Why “Legacy + Impact”?

Your legacy is built from your character, your personal brand, and the way you lead. The impact of that legacy is like throwing a pebble into a pond – the ripples spread far and wide. As professional women, we have the chance to positively impact the people around us, and in doing so, create a legacy that lasts for generations. So, let’s get to work and make our mark on the world!

If you seek resilience, mentorship, a supportive network, or simply the knowledge that you are not alone, this conference is for you. Whether you’ve just started, you’re in the middle-management cycle, or have excelled to the top of the ladder, you’re sure to pick up helpful information and actionable advice when you join us at the second annual #FollowFriday conference.

THURSDAY, March 7, 2024

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Registration + Lunch

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Welcome + Opening Keynote: “The Legacy of Impact”

  • Juliene Brazinski Simpson, 1976 Women’s National Basketball Team Captain and Olympic Silver Medal Winner
  • In this keynote, Juliene will share her extraordinary journey from being a pioneering player in the inaugural women’s basketball team at the 1976 Olympics to her impactful roles in coaching and administration. She will delve into the challenges and triumphs she faced, highlighting how perseverance and dedication can pave the way for groundbreaking achievements.”The Legacy of Impact” is more than a personal story; it’s a narrative about breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks. Juliene will discuss the importance of legacy in sports and beyond, focusing on how each individual’s contributions can lead to significant, long-lasting changes in society. She will also explore how her experiences have shaped her views on leadership, teamwork, and resilience.

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM | Concurrent TED-style Talks

  • Making Your Passion Your Purpose: Tales from an Entrepreneur
    Gwenn Nolan, Owner, Mother Compost
    Gwenn’s story is not just about building a business; it’s about igniting change in the community. She will share insights on the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, and how to align personal values with professional goals. Gwenn’s talk is a must-attend for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact through their career, blending personal passion with a larger purpose. Her experiences, from corporate roles to environmental advocacy, encapsulate the essence of turning passion into a tangible and impactful pursuit.
  • There’s Always More to the Story Than You Know
    Diana Lauritson, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager, Hogan Lovells
    In this inspiring presentation, Diana will share her journey of resilience and success, offering a unique perspective on life’s challenges. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the limitless potential that can emerge from adversity. Discover the remarkable insights that inform Diana’s worldview and be inspired by her transformative message of hope and empowerment. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the incredible woman behind the story.
  • Speak Up, Speak Out Empowering Women Leaders to Communicate with Impact
    Dr. Cheryl Wood, CEO, Global Speakers University
    In the rapidly evolving landscape of leadership, the ability to communicate effectively stands as a cornerstone for success, especially for women who are continually breaking new ground in leadership roles across various sectors. Speak Up, Speak Out: Empowering Women Leaders to Communicate with Impact is more than just a speech; it’s a call to action for women leaders to embrace their voices, refine their communication strategies, and lead with impact. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable insights, tools, strategies, and confidence to elevate their communication skills and transform their communication approach, paving the way for greater influence and success in their leadership journeys.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions

