Wharton Communication Program Lecturers

Undergraduate Lecturers

Brian Shapiro

Brian Shapiro
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise:

As president of Shapiro Communications and co-founder of Day2Day Talent, Brian Shapiro is a multifaceted professional dedicated to helping individuals and organizations find satisfaction through innovative approaches to communication and professional development. He brings a wealth of experience as a communication specialist and performing artist, through a life lived both within and outside conventional lines. For the past three decades, Brian has been exploring the nuances, challenges, and rewards the human communication process offers. Brian designs and delivers creativity-based experiential communication training programs across multiple industries. All the while, Brian’s holistic approach to personal well-being remains front and center, through his decades-long dedication to body-centered disciplines such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation. Moreover, his unwavering contributions to the arts, encompassing original stage productions and musical compositions, underscore his creative ingenuity. He is also an instructor and affiliated faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Organizational Dynamics programs. Brian applies the lessons learned from these various pursuits to create professional development programs that have lasting impact. His current interest is in perfectionism, and how to develop strategies to transform debilitative perfectionistic thinking rituals into a more useful lines of inquiry. Brian attended a doctorate program in Communication Studies at The University of Texas at Austin (1997-2001) and holds a BA (San Diego State University, ‘91) and MA (San Francisco State University, ‘95) in Communication Studies. He currently resides in Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and their two children, and serves on the board of Ars Nova Workshop.

Bryan Smith

Bryan Smith
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Marketing, Cable and Telecom

Bryan Smith is an experienced marketing professional with a background in packaged goods, telecommunications, cable, and software. He operates a consulting firm, Blacksmith Consulting, and was previously a business advisor with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, where he also taught the marketing coursework for the program. Bryan also teaches Business Communications at The Wharton School, at the University of Pennsylvania, and was an Adjunct Professor of Marketing in the Graduate School of Engineering at Drexel University. He has also taught Entrepreneurship at the Keller Center at Princeton University. He began his career at Scott Paper Company and has held marketing leadership positions at AT&T, Motorola Mobility, Insight Communications, and Clique Communications. Bryan has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and his MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. He lives in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

Chris Morse

Chris Morse
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise:

Chris Morse is Associate Director for the Wharton Undergraduate Communication Program. In this role he teaches WH 2010 Business Communication for Impact. He is responsible for course operations, including curriculum updates, scheduling, and Canvas. He also manages the processes for instructor hiring, onboarding, and training.

Prior to joining Penn, Chris spent 11 years at Drexel University, managing graduate programs in systems engineering and engineering management. He also taught technical writing for engineers and the undergraduate and graduate level.

Elaine Flanagan

Elaine Flanagan
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Marketing & Communication

Elaine Flanagan is a seasoned marketing executive with extensive experience in consumer financial services, where she has led strategic marketing initiatives across mortgages, credit cards, insurance, and deposit products. Since 2022, she has been a Lecturer in the Wharton Communication Program (WHCP), teaching Wharton sophomores in WH2010 – Business Communication for Impact. Drawing on senior marketing roles at JPMorgan Chase, NewRez, First Niagara, and Bank of America, Elaine’s work has consistently focused on driving customer acquisition, retention, and digital engagement through results-driven, customer-centered strategies. Elaine holds a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth College. She resides in Montgomery County, PA, where she volunteers with local non-profits to improve their communications, rings with a handbell choir, and is a proud parent of three adult children.

Eric J. Brand

Eric J. Brand
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Branded Pharmaceuticals

Eric Brand is a Health Care Industry leader with broad experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical, and consumer sectors. His more than 30+ years of industry experience spans big Pharma, start-ups, as well as mid-size organizations. His career journey started in medical research, and evolved into roles in regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical sales and sales management, sales training, management development, project management, business development, productivity improvement, product development, commercial operations, and compliance. His core strengths include implementing positive change through times of ambiguity, an entrepreneurial spirit that accelerates action, doing more with less, and leading integration initiatives and strategic alliances with both internal and external business partners. In his time with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Eric re-established and built Endo’s Sales Training Department, developed a comprehensive, purposeful, and strategic people leadership program, and an industry recognized team. In 2022 his role expanded from a Commercial focus to that of a Global Enterprise focus. This new focus has allowed Endo’s L&D team to scale up Endo’s people development programs and training best practices to drive learning curiosity, inclusive leadership, and culture across the Enterprise. Eric started Green Street Life Sciences in 2023 with the goal of offering Life Science Companies and alternative to how to drive results through people.

