Analisa Balares is CEO of Womensphere, and Executive Producer of all Womensphere global summits, including the Womensphere Global Leadership & Innovation Summit, the L.I.V.E. World Summit: Leadership, Innovation & Vision for the Earth, and the Womensphere Institute, the organization’s educational arm. 

Analisa is formerly Global Marketing Manager for Microsoft's blogging and social networking service.  In this role, she managed the global marketing launch of Windows Live Spaces in over 30 countries, and led the strategy and execution of Spaces projects around branding, partnerships, events, and online community development.  She managed Spaces' internal partnerships (e.g. MSN Entertainment, Xbox), and external partnerships with NGOs (Global Fund for Women, Earth Day Network), media companies (ABC, Sundance Channel) and independent music/film/TV festivals (South by Southwest, MethodFest, New York TV Festival).  

Analisa launched her career at the Goldman Sachs High Technology Investment Banking group, where she helped execute over $1.5 billion in IPOs and corporate financings for technology clients including open source software leader Red Hat, data infrastructure pioneer StorageNetworks, and communications leader Nokia.  Her professional experience includes working for Milestone Capital as Director of Development & New Ventures, and summer stints at Morgan Stanley's Energy Investment Banking Group, the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, and Mellon Bank.  

Analisa holds an MBA from Harvard Business School; a BA in Economics & Mathematics cum laude from Mount Holyoke College; and an International Baccalaureate from Lester Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Canada. 

For over two decades, Analisa has been committed to innovation, women’s leadership development, environmental sustainability, and community development. She has produced, directed, and co-produced over 100 conferences and events around these causes.  In 1999, Analisa founded and co-chairs The Lyons Network, a leadership and career mentoring organization for young women.  For nearly a decade, through The Lyons Network, Analisa has led the organization of regional conferences on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship for young women in New England.  While at Harvard Business School, Analisa co-founded and led the non-profit Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), and served as Co-President of the HBS Entrepreneurship Club; Debate Coach & Co-Captain of HBS' Debate Team; Vice President of HBS' Leadership and Ethics Forum; and an organizer of several HBS conferences. Close to two decades ago, Analisa led a team of youth that received Shell Company's Outstanding Junior Scientist Award three consecutive years, for her team's innovative work on wastewater pollution treatment, recycling, and alternative energy production. At 16, she was elected Senate President of the 1st Philippine Youth Environment Congress, where she led drafting the Philippine Youth's Environment and Sustainable Development Policy Proposal for the Inaugural UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the same year, she served as Youth Mayor of Manila City for a week, creating legislation for public education and urban renewal. She later served on the Steering Committee of Canada's 1st International Conference on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  

Analisa was recently selected as one of 30 “NYC Young Leaders” and took part in New York City’s Young Leaders Program. She was recently selected as CBS Radio/1010Wins’ “Tomorrow’s Newsmaker Awardee” for the Business category.  

Analisa is an alumna and volunteer mentor of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), and is on the Board of Lester Pearson College of the Pacific’s USA Foundation.  She is a supporter of great social enterprise organizations such as the Global Fund for Women, Climb High Foundation, All for Africa, Art for Refugees in Transition (ART), ComedyCures Foundation, Komen Race for the Cure (North Jersey), and CEO Women (Creating Economic Opportunities for Women) which helps immigrant women  gain valuable career skills. 

Analisa is a passionate supporter of the creative arts, and enjoys discovering contemporary and classical visual artists, great poetry and theatre, and emerging music artists. Analisa also enjoys the outdoors, loves to hike through mountains and temperate rainforests, and enjoys traveling and exploring the world.