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T H E 2 0 2 5 WOMEN IN BUSINESS H O N O R E E S B4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 10, 2025 J enny Gaffney is a project manage- ment director at Voya Financial. She previously led ESPN's digital sports portfolio and worked on Disney's ESPN+ launch team. Gaffney's passionate about the recruit- ment, retention and promotion of women in tech. She serves as secretary on The Children's Museum board of trustees. She is a family patient advisor at Yale New Haven Health, supporting NNICU families and digital patient experience initiatives. She's also a volunteer at Gifts of Love. Gaffney holds an MBA and advanced business certificates from UConn, and a bachelor's degree from Cumberland University. She resides in Wolcott with her husband, Chris, and their children, Grace, 6, and Senny, 4. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? I lead digital experience initiatives and post-acquisition integrations with emotional intelligence, curiosity and agility. Most notably, I helped launch ESPN+ at Disney, and was the program management lead overseeing the ESPN digital sports portfolio. I'm proud of fostering cross-functional collaboration, building diverse talent pipelines, and mentoring others. Jenny GaFFney Project Management Director Voya Financial What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? With nearly 20 years of experience, I'm eager to tackle new challenges by leveraging my education and expertise to drive innovation, develop future leaders, and solve problems critically. I thrive on organizing chaos and enjoy exploring AI to enhance products, streamline processes, and create space for more strategic thinking. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? One of my biggest challenges has been navigating career transitions due to evolv- ing technology and shifting priorities. I've learned to stay agile, embrace change and see each shift as an opportunity to grow. These experiences reinforced the power of networking and the importance of valuing my worth beyond any role. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I want to create a legacy my family is proud of — one of leadership, inclusivity and innovation. I want to be remem- bered for giving back to my community and for mentoring and helping women break into tech. I want to inspire the next generation of leaders. Congratulations to School of Business alumna Jenny Gaffney '17 MBA, along with UConn alumni Marilyn Alverio '75 (CLAS) and Jessica Kearney '12 MS (CLAS) CONGRATULATIONS 2025 HBJ WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARD HONOREES grad.business.uconn.edu Accounting Business Analytics & Project Management Financial & Enterprise Risk Management FinTech Human Resource Management Social Responsibility & Impact in Business 6 ONLINE / EXECUTIVE / FLEX MBA mba.uconn.edu What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? My next big professional goal is to lead a transformative project that helps clients manage risk in emerging technologies, such as AI and machine learning. I aim to help clients as they enhance their brand and reputation by implementing risk management solutions that can deliver measurable value. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? In client service, my team and I must deliver high-quality services efficiently. I believe this is best achieved through in-person collaboration and planning. In a post-COVID hybrid work environment, I've had to find a way to help my teams to appreciate the value of co-location and purposeful collaboration. How are you involved in the community? I am passionate about contributing to the Hartford community through various volunteer activities, including supporting the United Way and Connecticut Forum. I actively participate in volunteer oppor- tunities with my children and support local universities as a recruiting leader, speaking at events and mentoring aspiring IT and business analytics students. JenniFer GerasiMov Managing Director Deloitte & Touche LLP J ennifer Gerasimov is a managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP and the global leader in digital controls within risk advisory. With over 22 years of experience in audit- ing and internal controls, particularly in the insurance and gaming industries, she specializes in Sarbanes-Oxley, IT audits, SOC reports, and advisory projects in controls. Gerasimov integrates emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to enhance client solutions. She holds Certified Information System Auditor and Certified Risk and Informa- tion Systems Control certifications, along with degrees in neuroscience and public health. She resides in South Glastonbury with her family. What have been your biggest profes- sional accomplishments so far? I am proud to be the innovator of Nexus Digital Nerve Center, an AI-driven suite of services initiated at Deloitte. I helped build the practice from inception, leading a team that developed numerous assets to address complex risks. Our practice is now globally recognized across the Deloitte organization and has been successfully implemented by clients worldwide.