January 22, 2020 – Known for her breakout performance in 2018 on the 13th season of NBC’s hit television show “America’s Got Talent,” 17 year old Amanda Mena of Lynn, MA will perform at the 2020 Boston’s Most Influential Women Gala on February 12, 2020 at the Harvard Club of Boston.
Mena’s performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman” earned her the Golden Buzzer from judge Mel B., which brought her straight to the live performance portion of the contest. Following her appearance on “American’s Got Talent,” Mena performed with the Boston Pops as a winner of the Fidelity Young Artists Competition. Mena has also appeared on Broadway with actress Melissa Benoist (“Supergirl”) in the Carole King musical “Beautiful,” and her single, “Cartagena,” was released in 2019.
“Amanda is an exceptionally talented young woman and we are thrilled she will be performing at this important event. Her life story is remarkable and to see what she has achieved thus far in her career is truly an inspiration for women and men of any age,” said Karen Van Winkle, former Harvard Club of Boston president, the first female president in the Club’s history, who serves on the nominating committee for this prestigious event.
The 2020 Boston’s Most Influential Women event will recognize seven women who have been chosen for their demonstrated leadership, achievements, influence and mentorship in business, law, healthcare, STEM, philanthropy, academia, and the arts. The honorees include:
Geri Denterlein MPA ’90: Founder & CEO, Denterlein
Drew Faust AM ’01, LLD ’19: President Emerita and Arthur Kingsley Porter University Professor, Harvard University
Laurie H. Glimcher AB ’72, MD ’76: President & CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
Elizabeth L. Hailer: Executive Director, The Commonwealth Institute
Annapurna Poduri AB ’94, MPH ’07: Director, Epilepsy Genetics Program and Poduri Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital; Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Katey Stone: The Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey
**Rising Star Award** Sheena Collier EdM ’05: Founder & CEO, The Collier Connection; Senior Economic Opportunity Advisor, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
The keynote speaker is Diane Paulus, the Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) at Harvard University.
About the Harvard Club of Boston
The Harvard Club of Boston is a private club established in 1908 to encourage the social, intellectual and athletic interests of our members, to promote the welfare of Harvard University, to assist students with financial aid, and to foster the Harvard Spirit in all Harvard men and women. The organization maintains two clubhouses: one in the Back Bay neighborhood in Boston, and one in the Financial District. Members of the Club have access to exclusive events, dining opportunities, and athletic facilities in the two locations. With approximately 5,000 members, the Harvard Club is one of the City’s premier private clubs and has been named a Platinum Club of America and a Platinum Club of the World.