Agenda 2014
Agenda a Glance
Our agenda at a glance, below, gives you a general overview of what you’ll experience in one incredible day. Scroll down to see the detailed 2014 session schedule, topics and speakers, and check back for 2015 updates this summer.
7:30 – 8:30 am: Registration
8:30 – 9:45 am: Opening Keynote (Sally Hernandez, Debbie Sterling, Shiza Shahid, Sheryl WuDunn)
9:45 – 10:15 am: Book Signings
10:00 – 11:00 am: Seminar Session I
11:00 – 11:30 am: Book Signings
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Seminar Session II
12:30 – 1:00 pm: Local Leader Meet-Ups; Book Signings
1:00 – 2:45 pm: Keynote Luncheon (Shannon Wolfson, Anita Perry, Soledad O’Brien, Tamara Mellon, Diana Nyad)
2:45 – 3:30 pm: Book Signings
2:45 – 5:00 pm: Career Pavilion
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Local Leader Meet-Ups; Encore Workshops & Expert Exchange Sessions
3:00 – 4:40 pm: Social Media Roundtables; Small Business Roundtables
4:00 – 4:30 pm: Book Signings
5:00 pm: Conference Closes
Open All Day: Exhibit Hall
W = Workshop
Interactive sessions that include exercises, role plays and other activities which offer practical advice
POE = Panel of Experts
Led by a thought leader in the space, these sessions will offer a brief “state of the climate” followed by a sharing of best practices and lessons learned from experts in the trenches
LP = Life Perspective
These sessions offer a mix of advice and inspiration by sharing real life stories to offer a perspective on managing life experiences.
Track
Session 1
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Session 2
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Leadership
Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Leadership in a Multigenerational Workplace: How to Leverage Your Employees for Maximum Impact (POE)
For the first time in history, four generations are sharing the workplace — and sometimes it feels like they are living in four different worlds. Being able to successfully lead the Traditional Traditionalists, the Still Booming Boomers, the Xtra-Independent Gen Xers and the Tech-or-Die Gen Ys is complicated but it is critical to the success of your team and your organization. This interactive discussion will bring together a diverse mix of leaders and professionals to share best practices and lessons learned around leading a multigenerational workplace. Research and real-life experiences will offer attendees practical advice to:
– Lead more effectively and increase productivity;
– Improve communication and cross-generational relationships for yourself and your team;
– Provide more effective mentoring to better develop the next generation of leaders;
– Leverage your teams’ strengths to develop a succession plan
Thought Leader: Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president, Women Thrive Worldwide and author, Teach a Woman to Fish
Panel of Experts:
1. Jane Hyun, leadership strategist and author, Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences
2. Mandy Ginsberg, CEO, Tutor.com and former CEO, Match.com
3. Gayle Morris, VP, Americas services, Cisco
Host: Johnita Jones, Pipeline Risk and Integrity Manager, Exxon Mobil
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Bridging the Cross-Gender Communication Gap to Improve your Leadership and Advance Your Position (W)
Survey results of over 100,000 in-depth interviews of men and women executives in over 60 Fortune 500 companies reveal the staggering number of false assumptions and opinions men and women have of each other, and in many ways, believe in themselves. No wonder we face such a tremendous communication gap in the workplace. What cause these misunderstandings, miscommunications, mistrust, resentment, and frustrations at work? Relationship and communications guru John Gray will share insight to answer these questions and identify the 8 blind spots that compel men and women to think and act as they do. Learn practical advice so you can remove the blind spots enabling men and women to work and succeed together. We will explore ways to bridge the communication gap to improve your problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, stress management and overall leadership effectiveness. Unlock this and advance your leadership position!
Speaker: John Gray, best-selling author, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business
Host: Sheila Scarborough, co-founder, Tourism Currents
Career Advancement
Designed for the mid/senior level professional with significant experience looking for advice around professional skills and job advancement
10:00 am – 11:00 am
It’s All About a Brand New Brand YOU! Tips to Market and Promote Yourself (POE)
Perception is reality more often than not – whether we like it or not. The most successful authors, entertainers, entrepreneurs and corporations have marketing and PR strategies to help them shine and to create the perception they want others to see. You can and should do the same. How do others perceive you? Are you happy with how others perceive you? Now is your chance to create a brand new brand for YOU! Having written marketing and publicity plans for more than 150 New York Times best-selling authors, award-winning branding expert Cindy Ratzlaff and a panel of real-life professionals will share invaluable strategies to help you create your very own publicity plan. Show your manager, your customers or your clients just how talented and invaluable you are. Attend this session and learn how to promote yourself and create a powerful message so that you stand out, get ahead and build the career you want!
