias, micro-aggressions and other actions that perpetuate
discrimination and inequality. Audiences leave with easily applied principles for finding respect,
understanding and inclusion both personally & professionally..
Tuesday, July 12: 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
General Session & Keynote: Permission Granted to Build an Inclusive Culture
Building
an inclusive culture is imperative to business success. Learn the keys to
creating a culture that welcomes all employees, boosts retention and
productivity. During this talk, Risha shares applicable tips and strategies to
take your company's culture to the next level.
Domains: TBA
CE Credits: TBA
One of only five members on the Denver Broncos Thunderstorm Skydive Team, Kenyon Salo is seen each week flying into Broncos Stadium at 60+mph, ending with a soft tip-toe landing on the ten-yard line. With over 6000 skydives under his belt and travels that have taken him all around the world, he’s determined to live life to the fullest and help others do the same. Through his passions for adventure, storytelling, and connecting with people, he found a simple process to guide others on a path to what most of us crave – living a more fulfilled life. In this session, you’ll receive actionable steps that will help you, both personally and professionally, to achieve anything you desire. We hope you’re as excited as we are and look forward to seeing you at the event soon!