The Business Advantage of DEI Across Industries

Ashley Higgins graduated Dyson in 2006 and currently works for Gannett, a large public media company, leading the strategy team and serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO. Previously, she managed the company’s investor relations efforts for four years during her tenure at Fortress Investment Group, who served as external manager to Gannett (and its predecessor company). Prior to that, Ms. Higgins spent a decade at Barclays Capital, formerly Lehman Brothers, within their prime services department in roles across sales, trading, and product management. Outside of work, she serves on Dyson’s Advisory Council and the board of Goddard Riverside, a nonprofit multi-service organization that serves over 20,000 New Yorkers annually. Ms. Higgins lives in NYC with her husband (also Dyson 2006) and their three girls.

Cliff Christophe leads international DEI initiatives for Universal Studios Group (USG) to address both corporate and production populations. His main functions include creating and encouraging inclusive cultures and diverse representation, proactive and responsive training and education on sensitive topics and storylines, partnering with internal investigators on pertinent cases, and fostering cross-functional relationships to ensure that managers and employees are properly connected with appropriate resources.

Mr. Christophe’s passion for DEIB began in his role on the Dyson Advisory Council, part of Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, his alma mater. Having been engaged in this space for over 10 years, he continues to learn and grow in the developing issues, strategies, and opportunities for change. Mr. Christophe’s background in law, business, education, and HR provides a unique perspective from which to approach the various DEI challenges and initiatives.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Mr. Christophe practiced law for over 15 years. He started as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, NY, then was an associate attorney at Ingerman Smith, LLP, a boutique law firm that focused on labor, employment, and education law. Most recently, Mr. Christophe served as General Counsel for the Mt. Vernon City School District, where he better understood the sometimes delicate balance of business needs with the law. His DEIB background proved effective in managing staff and recruiting when he fulfilled an interim role as head of HR.

Jerry Goldman retired from his role as a senior partner at Ernst & Young, LLP, in 2011. His philanthropic interests focus on programs that enrich education and expand sports and cultural opportunities for low-income children and youth. Mr. Goldman currently sits on the board of Areté, a nonprofit organization that offers expanded day and summer programs, and volunteers as a substitute teacher and baseball coach at Middle School 233, “The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology,” in the South Bronx. He serves on the Dyson School Business Council at Cornell University, where he helped establish the Endowment for Accounting Excellence. Mr. Goldman has served as a trustee of the board of the Museum of the Moving Image, the Martha Graham Dance Company, and the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation.

Mr. Goldman is a graduate of Cornell University (BA, Economics) and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). He resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his wife Mary. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Kate Nadolny is CEO of Bandier. She was previously head of Operations & Innovation at PVH Americas, overseeing global innovation alignment and responsible for Digital, Omnichannel, Wholesale & Marketing Operations, Business Process & Transformation, Commercial Insights, and Operational Strategy for the region. Prior to joining PVH, Ms. Nadolny was at Lacoste & VF Corp (Nautica) in Wholesale & Planning. She began her career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs.

Ms. Nadolny is a board Member of the nonprofit for the Bronx Academy of Letters, providing supplemental support to the arts, college prep, and academic expansion within the school. She is also on the Board of Directors for Algo, an end-to-end supply chain optimization software company, and AlgoFace, a visual analytics company.

Ms. Nadolny is a 2006 graduate of the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, where she serves on the Advisory Board. She also serves at the university level as a member of Cornell University Council and President of her class. Ms. Nadolny was also recently appointed to the board of the Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies Department at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. In 2020, she graduated from the Trium Global Executive MBA program with a degree jointly issued by New York University’s Stern School of Business, The London School of Economics and HEC Paris. Ms. Nadolny lives in New York with her husband, Matt Settle, and their rescue dog, Duke.

Linda Kao founded Rockdale Capital 1996 as the family office for two retail entrepreneurs. Today, there are 11 employees, managing various aspects of each family member’s customized financial and administrative needs.

Ms. Kao began her career at Goldman Sachs in their Operations Management Training Program. She later moved to Bankers Trust Global Custody Division for three years. Immediately prior to Rockdale Capital, Ms. Kao worked at Chase Private Banking as a Vice President in Family Office Services.

Ms. Kao received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics and Business Management at Cornell University in 1985. She also received a Master of Business Administration from New York University. Ms Kao lives in New Jersey with her husband David.

Tobias Spruill is the Senior Managing Counsel – Head of North American Employment Law & Employee Benefits at LinkedIn. He has advised on HR policies, leaves/accommodations, restructurings, employment agreements, employee relations matters, incentive/executive compensation plans, HR aspects of mergers and acquisitions, HR-related trainings, and ERISA compliance, as well as employment/benefits administrative charges, litigation, and audits.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Spruill was an in-house employment attorney at Amazon.com, Inc., and QBE Insurance; he was also in private practice at Latham & Watkins LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Mr. Spruill holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University, a Master of Business Administration (with concentrations in Marketing and Strategy) from New York University (NYU), a Master of Laws in Taxation from NYU, and a Juris Doctor from NYU.