  • Fireside Chat: Shed Your Corporate Armor
    Kelly Harbour, Chief Business Development Officer, Goulston & Storrs
    Melanie Lippman, CEO, Amplify Image Consultancy
    Many of us have heard the line, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” What if the jobs you want are largely held by cisgender white men in dark suits? Across much of corporate America, an unspoken concept often lingers – the idea that women must exude power to command respect. Every facet of your presence, from your actions to your engagements, from your demeanor to your discussions (or the lack thereof), contributes to your personal brand. It’s crucial to shatter the myth that mimicking stereotypically masculine traits is the best route to garnering credibility. Through our journeys, we’ve realized the fallacy of equating gravitas solely with rigid attire and demeanor. The revelation that hues beyond dark shades and wearing softer silhouettes can embody authority has been a game-changer. Understanding that emotion and empathy are not synonymous with weakness has also been transformative. Defining what success means to you, and embracing authenticity and your unique strengths, regardless of gender expectations, is the path to true career fulfillment. It will also create community and connection among clients and colleagues. Empowering each other with these insights is pivotal. By dismantling these outdated notions, we redefine professionalism, fostering a culture that values individuality and diverse expressions of power.
  • Workshop: The Financially Independent Woman’s Playbook
    Katherine Dean, Certified Financial Planner, Opal Wealth Advisors
    This workshop is tailored to inspire and equip women with the tools and insights necessary for financial security and independence. In this interactive session, Katherine will guide attendees through key strategies for wealth-building and financial empowerment. The workshop will cover essential topics such as:> Developing a Healthy Money Mindset: Learn how to cultivate a positive and proactive approach to your finances, breaking free from any limiting beliefs.
    > Confident Financial Conversations: Gain skills to discuss finances with clarity and assurance, whether with family, advisors, or in professional settings.
    > Addressing Unique Financial Challenges for Women: Uncover the specific financial hurdles women often face and learn how to navigate them effectively.
    > Investing with a Woman’s Perspective: Understand why a female-focused approach to investing can be beneficial and how to implement it in your financial strategy.
    > Creating a Comprehensive Financial Plan: Learn how to develop a plan that aligns with both your immediate needs and long-term aspirations.
    > Building a Supportive Network: Connect with like-minded women to foster a community of support, motivation, and accountability on your financial journey. This workshop is ideal for women at any stage of their financial journey, whether starting out or looking to elevate their financial prowess. Katherine brings over two decades of experience in the financial industry, focusing on empowering women to take charge of their financial futures. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable knowledge and strategies to achieve your financial goals and dreams. Katherine’s expertise and guidance make this a must-attend session for every woman aiming to be financially independent and secure.
  • Leveraging your Resources to Build Value, Impact and Legacy
    Heather McCullough, Chief Growth Officer, Society54
    Erin Ryan, Director of Partner Integration & Business Development Coaching, McGuireWoods
    In this dynamic session participants will embark on a journey to understand the transformative power of their networks and resources. Attendees will understand the significance of each individual’s contribution to the collective success of an organization and to explore the practical steps one can take to create a lasting legacy and make a meaningful impact.
    > Understand the importance of leveraging your network to set yourself and others up for success
    > Recognize the value individuals bring to the table and how it contributes to organizational success
    > Explore practical strategies and real-world examples of creating a legacy and impact
    > Foster collaboration and teamwork to achieve goals collectively

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Networking Break

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Passle REPRESENTS LIVE PODCAST RECORDING

Kristen Gibbons Feden, Partner, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky

Yasmin Zand, Client Success Consultant, Passle

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Close of Day 1

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Networking RECEPTION + Dinner

Friday, March 8, 2024

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration + Networking (Continental Breakfast Served)

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Keynote | Strength from Vulnerability: How Compassion Makes Effective Leaders

  • Jase Elam and Luisa Luchega, Hopeworks
    No matter how much we talk about the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, our personal lives affect how we show up at work. How can we hold space for others in our professional lives while navigating our own needs? The Hopeworks Learning and Development team will discuss the pervasiveness of trauma and toxic stress and how our personal and professional relationships are impacted by our responses. Learn practical strategies for providing support as a leader while also setting boundaries and managing your own wellness.

10:15 AM – 11:45 AM | Concurrent Sessions

  • Fishbowl: Growing and Owning Your Authentic Presence
    Hannah Smith, Director of Business Development, PipelinePlus
    Having the ability to own your authenticity is rooted in self-awareness and self-acceptance, and it requires a commitment to being honest with yourself and others, regardless of external pressures or expectations. It is about living in alignment with your true nature and allowing that to guide your actions and decisions. In this fishbowl, participants will explore strategies for developing and maintaining an authentic presence in their professional and personal lives. This session is perfect for those looking to enhance self-awareness, assertiveness, and genuine connection with others, offering a unique opportunity for shared learning and personal development in a supportive environment.
  • Fishbowl: Leading Through Adversity
    Riscee Langhorne, Director of Career Partnerships, Hopeworks
    This fishbowl will dive into effective leadership in challenging times, discussing how to differentiate facts from assumptions and unconscious biases; concentrating on areas within your area of influence, and inspiring and enabling others to commit to action that foster a sense of confidence in their abilities. This session is vital for leaders (and aspiring leaders) seeking to navigate adversity while maintaining team morale and effectiveness.
  • The Self Awareness Workshop: A Roadmap To Building Self-Awareness & Enhancing Your Leadership
    Haley Hansel, Co-Founder, Cohd
    First and foremost, great leadership demands self-awareness. In this 90-minute session, Haley outlines the components of self-awareness, how to most effectively grow in each area, and what it can look like when we stumble. Attendees walk away with:
    > Knowledge of what makes reflection effective versus destructive
    > Where to seek feedback that will make them better leaders
    > How to notice and challenge their ego–and the pitfalls of remaining to blind it
    > Proven habits and systems that drive self-awareness and breakthroughs for clients