Greg Satell

Greg Satell
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Change Consulting

Greg Satell is Co-Founder of ChangeOS, a transformation & change advisory, an international keynote speaker, host of the Changemaker Mindset podcast, and bestselling author of Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change. His earlier book, Mapping Innovation, was selected as one of the best business titles of 2017. He has also published more than 50 articles in Harvard Business Review and written for Barron’s, Forbes, Fast Company and other A-list publications. A Lecturer at Wharton, accomplished entrepreneur, global executive and one of the foremost experts on transformation and change today, Greg helps organizations overcome resistance to change and build a better future. He speaks to audiences around the world and works with leading organizations, is consistently ranked as one of the top innovation bloggers in the world and was named by IDG as one of “10 Digital Transformation Influencers to Follow Today.” Greg was formerly a senior executive for the Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest marketing services companies. Before that, Co-CEO of KP Media, which he scaled from a small privately held firm to a market leading, public company valued at $100 million with over 800 employees. It was sold to Ukraine Media Holding in 2010. A global citizen, Greg spent 15 years living and working in Eastern Europe where, among other things, he managed a leading news organization during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution.

Geoffrey Klein

Geoffrey Klein
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Content Marketing, Keynote Speaker

Geoffrey Klein, aka Mr. Purple, is a TEDx speaker, MIT AI certified consultant, a content producer, and the best-selling author of THE CONTENT BEAST. He also teaches business communication at Wharton School of Business and social media marketing at Temple University. Geoffrey helps people and organizations communicate more effectively through the power of story. He serves as President & CEO of nine dots, a visual content company that helps businesses share their message to connect with their audience. Geoffrey’s diverse professional experience includes working in the film industry, where he worked on films such as The Truman Show, Mission Impossible 2, Legally Blonde and Die Another Day. He also spent 10 years living in Manchester, England where he worked in both real estate and a creative design agency. As a visual storyteller, Geoffrey believes that the best way to communicate is through telling a story and that the best way to share a story is by making it visual. He produces animation and video to help clients bring their stories to life in a dynamic and refreshing way to share your message. In addition, Geoffrey now focuses on Artificial Intelligence and its impact generally, as well as on content marketing. He holds a certification from MIT in AI implications for business strategy. Geoffrey now presents keynotes and workshops on AI and how to leverage it for business with a human-centered approach. Geoffrey has a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a law degree from Temple University.

Jacqueline De Ritis Feild

Jacqueline De Ritis Feild
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Global Technology Executive

Jacqueline is a distinguished global technology executive known for delivering transformative, innovative solutions that drive multimillion-dollar impacts across diverse industries. Her leadership style fosters a culture of collaboration and strategic growth, enabling large-scale global organizations to navigate complex challenges successfully. A steadfast champion of equitable employee programming, Jacqueline ensures that all voices within her team are heard and valued. Jacqueline’s leadership involves strategic planning, global delivery, and financial management. She is often described as a visionary with a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and operational excellence. Her most recent role as Vice President of Global Technology at Manulife/John Hancock demonstrated her ability to lead with impact, following notable leadership positions at Vanguard, where she served as CIO for Asia Pacific and VP of Technology in the United States. Jacqueline is also an educator and mentor, sharing her expertise as an instructor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Through her independent coaching and consulting services with Leader’s Edge in Bala Cynwyd, PA, she empowers executives, senior leaders, and high-potential employees to reach their full potential. Currently pursuing ICF certification through Columbia University and the Co-Active Training Institute, Jacqueline focuses on evidence-based coaching methods that emphasize a growth mindset, conflict resolution, and critical leadership development. Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University, an MBA from Drexel University, and a Master of Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. These academic achievements, combined with over 25 years of executive technology leadership experience, position her as a trusted advisor and leader in her field.

Jane Von Bergen

Jane Von Bergen
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Professional Speaker

Jane M. Von Bergen is an award-winning Philadelphia journalist and teacher with a passionate belief in the power of story. Von Bergen grew up in newspapers, from grade school through Temple University. For more than 35 years, Von Bergen reported for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where, for nearly a quarter of a century, she covered business topics, including retailing, marketing, tourism, and nonprofit management. For more than 15 years, she specialized in the workplace, jobs, unions, and the economy. Over the years, she interviewed hundreds of chief executives, business leaders, government officials and many, many others. She also covered courts and municipal government following six years as feature writer. While at the Inquirer, Von Bergen co-founded The Reentry Project, a Philadelphia-wide journalism collaboration now known as Resolve Philadelphia. It has become a national model for journalism collaboration – the first of its kind in the United States. An experienced editor, Von Bergen continues client work in communications. In 2021, The New Press published “On the Job: The Untold Story of Worker Centers and the New Fight for Wages, Dignity, and Heath,” co-authored by Von Bergen and Celeste Monforton. Married to her college sweetheart, photographer I. George Bilyk, she has two grown sons.

