Bloom & Brunch A Garden Affair to Grow HER

Johanna Oliver Rousseaux

Of Counsel, Jones Day

Johanna Oliver Rousseaux advises clients on the resolution of complex disputes before U.S., foreign, and international tribunals. With over 30 years of experience working in Latin America and Europe, Johanna understands the cultural contexts of disputes and brings a unique perspective to resolving them. She works closely with in-house and foreign counsel, witnesses, and experts to develop a cohesive strategy capable of straddling widely different legal systems.

Johanna also is a dedicated pro bono lawyer, repeatedly winning recognition from the nonprofit agencies she collaborates with. She helped establish Jones Day’s Border Project, serving as one of the lead lawyers “on the ground” on the Texas border and providing representation to asylum seekers in ICE detention and before the Immigration Courts. In recognition of her work on the border, Johanna’s alma mater, the University of the South, awarded her the Ecce Quam Bonum Award for outstanding alumni impact. Her experience on the border and her vision for improving access to counsel for detained asylum seekers also led her to be chosen as a member of the 2020 cohort of the Presidential Leadership Scholar program. And the Miami legal community recognized her as an Unsung Hero at the 2025 Florida Legal Awards.

Before joining Jones Day, Johanna headed the conflict resolution and prevention program at the Arias Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace laureate and president of Costa Rica, Óscar Arias. Working closely with Dr. Arias taught Johanna the power of leadership through service.

Johanna has been a Board Member for Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) for over ten years and just completed four years as President. She also sits on the United Way of Miami’s public policy committee and Women United executive committee, as well as the Bass Museum’s Women’s Circle Leadership Committee and the Board of the Prologue Society, one of Miami’s preeminent literary societies. She also just completed her four-year term as a Trustee for the University of the South. Johanna is an unwavering supporter and avid fan of the arts in Miami. She is fluent in Spanish and French.

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Sara Wagner

ARCO/Murray National Construction

Service and leadership have always been at the heart of Sara’s journey. She began her career in human services and now continues to create meaningful impact through her role at ARCO/Murray National Construction and her active involvement in community organizations.

Sara is a dedicated member of Rotary International, Leadership Broward, and Junior League, and she finds great fulfillment in mentoring the next generation through programs such as Youth Leadership Broward and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

She is especially passionate about connecting charitable organizations with individuals and businesses eager to give back. Most recently, Sara introduced EmpowHERto as the charitable beneficiary of ARCO/Murray’s Women in Construction event, which will debut in South Florida in March 2026.

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Helenemarie Blake

Chief Compliance Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Helenemarie is the Chief Compliance Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she leads compliance, ethics, and privacy programs that uphold the highest legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. She provides strategic direction in managing compliance risk and advancing organization-wide initiatives that strengthen Dana-Farber’s culture of integrity and accountability.

With more than two decades of experience as a healthcare attorney and executive, Helenemarie is recognized for her expertise in data privacy, regulatory compliance, and ethical management of information and technology. Prior to Dana-Farber, she served as Global Privacy Officer and Vice President of Compliance at Global Medical Response, and as Vice President, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer at Nicklaus Children’s Health System. Earlier in her career, she was among the first institutional data privacy officers in U.S. higher education at the University of Miami and practiced as a first-chair litigation attorney and partner at Fowler White Burnett, P.A.

Helenemarie holds a B.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law. She has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized nationally as a leading healthcare compliance and privacy attorney.

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Gladys Mezrahi

Founder & CEO, Indigo Events; Founder, The Power of the Heels Foundation

Gladys Mezrahi, born and raised in Colombia, began her entrepreneurial journey with Advanced Cosmetics, a skincare company she successfully led for 15 years before selling to a major corporation. She later transitioned into Private Wealth Management at Pioneer International but discovered her true calling in event marketing, leading to the creation of Indigo Events. Through Indigo, she has worked with global brands such as Visa, the Miami International Book Fair, Disney Institute, and the Museum of Modern Art in Colombia.

Gladys is also the founder of The Power of the Heels Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and girls through education, mentorship, and opportunity. She has raised over $5 million for children in need, supported organizations such as JAFCO and WIZO, served as Past President of NAWBO, and was elected Commissioner for the City of Aventura. She co-founded B2E, launched the Aventura chapter of Pandemic of Love, and has been widely recognized for her leadership, including being named the 2016 International Business Woman of the Year.

An author, speaker, and mentor, Gladys currently serves on FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Board. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she considers her family—her husband Samuel, children Debbie and Nessim, and five grandchildren—her greatest achievement.

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Marlene Mitchell Gordon

SVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Panera Brands; CLO, Panera Bread

Marlene Mitchell Gordon is a transformative leader known for guiding high-performing teams and driving growth, operational excellence, and cultural transformation across diverse industries. Respected for her authenticity and visionary leadership, she has been recognized for advancing women, minorities, and underserved communities through mentorship and advocacy.

She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary for Panera Brands, parent company of Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. She is also Chief Legal Officer of Panera Bread, overseeing Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and Employee Relations, while playing a key role in corporate governance.

Previously, Marlene held senior executive roles at Fresh Del Monte Produce, Bacardi North America, and Burger King Corporation, where she helped shape global legal, corporate, and leadership initiatives.

Marlene holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University and is a Harvard Business School Certified Organizational Leader. She also serves on several boards, including Universal Insurance Holdings and the Panera Foundation, and is Founder and President of the Lynne Mitchell Foundation.

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Zakiyya “Z” White

Events Manager, Center for Black Innovation; President, Black Professionals Network – Miami

Zakiyya White is a community builder, event strategist, and civic connector who uses experiences as a tool for engagement, economic mobility, and collective impact.

She serves as Events Manager at the Center for Black Innovation, curating programs that uplift Black founders and foster innovation in historically underrepresented communities. Zakiyya is also the curator of Tech Tuesdays Miami, President of the Black Professionals Network – Miami, and founder of Bold Fridays, a monthly cowork-and-connect experience.

Before launching her consultancy, ZW Eventz, she worked in education and nonprofit leadership, designing youth programs and civic engagement initiatives. Passionate about innovation at the intersection of community, culture, and commerce, Zakiyya has produced experiences for mission-driven clients including Black Ambition Prize, Black Women Invest, and The Source.

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