Monica F. Azare

Louisiana proud, and Abbeville, La., raised, Monica Azare is the founder and principal of Azare Advisors, LLC, a business consultancy focused on value creation through good governance; strategic public policy; and sound ESG and DEI initiatives. Beginning in 2007 through LHC Group’s 2023 acquisition by UnitedHealthcare, Monica served as an independent director for Louisiana-based, national provider of home-based, hospice and specialty acute care in 968 markets in 38 states, where she chaired its Nominating & Governance and Compensation committees. Monica also chaired LHC Group’s inaugural Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Council and was a notable board sponsor for the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As a highly skilled transactional attorney and business partner, her depth of experience spans over two decades in the highly regulated telecommunications industry. Most recently, and as part of her 21-year career with Verizon, Monica led the company’s Video Franchising legal team as vice president, deputy general counsel prior to retiring in 2021. While at Verizon, she served as senior vice president of Corporate Internal Communications; president, New York Region - Public Policy and Government Affairs; and executive director and senior counsel of Federal Affairs for Verizon Wireless. Before joining the private sector, Monica cut her teeth in public policy as chief of staff and legislative director on Capitol Hill following years on staff with the Louisiana State Senate; Acadiana Delegation; and Division of Administration, while a student at LSU and the Southern University Law Center. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), New York Women’s Forum, The Joyce Theater, Federal Communications Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, In-house Counsel, New York, and Corporate Counsel Women of Color. Monica has been a recipient of numerous professional and corporate awards of distinction: She is an alumna of the prestigious David Rockefeller Fellows Program; has been recognized by The Network Journal as one of the Top 25 Women in Business; was listed as a “2019 Influential Corporate Director” by WomenInc; was listed in Savoy Magazine as a “2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Director;” and was honored by the New York State NAACP and Citizens Union of NYC for Corporate Achievement. She is a former board member of The Partnership for New York City Foundation (Audit Committee); New York City Citizen's Union; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Diversity Council. Monica is based in New York City.