Andrea is a former HR leader at Lucasfilm, Airbnb, and Autodesk – and began her career at Levi Strauss & Co. – with a focus on Organization Development and Learning. She is now an entrepreneur and advisor to organizations on HR, organization development, diversity and belonging, bias reduction, and education, as founder of ARCx. She is also the Co-Founder of Vibrany – a future of work design collective. Current and former clients include Sonos, The California Academy of Sciences, The McKnight Foundation, PIxar, Clif Bar, The Trevor Project, Arup, Stryker, Dive Studios, and LangeTwins Winery.
Andrea previously held board positions on The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, The College Bound Foundation, and is on the customary Advisory Board for Balloon – a technology company that improves productivity and creativity while mitigating bias.
She works with organizations in the public and private sectors that seek modern ideas for work – including organization design, talent strategy, recruiting, learning + development, people analytics, and diversity + belonging.
She received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in Psychology. Andrea also holds a Masters in Education and Public Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Blake Simpson stands as a paragon in the realm of
corporate communications, renowned for her visionary leadership and demonstrated expertise
in shaping corporate narratives. At the heart of her strategy lies a profound commitment to
crafting and sharing stories that resonate deeply across various audiences.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Adtalem,
Blake has been instrumental in shaping the company’s global communications, investor
relations, government relations and alumni engagement strategies, and steering the
sustainability agenda. Her virtuosity in developing and executing Adtalem’s enterprise brand
and communication strategy has elevated the company’s market presence, connecting with
customers, shareholders, employees, and communities worldwide.
Blake’s previous tenure at Under Armour was marked by her transformative influence, where
she led a global team dedicated to narrating the brand’s journey. Under her guidance, Under
Armour transitioned from a product-centric to a purpose-driven brand, thereby redefining the
company’s trajectory for future growth.
Her career journey, which includes pivotal roles at NBC News, Yahoo!, Levi’s, and Old Navy, hasfirmly established Blake as a communications maven. Her forward-thinking approach and
charge in handling large-scale enterprise strategies consistently result in impactful and strategic
narratives that speak to executives, employees, consumers, and communities alike.
As a founding member of CHIEF and an advisor to the rapidly ascending unicorn startup Fetch
Rewards, Blake continues to influence the communications sector profoundly. Her insights on
the perils of misinformation, especially highlighted in her TEDx talk addressing the 2020 societal
and political dynamics, underscore her commitment to ethical and responsible storytelling.
Blake’s academic credentials, comprising a Master of Science in Journalism from Boston
University and a Bachelor of Science in Comparative Politics from the University of California at
Davis, have been fundamental in honing her skills and providing her with a multifaceted
perspective on communications and corporate affairs.
Overall, Blake Simpson’s career is not just defined by prestigious roles but more so by her
enduring impact in shaping corporate narratives, driving brand growth and fostering
meaningful connections in an ever-evolving global communications landscape. Her professional
journey is a testament to her strategic acumen and her ability to seamlessly blend innovative
storytelling with corporate objectives.
Bryan is an attorney and shareholder at Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney, where he represents businesses and individuals in all phases of litigation, focusing primarily on real estate, construction, and business litigation. Bryan holds an A.B. in History with a minor in Economics from Bowdoin College, and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Bryan lives in San Francisco with his wife and 3 children, and enjoys coaching sports, playing basketball and golf in his spare time. Bryan is honored to serve Well Beyond Academics and its mission in educating and promoting healthy lifestyles for children through its wellness programs.
Eileen O’Kane was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She and her partner live in Daly City, CA with their two children and loyal dog. For the past 19 years she has been a high school teacher where she has taught in the SFUSD, SF Archdiocese, and SF private schools. Currently, Eileen is a student advisor and History teacher at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. As a mother and educator, Eileen knows first hand how imperative it is for children to have the kind of comprehensive and well designed sexual and mental health education that Well Beyond Academics delivers.
