WORLD FINANCE FORUM

Amit Shrestha

CFO, Mexico

Amit Shrestha is an experienced international finance executive with more than 25 years of experience across many regions. He is currently CFO of Microsoft Mexico. Prior to that he held leadership roles in Greater China Region and US over 20 years in Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, Amit was with start up dot com company as CFO securing rounds of funding. Amit started his career in PWC.

Valquir Correa

VP, Corporate Finance

With a unique set of knowledge in IT, Hotel Operations and Finance, Valquir Correa has transformed hundreds of associates throughout 9 different countries and more than 70 hotels. With 21 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry his accomplishments are singular and generated over 2.5 million dollars in savings and revenue generation projects.

Today he serves as the Vice President of Corporate Finance at Baha Mar, a gorgeous resort in the Bahamas Nassau, a complex worth 4 billion dollars with multiple venues, including 4 different Hotels (Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood and Melia), Casino, Golf Course, Spa and a 200 million dollar Water Park (Baha Bay).

He is responsible for the Digital Transformation in Finance and has implemented over 25 automated processes that covers compliance with audit processes, savings in expenses and smart control for business KPIs.

One of his truest characteristics is the deep understanding and care for associates which has allowed him to create powerful complex teams, always empowering the people to become the best version of themselves.

Valquir is originally from Brazil and just recently started to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with his 2 kids. This Martial Art really teaches humility and having your feet on the ground is imperative for him to keep building smart and strong teams.

Mahsa Salarvand

Former VP, Head of Global Business Office

Mahsa Salarvand is the former Head of the Global Business Office at Sony Music Entertainment where she is responsible for leading Strategic projects for the C-suite, including a major Global Finance Transformation. Her team has designed and is in the process of transforming the Finance operating model, processes and organizational structures across all 40+ Sony Music affiliates globally. This includes Business Support, PTP, OTC, RTR and Royalties.

In addition, Mahsa’s team has helped drive various other initiatives, such as post M&A synergies, improving the Artist experience and improving several of the Creative processes and organizations.

Mahsa started her career as a Management Consultant, initially as a systems engineer and simulation expert supporting clients like NASA and the CDC and eventually moved to Operational Strategy and Business Transformation supporting clients in Media, Consumer Goods, Automotive, etc. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Tech and Masters from Johns Hopkins. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two small children. In her free time, she loves fitness, puzzles and music. She is a big fan of Virginia Tech football and Washington Capitals Hockey.

Jess Yu

Director of Finance

Jess Yu is currently the Director of Finance for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, where she oversees the FP&A function and provides financial modeling support to the corporate development team.

Before joining the Miami GP, Jess held strategic finance positions at two different health-tech companies, where she played a critical role in fundraising, driving strategic planning and execution, and delivering financial results. She has extensive experience in financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and providing data-driven insights to executive leadership.

Prior to working in healthcare, Jess was part of the corporate finance & investor relations team at WeWork, where she was instrumental in quarterly earnings, financing transactions, and preparing board materials.

Jess holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Duke University.

Jason Tomlinson

Director of FP&A

Jason is a hands on adviser to Executive Finance and IT Leadership. He is sought out by clients to help streamline a complex system or business process. He has spent most of his career navigating the pitfalls that appear during mergers and other times of organizational change with large scale finance transformation projects.  He currently serves as Director for the FP&A business systems team at Hilton Grand Vacations (NYSE:HGV) in Orlando, FL following their acquisition of his former employer Diamond Resorts in August 2021. 

Jason has delivered solutions for numerous industry leading clients during his 15 years in both functional and technical management consulting roles across the media, real estate, pharmaceutical, insurance, and hospitality industries. He is passionate about helping organizations make the most of their financial resources while looking for ways to improve accuracy and efficiency in their planning and reporting processes. 

When he’s not at work, Jason is at play, lately he has been fascinated by the mind blowing virtual assistant capabilities of machine learning models that generate text or images based on user input, but most of the time he will be found traveling with his family across the 140 resort properties and unique experiences available with his points ownership in Hilton Grand Vacation’s industry leading HGV Max club. His two favorite vacation getaway spots let him enjoy the relaxing sounds of the ocean at Sanibel or Marco Island, but he doesn’t mind trekking across the Italian countryside or attending  concerts and meeting celebrities and Pros with his daughter to score autographs at an LPGA event.

Carla Carrillo

CFO (LATAM & Caribbean)

I am the CFO of LATAM & Caribbean CFO for Swissport.

With more than 27 years of broad finance and business experience. In my current position I am responsible for the financial activities of Latin America & Caribbean countries for Swissport.

Public Accountant by profession and I also hold a Master Degree in Finance and a specialization in Top Management by IPADE in Mexico.

Having worked in four different industries, from Consumer Business in Procter & Gamble, Pharmaceutical for Bristol Myers Squibb, Logistics for DPDHL and Aviation for Swissport.

I am passionate about transformation of typical functional activities into more strategic and comprehensive roles within a function. Have dealt with various transformations within my career, from a pure transactional to a more strategic contribution to the business from the finance arena.

