During this conversation between women representing early, mid-level, and senior-level career perspectives, each panelist shared her experiences navigating her career through modern transitions and culture change. Panelists also discussed topics relating to age including equal pay, benefits for parents and caregivers, intergenerational mentorship, and age-related barriers women face with promotions and professional development.
Moderator
Marisa Sheldon, Director, Age-Friendly Innovation Center, The Ohio State University College of Social Work
Panelists
- Christian Johnson is the program manager for Leadership and Social Justice at the Columbus YWCA. Christian possesses a strong background in education, special event planning, program development, politics and mentorship. At the YWCA, she works to empower women and eliminate racism through various advocacy programs and projects for women, girls, marginalized and underrepresented communities around Columbus, Ohio. She is also the Co-Founder of ABC Black Iconic figures, CEO and Founder of CNoelDesigns, and the Business Manager for Broken English:101.
- Sophia Fifner is the president and CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC), a visionary organization that connects people and ideas through community conversation. Sophia launched her career in philanthropy and public policy. Over time, she has helped secure and steward over $100 million in funds to support social impact and has served as a strategic senior advisor for S&P 500 CEOs and executives on messaging, channels, and delivery style with publications such as MSNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fast Company, and the Wall Street Journal. Sophia is an active volunteer and passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence and gender equity. Currently, she gives her time to the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Ohio Crime Victims Justice Center, Marsys’ Law for Ohio, Freedom a la Cart, and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
- Dr. Sierra Austin-King serves as the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio's Regional School Improvement Coordinator for Equity and Diversity and as a senior lecturer for the Departments of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies and African American & African Studies at The Ohio State University. She has also held teaching appointments at Purdue University, Denison University, and Columbus College & Art Design. She is a recent Leadership Columbus alumna and has been recognized as a Women for Economic Leadership Development (WELD) 2023 Calendar Honoree, a Leadership Ohio Ambassador (2021), YWCA Columbus Sue Doody Alumni of the Year (2020), and a JPMorgan Chase & Deloitte Wise Women Rising Star (2019). She currently serves as chair elect and grants committee chair of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio. She is also a member of Columbus College of Art & Design's Presidential Commission on DEI, the Franklin University School of Education Advisory Board, and is a member of the YWCA Columbus Alumni Committee
- Abigail Bailey is a gerontologist who specializes in family caregiving, aging in place, supporting the long-term care workforce, and dementia care. She has a Master’s of Science in aging and health concentrated in policy and economics from Georgetown University and is in the fourth year of her doctoral program in Social Gerontology from Miami University. Abigail is passionate about advocating for aging related policies to better support older adults and their family caregivers, as well as educating individuals on the intersectionality that age plays across life course. She has experience interning at AARP headquarters in their caregiving and health division, where she focused on helping employers support employees who are balancing both work and caregiving responsibilities. While completing her dissertation, Abigail is working for Home Instead (Meadville, PA) educating families and coordinating care to help older adults in the community receive quality care in their own homes.
