Suna Cicekli joined Oklahoma Athletics in July 2018 and serves as Associate Athletics Director for People, Culture and Belonging.
In this role, she oversees day-to-day people, culture and belonging operations of the OU Athletics Department and is responsible for developing and delivering integrated and inclusive people strategies through talent, performance management, organization and employee effectiveness with a goal of delivering solutions and change management plans. She also oversees programming to improve organizational culture and morale – ensuring a positive and inclusive environment for all – as well as the Athletics Department Staff Council (ADSC). The mission of the ADSC is to heighten communication among athletics department staff, recognize campus and community achievements and continually identify ways to pursue and sustain success at the highest level.
Additionally, Cicekli serves as the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion designee for the OU Athletics Department as requested by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC). She also oversees staff leadership development, is the primary sport administrator for OU soccer and rowing and serves as “Sooner Mom,” providing mentorship and support to international student-athletes.
Prior to Oklahoma, she served as the director of assessment and referrals at Methodist Family Health in Little Rock, Ark. In that role, she supervised all inpatient psychiatric program admissions: acute hospital, residential treatment programs and group homes.
Cicekli earned her bachelor’s degree in finance with a psychology minor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2002 and earned her master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology in 2006, also from UALR.
Her family in Norman includes her partner Andy, daughters Ruby and Olive and dog, Boncuk. She hails from Istanbul, Turkey, and was a student-athlete on the swimming team at UALR. She was a four-year letterwinner from 1997-2001 and a team captain from 1999-2001. She also competed for the Turkish national swimming team and is a former member of the board of directors of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojan lettermen association.
Speaker & Panelists
Keynote Speaker
Panelists & Moderators
Alex Cubley joined the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s Economic Development division as a part of the corporate recruitment team. She recently joined the workforce after a collegiate career that included her participation in the JCPenney Leadership Program, First Fidelity Bank Integrated Business Core Program, as well as a member of the National Millennial and Gen Z Organization. Her role centers around driving job creation and capital investment by attracting new businesses to our region, with a focus on life science, data centers, and startup companies. With a background in marketing, business development, and economic growth, including roles at the Oklahoma State Department of Commerce and The Verge OKC, she has honed her skills in developing targeted proposals and elevating business engagement. By connecting with out-of-market businesses and utilizing insights from her previous experiences, she contributes to a thriving economic environment in the Greater Oklahoma City ten county region. She is passionate about making a difference in her community and is excited to see the future of Oklahoma City.
Paige Smith is a recent graduate from the Price College of Business and JCPenney Leadership Program. While studying Sports Business at OU, she was heavily involved with the OU athletics department as a lead intern, and JCPLP as a Peer Trainer and Mentor. After graduating, Paige began her role as an Inside Sales Representative at the OKC Thunder where she works to aid fans with season ticket opportunities and more!
Paige is excited to bring fresh perspectives to this conference and facilitate meaningful conversations that inspire innovation and collaboration. In her free time, she enjoys reading new books and hanging with her dog Honey!
Gilliam graduated with special distinction from the University of Oklahoma with a B.B.A. in finance and a minor in Spanish. She is also an alumna of the JCPenney Leadership Program at the Price College of Business, and she served on the 2015-2016 JCPLP Student Advisory Board.
Mandy Hansen is first senior vice president and managing director of private banking for the Oklahoma City, Houston and San Antonio markets. Mandy has 25 years of banking, accounting and finance experience. She and her team specialize in assisting high-net-worth individuals with their financial needs. Since joining MidFirst in 2006, Mandy has been a loan officer and served in leadership roles in private banking, product management, and customer experience, working closely with consumer banking, marketing, operations, and compliance. Mandy is a CPA and holds a Bachelors of Accountancy and BBA in Finance from the University of Oklahoma. Mandy graduated with academic distinction from OU, where she was active in the Price College of Business as President of Beta Alpha Psi, and a member of the JCPenney Leadership Program, Finance Club and Accounting Club. Mandy was also selected to speak at the Price College of Business convocation in December 2000 on behalf of the Bachelor candidates. After graduating from OU, Mandy began her career in Houston with Arthur Andersen, then worked as an audit manager for global accounting firm, KMPG LLP. Mandy is active in the community and has served on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Executive Board and Chair of the Peaceful Family Oklahoma Gala. Mandy has served as board president and Pink Tie Ball chair for Susan G. Komen for Central and Western Oklahoma, on the boards for Junior League of Oklahoma City as Speaker Series and Mistletoe Market treasurer. Mandy is a member of the Leadership Oklahoma City Signature Program Class 32 and has received been named in the Journal Record’s Achievers under 40 and the Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 under 40. Her hobbies include spending time with family, playing golf and Mahjong and traveling.