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Networking Lunch

Creating the Future Scholarship recipients are invited to enjoy lunch and meet the other members of their cohort.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions

  • Workshop: Getting Unstuck – Gaining Clarity + Moving Forward
    Elisabeth Hayes, Coach, EO Hayes Consulting
    Rebecca Edwards Hnatowski, President and Founder, Edwards Advisory
    It’s easy to feel stuck. Stuck in your routine. Stuck in your career. Stuck in the wrong career. With distractions of everyday life, it’s not always easy to devote time to getting unstuck. This interactive session will provide space for attendees to think through what they want, what impact they want to make, and ultimately spark a renewed sense of purpose. Drawing from the insights of executive coach, Elisabeth Hayes, who works with her clients to transition into next-level roles and navigate career moves, and her former coachee, Rebecca Edwards Hnatowski, who transitioned from in-house marketer to business owner, this program will offer practical tips and share lessons learned for:> gaining clarity for where you want to go,
    > being more intentional around goal setting,
    > setting up systems to reach goals, and
    > staying on track and getting unstuck. Whether looking to get back on track or hoping to find another path, this session will help participants get unstuck and set priorities for themselves, their career, or their business.
  • Creating Meaningful Opportunities at All Career Levels…For Yourself and Others
    Alexis Cuffee, Marketing Coordinator, Morris James LLP
    Dawn Sheiker, Director of Client Relations, Morris James LLP
    In this small group discussion workshop, participants will explore and strategize how professionals can cultivate and leverage opportunities for growth and advancement, not just for themselves but also for their colleagues. This session will focus on creating a supportive and opportunity-rich environment at all levels of a career journey, encouraging a culture of mutual growth and mentorship. Participants will engage in discussions and exercises aimed at identifying methods to unlock potential, share success strategies, and foster an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to collective progress.
  • Workshop: Defining Your Highest and Best Use
    Kelly Harbour, Chief Business Development Officer, Goulston & Storrs
    This workshop is designed to empower attendees to identify and leverage their unique strengths and capabilities for maximum impact in their professional and personal lives. This session will guide participants through introspective exercises and strategic thinking to uncover their core competencies and passions. Attendees will learn how to align these strengths with their career goals, creating pathways for fulfilling and impactful contributions. This workshop is ideal for individuals seeking clarity and direction in harnessing their full potential for their highest and best use.

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM | Concurrent TED-Style Talks

  • Titles Don’t Make Leaders
    Dana Careless
    In this ted-style talk, Dana will discuss the key elements of a strong leader – from the board room to the block party and how none of them have anything to do with titles. From thinking outside the box to saying “yes”; from modeling the way even when (you may think) no one is looking, to normalizing mental health challenges: learn about why being a leader is not all about title.
  • Empathy & Compassion: Creating Safe Spaces for Our Teams to Thrive
    Angela Colistra
    Creating safe spaces at work will require leaders to have high emotional intelligence by modeling empathy and compassion to push forward innovation and sustain the workforce. With the rise of suicidal ideation, addiction, mental health struggles, school shootings, and COVID-related trauma a dysregulated workforce may be the hidden factor that impedes stability, growth, and team cohesion. In this session, we will focus on the skills of empathy, why empathy and compassion are essential to leadership, and how to move forward with a focus on wellness for the company and the workforce and smash goals along the way.
  • Redefining Success
    Laura Gutierrez, Wordsmith & Digital Alchemist, {EM}Dash
    In life’s unpredictable journey, events like breast cancer and divorce can profoundly shake our foundations, urging a reevaluation of priorities. This talk delves into how such significant challenges not only affect our physical and emotional well-being but also prompt a transformative rethinking of our career aspirations. Drawing on personal narratives and poignant examples, we’ll explore the intertwining of adversity and purpose. Discover how facing life’s fiercest battles can lead to a refocused vision of success, guiding us toward a career path infused with deeper meaning, resilience, and fulfillment.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Closing Session: How Will You Make An impact?

Thanks to our sponsors