Thank you to all of our wonderful speakers for making the 2011 TX Conference such a success!
Keynotes
Additional keynotes and panelists will be added as they are confirmed. Please join our email list for the latest announcements.
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller in 1982 co-founded Vera Bradley, which quickly grew into an internationally recognized organization…Read Full Bio
Martha Beck
Psychology Today, USA Today and NPR have all referred to Martha Beck as one of the best-known life coaches in America. She is a columnist for O, the Oprah Magazine, has been a… Read Full Bio
Jody Conradt
As only the second woman ever inducted into the Springfield, Mass. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Conradt is known as a pioneer, but also a durable, dynamic and ethical leader… Read Full Bio
Tory Johnson
Tory Johnson is all about spark and hustle at work, dating back to high school in Miami Beach where she joined her all-male debate team—and became the first girl (with her partner) to win a… Read Full Bio
Rose Mapendo
Rose Mapendo is challenging the global community to accept peace and reconciliation. Mapendo has been honored by The White House, and in 2009 was named The Humanitarian of the Year … Read Full Bio
Cindy Hensley McCain
Cindy Hensley McCain has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those less fortunate both in the United States and around the world. A mother of four, and wife of U.S. Senator John McCain… Read Full Bio
Turk Pipkin
Turk Pipkin is the co-founder of the global education nonprofit The Nobelity Project, working for basic rights for children everywhere. He is the director of three feature films, including 2011 SXSW Film…
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Lisa Niemi Swayze
Lisa Niemi Swayze has spent decades in the film industry. She wrote, directed and produced the film “One Last Dance” in 2004. In addition to other projects, she directed her husband, Patrick,… Read Full Bio
America Ferrera has taken a commitment in London and cancelled her appearance at the Texas Conference for Women.
Breakout Session Speakers
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller in 1982 co-founded Vera Bradley, which quickly grew into an internationally recognized organization…Read Full Bio
Holland Banks
began her career working for the Human Rights Initiative, a nonprofit legal organization helping human rights abuse victims. Banks then moved to… Read Full Bio
James Beckerman
Cardiologist James Beckerman, M.D. was moved by his wife’s family experiences with heart disease to retool his own message into a flexible system for…. Read Full Bio
Jenny Blake
Jenny Blakeis an author, blogger, life coach and sought-after speaker who helps others “Wake up, live big and love the journey.” She has been featured on Forbes.com, in US News & World ReportRead Full Bio
Glinda Bridgforth
is a leading financial expert who explores the emotional and cultural factors that block financial success. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her consulting practice, Bridgforth… Read Full Bio
Dr. Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a writer and research professor at the University Of Houston Graduate College Of Social Work. Her groundbreaking research on vulnerability, courage, and shame has been featured on PBS, NPR, CNN… Read Full Bio
Shannon Buggs
Shannon Buggs’ passion for reading and writing led her to pursue a career in journalism and communications and to start a poetry nonprofit organization that… Read Full Bio
Deborah Duncan
Deborah Duncan began honing her interviewing skills as a child raised in a military family, moving constantly. She was determined to learn everything about her new friends as they came into her life…Read Full Bio
Samantha Ettus
Samantha Ettus is a personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality. As a contributor to Forbes, Ettus writes “Personahood,” a blog focused on personal branding. Ettus is the bestselling… Read Full Bio
Nina Godiwalla
Nina Godiwalla is a recognized expert on leadership, diversity and women in the business world. She is the bestselling author of “Suits: A Woman on Wall Street,” which The New York Times describes as the… Read Full Bio
Divya Gugnani
Divya Gugnani started her business career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and then moved on to private equity and venture capital at Investcorp International and FirstMark Capital… Read Full Bio
Patricia Gras
is an ardent storyteller, whether it is using the medium of television, or music. She has a background of life experiences as diverse as the city she covers. Her current award winning show “Living Smart”… Read Full Bio
Shama Kabani
Shama Kabani is a Web and TV personality, bestselling author, international speaker and award winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group – a global digital marketing firm. Kabani is the face of…. Read Full Bio