Michelle “Shelly” Grunsted, M Ed (Michigan) JD (Oklahoma) LL.M. (Tulsa), is an Associate Professor at Price College of Business with over 24 years of teaching experience. She specializes in courses on Legal Environment of Business, Real Property Law, Energy Law, Management Principles, Business Organizations, International Business Law, and Employment Law at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Grunsted’s research includes employment law and emerging issues such as AI-generated evidence manipulation and deepfakes, as well as federal/state/tribal court jurisdiction. Her work has been published in top journals like the Michigan Law Review and Oklahoma Law Review. With over 28 years in private legal practice, Grunsted has also consulted with Native American tribes on land development and regulatory frameworks and was a previous partner in a thriving employment law firm.
Saidy Herrera is the Multicultural Officer at the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). Her primary responsibility is to develop program and outreach initiatives focused on Oklahoma's diverse heritage and historically underrepresented communities, creating bridges of communication and cultural exchange opportunities for all Oklahomans.
Born and raised in Guatemala City in a fusion of Spanish, Mayan, Mexican, and Afro-Caribbean cultures. Her tri-lingual Spanish, English, and basics of French education continued in New York, California, and eventually, Oklahoma.
Saidy has been known as an educator, cultural ambassador, historian, pioneer, visionary, revolutionary, and advocate for higher education, equity, and immigrant rights as an active member of the Latino community for decades.
Recently inducted into the 2024 OCCC Alumni Hall of Fame. Selected as a delegate to the United Nations Headquarters in NY for three consecutive years, among the top Hispanic leaders nationwide, by the We Are All Human Foundation. A member of statewide Leadership Oklahoma-Class #35, and the United Nations Association-USA.
Awarded as the Community Leader by the Guatemalans in Oklahoma Association and at the inaugural Top 40 Hispanic Leadership by the Oklahoma Hispanic Institute in 2023. Served as Mrs. Guatemala for Oklahoma 2021-2022. Named among the top 50 Honorees Making a Difference by the 2020 Women of the Year with the Journal Records, and recognized by the 2019 OK Universal Human Rights Alliance and the UN-OKC Chapter. Saidy has served on the Citizens Financial Oversight Board for the City of Norman since 2018 as a service to her local community while busy with family and education.
She enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, swimming, and having a cup of coffee while editing photos and videos as a hobby.
Peace C. Mojekwu hails from Nigeria and graduated from OU’s Price College of Business with an accelerated master’s degree in accounting. She is a strong advocate for intercultural learning and community service, values that inspired her active participation in campus life at OU. Peace led student organizations such as the African Women’s League (AWL) and the International Advisory Committee (IAC). Additionally, in the JCP leadership program, she served as both an International Liaison for her peers and a Board Member with Transition House Non-Profit.
Professionally, Peace is now a Certified Public Accountant and a Senior Tax Associate with Ernst & Young in Oklahoma City, where she serves a diverse range of clients and industries. Outside of work, she still dedicates her time to volunteering with non-profits like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Regional Food Bank.
Annaly has spent the past 23 years proudly serving her alma mater, The University of Oklahoma. She began her career in Recruitment Services where she helped to spearhead an effort that brought record numbers of National Merit Scholars to the University. She then went to the College of International Studies where she served as Associate Director of Center Operations supporting vast study abroad programming at the OU Study Centers in Arezzo, Italy and Puebla, Mexico.
Currently, Annaly manages the undergraduate study abroad programs and scholarships for Price students as the Director of Study Abroad and Scholarships at the Price College of Business. Her extensive campus experience has allowed her to build highly collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, and colleges university-wide. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Criminology and a Master’s of Human Relations at OU. Annaly and her husband, Scott, have two children, Gabby and Jens. She enjoys traveling, attending her children’s activities, and staying active.
Cui “Tracy” Zou, Instructor of Management Information Systems, holds a master’s degree in Information Science and Technology, an MBA, and a graduate certificate in Business Analytics and Data Science from Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Laws in Administrative Management from Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Before joining OU, she served as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Missouri S&T. Her diverse professional experience spans roles in NGOs, top manufacturing companies, and academic institutions.
Madison Maier is a Tulsa native and JCPLP alumni with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from OU. Over the past three years, she has worked at Williams Energy in Tulsa as a rotational business analyst, gaining experience in risk management, natural gas operations, and corporate accounting. When she’s not preparing quarterly financial statements or taking classes for her MBA, Madison enjoys traveling to other countries and watching unrealistic action movies.
A 2024 graduate of OU’s Price College of Business, Sara was able to graduate within 3 years with a double major in Healthcare and Business and Management and a minor in psychology. As an alum of the JCPenney Leadership Program, Sara served as the Director of Philanthropy and was also selected for JCP’s study abroad program in Costa Rica and Panama in 2024.
Sara has launched her career as an Associate Consultant at a management consulting firm in Dallas called, The Bridge, and has been assigned to a prominent healthcare client and continues to expand her knowledge-base through ongoing project and change management. Sara’s solution-based approach to complex environments is proving to contribute significant value to The Bridge and its clients. Since her high school years, she has always been a strong advocate and volunteer for the Make a Wish Foundation, while also being the Make a Wish chair for her chapter within her sorority, Chi Omega. Currently, Sara is in the process of forging a tactical relationship between The Bridge and MAW as it is progressing very favorably. Sara is very excited and grateful to be a panelist for this year’s Women in Business conference!