Jennifer Lynn Robinson

Jennifer Lynn Robinson
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Professional Speaker

Jennifer Lynn Robinson, Esquire is a Lifestyle & Communications Expert. Her expertise is in strategic networking, communications, leadership, resilience, and workplace relations. She is also a TEDx speaker and a media contributor who has been featured both locally and nationally. Some of her media coverage includes Cheddar, CBS, NBC, PHL17, FOX, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Chicago Tribune and Philadelphia Magazine. Jennifer also contributes to Entrepreneur Magazine. Additionally, Jennifer is an influencer and content creator under Being Fancy in Philly & Beyond, working with brands and campaigns. She specializes in fashion, travel, lifestyle and food. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College and her law degree from Villanova School of Law. She holds certifications in Event Planning, Non-Profit Management, Social Media Marketing, Diversity & Inclusion, Hospitality & Tourism and Conflict Resolution. She is also a certified virtual presenter.

Johanna Baek

Johanna Baek
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Strategy, technology, financial services

Johanna Baek is the Head of Digital, Americas at Aspire Lifestyles. She oversees Aspire Americas’ Digital offering, strategy and execution. Johanna is passionate about enhancing customer journeys and implementing analytics-driven strategies. She has advised companies on product marketing, customer experience, and strategic growth. She has extensive experience in the finance, payments, and tech industries, working with organizations like American Express, Vanguard and Google. At Vanguard, Johanna led product marketing and customer experience efforts achieving substantial revenue growth. At American Express, she spearheaded multibillion-dollar growth initiatives and strategic partnerships. Johanna holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Brown University. She is a board member of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband Gerwin and their two children, Isabel (6) and Alexander (4). She is currently learning Karate and is working towards her brown belt.

Lorraine Marchand

Lorraine Marchand
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Life sciences and Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Lorraine Marchand is author of The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform any Industry, published by CUP September 2022. Marchand served most recently as General Manager at IBM Watson Health and has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies on strategy and innovation. She co-founded four startups. She is an adjunct professor at Yeshiva University Katz School of Science and Health where she teaches Venture Creation and Entrepreneurship and serves as Executive in Residence. She is an Instructor in the Leadership and Communications Program at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is assistant professor and director of innovation at Moravian University. Marchand is a member of the advisory board of the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management Program at Columbia Business School and published three cases with Columbia CaseWorks as an adjunct professor of management including: “The R-Pharm and QuintilesIMS Partnership, 2017; “Innovation in Healthcare: Improving Life in Haiti,” 2020; “Praava Healthcare: Reinventing Healthcare in Bangladesh,” 2021. A member of the boards of several privately held companies and an investor member of Plum Alley ventures, Marchand is a business coach and mentor to Fullbridge educational technology company, the START Program at Princeton University and the Endless Frontier Labs at New York University. She holds MBAs from Columbia Busieness School and the London Business School.

Lisa McGann

Lisa McGann
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Corporate Communications

Lisa Schultz McGann has extensive experience advising companies across sectors on critical issues. She focuses on providing communications counsel to leaders at transformational or challenging moments – new launches, executive transitions, and M&A. She has helped organizations command public attention and protected reputations under pressure. In any situation, her strategies and execution drive business results.Before founding LSM Strategy, Lisa served as SVP, Communications at Comcast NBCUniversal, most recently leading strategic communications to launch and scale its streaming service Peacock. Previously, her work spanned sectors at Edelman in the Financial Communications & Capital Markets practice. She began her career in advertising marketing at National Public Media. She earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Michael Wong

Michael Wong
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Healthcare/Life Sciences

Michael Wong is a Part-time Lecturer (WH 2010) for the Wharton Communication Program at the University of Pennsylvania. As an Emeritus Co-President and board member of the Harvard Business School Healthcare Alumni Association as well as a Contributing Writer for the MIT Sloan Career Development Office, his ideas have been shared in the Harvard Business Review and the MIT Sloan Management Review. He has over 30 years of experience working for consulting as well as Fortune 500 firms including Apple, AstraZeneca, IBM, and Merck. He serves on the Board for the Russell Byers Charter School and enjoys walking dogs for The Seeing Eye and the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