Thought Leader: Cindy Ratzlaff, brand evangelist, social media strategist, author and Forbes “Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter”
Panel of Experts:
1. Sara Canaday, author, You — According to Them: Uncovering the blind spots that impact your reputation and your career
2. Amy Heirman, managing director, talent management, United Airlines
3. Carla Piñeyro Sublett, executive director of marketing, Latin America, Dell
4. Michele Ruiz, entrepreneur and marketing expert
Host: Vandana Singh, executive director, global customer experience and programs, Dell
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Inside High Tech Culture: How to Belong Without Giving Up Your Values. (POE)
Technology and innovation play a pivotal role in our economy, yet men continue to dominate this profession. Why does this industry fail to attract and retain women? And for the women who work in this world, what are the barriers they face when trying to fit in? In this inspirational session, Industry leaders will answer these questions and share their strategies for success around how they maintain their values in a workplace where they may not see eye to eye with their colleagues.
Thought Leader: Kathy Brabson, regional VP, Central Texas, Time Warner Cable
Panel of Experts:
1. Kimberly Bryant, Founder, Black Girls Code
2. Debbie Sterling, founder, GoldieBlox
3. Renee Mitchell, VP, global distribution sales, Freescale
Host: Karen Rapp, CIO, Freescale
Emerging Professionals
Designed for Millennials and newer professionals entering or re-entering the workforce
10:00 am – 11:00 am
The Doodle Revolution: Unlock the Power to Think Differently (W)
The act of generating something new, useful and even disruptive is a fundamental capacity in all of us. Organizations today are experiencing creative tension—having to balance information overload with increasing pressure to do more, faster, with less. Innovation and thinking differently doesn’t need to be intimidating, foreign, misunderstood or overly complex. This session will explore how you can use visual and game thinking to unlock your power to think differently, innovate and ultimately be empowered to make quicker and smarter decisions in the workplace. This interactive workshop will teach you how to:
– Understand what innovation is and what ingredients are necessary for it to emerge;
– Integrate visual literacy and visual thinking into the process of innovation;
– Apply simple, user-friendly techniques and games to break habitual thinking patterns; and
– Better articulate ideas to the right people clearly, rapidly and memorably
Speaker: Sunni Brown, creator, The Doodle Revolution and named Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” and “10 Most Creative People on Twitter”
Host: Lori Knowlton, chief people officer, HomeAway
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Secrets for Winning at Work: The Handbook for Emerging Professionals and Career Success (W)
It’s not easy entering the workforce today. For the first time in history, four generations are sharing the workplace—and sometimes it feels like they are living in four different worlds. How can young professionals navigate through the Traditional Traditionalists, the Still Booming Boomers, the Xtra-Independent Gen Xers and your own generation, the Tech-or-Die Gen Ys? Millennial expert Jessica Bacal and seasoned veteran Kate White will use real-world examples to teach you how to navigate the workforce in a language that is friendly, current and actionable. Designed for Millennial generation professionals, this session will help you create a personal action plan for career success. We will explore:
– Potential points of conflict at work and how to handle;
– Strategies to master the art of cross-generational communication;
– Building a positive relationship with your manager;
– How to accept constructive feedback; and
– Ways to obtain and create the career opportunities you want/need
Speakers: Jessica Bacal, author, Mistakes I Made at Work: 25 Influential Women Reflect on What They Got Out of Getting It Wrong; Kate White, author, I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This and former editor in chief, Cosmopolitan
Host: Brenda Dennis, senior director, worldwide sales strategy and transformation, Cisco
Transitions
Offering expertise for maneuvering career and life transitions
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Transitions and Risk Taking: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave (POE)
Are you looking to start a second career but nervous about what to do? Have you been in finance for a decade and scared to change industries but desperately need a change? Do you want to retire but fear the uncertainty of the extra hours in a day? Are you scared to leave the stability of corporate America to fulfill your inner entrepreneur? Have you taken years off to care for your family and worry about reentering and managing the demands of a fast-paced workplace? Are you scared of heights but desperately want to rock climb? Taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone can be stressful, challenging and downright scary! Fear isn’t an end point though; it’s a point of entry to a life of incomparable joy. This panel of women will share their experiences and lessons learned while becoming brave. Attendees will leave with practical advice for overcoming their fears, taking risks and successfully taking the plunge and making a transition personally or professionally.
goldsThought Leader: Patty Chang Anker, author, Some Nerve
Panel of Experts:
1. Debbie Jones, founder, French Laundry, NC
2. Cathy Kangas, founder, PRAI
3. Leticia Watts, Americas Region LSC Finance Manager – Lubricants, Shell
4. Stacy Zoern, founder, Kenguru and Community Cars
Host: Cindy Goldsberry, managing partner, ZFactor Group, and author, ZFactor Sales Acceleration
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Quieting Your Inner Critic So You Can Play Big (LP)
What sabotages most women from realizing their true potential? Fear mixed with self-doubt. Don’t let a lack of confidence or doubt stand in your way of making a change or diving into a new journey. With so many external factors out of your control, it is important to control the things you can. Emotions play an integral role in your ability to transition. This session will teach you how to manage your inner critic to access and convey greater confidence. Attendees will walk away with:
– Simple tools to use immediately to reduce the negative impact of self-doubt;
– Strategies to quiet your “inner critic”;
– Ways to become comfortable taking bold action in the workplace and in the world – and ready to make your next big move!
