2025 Women's Summit - Resilience: Bending with Grace, Rising with Power

In an unpredictable world, resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about how you choose to respond, lead, and grow in the face of adversity. This engaging and practical session offers a fresh, science-backed approach to resilience, challenging outdated beliefs and offering tools to build strength without burnout. Attendees will learn how to navigate personal and professional challenges with greater intention, self-awareness, and grit. Key takeaways include: reframing resilience as a proactive mindset, identifying thought patterns that deplete energy and clarity, and applying the “Response Reset” framework to stay grounded and effective during moments of stress, change, or uncertainty.

Artificial intelligence is changing the game—but it’s not replacing the human expertise that drives it forward. Designed especially for women in accounting and finance, this session offers an honest look at how AI is reshaping the profession and how to stay confidently relevant. Attendees will explore the evolving skill sets that matter most, how to integrate AI tools without losing the human touch, and what it means to lead in an AI-enhanced workplace. Key takeaways include: demystifying what AI can and can’t do, identifying where your value shines brightest, and learning how to future-proof your career with adaptability and clarity.

What does it mean to navigate the world with a constant delay in auditory perception—and what can it teach us about ethics, empathy, and inclusion? This powerful and personal session explores the lived experience of lifelong hearing loss and its intersection with professional ethics. Through real-life insights, attendees will reflect on the ethical principles of integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, and competency through the lens of disability inclusion. Key takeaways include: understanding the challenges and opportunities of delayed communication, applying core ethics principles to support accessibility, and adopting practical strategies to advocate for greater empathy and inclusivity in the workplace.

Details coming soon! 

Is the economy as bad as it feels—or are the headlines missing the full picture? Economist Bill Craighead offers a refreshingly honest and data-driven look at today’s economic landscape, unpacking the gap between public sentiment and actual indicators. Attendees will explore surprising signs of strength, including rising wages, regional resilience, and post-pandemic entrepreneurship. Key takeaways include: understanding the disconnect between perception and economic reality, analyzing how interest rate trends impact housing and local growth, and examining long-term opportunities and challenges related to education, workforce development, and childcare access.

You don’t need a new title to make a bigger impact—you need the right mindset, strategies, and skills. In this high-energy session, business strategist and two-time Hall of Fame inductee Jill Johnson shares how to amplify your professional influence by building confidence, thinking strategically, and mastering authentic business development. Drawing from more than $4 billion in business decision influence, Jill offers practical, no-golf-required techniques for growing meaningful connections and translating expertise into executive-level insights. Key takeaways include: building career-defining confidence, converting technical skills into strategic value, positioning your contributions in C-suite language, and recognizing opportunities that lead to transformational growth.