Nicole Stephenson

Nicole Stephenson
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Executive Director, Marketing, Sales and Events

Nicole Stephenson has over 15 years of experience leading and executing marketing, sales, and event responsibilities. Through her role leading the Society of Professional Women™(SPW) as Executive Director for The Main Line Chamber of Commerce’s largest program, she understands and values the impact of her work on future generations. SPW provides engaging and impactful programs attended by professional women (and 17% men) from companies of all sizes across the Philadelphia region to accelerate and expand the influence of women leaders of all professions and generations, strengthen the business community and support the region’s non-profit organizations. Nicole is a Board Member and Programming Chair for Girls Spark, a nonprofit, providing teenage girls with a supportive, empowering environment where they can learn, collaborate and overcome adversity in facing today’s social issues. She is also a part-time Lecturer for the Wharton Communication Program at the University of Pennsylvania. The beginning of Nicole’s career was spent in the Media Industry working for one of the top Radio stations in the Philadelphia market, KYW Newsradio, in both marketing and programming. Nicole was most recently named one of Main Line Today Magazine’s 2024 Power Women. She also received the Woman’s Achievement Award from Delaware County Women’s Commission in 2022. And in 2019, was awarded the Rebecca Gross Alumni Award from the Communications Department at her alma mater Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, and the 35 Under 35 Award from Sigma Kappa Sorority.

Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein

Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Public Relations

An award-winning communication strategist, Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein has been called a ‘social media guru’ by The Philadelphia Inquirer. A role model and mentor for female professionals seeking work-life balance since opening the doors of her PR consultancy, Making Headlines, in 1995, Rachel has been featured on “ABC World News Tonight” and in Working Mother and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Rachel helps organizations frame and deliver their message to influence behavior and impact opinions. She specializes in strategic planning, media relations, public speaking and community relations, with expertise in healthcare, education and nonprofit PR. Her former and current clients include Cambridge Innovation Center, Penn Medicine, WXPN, American Heart Association, Jewish Family & Children’s Services and Wawa. Prior to teaching Business Communication for Impact, Rachel taught such topics as Crisis Communication and PR Ethics at Temple University’s Klein School of Media and Communication. Rachel has written for PHILADELPHIA Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Exceptional Parent, The Jewish Exponent and Main Line Media. Rachel is chair of the College Relations Committee of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association, Judge of Elections for Cheltenham Precinct 6-1 and a member of the Marketing Committees of the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History and Philadelphia Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. She volunteered as a social media manager with the Biden and Clinton presidential campaigns. A long-standing volunteer with the Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Alliance, Rachel co-founded the Cheltenham Special Needs Advocacy Group to support her son and other children with special needs.

Sara Mangat

Sara Mangat
Lecturer: WH 2011
Industry of Expertise:

Sara Mangat is an Associate Director and Lecturer in the Wharton Undergraduate Communication Program. She came to Wharton in January 2020 just in time to help the undergraduate program pivot to online learning. She manages the undergraduate TA Program and promotes the delivery of WH 2010 and other activities that prepare students to communicate effectively in business.

Sara started her career in Marketing and Public Relations, eventually founding her own consultancy. Prior to coming to Wharton, she served as Chair of the Speech Department at Alvin College, teaching public speaking and interpersonal communication to a diverse student population. She also managed the coaching and train-the-trainer program for The Center for Supportive Relationships. She has lived all over the United States and internationally. She attributes her passion for student success to her time working at the United World College of SE Asia.

Sara earned her M.A. in Speech Communication from the University of Washington and a B.A. in English from Vassar College.

Shelly O'Donovan

Shelly O’Donovan
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: Pharma and Healthcare

Shelly O’Donovan is the CEO of the Authentic Influence Group. She teaches Persuasive Speaking at the Wharton School, of the University of Pennsylvania. She has led vaccine advocacy for GSK, worked as a healthcare lobbyist, and served as a staffer in state government. She has been focused on cultivating authentic influence her entire career, and decoding what makes people tick. Shelly has an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania, a Marketing certification from Wharton School (of UPENN), and a BA in political science. She has a certification in body language training and the big 5 personality from a behavioral research lab.

