31st Annual Tribute to Outstanding Women

Jennifer Fang is a Corporate partner in the Boston office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. She helps innovative life sciences companies grow into successful enterprises by providing counsel to the founders, management teams, and boards and by handling the legal and strategic business issues and transactions that arise at each stage. She is experienced in negotiating and executing a variety of corporate transactions, including conversions, spinouts, debt and equity financings, public offerings, PIPEs, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. She also counsels venture capital, growth capital, and strategic investors with respect to their investment transactions and their existing portfolio companies. Her practice focuses on companies that can improve patient lives and healthcare through innovations and advances, including in gene editing, cell therapy, novel therapeutics, synthetic biology, proteomics, diagnostics, bioinformatics, medical devices, and research and manufacturing tools and processes.

Jennifer has been recognized by various publications and organizations for her work in the life sciences industry. Chambers USA notes she is increasing recognized for her work advising emerging life sciences companies on a wide range of corporate matters, including financings, IPOs, and M&A. Jennifer was also honored with the “Best Under 40” award by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), which highlighted her work with growing start-ups to enterprises, and named a “Top Woman of Law” and a "Go-To Business Lawyer" by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

She is also a frequent speaker on corporate and securities topics, such as company formation risks, equity compensation issues, angel and venture financing terms, and founder pitfalls, and currently serves on the General Counsel Advisory Board of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and is a member of the Advisory Board for the American Cancer Society (ACS) BrightEdge Entrepreneurs (BEE) program. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring young lawyers, entrepreneurs, and investors in the local community.

Beyond her professional work, Jennifer is active in the Cambridge community and has supported efforts to strengthen civic participation and broaden access to arts in the community. Some of her favorite local organizations in Cambridge include the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Global Arts Live, Refugee Food Festival, and Project Restore Us and the YWCA Cambridge, where she has taken lessons and performed salsa and bachata. She is also known for generously mentoring and encouraging young professionals and others in her community, helping people feel welcomed, supported, and connected. 

Yvonne Gittens is a proud native Cantabridgian whose lifelong dedication to education, community, and service defines her inspiring journey. Her deep roots in Cambridge began at Houghton Elementary School (now the M.L. King / Putnam Upper School) and continued through the Cambridge Latin School (now Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School). Driven by a passion for lifelong learning, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Lesley University and a Master of Education from Harvard University.

Yvonne’s distinguished career reflects her steadfast commitment to higher education and community empowerment. She spent more than 40 years serving at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), making a lasting impact on generations of students and colleagues. Her devotion to her hometown shines just as brightly through her connection to the Cambridge Community Center (CCC)—a pillar in her life where she has been a community member for over 70 years and an employee for more than 16 years.

Grounded in faith, Yvonne is an active member of Avenue Baptist Church. Outside of her professional and community endeavors, she delights in cooking, reading, traveling, listening to music, and dancing. Above all, she treasures spending quality time with her family.

Jennie is a Certified Master Level instructor with over 20 years of experience in Soo Bahk Do, a traditional Korean martial art. She began her training when her young children started classes, choosing to participate in class rather than wait outside. Over the years, she has learned that martial arts benefit not only the body, but also the mind, spirit, and character. As the head instructor of Boston Classical Soo Bahk Do, she is dedicated to building an inclusive community where students of all backgrounds and ages excel, feel welcome, and are both challenged and supported.

Jennie has always believed that actions speak louder than words. As a minority woman navigating a traditionally male-dominated engineering field, she has experienced firsthand the realities of workplace discrimination and systemic bias. These experiences have deepened her commitment to the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women. For Jennie, this mission is an active practice. She is especially committed to helping women and girls develop the confidence and resilience they need to stay safe, lead with purpose, and build a more equitable world.

With two decades as a student of martial arts, Jennie continues to grow and brings both the wisdom of experience and the warmth of someone who truly loves what she does. She believes that the strength of the program does not lie in one instructor. Instead, it lives in the collective power of its support network—the YWCA, the instructors, senior students, the families, and every member who shows up, puts in the work, and elevates one another.  She says, “This is what makes our program so special.

Ayesha M. Wilson is a mother, seasoned social worker, and nonprofit leader who previously served as a Cambridge City Councillor and School Committee Member. Raised in a single-parent Jamaican immigrant household in Cambridge Public Housing, her firsthand experience with socioeconomic barriers fueled a twenty-year career in human services. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from Wheelock College.

During her legislative tenure, Ayesha spearheaded transformative initiatives, including expanding universal preschool, eliminating single-family zoning to maximize affordable housing, and increasing the number of school social workers. A fierce advocate for sanctuary city status, her leadership has earned accolades such as the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Inspire Award, House of Representatives Black Excellence on the Hill, and Emerge Massachusetts Woman of the Year.

Beyond elected office, Ayesha serves as 1st Vice President of the Greater Boston Association of Black Social Workers and Secretary of the NAACP Cambridge Branch. She remains a fearless champion for youth, social justice, and community empowerment.

My journey with Hip Hop Transformation began as a young artist, using music as a form of therapy, self-expression, and healing. Through music, I discovered the power of having a creative outlet and the positive impact it can have on mental and emotional well-being. I’ve now come full circle as a staff member, helping young artists discover their own voices and teaching them the many ways music can be helpful, whether they create it or simply listen to it.

Outside of music, I graduated high school with a certification as a Nursing Assistant, inspired by my passion for healthcare and helping others. Today, my goal is to give back to the community I come from and use my experiences to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I hope to continue growing in healthcare and eventually achieve my dream of becoming a firefighter-paramedic.