Washington, D.C. Live 2027: People & HR

Sonya is the Director of Total Rewards at ZS, a global management consulting and technology firm that employs more than  15,000 people across more than 40 offices worldwide. It’s best known for its work in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences analytics. She earned her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Becky Sawyer is an executive leader, author, and sought-after speaker with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations and leaders navigate growth, transformation, and change. She serves as Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer at Sentara Health, a $13 billion integrated health system with more than 34,000 colleagues, where she leads enterprise people strategy, culture, workforce transformation, total rewards, leadership development, and M&A integration.

Drawing on decades of executive leadership, Becky founded The Brave Current™, a platform dedicated to helping leaders, boards, and organizations thrive through practical insight and courageous conversations. She writes, speaks, and advises on leadership presence, workforce strategy, organizational culture, governance, and the future of work.

Becky is the author of Muted: Leadership Demands Presence, where she explores how hybrid work has reshaped visibility, trust, and leadership development—and offers a practical framework for leading with greater intention, connection, and impact.

Known for her clarity, candor, and authentic leadership style, Becky challenges audiences to rethink what effective leadership requires today. Her message is grounded in a simple belief: leadership is earned through presence, service, and credibility—not entitlement. Whether addressing executives, healthcare leaders, boards, or emerging professionals, Becky equips audiences with actionable strategies to build stronger cultures, develop people, and lead with confidence in times of change.

In addition to speaking, Becky serves as a trusted advisor to executive teams and is available for advisory and corporate board opportunities, bringing expertise in governance, enterprise strategy, organizational transformation, talent, and leadership.

Tonia C. McMillan is currently the Vice President of HR Strategy and Shared Services for Amtrak. She is an experienced professional “change agent” and lean six sigma greenbelt practitioner. Her professional experience is in finance, healthcare, compliance, risk management, and transportation. Tonia began her professional career working in the banking industry for the nation’s largest credit card company where she held carious fiscal management roles. Tonia obtained her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science with a minor in Human Resources Management from Wilmington University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies from South University. Tonia then transitioned into the behavioral health field working with those who suffered from substance abuse and mental health disorders. She held positions ranging from clinical to administrator. She then moved into the transportation industry starting her career at Amtrak, specializing in drug and alcohol regulatory compliance. In her current role at Amtrak, she is responsible for developing human resource operational strategy. Tonia resides in Elkton, Maryland with her husband and two teenage children.

Barbara Martell is a seasoned Human Resources executive and strategic business partner with extensive experience in talent management, organizational transformation, workforce strategy, and employee engagement. She is recognized for leading people-centered strategies that drive business growth, strengthen organizational culture, and improve performance.

Michelle Link is an accomplished Human Resources executive with more than 25 years of experience leading HR strategies and organizations across national and international environments, including healthcare, call center, and government contracting.

As the leader of the global Human Resources organization at Maximus, Michelle oversees a broad portfolio spanning Talent Acquisition, Workforce Solutions, Organizational Development, HR Information Systems, Total Rewards, and Change Management. She plays a key role in supporting more than 30,000 professionals worldwide and advancing HR strategies that help organizations and people thrive in a rapidly changing world.

With extensive experience across diverse industries and complex global organizations, Michelle brings a people-centered and strategic perspective to workforce transformation, organizational development, and the future of work.

For job seekers: Michelle and Maximus emphasize the importance of staying vigilant when exploring career opportunities. Legitimate Maximus positions are posted through the company’s official careers site, and candidates should be cautious of unsolicited job offers, requests for payment, or communications from unofficial email addresses.

Stephany Spahr is Senior Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources at QIAGEN and a member of the QIAGEN Executive Committee. She joined QIAGEN in 2005 as Head of Global Internal Audit and subsequently held leadership roles in compensation and benefits before being appointed to her current position in October 2019.

Prior to joining QIAGEN, Stephany began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Global Risk Management Services. She holds a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). In 2023, she completed the year-long Chief Human Resources Officer Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Stephany Foster is a Senior Vice President, Head of Global Human Resources and Member of the Executive Committee

Stephany Foster has served as Senior Vice President, Head of Global Human Resources and member of QIAGEN's Executive Committee since 2019, leading a global HR organization of more than 100 professionals. She joined QIAGEN in 2005 as Vice President, Head of Internal Audit, and led the function for nearly 14 years before becoming Vice President, Head of Compensation and Benefits in 2019. Before QIAGEN, she held internal audit roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Independence Air and Morgan Franklin. Ms. Foster previously served on the Board of Directors of OncoSec Medical, where she chaired the Audit Committee and was a member of the Compensation Committee. She holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.

Christine is a seasoned human resources executive and people-strategy leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning finance, analytics, and human resources. As Global Head of Talent, Total Rewards, and HR Technology at Hilton, she leads a team of nearly 500 professionals across multiple functions and regions.

In her role, Christine develops and executes Hilton’s integrated people strategy, leveraging expertise in talent acquisition, learning and development, compensation and benefits, people analytics, and HR technology to attract, develop, reward, and retain top talent. She is passionate about building inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing cultures that enable organizations and their people to thrive.

Throughout her career at Hilton, Christine has contributed to major milestones in the company’s growth and transformation, including its IPO, corporate restructuring, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her perspective combines strategic business leadership with a deep understanding of how people, technology, and organizational culture drive sustainable performance.

Christine holds a dual degree in Finance and Marketing from Georgetown University and an MBA in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Maryland. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, reflecting her commitment to giving back to the community.