Roxan Kraft
Roxan Kraft joined Shell as part of the Shell/Texaco merger and has 22 years of refining experience, including two years with ARCO. Currently, she is in her first global role as the…. Read Full Bio
Simone Scialdo Krasan
Simone Scialdo Krasan is an inspirational speaker who shares her own near-death experience in hopes of helping others find inner strength when facing difficulty, even life threatening…. Read Full Bio
Nancy Levicki
In the summer of 1998,Nancy Levicki put her fashion skills back to work, but this time, it was not for a major retail specialty store. She and her long-time friend Susie…..Read Full Bio
Lorie Marrero
Lorie Marrero is a certified professional organizer® and author of “The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life.” She’s also the creator…Read Full Bio
Laura Milazzo
Laura Milazzo oversees marketing for the Employee Benefit Solutions channel, and manages the operations and administration of American General Worksite. Milazzo joined American…Read Full Bio
Laura Murillo
Dr. Laura G. Murillo was named president and chief executive officer of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) effective March 1, 2007. In less than four years in this role and with the support… Read Full Bio
Maria Murnane
Maria Murnane had a successful career in public relations for nearly 10 years before deciding she needed a change. She left for Argentina for what was supposed to be a two-week solo trip and ended up… Read Full Bio
Jessica Nadeau
Flip-flops stashed in the car were no longer cutting it for Jessica Nadeau as the go-to comfort shoe when her feet were sore from being in heels too long. So the San Antonio… Read Full Bio
Gina Otto
An award-winning author, international speaker, producer, social entrepreneur and children’s advocate, Gina Otto is currently pioneering a movement to inspire individuals with her …Read Full Bio
Precious Owodunni
Precious Williams Owodunni is a trusted advisor to business leaders on strategy and finance matters. She leads Mountaintop Consulting, a boutique management consulting firm that provides…Read Full Bio
Babette Pepaj
Babette Pepaj is the founder and CEO of BakeSpace.com(2010 and 2009 Webby Award Nominee for “Best Social Network”) and the founder and producer of TECHmunch (food blogger conferences)…Read Full Bio
Turk Pipkin
Turk Pipkin is the co-founder of the global education nonprofit The Nobelity Project, working for basic rights for children everywhere. He is the director of three feature films, including 2011 SXSW Film…Read Full Bio
Liz Pryor
As “Good Morning America’s “ brand new advice guru, Liz Pryor has become a modern-day Dear Abby. She’s the go-to girlfriend, the mom who’s got the answers, the best friend you run it all by… Read Full Bio
Stacy Dukes-Rhone
Stacy Dukes-Rhone has maintained her distinguished professional career over the last 25 years in the arenas of executive leadership, entrepreneurship, engineering… Read Full Bio
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is a working mother of three and America’s Life Coach. She’s a relationship exert, syndicated radio host, author, columnist, lawyer and co-founder of Advice for Living ,Inc. Robbins is currently the star… Read Full Bio
JoAnn Ajayi-Scott
JoAnn Ajayi-Scott is founder and CEO of Essence of a Lady, Inc. E/Linc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting females of all ages through educational … Read Full Bio
Lesley Jane Seymour
Lesley Jane Seymour was named editor-in-chief of More in January of 2008, where she led the magazine to a 2009 National Magazine Award nomination for personal service for an investigative piece… Read Full Bio
Cindy Solomon
Cindy Solomon is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, author and entrepreneur who helps organizations, teams and individuals find their courage. Their courage as leaders, as business owners… Read Full Bio
Jason Stevens
Registered and licensed dietitian Jason Stevens is driven to help cancer patients stay as nourished and strong as possible throughout their entire journey at Cancer Treatment….Read Full Bio
Sara Tays
Sara K. Tays, southwest public affairs manager for Exxon Mobil Corporation, is responsible for state legislation and other public policy issues in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma… Read Full Bio
Tammy Tibbetts
Tammy Tibbetts passionately advocates the power of social media to create social change. She is the founder and president of She’s the First, a not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in… Read Full Bio
Telisa Toliver
Telisa Toliver serves as senior vice president for Chevron Pipe Line Company which manages transportation risks, provides reliability assurance and leverages pipeline commercial… Read Full Bio