Speaker: Tara Sophia Mohr, founder and creator, Playing Big
Host: Norine Yukon, former CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Health & Wellness
Offering strategies for managing and improving your physical, mental and emotional well being
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Minimizing Stress, Anxiety and Depression for Maximum Happiness (POE)
Stress, depression and anxiety may not sound as scary as other life-threatening diseases, but they can be as detrimental and dangerous to your health. The effects take a toll on one’s mental and physical well-being – not to mention impact our ability to succeed personally and professionally. In a world that is fast-paced, constantly changing and always connected (overly-connected) it is unrealistic to eliminate them all together. This session will help you identify symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. Featuring health, wellness and workplace experts we will explore ways in which we can minimize stress and better manage our energy, thoughts and time in a more positive way. Together we will learn how psychology, mindfulness, sleep, nutrition and exercise all contribute to creating a happier and more success life.
Thought Leader: Cynthia Ackrill, M.D., president, WellSpark, Stress Management
Panel of Experts:
1. Katherine Anderson, national director, Naturopathic Medicine, Cancer Treatment Centers of America
2. Dr. Lawana Gladney, author, If You’re In the Driver’s Seat, Why Are You Lost?
3. Pam LeBlanc, Fit City columnist, Austin American-Statesman
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Aging Boldly: Making the Most of your Time
What can you expect as you hit midlife? In this session, best-selling author and expert on aging Abigail Trafford will explore this stage of the lifecycle. Sharing research and real-life stories, Trafford will provide practical advice for managing the emotional and physical aspects of aging including: health, wellness, financial planning, retirement/career and depression to name a few.
Speaker: Abigail Trafford, author, My Time, and journalist
Host: Virginia Woodruff, founder, Great Moments in Parenting
Personal Development
Offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Quieting Your Inner Critic So You Can Play Big (LP)
What sabotages most women from realizing their true potential? Fear mixed with self-doubt. Don’t let a lack of confidence or doubt stand in your way of making a change or diving into a new journey. With so many external factors out of your control, it is important to control the things you can. Emotions play an integral role in your ability to transition. This session will teach you how to manage your inner critic to access and convey greater confidence. Attendees will walk away with:
– Simple tools to use immediately to reduce the negative impact of self-doubt;
– Strategies to quiet your “inner critic”;
– Ways to become comfortable taking bold action in the workplace and in the world – and ready to make your next big move!
Speaker: Tara Sophia Mohr, founder and creator, Playing Big
Host: Michelle Breyer, president & co-founder, Texture Media
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Survival Strategies in a “Lean In” World: Real People, Real Stories, Real Solutions (POE)
In a world that has become increasingly faster-paced, over-connected and with no boundaries, the notion of balance is insane and impossible to achieve. Rather than attempt the impossible, this session will offer a blend of practical advice and inspiration to attain a new equilibrium, redefine your goals and priorities and try to attain some sanity. Whether you are grappling with motherhood, caring for elderly parents, managing the abyss of a home, or all of the above, this session lead Joan Williams, a leading expert on this issue, will offer you some levity, humor, real stories and great tips from real women for managing the day-to-day chaos of life!
Thought Leader: Joan Williams, author, What Works for Women at Work
Panel of Experts:
1. Katrina Alcorn, author, Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink
2. Gail Sheehy, best-selling author, Passages and Daring: My Passages
3. Kerri Zane, single mom, lifestyle expert and author, It Takes All 5
Host: Jane Gasdaska, general manager, U.S. Product Supply and Distribution, Phillips 66
Personal Development
Offering advice for maximizing your relationships and reaching your personal goals outside of the workplace
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Goals with Soul: The Most Effective Approach to Life Planning and Creating Success on Your Terms (LP)
Your bucket list. Quarterly objectives. Strategic plans. Big dreams. Goals. Lots of goals and plans to achieve those goals – no matter what. Does this sound like you? What we don’t realize is that often times we are not chasing the goal itself, we are actually chasing the feeling that we hope to get when we achieve that goal.We are living in an upside down world with the procedures of the achievement upside down – and as a result we are burning out! We go after what we want to have, get or accomplish, and we hope that we’ll be fulfilled when we get there. It’s backwards. And it’s burning us out. This session will help you get clear on how you actually want to feel in your life and then provide you with tools to create some “Goals with Soul”? Guru Danielle LaPorte will offer insight and advice to turn the concept of ambition inside out and will help you:
– Learn why easing up on your expectations actually liberates you to reach your goals;
– Identify your “core desired feelings” in the every life domain: livelihood & lifestyle, body & wellness, creativity & learning, relationships & society and essence & spirituality; and
– Create practical “Goals with Soul” to generate your core desired feelings.
