GEMfest 2022

Speakers

Keynote: Pernille Spiers-Lopez

Pernille Spiers-Lopez was President for IKEA North America and she has been a member of The Executive Management Team of the IKEA Group for 10 years. During her tenure as President of IKEA North America (2001-2009), Pernille lead the fastest expansion ever within IKEA. IKEA US grew from a small ‘niche’ retailer with 15 stores to a nationally recognized ‘major player’ with 38 stores. She brought with her a wealth of experience in home furnishings retail, human resources and leadership. This experience was grounded in and enhanced by her commitment to the IKEA culture and values that are at the heart of the company and its success.

Jenna Dover

Jenna Dover seems to do it all as a volleyball player, entrepreneur, and influencer. She is the co-founder of the Newport Beach-based beauty company, Caliray, and runs the company along with Urban Decay founder Wende Zomnir. Dover is known as the brand’s “vibeologist” and contributes to capturing the essence of Southern California in the beauty brand. Caliray is known for being a clean brand which promotes environmental sustainability along with female confidence and empowerment.

Lauren Townsend

Lauren Townsend is an incredible businesswoman who has worked for Sony and Hulu. She is now the Senior Vice President of Communications at Fox.

Tiffany Hill

Sage Hill Alumna, Tiffany Hill brings the fields of entertainment, law, and business together as an entertainment attorney and business affairs strategist. As Senior Business Affairs Manager at Innocean, she helps deliver prime content to numerous entertainment spaces. Outside of her law and business profession, Hill, along with her husband, started NICU 2 Nursery to help families who have a child in NICU.

Elena Bonvicini

Elena Bonvicini is the CEO and Designer of high-fashion brand EB Denim. She works to lessen the negative impacts of unethical clothing productions through innovative business and artistic endeavors. A sage alumna, Elena hopes to share her love of fashion and the environment with the next generation of girls.

Kellie Kawaguchi

Kellie, Sage Hill Alum, Graduate of University of Southern California and Georgetown University, has built a career in Entertainment Marketing, working at Universal Pictures for the past 8+ years. Her role at the company continues to evolve and has worked in brand marketing, franchise management, integrated marketing, and PVOD strategy. She specializes in crafting full 360 evergreen campaigns and IP amplification across Theme Parks, Retail, Consumer Products, Games, Promotions, Bridge Content, TV and Global Theatrical Marketing. Most recently, she recently joined the International Team at Universal Pictures as the Director of International Marketing to develop global marketing strategy across the Universal Pictures slate and develop marketing campaigns for every territory around the world outside the U.S.

Workshops :

Painted Pairs

Science Scoop

Anyssa Dang is a junior at Sage Hill who started a business called Painted Pairs (Instagram @Painted.Pairs) as a 9th grader, where she custom designs and paints shoes to sell. This workshop is not only about painting but about running your own business. Anyssa will teach young girls about the basics of entrepreneurship: starting, promoting, and expanding a business. Even if painting is not your thing, this is a great space to learn how to take whatever your passion is and turn it into a business. Each participant is requested to bring a pair of new or used shoes (any type of shoes: pumps, canvas, leather, ballet flats, sneakers, etc.) If you do not bring a pair of shoes, a tote bag or canvas will be provided for you.

Isabel Gomez and Lexie Howell are seniors at Sage Hill and Corona del Mar High School, respectively, who started an organization called Science Scoop (Instagram @science.scoop) their freshman year. Science Scoop works to ignite an interest in STEM careers in elementary and middle school girls. This workshop will offer a career survey to see which category of science the girls may be interested in. Girls will have the opportunity to extract the DNA from a strawberry while reviewing the scientific method and experimentation. All materials will be provided.

Gardening

Introduction to Dance

Join us for a creative gardening workshop where you will take a deeper dive into environmental science through testing soil samples. At the end of this workshop you will take home a small potted plant!

Join Sage Hill dance teacher Sydney Hutcherson for an Introduction to Dance class. Mrs. Hutcherson will teach healthy ways to stay active through dance while having fun and expressing yourself.

Introduction to Coding

EB Denim

Did you know that by learning to code, you can create games for you and your friends to play, make your own websites, create apps and so much more? Coding is a common language that can help you to connect with people all over the globe, and might even kick-start a cool career. This workshop covers an introduction to coding.

Join Sage Hill alumnus and founder of EB Denim, Elena Bovicini, to learn about how she started her sustainable denim brand. EB Denim has been worn by many celebrities and the brand is based in Los Angeles. You will be making a denim craft with Elena from EB Denim.

Yoga	Parent Workshop

Join Sage Hill's yoga instructor Merja Connolly for an introduction to yoga. Mrs. Connolly is dedicated to the wellbeing of individuals and spreading positivity throughout the community. Mrs. Connolly will be joined by Sage Hill senior Elizabeth Casey, who is certified in yoga and has a passion for wellness. In this workshop, you will be learning how to use yoga and mindfulness to relieve stress, increase focus and memory, improve posture, and discover your highest potential.

The parent workshop will entail a presentation and conversation with Sage Hill's 9th Grade Dean, Elizabeth Anauld, and school counselor, Lynn Mountain. The conversation will focus on topics such as the transition from middle school to high school, mental health, and social media.