Women’s Leadership Conference is on for its first in-person event
Date postedFebruary 1, 2023
It’s baaaack … and finally, in-person! This year’s Women’s Leadership Conference will be taking place on Tuesday, February 28 at the Meydenbauer Center, and we can’t wait to get together to bounce ideas off each other.
Our theme for the 2023 WLC is “Intentionally Me: Calling the Shots & Connecting the Dots,” with a focus on how to navigate the business world while balancing your organization’s, your network’s, and your own values.
The agenda for the conference is as follows …
- Looking Inward: DEI as a Pathway to Purposeful Outcomes — Dr. Linda Whitehead, City of Bellevue
- Community & You: Overcoming Regional Challenges, Together — Jennifer Fischer, Bellevue LifeSpring; Dr. Catherine Cushinberry, Hopelink; Dietra Clayton, The Sophia Way
- A Legacy Continued: Embracing Change while Staying True — Jasmine Donovan, Dick’s Drive-In
- It Takes (at least) Two to Tango: The Beauty & Horror of Corporate Partnerships — Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines; Catie Griggs, Seattle Mariners
- High Stakes, Higher Expectations: Negotiating Under Pressure — Suzanne Williams, University of Oxford
In preparation for this year’s conference, we asked our WLC Planning Committee for their thoughts on the third iteration of this event. See what they had to say below.
Q: Why did you choose to join the Chamber’s WLC committee?
- Jill Kinney, Sweeney Conrad: “The women on this committee are established in their careers, have amazing connections, and are so inspiring to me,” said Kinney. “I look forward to having the chance to more organically connect with women and have honest conversations during the event.”
Q: Tell me a bit about the previous two conferences. Was there a specific speaker, topic, or event that really stuck out to you as influential?
- Jennifer Clark, Alaska Airlines: “One of my favorite speakers to listen to was Ally Svenson, current owner and co-founder of MOD Pizza,” said Clark. “She and her husband were both born and raised in the Bellevue area, [and] they have done so much to support so many in Western Washington and also nationally. They have a practice of hiring those less-fortunate and giving them the tools in life to be successful … They are really caring and genuine people.”
Q: This will be the first in-person Women’s Leadership Conference — what are you most looking forward to?
- Leigh Johnson, Falco Sult: “I'm looking most forward to the energy in the room! Female community leaders, business owners, and professionals with different perspectives and backgrounds talking, learning, and growing together? I couldn't sign up fast enough!” said Johnson.