Keynote Speakers

Monique Coleman

Award-Winning Actress, “Taylor McKessie” in Disney’s High School Musical & Activist for International Youth, Women and Girls' Empowerment

Monique Coleman is an award-winning actress, producer, host and humanitarian whose career has spanned over three decades. She's most recognized for her role in Disney's High School Musical franchise, but Monique's impact goes far beyond the screen.

She was awarded the first and only United Nations Youth Champion title and traveled to 24 countries to learn about and shine a light on the most pressing issues facing young people globally. Monique was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her original docuseries GimmeMo’ on Discovery Life, which she developed, produced and hosted.

Monique will next be seen starring in the thriller Trapped in the Spotlight, which she also executive produced for Lifetime. Monique's most recent partnerships include collaborations with COACH on their Annual "Dream Day," Hello Sunshine and AT&T, as well as the U.S. Figure Skating Team.

With her unwavering commitment to empowering youth and fostering positive change, she continues to leave a lasting legacy both on and off the stage.

Ally Berdan

Senior Consultant, Deloitte – Founder, (un)explore

Ally is a strategic human resources professional dedicated to driving meaningful organizational change and creating exceptional employee experiences. With a passion for people and culture, she helps businesses navigate transformation while keeping employees at the heart of the process. Currently, she is a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, where she manages employee integration for acquired businesses, ensuring a smooth transition and a positive workplace experience.

After earning a B.S. in Supply Chain and Information Systems from Penn State, Ally shifted gears into organizational change management and went on to earn an M.S. in Human Resources Development from Villanova. As a SHRM-certified practitioner and an ACC-certified coach through Brown University, she blends the latest HR and change management strategies with a deep understanding of human behavior to foster thriving workplace cultures where professionals can reach peak performance.

Outside of work, Ally embraces adventure. Whether enjoying life at the beach in Maryland or road-tripping across the country, she’s always seeking new experiences and perspectives. A National Park enthusiast and avid traveler, she’s on a mission to visit all 50 states and all 63 National Parks—learning more about the human experience from the people she meets along the way.

This love of exploration led Ally to launch (un)explore, LLC, a venture dedicated to helping others step outside their comfort zones, embrace adventure, and tap into their highest potential on adventHER trips around the country—adventures designed specifically for women.

Employee experience and human experience—they’re deeply connected. Ally firmly believes, “I am the sum of my training” (stolen from her favorite Under Armour ad campaign). Every experience—whether in the workplace or out in the world—shapes who we are and how we show up. We’re here to live a story worth telling.

Colleen Eichman

Director, J&J innovative Medicine, Strategic Customer Group Learning Excellence

Colleen Eichman, a PSU alumna, is an organizational developer and certified executive coach who serves as the Director of Learning Excellence for Johnson & Johnson’s Innovative Medicine Strategic Customer Group (SCG). In this role, Colleen leads a dedicated team that designs, develops, and implements comprehensive learning initiatives for J&J business leaders, enhancing their skills to effectively shape and advance market access within the U.S. healthcare landscape.

As a certified executive coach at J&J, Colleen leverages her expertise to cultivate talent across the organization’s multigenerational workforce. She delivers tailored coaching sessions that focus on essential skills such as career navigation, interview preparation, effective communication, navigating challenging conversations, and strengths-based development. By addressing these key areas, Colleen equips individuals with the tools they need to thrive in their careers while fostering a sense of confidence and purpose.

In addition to her work with individual talents, Colleen collaborates with J&J people leaders to upskill their abilities in people leadership and team development. Her efforts have been recognized as instrumental in creating a cohesive environment where teams can flourish, ultimately enhancing organizational performance and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Colleen's core values of faith, family, and community drive her involvement with her local Parish, where she provides coaching and coordinates annual offsite seminars to empower the Church’s leadership team. As a Penn State alumna, she volunteers with JNJ to recruit top talent from the business school’s Women in Business group. Colleen has been married to her husband Scott for 28 years and has two sons, one a PSU alumnus, and the other a junior---both sons anchoring to business degrees from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business.

Patrick Higgins

Partner – Deputy Chief Accountant, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)

Patrick leads PwC’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) International national office practice, bringing extensive expertise in global financial reporting and regulatory matters. Throughout his career, he has served as a global engagement partner for multinational audit clients across PwC offices worldwide, including New York, Düsseldorf, London, Montreal, and Pittsburgh. He was also the lead partner on one of PwC’s top 50 global clients.

A trusted advisor on complex accounting and regulatory issues, Patrick specializes in acquisitions, spin-offs, carve-outs, divestitures, initial public offerings, global expansion, accounting standard implementation, complex tax structures, system transformations, regulatory investigations, and internal controls. In addition to his SEC role, he serves as the US IFRS accounting standards leader.

Patrick is a published author and editor of several PwC thought leadership pieces and a frequent speaker at industry conferences on financial reporting and regulatory matters.

Beyond Work

Patrick resides in Chester, New Jersey, with his wife, Molly, and their three daughters—Grace, Gretchen, and Margo. A proud Penn State alumnus (BS with distinction, 1996), he founded the Penn State Smeal - Higgins Family Scholarship, supporting Penn State students from Blair County. From 2008 to 2018, he led PwC’s Penn State recruiting efforts in various capacities, hiring thousands of graduates into the firm.

Passionate about community service, Patrick serves on the board of JBWS (Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter) and chairs the finance committee at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, running, and cheering on Penn State sports—when he’s not on the sidelines at one of his daughters’ sporting or school events.

Allison Minutillo

Chief Marketing Officer, Primacy

Allison Minutillo is a dynamic leader, strategist, and keynote speaker known for her ability to align, energize, and inspire teams toward meaningful action. With a sharp strategic mind and a high EQ, she excels at cutting through complexity, facilitating powerful conversations, and driving real business impact. Her expertise spans leadership, marketing, and organizational strategy—always with a focus on clarity, momentum, and results.

A natural storyteller and former podcast host, Allison brings bold insights and a refreshingly authentic approach to every stage she steps onto. She was previously President & COO of Rebel Interactive Group (now The Rebellion Group) and CMO of Primacy. Allison recently founded Maestra, a strategic workshop and marketing consultancy.