True believer in the power of diversity to allow the organizations to reach their high potential not only by offering broader perspectives but to bring more information to the decision-making process.

Ilana Esterrich

Chief Financial Officer

Ilana Esterrich is an accomplished strategic and financial executive with extensive experience in strategy, finance and accounting, and operations. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Esterrich was the CFO at American Coatings Association, and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), a national security and defense research institution where she was responsible for annual and long-term strategic planning and execution, business development and fundraising, budget development, human resources, information technology, publishing, and day-to-day operations.

Ms. Esterrich has gained additional experience in consulting, operations, logistics, sales and marketing, and international operations through previous positions at Thomson-Reuters, General Mills, The Pillsbury Company, Computer Sciences Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Coopers & Lybrand).

She is a Steering Committee Member of the Washington DC Chapter of the CFO Leadership Council (CFOLC), Advisory Council Member of the Women in Leadership Executive Program at The George Washington University School of Business, and a member of the Fundraising/Development Committee for Stem for Her, a non-profit organization promoting education to create awareness, excitement, and opportunities among girls and young women to launch successful STEM-related careers.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

Brent Blake

CFO - Americas Region

Brent Blake is the Chief Finance Officer for Region Americas with DB Schenker.  Prior to joining DB Schenker, he held a variety of positions within the aviation, business services, transportation, distribution and hospitality industries; as V.P. President for Finance / IT with Del Monte Fresh Produce, Chief Finance Officer / Corporate Strategy for Eulen America, United Parcel Service / UPS SCS as Vice President for Finance and Administration for the Latin America, Caribbean and the Southwestern U.S. for cargo, brokerage, air & ocean freight division; Brent was responsible for business acquisitions, expansion throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.  Later, Blake was with Burger King Holdings as Sr. Director of Finance and IT for Latin American / Caribbean Region and Corporate Global Strategy.  Also, he held the position of Sr. Vice President for Strategic Finance, Planning and Global Development for OHL (Geodis).  Blake has global experience having worked in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Brent earned his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance from the University of Oklahoma.  Having spent many years studying and working in Spain, graduate from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE).  Later, obtaining a Masters of International Management (MIM) in Finance and Accounting from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird).

He was recognized as Chief Finance Officer of the Year for 2013 by the South Florida Business Journal.  Currently, he is a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the South Florida Council Boy Scouts of America, a University of Miami Citizens Board member, Global Ties (Miami) Board Member, South Florida Executive Roundtable Board member and Advisory Board member for BBVA Compass Bank.

Brent, originally from the Oklahoma and Texas area, was a long-time resident of South Florida for over twenty years before moving back to Dallas, Texas. He is married to his wife Alicia Hernandez-Calvin Blake and has a daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter

Rachel Sapoznik

Founder

Kyrah Coker

CFO

Kyrah Coker is currently the CFO and Company Integrator for National Roofing Partners headquartered in Coppell, TX. She has more than 20 years of progressively responsible finance experience directing companies through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth modes. She has a proven track record of establishing cross functional partnerships with clients, partners and employees alike. Prior to transitioning into Construction Accounting, Kyrah spent almost a decade as Branch Manager in a publicly held Telecom company headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

Kyrah holds a B.A. and M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Kyrah is currently serving on the Board and Scholarship Committee with the Dallas CFMA chapter and is the Vice Chair Community Outreach with National Women in Roofing. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and travel.

Sal Javed

Head of Software Strategic Finance

Sal is Head of Finance for the Software business at CloudKitchens, an LA-based restaurant foodtech. Sal helped build the finance function when Cloudkitchens was a startup, and has helped scale both its real estate and software businesses, and played a key role in their last fundraising round. Sal was previously an investment banker in NYC at the tech and media boutique firm, Allen & Company, where he advised companies such as Chewy and Cardinal Health on corporate events. He is also an active angel investor in early-stage tech.

Andrea Pugnali

North America Regional CFO

Mary Beth Ottley

Previously CFO

Miguel Eduardo Juarez-Mendieta

Senior Director, International Tax

Senior Director of International Tax at Marriott International, leading tax compliance for Latin America and Canada. 20+ years of experience in Finance, accounting, audit & taxes. Finance leader & professional speaker.

MBA from Florida International University; Certificate in Business Administration focused on Accounting and Finance from Georgetown University; Professional certificate in International Taxation from IBFD & Bachelor’s degree from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), specialized in taxes.

Active Member of Tax Executive Institute (TEI), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) & Colegio de Contadores Publicos de Mexico.

Honored to be featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine -USA, as well as speaker at Connect CFO leadership summit at Quartz Network & the World Finance Forum.

Carolina Veira

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Carolina is an award-winning executive, inclusive and authentic leader, financial and Diversity and Inclusion strategist, with a passion for the advancement and empowerment of Hispanics, women, and other underserved groups across various stages in their lives, and careers. She is an advocate for mental health, upward mobility, social impact, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Carolina is a proud Latina entrepreneur with a successful trajectory in creating community initiatives and strategic partnerships with local, national, and multinational companies and NPOs. She believes in the power of building community by working together on financially sustainable and educational initiatives that transform and positively impact humans and communities.