ACG 101 July 10th 2024 Women In Corporate Growth Luncheon

Lisa knows the capital markets inside and out, having worked in the financial services industry for close to twenty-five years. She spent the first half of her career at Goldman Sachs in New York, followed by a short chapter at Barclays and just shy of 10 years at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in Los Angeles. Lisa got her degree from UC Berkeley (GO BEARS). While some might feel the toll after working decades in a demanding industry, Lisa feels energized — not only from the rush working with a team she considers family, but from meeting the talented and dynamic humans that become clients along the way. Making a strategic introduction can move the needle more than picking the right stock in Lisa’s book, which is why she is so keen to understand each client holistically. Building a deep rapport not only gives her necessary investing insights, but she can also use this intricate knowledge to better exercise the “network effect” of professional resources she’s built during her career.

Susan Levine, Founder and CEO of Career Group Companies, is an expert in building relationships and creating meaningful professional connections. She is a true visionary and leader. Susan has used her remarkable intuition and love of people to solidify herself as an industry icon, curating quality career matches based on finding the perfect cultural fit between client and candidate. For these reasons, executives across the country rely on Susan as one of their most trusted advisors. Susan founded Career Group, Inc. in 1981 as the first high-end recruiting firm focused on executive and administrative support, and soon after followed with Syndicatebleu, a creative recruiting firm focused on design, marketing, and production. Following the success of these two businesses, Fourth Floor, Event Team, and CG Search were born, focused on fashion, events, and C-level recruiting, respectively. Career Group Companies has since grown to serve the Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, and Greenwich markets. Her leadership has taken a niche brand into a widely recognized industry name, specializing in handpicked freelance and direct hire placements that serve both candidate and client in the most personalized way possible. Susan knows that people are her business, and she’s made it her mission to serve as a trusted strategic advisor. As the force behind the success of Career Group Companies, Susan’s commitment to outstanding high-level work has only grown stronger. She continues to use her expertise to impact the lives of her candidates and improve the company culture of her clients - one exceptional match at a time.

Lisa is a seasoned executive with a proven track record of driving transformative initiatives and fostering growth in dynamic environments. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Sunkist & FGS, Lisa spearheads the organization's strategic evolution, overseeing Strategy & Innovation, Finance & Accounting, and IT functions.

With a strong foundation in corporate strategy and finance, Lisa has held leadership positions in companies such as Sensei AG, Mattel, and Twentieth Century Fox, where she played instrumental roles in shaping corporate strategy, driving new business ventures, and executing complex M&A transactions.

Her early career at HSBC took her across the globe, where she worked in Hong Kong and Seoul, gaining exposure to diverse markets and cultures. At HSBC, Lisa built a solid foundation in global banking and markets, advising clients on cross-border M&A transactions.

Known for her strategic mindset, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to driving results, Lisa is passionate about leveraging her expertise to drive innovation and growth in every role she undertakes.

Lisa is a graduate of Columbia Business School, where she earned her MBA, and holds a bachelor's degree from UC Davis

Sally Knutson is the CFO/EVP Finance at Cast & Crew, the premier provider of technology-enabled payroll, production accounting and related value-added services to the entertainment industry. She is a seasoned finance executive with 35 years of financial management, corporate development, and strategic planning experience. She has been recognized as a “top CFO in the Valley” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.

At Cast & Crew, Ms. Knutson plays an integral role in its exponential growth and continued success. In addition to her role as CFO, she oversees the Risk Management Department, which includes a robust workers compensation program providing coverage for entertainment industry’s production workers. She has provided the financial leadership for the company through many strategic acquisitions and four private equity transactions, including the investment from EQT in 2019, a global investment organization based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Prior to joining Cast & Crew, Ms. Knutson held senior finance positions with Discus Dental (a Philips company), Move Inc., Disney Home Entertainment, and Dole Food Company. She started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in audit specializing in the entertainment industry.

A leader in her community, Ms. Knutson sits on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley, which provides a community and culture of caring where no child is ever turned away for an inability to pay.

Ms. Knutson graduated with honors from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in economics and an emphasis in Business.