EmpowerHERment! Businesswomen Share the Path to Succes!

Neha Joshi is Accenture Security’s Growth and Strategy Lead, developing and executing the business strategy to drive growth of the $6B global cybersecurity business through investments and acquisitions. She also oversees Accenture Security Solutions and Assets, professionals around the globe who build innovative cybersecurity solutions and develop Accenture’s cybersecurity offerings/ go-to-market.

Previously, Neha established and led the Innovation Organization at Accenture Security, leading global teams producing innovative cybersecurity solutions, many of which were patented, that leverage robotics, artificial intelligence, DevOps, data analytics and machine-learning technologies to help make Accenture’s clients more secure. Neha is passionate about advancing women’s initiatives, especially in technology, honored as the Business Role Model of 2020 by Women in IT Awards New York and the recipient of the 2019 Women of Influence Award for Private Solutions Partner by Executive Women’s Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy. Neha is a Fortune Connect Fellow and serves on the Board of New York Institute of Technology’s Women’s Technology Council.

Farrah Désir started Creative Form Development (CFD) in 2014 with the goal of helping people turn their spaces into beautiful, affordable dream homes. Since its inception, CFD has evolved into a full-service construction management company leading a diverse team of experts to bring vision and value to public and private projects in our community. As the Founder & CEO, Farrah leads the firm with more than two decades of experience in all phases of the design & construction industry.

Farrah has had various roles throughout her career, working with general contractors, owner’s representatives, and construction managers. She is actively involved in project oversight and management on numerous projects throughout NYC.

Though Farrah started her career as an architectural designer for award-winning firms such as Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, and Parsons, she quickly realized she was most passionate about bringing design to life through building. Her last position was as a Senior Project Manager with Gilbane Building Company, where she utilized her strong leadership skills to manage various stakeholders, including subcontractors, consultants, engineers, city officials, and architects, to deliver a wide range of projects throughout NYC successfully. She has worked on public projects, schools, community centers, commercial waterfront properties, retail, and high-end residential buildings.

Farrah has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Construction Project Management from New York University. Her passion for design and construction started in High School, where she completed coursework in interior design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Farrah currently serves on the Board of the National Association of Minority Contractors, The Bedford Stuyvesant YMCA and previously served as a Board Member of the National Organization of Minority Architects.

Farrah resides in Manhattan with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring, cycling, traveling, reading, fashion, real estate, and working on personal renovation projects.

Stacey I. Sikes is an experienced leader of innovative programs in business, government, the non-profit sector, and higher education. She serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for the Long Island Association (LIA), which is the leading business organization in the region that supports Long Island’s economic growth. At the LIA, she is the primary advocate for its legislative agenda, manages the Membership Department, coordinates the work of the member Board Committees, and oversees the organization’s press and digital communications.

Stacey previously served as the Executive Dean of Entrepreneurship and Business Development at Hofstra University, where she supervised the globally-recognized Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Scott Skodnek Business Development Center and authored successful grant applications to support the growth of early-stage companies. Stacey has collaborated on regional initiatives to further economic development, including serving as a writer for the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council report. In 2022 Stacey was appointed Chair of the Board of Accelerate Long Island, a non-profit collaboration among Long Island’s research and academic institutions to support the growth of high-tech startup companies, and previously served as its Assistant Executive Director. Stacey’s career started in government, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko; Director of Special Projects for Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi; and Deputy Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Stacey received her BA and MA in Government and Politics from St. John’s University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and also served as an Adjunct Instructor. She was born and raised on Long Island and lives there with her husband Rich and two daughters.