Speaker: Danielle LaPorte, creator, The Desire Map and The Fire Starter Sessions
Host: Heather White, morning host, 98.1 KVET
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
How to Become the Social Entrepreneur of Your Life: Doing Well By Doing Good
Are you passionate about changing the world? Are you looking for ways to channel your innovation and impact change? Are you eager to make a difference in your community and around the globe beyond your day job? This session will offer you the practical how-to advice and the inspiration to make your mark and have a positive social impact around the issues and causes close to your heart. Whether you are looking to volunteer or get involved, seeking ways to drive social responsibility within your organization or start a socially entrepreneurial endeavor this session is for you. With pioneers from the front-lines, this dynamic discussion will illustrate the incredibly powerful aggregate social impact that can happen when we all do our part to make the world a better place. Together we will explore how you can:
– Leverage your professional skills and overall strengths to make a difference in the non-profit world;
– Positively affect what is in your own backyard by thinking globally and not just locally;
– Invest in girls to become advocates and change-makers in their communities globally; and
– Become smarter shoppers by supporting organizations who give back as a part of their core mission
Thought Leader: Lila Igram, founder, ConnectHer
Panel of Experts:
1. Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president, Women Thrive Worldwide and author, Teach a Woman to Fish
2. Shiza Shahid, co-founder, Malala Fund
Host: Fayruz Benyousef, founder and principal, Fayruz Benyousef Counsulting
Young Women’s Program
Designed for high school junior and senior girls
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Turning Your Dream into Reality (POE)
How do you take your great idea and turn it into reality? The real-life experiences of these panelists will help attendees learn how to launch your idea, the technology needed, the unavoidable mistakes, how to get help when you need it and how to establish a line of credit to finance it.
Thought leader: Jessica Bacal, author, Mistakes I Made at Work: 25 Influential Women Reflect on What They Got Out of Getting It Wrong
Panel of Experts:
1. Kimberly Bryant, founder, Black Girls Code
2. Megan Grassell, founder, YellowBerry
3. Alison Brushaber, chief product officer, Hail Merry
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
I AM THAT GIRL: Empowering Your Everyday Life
Every day, we are bombarded with messages that lead us to question who we are. Meet Alexis Jones, founder of I AM THAT GIRL, which advises young women to be the best version of each of us. In this inspirational and interactive session, attendees will learn how to collaborate instead of compete and contribute as much as they consume, so they can better navigate the world.
Speaker: Alexis Jones, author and founder, I AM THAT GIRL
Host: Kelly Ballard, executive director, Bazaarvoice Foundation
Track
Session 3
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Leadership
Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
ENCORE – Bridging the Cross-Gender Communication Gap to Improve your Leadership and Advance Your Position (W)
Survey results of over 100,000 in-depth interviews of men and women executives in over 60 Fortune 500 companies reveal the staggering number of false assumptions and opinions men and women have of each other, and in many ways, believe in themselves. No wonder we face such a tremendous communication gap in the workplace. What cause these misunderstandings, miscommunications, mistrust, resentment, and frustrations at work? Relationship and communications guru John Gray will share insight to answer these questions and identify the 8 blind spots that compel men and women to think and act as they do. Learn practical advice so you can remove the blind spots enabling men and women to work and succeed together. We will explore ways to bridge the communication gap to improve your problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, stress management and overall leadership effectiveness. Unlock this and advance your leadership position!
Speaker: John Gray, best-selling author, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business
Host: Kerri Zane, single mom and lifestyle expert and author, It Takes All 5
Transitions
Offering expertise for maneuvering career and life transitions
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Flex: Strategies for Thriving in a Multicultural and Multigenerational Workplace
“Flexing” is the art of switching between leadership styles to more effectively work and engage people who are different from you. The workplace is growing increasingly multicultural, female and younger. As today’s leaders you must be able to navigate this diverse work environment. Yet, because cultural differences can be invisible or difficult to spot, we may not pick up on subtle nuances that we encounter daily. Internationally renowned executive coach and leadership strategist Jane Hyun will share practical advice for building trust and connecting with those who are different than us to create innovative solutions at work and achieve greater outcomes in life. Attend this interactive session to:
– Understand the Power Gap, the dimension you need to master;
– Flex your style by stretching how you work and communicate with others and learn how to leverage differences;
– Bridge the Gap with more effective communication and practical feedback tools; and
– Multiply the effect, by teaching these skills to others
Speaker: Jane Hyun, leadership strategist and author, Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences
Host: Leslie Rhode, award-winning television journalist
Expert Exchange
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Style in the Workplace
Speaker: Kate White, former editor in chief, Cosmopolitan and New York Times bestselling author
It is proven that when you look good and put yourself together, you not only feel good but you are more productive and successful. Former Cosmopolitan editor Kate White will provide you with practical tips (that work with any budget) for creating your own personal style in the workplace. She will also explore the true of essence of style beyond what you wear and how that can make a tremendous impact on your career.
