VM REPORTS: Influential Women in Optical Google X’s Gina Rudan to Address Women’s Leadership at VM’s Most Influential Women in Optical Luncheon Event at Vision Expo West By Staff Monday, August 29, 2022 12:18 AM Gina Rudan. NEW YORK—Google X’s Gina Rudan will offer her keen insights to the “creative and courageous” role that female leaders and entrepreneurs play in business today as the featured speaker at Vision Monday’s upcoming special event during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas celebrating the 20th Anniversary of VM’s Most Influential Women Annual Issue. The event, which will take place at The Venetian Las Vegas at 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2022, will highlight the expanding influence of women throughout all sectors of the industry and eyecare community, including honorees from this year and prior years. Rudan told VMAIL, “I’m inspired to be participating and speaking at this year's Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women 20th Anniversary Celebration. Honoring women who harness the power of leadership and community to embolden others in the field is an act of courage, dedication and resiliency.” Since 2003, Vision Monday has recognized the contributions of more than 700 accomplished women in roles as Innovators, Rising Stars, Mentors, the Executive Suite and those going Above & Beyond. “The span of the work these Most Influential Women are doing, through private practice and local or even national activities, within the supplier and lab worlds, making change in research, academia and public health sectors, reminds us of the wide and important scope of vision care and the impact of eyewear,” said Marge Axelrad, senior vice president and editorial director of Vision Monday. “They continue to make vital contributions to our industry, inside and beyond their communities, to patients and colleagues. Please join us in Las Vegas in saluting them all,” she said. Rudan, director at Google X and bestselling author of “Practical Genius” will be the keynote speaker, talking about “Courage and Creativity, Reflections from a Cultural Alchemist.” Rudan will speak about the intersection of courage and creativity for women leaders and entrepreneurs. Rudan is the first Latina director and cultural alchemist at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory and she will share her learnings across six years of leading diversity, transformation and culture at X. Sponsors of the Most Influential Women 20th Anniversary event include:Visionary: Johnson & Johnson Vision, EssilorLuxottica; Partner: Safilo, The Vision Council, Vision Expo, VSP Vision; Supporting: Modo, Mondottica, OWA, PECCA, Vision Source, Walman Optical and Zeiss. Tickets are $95 which include the program and lunch. Limited tickets are still available. Details and Registration are at www.visionmonday.com/women.