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Women Mean Business Luncheon 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
The Plaza Hotel
770 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
11:30 AM Reception | 12:00 PM Luncheon
Keynote Speaker
Maya Wiley, Esq.
President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Emcee
Kristine Johnson
CBS 2 Co-Anchor 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Philanthropic Honorees In Memoriam
Lou and Helen Lowenstein
Philanthropists
About the Event
Each year, more than 400 of New York City’s most accomplished and engaged leaders gather to attend the Women Mean Business Luncheon, which supports the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program. The event features program graduates sharing their moving stories and experiences. Past events have also featured guest speakers including Eve Ensler, Arianna Huffington, Hillary Clinton, Christine Quinn, Anna Quindlen, Ashley Graham, Darlene Love, Adenah Bayoh, Dari Alexander, Alicia Graf Mack, and Jennifer Egan.
First Step gives homeless and low-income women the skills and confidence needed to achieve financial independence. Our innovative 14-week curriculum offers computer and job skills training, an internship with a major corporation or nonprofit organization, mentoring, job placement assistance and extensive post-graduate support.
First Step Advisory Board
Cindy Arnold, Chair
Yvette Arsenec-Weir
Vanessa Barnett
Christy Burke
Marisol DeLeon
Austin Fremont
Sara Fusco
Barbara Kolsun
Deborah Krulewitch
Natalie Lederman
Susan Lerner
Natsayi Mawere
Rachel Noel
Ruth Pryor
Wendy Samuel
Joan Sapinsley
Jane Singer
Past Events
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2024
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2023
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2022
- I Am First Step 2021
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2020
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2019
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2018
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2017
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2016
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2015
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2014
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2013
- Women Mean Business Luncheon 2012
Patrons
The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
Friends of Deborah Krulewitch and Jane Singer
Jennifer and Peter Wallace
Advocates
Kramer Levin
Nardello & Co.
Partners
American International Group
Arnold NY
Alison and Barry Berke
Eimear and David Fischer
Fundamental Advisors LP
Deborah Krulewitch
Joan M. Sapinsley and Richard H. Lewis
Sustainers
Crowell & Moring LLP
Susan and Scott Douglass
Marcia Lynn Sells
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. – Eta Nu Sigma Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter
Supporters
Vanessa Barnett
Abigail Canfield
Fran Lebovitz
Susan C. Lerner
Wendy B. Samuel
Star Mooring Foundation
Steve Madden
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Eileen Vahey
Martha and Alex Wallau
The Weir Family Foundation, Inc.
Friends
Shelly and Vincent Fremont
Shelley Spevakow, SSASSY Foundation
Andreea Stan
As of March 12, 2024
Allie Aoanan Talavera
Helen Horsham-Bertels
Kimry Blackwelder
Emily Blatt
Susan Brundage
Liz Daly
Liz Lindenmeier
Nikki MacCallum
Alice Pang
Anna Pannettiere
Christina Previti
Marisa Rametta
Maya Wiley Esq.
President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Keynote Speaker
Maya Wiley is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. A nationally respected civil rights attorney, Wiley has been a litigator at the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc., and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In 2014, she became the first Black woman to be Counsel to a New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, where she worked to protect and expand civil rights, Minority and Women-Owned Business contracts and broadband access. Wiley became the Henry Cohen Professor of Public and Urban Policy at the Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment where she founded the Digital Equity Laboratory and also served as the Senior Vice President for Social Justice at the New School University. She has served on the New York City Automated Decisions Systems Task Force and the Atlantic Council Task Force for a Trustworthy Future Web. She has received numerous awards, including being named one of the World’s 100 Most Influential Leaders in Digital Government by Apolitical. Wiley has been a public voice for rights, justice, and democracy, through written opinion editorials and as a former legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
Kristine Johsnon
CBS New York Anchor 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Emcee
Kristine Johnson currently anchors the 5 p.m. & 11 p.m. news at the CBS owned and operated station in New York City. She joined CBS New York in the fall of 2006. Since then, she has been the recipient of several Emmy awards.
Kristine has navigated her viewers through numerous breaking news events. Including, Hurricane Sandy, the Newtown school massacre, the Boston marathon bombings and two separate papal visits to the Big Apple. She also anchors weekly on the network’s digital streaming platform, is a fill-in anchor for “CBS Mornings” and has filed reports for “CBS Sunday Morning.”
In 1994, Kristine began her career at WPRI in Providence, Rhode Island. She was hired as a part-time assignment editor. Over the next 10 years she transitioned through several production positions to her ultimate goal of reporting. Kristine left Providence for New York City in 2004. She was hired by MSNBC and anchored daytime coverage.
Kristine is honored to represent CBS News New York at various events around the Tri-State Area. She’s worked closely with the greater New York chapters of the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, March of Dimes, The Brain Tumor Foundation and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run.
Kristine lives with her family in Northern New Jersey. She completed two NYC marathons and credits yoga for keeping her “balanced.”
Lou and Helen Lowenstein
Philanthropic Honorees in Memoriam
Benefactor: $30,000 – 2 Tables for 18 total guests*
Your sponsorship will provide scholarships to 10 First Step students
o Full-page ad in the program
o Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Patron: $20,000 – 1 Table for 11 guests*
Your sponsorship will provide a scholarship to six First Step students
o Full-page ad in the program
o Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Advocate: $15,000 – 1 Table for 9 guests*
Your sponsorship will provide scholarships to four First Step students
Full-page ad in the program
Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Partner: $7,500 – 1 Table for 7 guests*
Your sponsorship will provide scholarships to two First Step students
Half-page ad in the program
Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Sustainer: $3,500 – Tickets for 5 guests
Your sponsorship will provide a scholarship to one First Step student
Third-page ad in program
Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Supporter: $2,000 – Tickets for 4 guests
Your sponsorship will provide a First Step class with computer training
Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
Friend: $1,500 – Tickets for 2 guests
Acknowledgments on event website and in event materials
General Admission: $300 – Ticket for 1 guest
If you are unable to attend this year’s luncheon, please consider making a donation to First Step