Terence Milstead

Terence Milstead
Lecturer: WH 2010
Industry of Expertise: User Experience (UX) Research & Strategic Communications

Terence Milstead, PhD is currently Head of User Experience (UX) Research at the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), a ground-breaking new government digital services agency created last year by Governor Josh Shapiro. Prior to assuming his current role he held executive research roles at a series of East Coast market research/strategic communications consulting firms where his clients included Google, YouTube, H&M Menswear, Global Atlantic Financial Group and many others. He was also previously a Vice President in the D.C. office of the international advertising firm Ogilvy.

Additional Undergraduate Lecturers

MBA Lecturers

Antionnette McDermott

Antionnette McDermott
mcdera@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Strategy and Marketing, Wireless Technology

Antionnette is the Director of the Wharton Graduate Communication Program, where she leads the design and delivery of business communication courses for MBA and Executive MBA students. Known for her engaging teaching style, Antionnette earned the prestigious Wharton Teaching Excellence Award and is passionate about helping MBA and Executive MBA students develop persuasive communication skills. She currently teaches WHCP 6160X Management Communication to first-year MBA students and coaches PhD students on their research papers and job talks. Her teaching experience also includes entrepreneurial communications and foundational courses for Wharton undergraduates.

Antionnette’s expertise extends beyond the classroom through her collaborations with Wharton’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education. She has facilitated impactful programs for corporate, government, and non-profit executives such as ABB, Alfa, AXA Equitable, Hai Nan Airlines, PwC, TIAA, and the World Economic Forum. Additionally, she has served as a lecturer and facilitator for several co-curricular initiatives with the McNulty Leadership Program, Penn Carey Law School, Fulbright Scholar’s Program, and the Strategic Leadership in Education Certificate Program at the Penn Graduate School of Education.

Before joining Wharton in 2011, Antionnette enjoyed a successful career in the tech industry, designing and marketing integrated circuits at AT&T Microelectronics/Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, and Agere Systems. She also served as a board member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a consortium that played a critical role in shaping the future of Bluetooth wireless technology.

Antionnette holds an MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, bringing a wealth of technical expertise and business acumen to her teaching and leadership at Wharton.

Brennan Maier

Brennan Maier
bmaier@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6210, 6240
Industry of Expertise:

Since 2011, Brennan has taught persuasive writing to Wharton’s MBA students. Brennan developed the MBA Writing Requirement and Wharton’s two writing courses WHCP 6210: Clear and Persuasive Business Writing and WHCP 6240: Persuasive Writing for Business Leaders.

Brennan did his undergraduate work at Penn, and received his Master’s and doctorate from Yale.

Darcy Watson

Darcy Watson
darcya@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Marketing

Darcy Watson is a seasoned communications lecturer at the Wharton School, where she has been empowering aspiring business leaders since 2015. With a strong background in marketing and HR, Darcy brings a wealth of practical experience to her teaching. Her passion for fostering a sense of belonging has been a driving force throughout her career, both professionally and personally. Holding an MBA from Georgetown University and a BA in Russian language and literature from Tufts University, Darcy is a dedicated educator and lifelong learner. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys exploring new cultures through travel and immersing herself in all kinds of books. She lives in Mount Laurel, NJ with her husband and a chihuahua/dachshund rescue dog named Teddy.

Daria Torres

Daria Torres
dariat@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, 6190
Industry of Expertise: Strategy Consulting

Daria Torres is a tech-savvy, proven strategist with over 25 years of global, cross-sector executive experience. As founder and managing partner of Walls Torres Group, Daria has led her firm in serving an extensive portfolio of esteemed clients, including blue chip Fortune 500 businesses, pioneering technology companies, multi-national philanthropic organizations, and leading academic institutions. Across her consulting career, which began at McKinsey & Company, Daria has played a defining role in a host of ground-breaking deals and market advancements, primarily within the most heavily regulated sectors of the economy. As a former Lockheed Martin Systems Engineer with Top Secret SCI Clearance, Daria also has signature strengths in digital transformation, cyber/information security, supply chain, and risk management. As a valued member of the Audit, Risk, Nominations & Governance, and Technology committees, Daria serves on the board of Columbia Bank and its parent company Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLBK), and she is one of the earliest NACD Certified Directors in the nation. A recognized expert on strategy, leadership and governance, Daria has been featured in a number of business podcasts as well as in TV and radio interviews. At the University of Virginia, Daria earned high honors and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering, with a double major in Economics. She also holds a Master’s in Systems Engineering with a specialization in Telecommunications from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA in Operations and Information Management from The Wharton School.