Capella Tucker
Capella Tucker joined KUHF in the spring of 1994 as a part-time reporter. She quickly gained a full-time position when she took over production duties for “Engines of Our Ingenuity… Read Full Bio
Dana Tyson
Dana Tyson has been waking up around 3 a.m. for 20 years now – not only to do lunges all over the neighborhood at a time when no one sees her, but also to host the Morning Show on SUNNY! Tyson and her husband… Read Full Bio
Karen Walrond
Karen Walrond is a writer and photographer. She is a former engineer and a current (though non-practicing) attorney, with extensive… Read Full Bio
Bobbie Weiner
At 46 years old, Bobbie Weiner , a.k.a. “Bloody Mary,” started a new career by going to Makeup School in 1993 for the Film and TV Industry. After her first Horror Film, “Pumpkinhead II,” she was nicknamed Bloody…. Read Full Bio
Jess Weiner
Jess Weiner Considered this generation’s “Go to Girl” for self-esteem, Jess Weiner inspires audiences worldwide with her authentic take on living a confident life.She is founder and chief creative officer for Talk to Jess, LLC… Read Full Bio
Nicole Williams
Nicole Williams is the bestselling author of three books, the latest of which, “Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success,” has been optioned by Dan Jinks, the producer behind the…Read Full Bio
Expert Exchange
Gabrielle Bernstein
Gabrielle Bernstein was featured in the New York Times Sunday Styles section as the “next generation guru, motivational speaker, life coach and author.” Bernstein is making her mark. Expanding… Read Full Bio
Samantha Ettus
Samantha Ettus is a personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality. As a contributor to Forbes, Ettus writes “Personahood,” a blog focused on personal branding…Read Full Bio
Joan Luise Hill
has been accused of doubling as the energizer bunny.Her recent radio, television and personal appearances surrounding her new book, “The Miracle Chase” have taken her across the country …Read Full Bio
Katie Mahon
describes stepping away from her fast-tracked career in senior management in banking to be as uncomfortable as it was liberating. In retrospect, it was a defining moment that ultimately… Read Full Bio
Maria Murnane
Maria Murnane had a successful career in public relations for nearly 10 years before deciding she needed a change. She left for Argentina for what was supposed to be a two-week solo trip and ended up… Read Full Bio
Tina Pennington
Tina Pennington is the “Red” of Red & Black. Her prior career had been full-time mom, but her husband getting fired was the catalyst… Read Full Bio
Liz Pryor
As “Good Morning America’s” brand new advice guru, Liz Pryor has become a modern-day Dear Abby. She’s the go-to girlfriend, the mom who’s got the answers, the best friend you run it all by… Read Full Bio
Linda von Quintus
Linda K. von Quintus serves as vice president of government and community affairs for AAA Texas.AAA Texas offers a variety of products and services, including roadside assistance,… Read Full Bio
Mandy Williams
Mandy Williams, the “Black” of Red & Black, retired from the oil and gas industry by the time she was 40. When boredom sank in she started racing cars – first Porsches, then Ferraris, and along the way… Read Full Bio
Local Leaders
Shannon Buggs
Shannon Buggs’ passion for reading and writing led her to pursue a career in journalism and communications and to start a poetry nonprofit organization that… Read Full Bio
Kim Davis
Kim Davis is a veteran news and sports journalist with more than two decades of experience in print, radio and television. A community advocate and pioneer, she’s also a self-proclaimed sports… Read Full Bio
Patricia Gras
is an ardent storyteller, whether it is using the medium of television, or music. She has a background of life experiences as diverse as the city she covers. Her current award winning show “Living Smart”… Read Full Bio
Fran Harris
Fran Harris has spent the past 10 years building a multi-faceted celebrity brand. In 2010, she hosted HGTV’s “Home Rules.” A former ESPN announcer, Harris’ 15 plus years as a television personality… Read Full Bio
Laura Murillo
Dr. Laura G. Murillo was named president and chief executive officer of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC) effective March 1, 2007. In less than four years in this role and with the support… Read Full Bio
Perry Ann Reed
Perry Ann Reedis a recognized expert on leadership in the not-for-profit, community service sector and on building strategic linkages between this sector and its’ commercial counterpart… Read Full Bio
Small Business Boot Camp
Michael Alter
As president of SurePayroll, Michael Alter gives an annual award to an employee for the “best mistake” and he shares the power of mistakes every small business owner should know.
