Jessica Charles serves as Vice President of Programming & Events at Forbes, where she has led the strategic expansion of high-profile events including the Forbes 30/50 Summit, Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit, and Forbes CMO Summit since 2016. Over her tenure, she has built and mentored high-performing programming and logistics teams while overseeing the execution of around 50 events a year, ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale summits for up to 6,000 attendees. With a journalism degree from Northeastern University, Jessica brings a storyteller's approach to creating compelling event experiences that foster meaningful connections between industry leaders. As a collaborative leader, she has successfully guided her teams through the industry's digital transformation while maintaining Forbes' reputation for delivering exceptional attendee experiences. Based in New York, Jessica is passionate about leveraging live events to drive business impact in today's evolving landscape.