Emilia Maia

Emilia Maia (she/her)
emaia@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Marketing and Sales Consulting

Emilia Maia is currently a director at STEM Healthcare, consulting with pharmaceutical and biotech organizations to accelerate their performance to bring their drugs to more appropriate patients. With over 20 years of experience within the pharma industry, Emilia specializes in marketing, sales, and business development. Emilia has worked in both the US and internationally. She loves working with students and young professionals on their journey to become valuable contributors to the organizations they work for and the world more broadly. She also consults with non-profit organizations to promote data-driven decisions. Emilia is pursuing a journalism degree at NYU and is expected to graduate in 2027. When she is not working or studying, Emilia runs along the Schuylkill River Park in Philadelphia. Her goal is to make the Boston Marathon in 2026. Emilia holds an MBA from Universidade Catolica in Lisbon, Portugal, and a master’s degree in economics from Northeastern University in Boston. Emilia immigrated to the USA in 2000.

Esther Ra

Esther Ra
estherra@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Communications, Career Management, Coaching, Professional Development, Education, and Writing

Dr. Esther Ra is a Lecturer at Wharton, teaching in the full-time MBA and Executive Communications Programs. She is also an Associate Director in Penn’s Career Services working in career management, recruiting, employer engagement, and professional development pursuits on behalf of the campus community. In this role, she enjoys co-leading the International Committee, collaborating with many internal and external campus partners to ensure the needs of the Penn international community. Globally, she has also served appointments as a Visiting Professor at Seoul National University and Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, teaching students from all over the globe the power of critical thinking, writing, and communications skills. Additionally, as principal and founder of ERa Coaching and Consulting, she meets with private clients and organizations. She earned a Doctorate of Education in Language & Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Teaching from Columbia University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English from Barnard College, Columbia University. She also holds a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Cornell University and Certificate in TESOL from Biola University. Further, she holds coaching certifications in Career Management, Executive Leadership, and Strengths through The Academies. Outside of her work, she also serves on the Executive Board of Mustard Seed Generation, a mental health literacy organization championing the unique needs of Korean Americans. In her spare time, she freelances as a writer for HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Chronicle Books publishing companies.

Fusun Sevgen

Fusun Sevgen
fsevgen@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Global Biopharma Commercialization Strategy

Fusun Sevgen is a strategic leader with 30+ years of marketing, business management and sales experience in the pharmaceutical industry with deep understanding of global markets, including United States, Europe and Asia. In addition to lecturing at the University of Pennsylvania, Fusun is VP, Global Commercial Strategy at Mirador Global, a bio-pharmaceutical consulting company, where she partners with clients on developing marketing, pricing, and market access strategies, supporting drug commercialization, new launches, and other strategic initiatives. Fusun is a strong communicator, able to transform scientific evidence and customer insights into strategies and resources that deliver value. She is passionate about developing individuals and teams to achieve growth and success. Prior to joining Mirador Global, Fusun had an extensive career with AstraZeneca, including sales, marketing and business strategy roles in Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Gina Barrett

Gina Barrett
barrettg@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, WHCP 6190
Industry of Expertise:

Gina Barrett serves as Senior Associate Director with the Wharton Graduate Communication Program, where she has been a lecturer since 2006. She is the Course Lead for Wharton Executive MBA courses (WHCP 6140 and 6190). She is also in charge of WHCP Graduate Instructor Onboarding and Training, and regularly coaches the Wharton students chosen to serve as the school’s graduation speakers.

Working with Wharton’s Executive Education Program, Gina has facilitated programs for executives from companies such as Samsung, AXA Equitable, Grupo Alfa, Hai Nan Airlines and Hilliard Lyons. She has also served as a facilitator and coach with organizations such as the Fulbright Scholar’s Program.

Prior to Wharton she spent most of her career in coaching and training, particularly working through a boutique PR firm coaching executives in giving persuasive presentations. She has received a Pennsylvania Distance Learning Association (PADLA) award for online learning design and was a semi-finalist (District Champion) in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking.

Jean Clemons

Jean Clemons
clemonsj@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Marketing

JEAN CLEMONS Jean Clemons, a lecturer in the Wharton Communication Program since 2008, is dedicated to teaching management communication to American and international MBA students. She is also a consultant to executives for communication skills, marketing plans, document writing/editing and presentations. Jean has an extensive background in consumer packaged goods marketing, having worked in brand management and product development for Nabisco, Campbell Soup and other companies. She has also been a content creator and team leader on a documentary film, a freelance writer, a Russian language instructor, and a teacher of advanced conversational English to Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in Philadelphia. She earned a teaching certificate from the U.S. State Department-sponsored International Research and Exchange Program at Moscow State University.