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Sara Bloom
founder and chief designer of Oliver B, a modern day baby bedding and accessories company.
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Samantha Ettus
personal branding expert, bestselling author and TV personality
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Audra Jackson
is the director of Client Services for Pop Labs, Inc. in Houston, TX. Jackson has worked extensively in multiple departments of Pop Labs…
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Jessica Nunez
award-winning public relations consultant and president of Nuñez PR Group
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Danae Ringelmann
co-founded IndieGoGo in 2008 with the goal of leveling the playing field. The company brings years of experience from the finance and entertainment industries to the fundraising world.Read Full Bio
Mel Robbins
is a working mother of three and “America’s Life Coach.” She’s a relationship exert, syndicated radio host, author, columnist, lawyer and co-founder of Advice for Living, Inc.Read Full Bio
Amy Simmons
A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Amy Simmons originally wanted to go into medicine. While in school and after, she worked at Steve’s Ice Cream, launching new stores…
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Cindy Solomon
is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, author and entrepreneur who helps organizations, teams and individuals find their courage.
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Nicole Williams
bestselling author, founder, WORKS by Nicole Williams and connection director, LinkedIn
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Vanessa Wilson
Vanessa Wilson is the founder and proprietor of Crafty Gemini,LLC, a sewing, quilting, crafting and cooking tutorial website that showcases her many talents. Wilson is…
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Personal Brand Auditors
Gina Carroll
Gina Carroll began writing, blogging and speaking after leaving a large corporate law practice to became a stay at home mom, raising her 5 children. She is now nationally…
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Julie Pippert
Julie Pippert is the founder and director for Artful Media Group, Inc., a Houston, Texas-based communications strategy company that specializes in creative business…
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Tanya Tarr
Tanya Tarr is the director of Legislative and Political Mobilization for the Texas American Federation of Teachers, which represents over 65,000 public school educators across Texas….
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Health & Wellness Pavilion Speakers
James Beckerman
Cardiologist James Beckerman, M.D. was moved by his wife’s family experiences with heart disease to retool his own message into a flexible system for…. Read Full Bio
Dr. Elizabeth Coronado
Elizabeth Coronado, M.D.,is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has focused her career on empowering women through education.Her extensive knowledge of the revolution of bio-identical…Read Full Bio
Julie Spier
Julie Spier is director of pharmacy operations for Randalls/ Tom Thumb, supervising the operation of 107 pharmacies. Spier is a registered pharmacist and also a…Read Full Bio
Jess Weiner
Jess Weiner Considered this generation’s “Go to Girl” for self-esteem, Jess Weiner inspires audiences worldwide with her authentic take on living a confident life.She is founder and chief creative officer for Talk to Jess, LLC… Read Full Bio
Breakout session schedule and workshop/panel speakers will be announced soon. Please check back!
Our proposal submission deadline for breakout speakers for 2011 has passed, but please check back next February for 2012!