Next OnBoard
Meet the 2021 - 2022 Leadership Team
Kayla Draffin
Governance Chair
Kayla Draffin is aCorporate HR Business Partner supporting the finance and operations, legal, corporate development and HR functions at Equifax, headquartered in Atlanta. Equifax is a consumer credit reporting agency who collects information on over 800 million individual consumers and provides insights to move than 88 million business worldwide. At Equifax, Kayla works closely on review processes, talent development, headcount planning, enterprise training and people strategy. She is most passionate about partnering with senior business leaders to design their talent strategy in ways that will yield top performance for the organization.
Kayla graduated from Georgia College in May 2017 with a BBA and double major in marketing and management. She has been involved with Next OnBoard for 4 years in various leadership positions and is excited to lead the group through the upcoming year!
Kayla graduated from Georgia College in May 2017 with a BBA and double major in marketing and management. She has been involved with Next OnBoard for 4 years in various leadership positions and is excited to lead the group through the upcoming year!
Alexis Isom
Events Chair
Alexis Isom works as a Business Development Analyst for Aon Risk Services, Inc. Although she has only been at Aon a short time, she has already found a way to fuel her passion through the company’s Black Professional Network and Women’s International Network employee resource groups.
Alexis Isom is a May 2020 graduate of the University of Georgia where she received a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance. During her time at UGA, Alexis dedicated herself to promoting diversity and creating inclusive environments for all students on campus. She pioneered a diversity officer role for her business fraternity. She also traveled to conferences nationally presenting on the importance of D&I in the insurance industry. In her free time, Alexis enjoys spending time with her family, trying new foods, and cuddling with her puppy Major.
Alexis Isom is a May 2020 graduate of the University of Georgia where she received a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance. During her time at UGA, Alexis dedicated herself to promoting diversity and creating inclusive environments for all students on campus. She pioneered a diversity officer role for her business fraternity. She also traveled to conferences nationally presenting on the importance of D&I in the insurance industry. In her free time, Alexis enjoys spending time with her family, trying new foods, and cuddling with her puppy Major.
Dorrie Paradies
Membership Chair
Dorrie Paradies is a Marketing Strategy Analyst at UPS, where she works on relationships with leading digital platforms to enhance various aspects of the e-commerce value stream.
Prior to joining UPS, Dorrie worked in Finance at The Home Depot supporting the merchandising and supply chain departments. Dorrie holds a BA from Middlebury College and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Dorrie is a native Atlantan and enjoys playing tennis and hiking in her free time.
Prior to joining UPS, Dorrie worked in Finance at The Home Depot supporting the merchandising and supply chain departments. Dorrie holds a BA from Middlebury College and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Dorrie is a native Atlantan and enjoys playing tennis and hiking in her free time.
Maddie Thykeson
Marketing Chair
Maddie Thykeson is the Marketing Analyst for Gratus Capital, a wealth management firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. As Marketing Analyst, Maddie assists to manage the firm’s brand and aids in the creation of client proposals.
Maddie graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelors in Sociology. Prior to joining Gratus, Maddie served as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for TrueWealth Management, and before that, she worked with the Athens Area Humane Society as the Outreach and Communications Coordinator where she handled social media, events, and community outreach.
Maddie graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelors in Sociology. Prior to joining Gratus, Maddie served as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for TrueWealth Management, and before that, she worked with the Athens Area Humane Society as the Outreach and Communications Coordinator where she handled social media, events, and community outreach.
Kate Allan
Governance Chair-Elect
Kate is a Management Consultant at Jabian Consulting, a strategic management and technology consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta. In her role, Kate partners with clients on achieving business and technology transformation.
Kate completed her undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee and holds an MBA from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. Kate is a volunteer with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and a reading mentor with Everybody Wins! Atlanta. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, travel, and reading.
Kate completed her undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee and holds an MBA from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. Kate is a volunteer with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and a reading mentor with Everybody Wins! Atlanta. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, travel, and reading.
Leigh Ellis
Events Co-Chair Elect
Leigh Ellis is a Global HR Program Manager for Equifax where she helps manage everything from Global Talent Review to installing virtual ServiceNow chat agents. She is passionate about planning and executing events because she loves bringing people together and transforming ideas into reality.
Leigh graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Business Management in 2016. While at UGA, she helped manage the opening of Rush, a trampoline sports park, where she built and ran the events department. This experience further spurred Leigh's love for events and celebrating people, which is yet another reason why she's excited to serve as the Events Chair - Elect for NextOnBoard.
