Keynote Speaker Adenah Bayoh, Restaurateur & Real Estate Developer
Host Cindy Hsu, CBS2 News Anchor and Reporter
Corporate Honorees Upfluence & Universal Standard
Friday, April 8, 2022
The Plaza Hotel 770 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10019
11:30 AM Reception | 12:00 PM Luncheon
A link to livestream the program remotely will be made available prior to the event.
Each year, more than 400 of New York City’s most accomplished and engaged leaders gather to attend the Women Mean Business Luncheon, which supports the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program. The event features program graduates sharing their moving stories and experiences. Past events have also featured guest speakers including Eve Ensler, Arianna Huffington, Hillary Clinton, Christine Quinn, Anna Quindlen, Ashley Graham, Darlene Love, First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray and Dari Alexander.
First Step gives homeless and low-income women the skills and confidence needed to achieve financial independence. Our innovative 14-week curriculum offers computer and job skills training, an internship with a major corporation or nonprofit organization, mentoring, job placement assistance and extensive post-graduate support.
As we navigate this challenging time, the safety of our guests and staff is paramount. In accordance with public health guidelines, all guests will be required to provide proof of full vaccination (copy of vaccine card or Excelsior Pass).
First Step Advisory Board
Cindy Arnold, Chair Yvette Arsenec-Weir Vanessa Barnett Christy Burke Marisol DeLeon Austin Fremont Sara Fusco Barbara Kolsun Deborah Krulewitch Natalie Lederman Susan Lerner Natsayi Mawere Rachel Noel Ruth Pryor Wendy Samuel Joan Sapinsley Jane Singer
As of February 11, 2022
Advocates Jennifer & Peter Wallace
Benefactors The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Friends of Deborah Krulewitch & Jane Singer Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Sustainers Arnold NY Burke & Company LLC Richard H. Lewis & Joan M. Sapinsley
Patrons Clutter Therapy LLC Fremont Blue Events Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C Deborah Krulewitch Morrison & Foerster Foundation MikeWorldWide Upfluence Weir Family Foundation
Sponsors Initiative Susan Lerner Nardello & Co. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. – Eta Nu Sigma Chapter
Friends Deloitte Vincent & Shelly Fremont Rudolph Landin Joann Lang Maita Lockhart
As of March 25, 2022
In-Kind Sponsors 305 Fitness Balthazar Bigelow Tea Catfight Coffee Danielle Nicole DOGPOUND The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. GRIT BXING K&D Wines & Spirits Lit&Lean Via Carota
Restaurateur & Real Estate Developer
Adenah Bayoh embodies the American Dream. After escaping civil war in her native country of Liberia, she immigrated to the United States where she has become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in her home state of New Jersey. After attending public high school in Newark, Adenah put herself through Fairleigh Dickinson University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
Adenah is an IHOP multi franchisee with 4 restaurants in northern New Jersey. She opened her first IHOP in Irvington Township, New Jersey at the age of 27, making her one of the youngest franchisees in the country. Because of the success of this flagship location, she has become the second largest employer in the Township. In late 2017, Adenah launched Cornbread, her first independent fast casual, farm-to-table, soul food restaurant. She recently opened her second Cornbread in downtown Newark. Most recently, she launched her latest restaurant concept, Urban Vegan.
In addition to her restaurants, Adenah is a successful real estate developer with a portfolio of several major residential and mixed-use urban redevelopment projects across northern New Jersey.
Adenah’s accomplishments have not gone unrecognized; in January 2015, she was appointed to the prestigious Federal Reserve Bank of New York Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture. In December 2015, she was named to Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list alongside such luminaries as former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Oscar winning actress Viola Davis. Additionally, in March 2014, she was honored as one of the Top 50 Women in Business by New Jersey’s only statewide business publication, NJBIZ, and was featured on the cover of its March 24th issue. Despite her numerous successes, her proudest achievement is being a mother to her two young children.
Anchor and Reporter, CBS2 News
Cindy Hsu is an Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter who has been at CBS2 News in New York City since 1993. Her passion is sharing stories about children, seniors, education, adoption, animals and mental health awareness.
Cindy has earned Emmy Awards for stories including “Smuggled from China,” exposing the horrific plights of Chinese refugees trying to make it to America. Her most poignant story was the two-part series “Bringing Rosie Home.” Through home videos, she brought viewers to China as she adopted her daughter Rosie as a single mother. The series won the New York AP Broadcasters Award for Best Feature and was nominated for an Emmy.
She has worked as a journalist throughout the country, including Richmond, Virginia, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Steubenville, Ohio.
She spends much for her off-duty time in community work and is open about her struggle with depression, hoping to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. She has worked with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is strongly involved in the Asian-American community. Some of her past and present philanthropic affiliations include: The Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) which is a big brother/big sister program. Cindy and her little sister have been together for more than two decades. She’s also worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Humane Society of New York, The Children’s Miracle Network and the Museum of Chinese in America.
Cindy served as President of the New York Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, and paddled for years on a championship Dragon Boating team called Women in Canoe.
Cindy’s parents immigrated from China. Her father was a Coast Guard pilot, so the family moved every two to four years. Cindy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and graduated from Virginia Tech. She lives in New York City with her daughter Rosie and their rescue dog Lilo.
The Women Mean Business Luncheon, featuring Adenah Bayoh and Cindy Hsu, was held Friday, April 8, 2022 at the Plaza.