Claiming Happiness
Speakers: Cindy Ratzlaff, brand evangelist, social media strategist, author and Forbes “Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter” and Kathy Kinney, actress and producer. Co-authors, Queen of Your Own Life
If you’ve been struggling to find the happiness you deserve, then this is the session for you. Kathy Kinney (best known as Mimi on The Drew Carey Show) and Cindy Ratzlaff (marketing genius behind the launch of The South Beach Diet) have been best friends for more than thirty years, and have helped each other navigate the ups and downs of their lives with humor and grace. In this entertaining and inspiring session, they will offer easy step-by-step actions to blast away at the societal preconceived notions of happiness and share the tried-and-true techniques they call “the seven best gifts a woman can give herself.”
From 0 to Tech in 30 Days
Speakers: Deborah Carter, senior manager, operations, Open Cloud Academy, Rackspace; Kay Jones, senior manager, infrastructure services, Rackspace; Lisa McLin, senior director, sales strategy, Rackspace; Kim Tryce, manager, operations, product integration engineering, Rackspace
Think you can’t make the switch into the technology industry? Think again. In this session, four women will share their experiences using e-learning programs, hands-on training and mentorship to break into the tech industry. This session is geared towards nontechnical people looking to make a job switch, re-enter the workforce or step into the working world for the first time. Session includes key takeaways that you can use immediately to jump-start your tech career progression.
How to Have a Better Day at Work: Sound Sleep, Reduced Stress, Stronger Immunity
Speaker: Katherine Anderson, national director, Naturopathic Medicine, Cancer Treatment Centers of America
We’ve all had those days at work where we feel very unproductive because we haven’t slept well, have an excessive amount of stress or are not feeling 100%. Katherine Anderson will tell us her tips on how to avoid having those days and head off to work feeling strong and better able to handle the challenges that come our way, which will lead is to increased productivity. No matter the number of balls you need to keep in the air at work and home, this session will help insure you’re always bringing your “A” game.
Inclusive Leadership as a Competitive Advantage
Moderator: Heather Lawley, senior strategist, global inclusion & diversity, Cisco
Speakers: Brenda Dennis, senior director, worldwide sales strategy and transformation, Cisco; Hope Galley, emerging partner account manager, Cisco; Gayle Morris, VP, Americas Services, Cisco; Steve Yager, VP, Americas region technical services, Cisco
The world of work is changing rapidly where organizations are global, hyper-connected, less hierarchical, and ideas can come from anywhere. Great leadership is critical to effectively navigate this ever-evolving landscape, and inclusive leadership has the power to drive competitive advantage. Learn how to leverage your diverse perspective along with those in your organization, to role model inclusive behaviors and enable collaboration, driving greater employee engagement, innovation, and ultimately business impact.
Women and Wealth: Establishing a Game Plan that Aligns with What You Value Most
Speaker: Marilyn Booker, managing director, head of urban markets group, Morgan Stanley
You’re in charge of many things, including your financial future. Your financial success is woven into a larger story; a unique web of circumstances, responsibilities and goals. In the “Women and Wealth” Expert Exchange, we’ll discuss managing for what you value most. This dialogue will provide you with some actionable insights on why financial planning is so critical for women.
Health & Wellness Pavilion Stage Sessions
(all day)
8:00 am – 8:15 am: Top Supplements for Women
Speaker: Katherine Anderson, national director, Naturopathic Medicine, Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Katherine Anderson will provide an overview of top supplements for women, including fish oil, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, black cohosh and probiotics. Each of these supplements has strong indications for women’s health in both managing common symptoms and thinking ahead with preventative maintenance.
8:15 am: ASK THE EXPERTS…
Meet the speaker from Cancer Treatment Centers of America in the Health & Wellness Pavilion to continue the dialogue and ask questions in a more intimate 1:1 setting.
12:35 pm – 12:50 pm: Super Foods for Fueling Your Healthy Plate
Speaker: Rebecca Canby, Austin regional dietitian, HEB
What foods will keep you fueled throughout your busy day? Dietician Rebecca Canby will share which foods fuel an active, busy lifestyle and which of these are the nutrient dense superfoods that take you that much further. Attendees will learn the benefits of these superfoods and how to include more of them in your meal and snack planning.
12:50 pm: ASK THE EXPERTS…
Meet the speaker from HEB in the Health & Wellness Pavilion to continue the dialogue and ask questions in a more intimate 1:1 setting.
