For Women, By Women
Debbie Burke and Diane Okrent are building on their decades in HR, management consulting, marketing research and coaching to explore the unfolding lives of women over 50. Using the survey and focus group techniques, qualitative research and narrative development approaches they have honed in commercial and non-profit enterprises, they are finding their new focus on maturing women, as individuals and as a demographic cohort, fascinating.
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
Partner
Deborah Ferro Burke
Deborah Ferro Burke is a trusted advisor, consultant and coach to leaders and their enterprises. She has built and delivered leadership programs and qualitative assessments and has facilitated high-stakes decision making at Fortune 50 companies, start-ups and universities.
She was a pioneer in organization transformation at GE, leading programs at the Crotonville Management Development Institute, and initiating Work-Out, Change-Acceleration Program (CAP), and Six Sigma in several GE businesses and corporate functions. Debbie has been Associate Professor at the Lally School of Management at RPI, and a mentor-instructor in the MIT Undergraduate Practices Program (UPOP).
Debbie holds an BA from Smith College, MBA from Columbia University, and Doctorate in Human and Organization Systems from Fielding Graduate University.
Email me at: Debbie@burkeandokrent.com
Partner
Diane Okrent
Diane Okrent is a qualitative marketing research consultant with 40+ years’ experience. She moderates focus groups and conducts interviews with consumers and professionals. She is president and founder of DO Research, Inc., marketing research consultants, established in 1991, to provide marketing research direction and consulting services for consumer-oriented and business-to-business clients.
Prior to DO Research, Diane was a research executive at CBS Television, Dentsu Young & Rubicam and Wunderman (Young & Rubicam).
She has a BA from Smith College and an MBA from New York University.
Together, Deborah Ferro Burke and Diane Okrent have created, fielded, analyzed and presented results of comprehensive surveys of the Smith College Class of 1973 for their 35th, 40th and 45th Reunions. They presented a webinar for the Smith Alumnae Association that attracted more than 500 registrants and 775 survey respondents – an Alumnae Association record.
Email me at: Diane@burkeandokrent.com
Senior Advisor on Confidential Digital Data
Roger Matus
Roger has worked with information and technology in a variety of roles throughout his career. Most recently he has developed digital marketing campaigns in several companies where the integrity and protection of personal and corporate data is paramount. He has been interviewed about marketing issues on national television, public radio’s Marketplace, and other broadcast radio programs. He has also been quoted by the New York Times, the Daily Mail, the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Fortune, and other business publications. Roger has a BA in journalism from Syracuse University, an MBA in marketing and statistics from the University of Chicago, and an MS in engineering from Boston University.
Email me at: Roger@burkeandokrent.com
advisor on web, blog, and social media content
Amy Chin
Amy Chin is an independent consultant with over 30 years of experience in database design and data analysis. She is the Owner and Principal at Berkshire Net Results. Services include creating custom database applications, developing document filing systems on networks or the Cloud, offering personalized training on database systems. Berkshire Net Results specializes in serving the nonprofit community by assisting clients in selecting the right donor management software. We have extensive research and knowledge of myriad fundraising databases. In addition, BNR provides blog and social media content posting, website maintenance, and design services. BNR serves small businesses and solopreneurs throughout the region. For more than 17 years Amy was an instructor at the local community college and provided training in corporate offices on the Microsoft Suite, Photoshop, Visio, Social Media, and mobile technology.
Amy has a BA in English and a BA in Music from the State University of New York and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She is also a certified facilitator. Prior to owning her own business, she has been on the cutting edge of an internet startup, facilitated a major corporate identity restructuring, and brought two multi-national businesses into the digital age by designing database systems to improve efficiencies.
With Berkshire Net Results, Amy delivers on her deep desire to help individuals and organizations grow, succeed, and fulfill their goals.
Email me at: Amy@burkeandokrent.com