Joanne Dollarton

Joanne Dollarton
jtdollar@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, 6160, 6190
Industry of Expertise: Finance

Financial services executive with 30+ years of experience leading revenue-generating businesses and key strategic functions. Skilled in Business Strategy, Leadership Development, Data and Analytics, and Customer Experience.

Leo Jacobo

Leo Jacobo
ljacobo@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, 6190
Industry of Expertise: Finance

Leo Jacobo is a Wealth Manager and Financial Advisor at Equitable Advisors, specializing in high-net-worth clients and startup businesses. Leo has over 25 years of experience in banking and financial services as well as fintech. In recent years, he has held senior positions at multiple VC-backed startups. His career includes roles at Moody’s Corporation, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has successfully advised individuals, families, and institutions on securities and real estate transactions and crafted long term strategies to manage diverse portfolios. In addition to his advisory work, Leo has guided numerous startups through capital-raising events, including Y combinator and seed funding to late Series and acquisition. He holds an MBA from the prestigious TRIUM program at the London School of Economics and a Master’s in Urban Planning from New York University. An accomplished thought leader, Leo has written extensively on financial topics, with a particular focus on credit risk and banking. He recently co-authored a book on Credit Risk and Technology Disruption. Leo is in his third year teaching communications at the Wharton Business School, where he has taught in both Philadelphia and San Francisco. Leo’s diverse expertise and thought leadership make him a trusted advisor to high-net-worth clients and a respected figure in the financial services industry.

Lisa McCann

Lisa McCann
lisasmc@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Financial Services, Healthcare, Technology

Lisa McCann is a value-driven business and technology executive with over 30 years of senior executive experience in the Technology, Healthcare and Financial Services industries. As Founder/Partner for The Springton Group, LLC, Lisa provides strategic leadership consulting and executive coaching to help leaders of evolving businesses successfully drive transformational change. Through her collaborative approach and facilitation, Lisa guides and develops business leaders through career challenges and transitions. Lisa also currently serves as a Lecturer for the Wharton MBA and Executive and Global MBA programs at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her work as a strategic consultant, Lisa was a senior executive at The Vanguard Group, where she served as Global head of Vanguard’s Enterprise Shared Services. In this role, she drove strategic technology investments that enabled over 16,000 employees world-wide and more than 20 million clients. Lisa also served in several business leadership roles while at Vanguard, including Client Experience, Corporate Strategy, and Vanguard’s Six Sigma program, driving enterprise-wide process excellence. Prior to working at Vanguard, Lisa served in multiple leadership roles at JP Morgan Chase, CIGNA and Shared Medical Systems (now part of Oracle.) Lisa holds several leadership positions in non-profit organizations. She serves as the Executive Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health and Executive Board Director for the Main Line Chamber of Commerce. Lisa also served on the Board of Trustees for PACT and the Marketing Science Institute (MSI).

Maria Evans

Maria Evans
mariaev@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Communications, Public Affairs and Marketing

Maria Evans is a strategic communicator with extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, small business and nonprofits. She has taught executive and management communications at The Wharton school for more than 12 years. She delivers and teaches others to create messages that resonate with the audiences that matter most to generate change, build partnerships and grow business. After working as a newspaper journalist, Maria edited trade magazines and developed industry-building events. At Merck, she led employee communications international, re-engineering Merck’s corporate publications and leading multi-media campaigns to support new products and major corporate initiatives. She also developed external advocates, media-trained partners and led the public relations drive for blockbuster drugs. Maria lives and volunteers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Matthew Goldberg

Matthew Goldberg
mmgold@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6210
Industry of Expertise: Content Design | User Experience | Writing

Matt Goldberg is a content designer, strategist, and teacher with a background in civic tech, clean energy innovation, and public health policy. He teaches two writing courses at Wharton — WHCP 6210: Clear and Persuasive Business Writing and WHCP 6240: Persuasive Writing for Business Leaders. Matt enjoys making complex ideas interesting, relatable, and easy-to-understand. Matt holds an MSc in Environmental Policy from the London School of Economics and an MFA in Creative Writing from Temple University. He is also an author of fiction with 20+ published short stories.

Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald
fitzgerm@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, 6160, 6190
Industry of Expertise: Communication, Organizational Behavior

Michael Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Professor of the Practice at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University Dr. Fitzgerald led the project and implementation team for the firm-wide rollout of the Board Diversity Initiative, at Booz Allen Hamilton, a multi-year program launched to address climate and systems change. He was directly responsible for managing the project team that developed, launched, supported, and monitored more than fifty regional action plans worldwide. Dr. Fitzgerald has extensive experience as a consultant and educator, leading programs in many companies for the National Business Disabilities Council, and teaching at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he taught courses in management and communication in both the MBA and undergraduate schools. Dr. Fitzgerald has led seminars in principles of negotiation, strategic communication, crisis communication, and interpersonal communication for AARP, Booz Allen Hamilton, AARP and Georgetown’s Executive Education Institute.

Nathinee Chen

Nathinee Chen
nathinee@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Publishing, Developmental Editing

Nathinee Chen is the current course head for WHCP 6160: Management Communication. She also serves as the chair of the WHCP Fellows Program and leads partnership initiatives with other Wharton and Penn programs to deliver workshops on leadership and entrepreneurial communication. She has taught MBA writing courses, coached PhDs and startup founders, and taught undergrads. Prior to Wharton, Nathinee worked for over a decade as a development editor, helping authors shape contributions to their fields into digital and print titles exploring topics in business leadership, nonprofit management, executive coaching, and other disciplines. She is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in Wyoming. She has called California, Georgia, Bangkok, Canada, and Johannesburg home, but it’s Philly that captured her heart for good. She is passionate about parenthood, teaching, travel, cross-cultural understanding, and helping leaders hone their voice and shape their story.

Reima Shakeir

Reima Shakeir
reima@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6180
Industry of Expertise:

Dr. Reima Shakeir is an internationally recognized scholar, author, and consultant with expertise in communications, interpreting power dynamics within organizational systems. She has worked in five countries and across different sectors: the arts, health, education, and entrepreneurship. She has also coached entrepreneurs and executives for over 15 years, and her work has informed the strategic roadmaps and operating models for several organizations such as the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations. Reima is also a Startup Advisor & Serial Entrepreneur.

Dr. Shakeir’s experience spans cultures as well as countries, and through both her formal academic research and practical on the ground execution, she is committed to more inclusive, high-quality education systems and corporate spaces at large. Her current interests revolve around entrepreneurship, higher education, Managment ,organizational culture and communication, innovation in relation to education and business innovations in femtech , generative AI , female wellness, sustainability, and the complex relationship between business and society. Dr. Shakeir is committed to building communities of belonging within organizations and improving education systems and corporate spaces.

Reima is also is an avid reader, a published poet and author.

Reima earned her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania with double distinction.

Robert Chen

Robert Chen
rchen13@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6140, 6190
Industry of Expertise: Corporate Training

Robert Chen is a senior advisor at Exec-Comm, a global consultancy specializing in professional skills training. He coaches Fortune 100 leaders and their teams to enhance their leadership, communication, and influence. In addition to his role at Exec-Comm, he is the founder of Vana Lab, an education company dedicated to teaching teens essential life skills for personal and professional success. In addition to his corporate client work, Robert also teaches Leadership and Managerial Communication at the Wharton Business School. He’s the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Selling Your Expertise, and the recipient of the Outstanding Asian Americans in Business Award. Passionate about fostering diversity in the corporate landscape, Robert is the national chair for the Ascend Executive Network, which aims to increase representation in the C-suite and on corporate boards. He further contributes to the community as a board member of the Wharton Club of New York. Academically, Robert holds a BA in Chemistry and Economics from Cornell University and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Shacker Mourad

Shacker Mourad
mourads@wharton.upenn.edu
Lecturer: WHCP 6160
Industry of Expertise: Pharmaceutical Industry and Healthcare Practice

Shacker is a pharmaceutical strategy consultant, a Lecturer at Wharton, and an Adjunct Professor of Healthcare Business and Policy at Saint Joseph’s University. Shacker’s 42-year career in healthcare spans the pharmaceutical business, healthcare practice, and policy. His career included hospital pharmacy practice with the Veterans Affairs, and positions in quality assurance, clinical development and sales and marketing at Eli Lilly, Merck, and AstraZeneca. Shacker is licensed to practice pharmacy in New York and Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Science in Health Policy, and an Executive MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University.