2:40 pm – 3:15 pm: Patient Education on Fibromyalgia with a Focus on a Prescription Treatment Plan
Speaker: Randall J. Wright, M.D., diplomat, American Board of Sleep Medicine; diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
More women than men suffer from fibromyalgia, which is a condition of chronic widespread muscle pain. Symptoms include aching muscles that are tender to the touch and pain in various parts of the body. As this can make daily activities difficult, Dr. Randall Wright, will share his insight as to how best to manage fibromyalgia.
3:15 pm: ASK THE EXPERTS…
Meet Dr. Wright in the Health & Wellness Pavilion to continue the dialogue and ask questions in a more intimate 1:1 setting.
3:20 pm – 4:30 pm: Fitness Through Dance
Speaker and Instructor: Louis van Amstel, Emmy-nominated, Dancing with the Stars choreographer and three-time World Dance Champion
Join Emmy-nominated “Dancing with the Stars” choreographer and three-time World Dance Champion Louis van Amstel for a fun and energetic fitness class. Louis is the creator of the La Blast series, a partner-free dance-based workout where attendees will learn to dance, get fit and most importantly, have fun. Come ready to sweat!
4:30 pm: RAFFLE DRAWING
Social Media Roundtables
3:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Understanding that conference attendees come to the “table” with a very diverse set of social media skills, needs and interests, we are thrilled to offer Social Media Roundtables.
Led by an expert facilitator, roundtables offer an informal and intimate setting to share best practices around a very focused and specific topic within the social media world. Roundtables are discussion-based and will not feature a formal presentation. This ensures each discussion is truly personalized and allows attendees to ask questions relevant to their needs.
Roundtables are limited to 10 people per topic and are first come, first served. We encourage you to come early to guarantee your spot. However, we will offer each roundtable a total of three times to allow attendees the opportunity to participate in multiple discussions on different topics and ensure that participants have another opportunity to join should a table fill up fast.
Roundtables will take place at the following times in the Exhibit Hall:
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
3:35 pm – 4:05 pm
4:10 pm – 4:40 pm
Roundtable 1: Finding Your Social Media Champions
Speaker: Sheila Scarborough, co-founder, Tourism Currents
When used properly, social media can be an effective tool for spreading the word about you or your business. Sheila Scarborough will explain how having an army of social media champions can help your marketing efforts. Attendees will learn how to network to find the potential champions, how to evaluate their skills to learn what level they will participate and which ones will be most effective in spreading the word, and how to help them help you.
Roundtables 2 & 3: Who Gives a Tweet? Twitter 101/ Who Gives a Tweet? Twitter 201
Twitter 101 Speaker: Christina Linnell, small business social media consultant
Twitter 201 Speaker: Sandra Fernandez, SandraSays.com
This discussion will explore why and how Twitter is relevant for everyone and every business. Whether you are new to Twitter and choose the 101 session or have some experience, but want to take it further, and go the 201 route, attendees will learn how to make Twitter more rewarding. Best practices will be shared for increasing and influencing your followers to align with your objectives and goals. Be sure to bring your smart phone so you can practice and tweet live!
Roundtable 4: How to Use Facebook to Market Yourself & Your Business
Speaker: Jen Smith, social media consultant
Facebook is a great way to connect with friends old and new, but it also can be utilized way beyond sharing posts about your kids and what you had for dinner. Facebook can be used as a powerful resource to market yourself and your business. Attend this interactive discussion to learn how to: join groups that fit with your likes and career; participate in conversations; create a group that fits the target audience you want to reach and valuable tips for searching for connections to market your skills and your business.
Roundtables 5 & 6: How to Maximize Your LinkedIn Presence (2)
Speaker: Corinne Weisgerber, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, St. Edward’s University
Speaker: Nazli Yuzak, senior global social media consultant, Dell
How do you whip your LinkedIn profile into shape, making it stand out from the rest? Attend this roundtable and learn how to create a compelling headline, use the right keywords, and navigate endorsements and recommendations, among many other strategies for success.
Roundtable 7: Communicating Your Brand through Social Media
Speaker: Elizabeth Jurewicz, social media specialist, Rackspace
Online marketing content needs to be exactly as short / long as it needs to be to include everything you and your readers need to know, and not one word or minute more or less and published where you will gain maximum exposure and interaction with potential customers as often as your audience will tolerate and you can consistently sustain. This session covers the HOW to accomplish all of this. Together we will cover: Content length; Content format; and Content publishing platforms.
Roundtable 8: Social Media at Mid-Life: A Crash Course to Learn the Basics
Speaker: Cathy Benavides, social media consultant
Are you new to the social media space and not even sure how and where to get started? Attend this roundtable to learn the basics and embark on your journey to becoming more socially savvy. We will explore how you can be more comfortable joining the conversation in the digital age. You will learn about the basics, and leave with some simple – and fun –tools and tactics to help you better navigate and communicate in the online world. From Twitter, to Instagram, to Pinterest and Facebook you will be ready to tackle the social media world!
