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To enhance the potential for graduates and alumni to advance in their professional journeys. Create awareness of the capabilities they need to navigate through their careers, and empower them through training, coaching, and mentorship. Encourage them to “build the muscle” needed through active engagement and leadership in social impact and community programs. Ultimately, create a network effect in which successful alumni can, in turn, lift others.

The Business of Caregiving

March 6–7, 2026

CORE 3rd Floor, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (CSUEB)

Forum Overview

The Women in Leadership (WIL) Forum 2026 explores “The Business of Care”, positioning caregiving not only as a social necessity but as a dynamic and growing economic sector driving innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and inclusive leadership. From childcare to eldercare to disability-centered services, caregiving shapes labor markets, financial systems, technology design, and community well-being. This two-day forum convenes students, founders, financial experts, researchers, and community leaders to examine how innovation, equity, and impact intersect across the caregiving ecosystem.

The goal: elevate caregiving as a strategic leadership and business issue while fostering collaboration across sectors and generations.

WIL Forum Agenda at a glance

March 6

Student Showcase for Demo Lab and Data Summit on Caregiving

March 7

The Future of Caregiving – Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact

Day 1- Friday, March 6 (12:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

• 12:00 PM Lunch
• 12:10 – 12:20 PM Welcome and Introductions – Anthony Muscat, Provost, California State
  University, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ
• 12:20 – 12:35 PM Caregiving Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact
  Panelists: Alina Engelman (CSUEB) & Sarah Taylor (CSUEB)
• 12:40 – 2:10 PM Demo Lab: Innovating Caregiving Project Team Presentations
  Judges: Sunil Bhargava (Tandem Capital), Benazir Fateh (Google), Sudarshan
  Seerapu (HCL), Japjit S (Google)
• 2:15 – 3:00 PM Data Summit: Researching Care – Presentations by Oscar Awardees
  Judges: Jennifer Sherwood (CSUEB), Deka Dike (Omatochi), Joshua Kerr (CSUEB)
• 3:00 – 4:00 PM Networking Social

Day 2- Saturday, March 7 (9:30 am - 4:30 pm) 

Morning Sessions

• 10:00 AM Welcome – Asha Rao (CSUEB), Amy Schoildager (Board Executive)
• 10:15 AM Keynote Speaker – Deka Dike, Founder, Omatochi; Alumna, CSUEB
• 10:35 AM Keynote Speaker – Vanessa Valerio, Co-Founder, CareIndeed
• 10:55 AM Ashley Mates, NorCal Regional Manager, UDW/AFSCME – Supporting California
  Childcare Providers
• 11:20 AM Leona Tang, Founder, Finanli – Care Across the Lifespan: Financial Planning for Care
  Across the Ages
• 11:40 AM Maureen Goode, Founder, Goode Cents – When the Child Becomes the Parent:
  Navigating Elder Care and Financial Management
• 12:00 – 12:30 PM Roundtable Discussions with Speakers
• 12:30 – 1:40 PM Lunch & Speed Networking (Speed networking begins at 1:00 PM)

Afternoon Sessions

• 2:00 PM WIL Data Summit – Filippo Rebessi, CSUEB
  Student finalists present research analyzing the $6 trillion care economy, focusing on time-use patterns and wage gaps affecting elders, children, and people with disabilities.
• 2:30 PM Demo Lab: Caregiver Tools – Lan Wang, CSUEB
  Finalist teams present innovative caregiver tools and prototypes.
• 3:15 PM Awards – Anthony Muscat, Provost, CSUEB
• 3:20 PM Closing Reflections – Rupal Hollenbeck (Board Executive)
  Key takeaways, recognition, and a vision for the future of caregiving and leadership at CSUEB.

We are a donor funded program made possible by the generosity of people like you!

Support the Women in Leadership Program by donating to Cal State Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educational Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Federal Tax ID is 94-6128893. Gifts to the Cal State Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educational Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Click here for gifts by mail or fax.

Donation by check can be made payable to: Cal State Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Educational Foundation, Cashier’s Office, SA 1200, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542-9988. Please specify that the donation is for the Women in Leadership Program. 

Contact us about Corporate Sponsorships. We appreciate your generosity!