Analisa Balares, CEO and Founder, Womensphere

Analisa Balares is CEO and Founder of the independent media company and leadership community Womensphere. She is formerly Global Marketing Manager for Microsoft’s blogging/social network- ing service, where she managed the global marketing launch of Windows Live Spaces in 30 coun- tries, leading Spaces projects around branding, partnerships, and online community development. She managed Spaces’ internal partnerships with MSN Entertainment and XBox, and external part- nerships with NGOs, media companies and independent music/film/TV festivals. Ms. Balares got started in Goldman Sachs’ High Technology Investment Banking group, helping execute over $1.5 billion in corporate financings for technology companies. She has worked for Milestone Capital Management, Morgan Stanley Energy Investment Banking Group and World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Ms. Balares holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a BA in Economics & Mathematics cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, and International Baccalaureate Diploma from Lester Pearson United World College in Canada. While at HBS, Ms. Balares founded and led the non-profit Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), was a President of HBS Entrepreneurship Club, and Debate Coach/ Co-Team Captain of HBS Debate Team. She was recently selected by US Filipina Women’s Network in Top 100 Most Influential Filipinas in America, chosen by New Leaders Council as one of 40 Under 40 New Leaders Award winner throughout the nation; and recognized by CBS Radio/1010Wins as Tomorrow’s Newsmaker Award Winner for Business. She has been committed to women’s leadership development, entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainable development, and economic development, producing and co- producing over 100 conferences, events and media around these themes.