Roundtables 9 & 10: Marketing your Business Online (2)
Speaker: Emily Bell, CEO, After Interactive
Speaker: Veronica Morales, founder & CEO, The Social Being
Here’s the fact: women who get and leverage online marketing have the highest profits, the best customers and a business that makes money 24/7. At this roundtable, our experts will show you, step-by-step, how to package, position and sell your products and services using modern tools of online entrepreneurship.
Roundtable 11: Marketing Your Blog
Speaker: Amanda Quraishi, blogger
Do you have a passion and want to write about it? This discussion will help you channel that passion and learn the basics of blogging. Amanda Quraishi, award-winning blogger and social media expert, shares practical strategies for taking your blog to the next level so you can not only follow your passions, but can turn it into a career (and maybe even make a paycheck doing it)!
Roundtables 12 & 13: Using Social Media to Advocate for your Cause
Speaker: Karen Walrond, speaker, author and photographer
Speaker: Patti Rogers, founder, Rallyhood
Social media offers tremendous reach with little investment. It can be used to make the world a better place by making others aware of social causes and efforts that are near and dear to your heart. Whether you’re a nonprofit or a for-profit organization, this roundtable will show you how you can successfully use social media for awareness of your cause, fundraising, community growth, engagement and more. We will explore: which tools are most effective; how to create a solid campaign and call to action; ways to create impactful messaging and attract followers and much more.
Roundtable 14: Keeping it Real: Remaining True to Yourself Online
Speaker: Virginia Woodruff, founder, Great Moments in Parenting
While building your social media presence–personally or as a brand–it’s easy to fall in with whatever is current and viral, but later find you’ve lost sight of your original mission. How do you build popularity in social media outlets without merely following trends? How do you diffuse the hot tempers in an online discussion without compromising your own values? And how do you provide consistently readable content that remains personal, not merely promotional? Attend this session to find out!
Roundtable 15: Instagram: Creating a Powerful Story
Speaker: Carly Uson, founder, Carly Co. Public Relations
As of the spring 2014 there are over 200 million monthly active users on Instagram. 75 million people use the app every day. Find out the basics of this image based social network and learn how you can use it to connect and engage personally and professionally. Whether you are corporate, small business or a non-profit, you will leave inspired with ideas on how to propel your work forward. Be sure to bring your smartphone and be ready to dive in!
Roundtable 16: Get Inspired on Pinterest
Speaker: Jennifer Stafford, social media manager, HomeAway.com
If you’re not using Pinterest in your marketing efforts, now is the time. Pinterest drives 7% of global traffic referrals – essentially 7% of the billions of clicks every day come from Pinterest pins. Attend this roundtable to learn about the power of Pinterest for marketing. You will learn the skills and strategies for understanding what kinds of pins go viral, how to curate unique content, the best way to cross-promote, and strategies for successful collaboration, widgets and monetization.
Small Business Roundtables
3:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Led by an expert facilitator, roundtables offer an informal and intimate setting to share best practices around a very focused and specific topic within the small business and entrepreneurial spaces. Roundtables are discussion-based and will not feature a formal presentation. This ensures each discussion is truly personalized and allows attendees to ask questions relevant to their needs.
Roundtables are limited to 10 people per topic and are first-come-first-served. We encourage you to come early to guarantee your spot. However, we will offer each roundtable a total of three times to allow attendees the opportunity to participate in multiple discussions on different topics and ensure that participants have another opportunity to join should a table fill up fast.
Roundtables will take place at the following times:
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
3:35 pm – 4:05 pm
4:10 pm – 4:40 pm
Roundtable 1: Developing a Strong Pipeline of Clients and Customers
Speaker: Michelle Breyer, president & co-founder, Texture Media
You need to differentiate yourself from the competition and often the only way to do so is to develop a strong relationship with the buyer. Michelle Breyer, founder of Texture Media, will share her insights into how to develop those relationships, make sure their needs come first and then maintain that strong connection so that your clients and customers don’t hesitate to recommend you and use your services again.
Roundtable 2: Small Business Marketing Strategies
Speaker: Becky Arreaga, president and partner, Mercury Mambo
Small business owners are consumed by the business of their businesses, with little time, money or expertise to devote to marketing. Just because you build a better mousetrap doesn’t mean the world will beat a path to your door. So, how do you get started? Attend this roundtable and learn if the biggest bang for your buck is social media, guerilla marketing or something else altogether. You will learn not only which tool to use for your business but how to know what’s working.
