The Ally Couch
She Rises: Empowering Women Through Allyship
POSTPONED -- Wednesday, February 26
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this month's Ally Couch event has been canceled. We hope to reschedule in the coming weeks, so please check back for a new date. Thank you.
Join The Boston Club for a conversation about the transformative role of allyship in advancing women's careers. In today's fast-paced and often competitive workplace, success is rarely achieved in isolation. The power of allies—mentors, sponsors, and advocates—cannot be underestimated.
Learn how our special guests Natanja Craig Oquendo and Allison Bauer first crossed paths at The Boston Foundation nearly two decades ago and share their journey of building a lasting professional and personal relationship through allyship. From serving in different roles at The Boston Foundation to supporting each other's growth and tragedies, they will reflect on how mutual support and allyship can fuel progress, empower individuals, and cultivate an environment where diversity is embraced and women can rise together.
Whether you want to be a better ally or expand your support network, this Ally Couch session will inspire and equip you to elevate others and rise in your career.
On the Couch:
Natanja Craig Oquendo, Executive Director of Boston Women’s Fund
Natanja Craig Oquendo has spent her career centering the voices of Black and Brown people. At a young age, Natanja was inspired by activists defending her community from systemic injustice. Their success spurred her strong belief in grassroots organizations’ power to drive change. After entering the philanthropic sector and discovering that those most impacted by foundation investments were absent from the decision-making tables, she was determined to change philanthropy. She brings an unwavering passion for community solutions, her unique lived experience, and over 20 years of nonprofit and philanthropic expertise to her work as Executive Director of the Boston Women’s Fund.
Her guiding motto is “do nothing about us without us.” She is committed to strategically challenging the status quo to dismantle harmful systems and rebuild while centering people with relevant lived experience.
Natanja serves on the board at Philanthropy Massachusetts and the advisory board at Harvard Law Center and Everyday Boston. She is a part of two Fellowships: UMass Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy and the Black Leadership Initiative. Natanja is also a YW Boston 2023 Academy of Women Achievers honoree, and has been recognized as one of this year's 150 Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine.
Prior to joining the Boston Women’s Fund, Natanja held positions at The Boston Foundation, Fidelity Investments, The Partnership, Inc., The Possible Project, and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
Natanja has found a home in the Boston Women’s Fund. She enjoys singing 80s love songs at karaoke, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. However, Natanja’s greatest title is that of a mother and grandmother to her three daughters, two sons, and granddaughter, Mila, all of which she could not do without her loving husband, Jason.
Allison Bauer, JD, MSW, Associate Teaching Professor, Public Health and Health Sciences, Northeastern University and Boston Club Member, Bouvé College Distinguished Educator Award for Undergraduate Teaching in 2021 and Global Experience Office Faculty Fellowship in 2020
Allison F Bauer, JD, MSW, is the Associate Chair for External Affairs and an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Public Health & Health Sciences at Northeastern University. She is public health & health sciences academic expertise in health policy and community health. Her experience includes health philanthropy and investment; building and managing strategic collaborations; policy analysis, legislative advocacy, grantmaking, public speaking, and professional development.
Prior to joining the Northeastern faculty, Allison was Director of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She led the implementation of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery strategies across the substance use disorder spectrum, specifically focused on combatting the opioid epidemic.
She has almost 10 years of experience in philanthropy serving as a Senior Director at The Boston Foundation (TBF) leading the Health and Wellness Strategy which focused on investments to correct the imbalance between healthcare spending and expenses by reducing healthcare costs through increased primary prevention and by addressing social determinants of health.
Allison has a BA in Political Science from the University of Rochester, an MSW in Policy, Planning and Administrative Practice from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She is a native New Yorker but for the past 20 years has lived in Newton, MA with her wife Marie Longo where she raised her twins, Joshua and Rebecca, who are 22. Josh is studying at Northeastern University and Rebecca at University of Colorado, Boulder. She is an avid reader, enjoys going to concerts, traveling, playing and watching tennis, and is never happier than when she is near the ocean.
Our Moderators:
Christy Egun is the Director of Community Health at Mass General Brigham, overseeing all aspects of community health at Mass General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear Institute.
Joanne Derr is an Executive Coach and former vice president of Human Resources across multiple industries where she spearheaded diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and diversity committees. Joanne is an active member and co-chair of TBC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
