Change is inevitable and navigating it successfully takes courage, strategy, and adaptability. In this panel, accomplished leaders will share personal stories and practical insights on making bold career moves, adapting to new environments, and thriving through change. A networking reception will follow.
- Date: Thursday, 20 Nov. 2025
- Panel Discussion: 15:00–16:30
- Networking Reception: 16:30–18:00
- Location: Hotel Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto (Pawia 18/B, 31-154 Kraków, Poland)
- Free and open to all
Meet the Panelists
Yolandi Brophy
OT (Operational Technology) SME Lead, Takeda
Yolandi, South African at heart, is a dedicated professional currently working at Takeda in Zurich, Switzerland, where she contributes to advancing innovative technology solutions used in the pharmaceutical industry. She excels in cross-functional team environments and adapts quickly to evolving business needs. Her proactive approach and attention to detail enable her to deliver high-quality results across a variety of projects. Yolandi is committed to making a positive impact in the healthcare sector and continuously seeks opportunities for growth and learning.
Agnieszka Dybizbanska
Head of Diversity & Inclusion for EMEA and APAC, Rockwell Automation
Agnieszka Dybizbanska is a seasoned HR professional with over 16 years of experience, specializing in inclusive workplace cultures, recruitment strategy, and talent development. She currently serves as Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Lead for EMEA and APAC at Rockwell Automation, where she drives efforts to attract, retain, and grow talent by tailoring global D&I strategies to regional needs.
Previously, Agnieszka spent 11 years at Credit Suisse as Global DE&I Strategic Advisor, leading initiatives across all career stages and delivering impactful programs like Real Returns and diversity recruiting for the Americas. Her work has consistently enhanced employee engagement and business outcomes.
She holds a master’s degree in economic sciences from the University of Economics in Wroclaw, Poland. Outside of work, she enjoys mountain hiking, sailing, and supports Lean In Circles to empower women through peer mentorship. She lives in Wroclaw with her partner and a four-year-old daughter.
Gauri Naik
Manager, Strategic Planning, John Deere
Gauri Naik is a multicultural leader with extensive experience in engineering, production planning, new product introduction, business transformation, marketing, and strategy. Her career spans local (India), regional (Africa and Asia), and global roles, enabling her to drive impactful initiatives across diverse markets. She has lived in India and Singapore and has resided in Germany for the past three years, bringing a truly global perspective to her work. With a strong foundation in mechanical engineering and business management, she combines technical expertise with strategic vision to deliver sustainable growth. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, she thrives on leading diverse teams to achieve transformative business outcomes.
Karen Horting, Panel Moderator
SWE Executive Director & CEO
Karen Horting, CAE, is the executive director and CEO for the Society of Women Engineers, a position she has held since Dec. 31, 2013. With more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and fund development, Horting was most recently the SWE deputy executive director. In this capacity, she was responsible for all fund development activities for the organization, including corporate membership and SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council and more traditional philanthropy such as foundation and government grants, individual gifts, and bequests.
She also oversaw many of the Society’s programs and services, including professional development, K-12 outreach, the annual conference, and SWE’s international expansion. Horting came to SWE in March 2004 from the New York Academy of Sciences, where she served as director of strategic planning, managing the academy’s development activities and long-range organizational planning.
Before her role with NYAS, Horting worked for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, managing both marketing and fund development on a global level for Science’s Next Wave, a groundbreaking career-development website for graduate students and postdocs in science, math, and technology. Horting’s experience also includes more than 10 years in the paint industry in various technical service and marketing functions. In 2008, Horting earned her Certified Association Executive credential from the CAE Commission of the American Society of Association Executives. Horting holds a B.S. in biology from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
She currently serves on the FIRST Robotics Board of Directors, the STEM Ed Coalition Board of Directors, and the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board (DAAB). In 2019 she was awarded the Inspiring Leader Award from the Association Forum. And in 2024 she was named to Forbes 50 Over 50 list.