Roundtable 3: Communicating Your Brand
Speaker: Sara Canaday, author, You — According to Them: Uncovering the Blind Spots That Impact Your Reputation and Your Career
How often do others ask what you do? Do you stumble when answering? Do you wish you knew exactly what to say? You never know who is going to ask and if that person could be your next investor or customer. Attend this roundtable to learn how to craft a compelling, concise and effective message about who you are and what you do–whether it’s writing an email or speaking to someone face-to-face. Walk away with practical tips and newfound confidence to communicate with potential clients, colleagues, partners or anyone whom you want to impress. Take your business to the next level!
Roundtable 4: Marketing to Women
Speaker: Jeanne Corrigan, founder, Mosaic Insight Group
We all know how important marketing is to your business’ success. But, how do you market specifically to women? From customer service to storytelling and contest promotions, a woman is very brand loyal and can be an enthusiastic brand ambassador to her friends, family and colleagues if given the right tools. Jeanne Corrigan, founder of Mosiac Insight Group, which has a niche in women’s marketing, will share her insight and experience in to how to make this connection happen so that your customers are eventually doing your marketing for you.
Roundtable 5: Raising Capital
Speaker: Jan Ryan, founder, Women@Austin
Launching a business offers many challenges, but, raising capital can often be the most daunting and intimidating challenge of all. It can make the difference between your idea taking off or never going anywhere. Jan Ryan, a veteran of the tech industry, will share how entrepreneurs can identify different sources of funding to find the one that is most compatible with their business’ needs, and then go out and make it happen.
Roundtable 6: Social Entrepreneurism: How to Build a Business that Gives Back
Speaker: Fayruz Benyousef, founder and principal, Fayruz Benyousef Counsulting
TOMS Shoes is a pioneer having been one of the first inspired to create a philanthropic for-profit business that also created and sustained social value – and wasn’t reliant solely on donations. Today, eight years later, social entrepreneurism is on the rise causing lots of Gen X and Gen Y entrepreneurs to think about business in a different way – beyond just basic business principles and focused on ways to give back to the greater community. This roundtable will offer practical how-to advice and inspiration for building a business model that makes money and also has a positive social impact and return to society. Attendees will learn: how to select a cause that is relevant and aligns with your passion, how best to serve them, and how to identify partnerships and collaborations that would be critical to developing your business model and achieving success.
Roundtable 7: Business Plan: A Roadmap to Success
Speaker: Alison Brushaber, chief product officer, Hail Merry
Businesses don’t plan to fail; they just fail to plan. For an expiring entrepreneur the business plan helps you determine if you have a viable business idea. For an existing business, it provides you, your staff and key stakeholders your roadmap for success. This roundtable will help you to define your business, identify your customers, understand your financing needs and decide where and how you will operate. You will learn the basic outline of the contents of a business plan.
Roundtable 8: Converting Online Visitors Into Customers
Speaker: Holly Reisem Hanna, founder, The Work at Home Woman
Converting potential customers into buying customers is the ticket to online success. Even if you get steady visitors to your website, what steps are needed to make sure a purchase takes place? Holly Reisem Hanna has created an online business that was named in 2012 and 2013 by Forbes magazine as one of the “top websites for your career.” She will share her strategies for getting your target audience hooked onto your website AND making a purchase.
Roundtable 9: Taking Your Idea from Concept to Market
Speaker: Laura LeMond, founder, Mosaic Blankets
How do you turn your concept or idea into a business or brand that is ready to command market share? In this roundtable discussion, learn from a marketing and branding maven who has successfully brought her product to market. Learn what it takes to compete in a discount-obsessed market and create the brand loyalty you need to capture market-share fueled with actionable takeaways.
Roundtable 10: Savvy Selling
Speaker: Cindy Goldsberry, managing partner, ZFactor Group, and author, ZFactor Sales Acceleration
How do you accelerate the growth of your company’s revenue? Cindy Goldsberry spent 30 years developing and implementing strategies for business growth and will share her insights for how to increase your sales without expending additional resources. Attendees will learn how to create a sales game plan that utilizes your current team and resources, but will maximize profits.
Local Leaders
12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to get one-on-one advice from some of Austin’s leading women by asking a question about your career and community. Local Leaders will be available to meet in the exhibit hall within the community corner during designated networking breaks. You do not need to sign up in advance – first-come-first served and we have plenty of time to get your questions answered!
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Becky Arreaga, president and partner, Mercury Mambo
Michelle Breyer, president & co-founder, Texture Media
Alison Brushaber, chief product officer, Hail Merry
Patti Rogers, founder, Rallyhood
Jan Ryan, founder, Women@Austin
Karen Walrond, speaker, author and photographer
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Lesley Beasley, co-founder, Open Arms
Cynthia Rubio, president and CEO, Radiant
Stacy Zoern, founder, Kenguru and Community Cars
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Kelly Ballard, ED, Bazaarvoice Foundation
Carol McGarah, governmental affairs consultant
Gayle Reaume, founder and CEO, Moolahu