Leadership Academy - AI in the Workplace: Digital Transformation

Leadership Academy is a monthly virtual workshop developed by our Emerging Leaders Network Each month focuses on a new professional development topic relevant to today's workforce. Instructors are vetted Chamber Members who are experts on the topics.

Speaker: Holly Smithson, President & CEO of Athena
 

As CEO of Athena, Holly leads efforts to accelerate women and cultivate allies through leadership development, workforce upskilling, and trusted peer exchange. Rooted in one of the nation’s most competitive STEM markets in California, Athena now extends its impact globally, supporting 50 corporate partners representing 1.5M employees and a member network spanning 170+ countries. 

Holly's career spans transformative roles, including leading the launch, merger, and financial turnaround of three mission-driven organizations in cleantech, biotech, and STEM. Previously, Holly served as a Presidential Appointee in President George W. Bush's administration, advancing critical legislative initiatives at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State Department. She was also a delegate in California Governor Jerry Brown's Cleantech Trade Mission to China.

Her exceptional leadership has earned widespread recognition. Holly delivered the acclaimed TEDx San Diego Talk, "Uncaging the Confidence Within," where she explored the mindset shifts that fuel personal transformation and courageous leadership. She was inducted into the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame in 2023 and named among San Diego's Top 500 Most Influential Leaders from 2018-2024. Additionally, she's been honored as CEO of the Year and Businesswoman of the Year. 

Smithson began her career in broadcast journalism as a News Director and Anchor for television and all-talk radio stations. She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast communications from East Carolina University.