Leigh graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Business Management in 2016. While at UGA, she helped manage the opening of Rush, a trampoline sports park, where she built and ran the events department. This experience further spurred Leigh's love for events and celebrating people, which is yet another reason why she's excited to serve as the Events Chair - Elect for NextOnBoard.
Reem Krisht
Events Co-Chair Elect
Reem Krisht is a Strategy Manager at ADP, where she leads the ideation, planning, and implementation of strategic transformation initiatives for ADP's Next Generation technology platform.
Before joining ADP, Reem spent over six years at KPMG working within the Management Consulting and Valuation Services practices. Reem holds a BBA and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. She is also an Atlanta Lean In chapter leader (Buckhead/Brookhaven chapter). In her free time, Reem enjoys spending time with her husband and their goldendoodle.
Before joining ADP, Reem spent over six years at KPMG working within the Management Consulting and Valuation Services practices. Reem holds a BBA and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. She is also an Atlanta Lean In chapter leader (Buckhead/Brookhaven chapter). In her free time, Reem enjoys spending time with her husband and their goldendoodle.
Andria Smith
Membership Co-Chair Elect
Andria Smith manages the Sustainability Program at UPS, a Fortune 50 company and worldwide leader in supply chain and logistics solutions. She leads efforts to identify and capture the metrics associated with UPS’s environmental, social and governance programs, ensuring transparent, accurate reporting to stakeholders.
Andria joined UPS’s Supply Chain Solutions division in the Buildings and Systems Engineering (BaSE) team after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Mercer University. She transitioned to UPS Mail Innovations as an Industrial Engineer and later moved to the Sustainability team. Presently she heads voluntary sustainability reporting, and informs executive leadership for the development of UPS’s long-term sustainability strategy.
Both inside and outside of work, Andria is passionate about mentoring and giving back to the community. She maintains a strong presence as a leader within her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and volunteers with the Greater Atlanta chapter of United Way.
Andria joined UPS’s Supply Chain Solutions division in the Buildings and Systems Engineering (BaSE) team after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Mercer University. She transitioned to UPS Mail Innovations as an Industrial Engineer and later moved to the Sustainability team. Presently she heads voluntary sustainability reporting, and informs executive leadership for the development of UPS’s long-term sustainability strategy.
Both inside and outside of work, Andria is passionate about mentoring and giving back to the community. She maintains a strong presence as a leader within her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and volunteers with the Greater Atlanta chapter of United Way.
Amanda Arboleda
Membership Co-Chair Elect
Amanda Arboleda is a Consultant in the People Advisory Services practice of EY in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time at the firm, she has gained a variety of experiences in organizational change management, stakeholder engagement, and communications strategy, development, and delivery. Amanda hopes to continue to empower organizations to transition through complex technology transformations and help build a better working world.
Amanda graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and a Concentration in Consulting from the University of Georgia. During her time at the Terry College of Business, Amanda completed certificates in Personal & Organizational Leadership, Professionalism, and Workforce Diversity. In her free time, Amanda can likely be found watching Friends, listening to the BiggerPockets podcast, or doing puzzles.
Amanda graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and a Concentration in Consulting from the University of Georgia. During her time at the Terry College of Business, Amanda completed certificates in Personal & Organizational Leadership, Professionalism, and Workforce Diversity. In her free time, Amanda can likely be found watching Friends, listening to the BiggerPockets podcast, or doing puzzles.
Nikita Bansal
Marketing Chair-Elect
Nikita Bansal is a Senior Strategy Director at Equifax, where she works on strategic initiatives to propel Equifax’s inorganic and organic revenue growth.
Prior to joining Equifax, Nikita worked at UPS in their e-commerce strategy team and at Deloitte and The Hackett Group in strategy and business transformation consulting. Nikita holds a BBA and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Nikita enjoys exploring Atlanta with her husband Rahul and their dog Milo.
Prior to joining Equifax, Nikita worked at UPS in their e-commerce strategy team and at Deloitte and The Hackett Group in strategy and business transformation consulting. Nikita holds a BBA and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Nikita enjoys exploring Atlanta with her husband Rahul and their dog Milo.
Interested in joining the Next OnBoard Leadership Team? Email Kayla Draffin at kayla.draffin@equifax.com. to learn more about available positions and how you can get involved.
