2016 Agenda

• Author Signings & Meet and Greets
• Resume Review & Coaches Corner
• LinkedIn Makeover Workshops
• Community Connection Pavilion
• Learn about local and women-owned businesses
• Local Leader Meet-Ups
• Small Business & Social Media Roundtables

If you already have your badge, please head directly to the Exhibit Hall or Opening Keynote.

At the Luncheon Keynote session, refer to your printed badge for your table assignment.

Opening Keynote Lineup:

Nina Tassler, advisor, former chairman, CBS Entertainment and author, What I Told My Daughter

Annie Clark, co-founder, End Rape on Campus and subject of the documentary “The Hunting Ground”

Abby Wambach, 2015 Women’s World Cup Champion and ranked TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015

LEADERSHIP: Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling

The most effective leaders are not necessarily born leaders, but share a number of traits that inspire others to follow their lead. Led by leadership expert Angie Morgan, this panel of women has made it to the top of their organizations and will share the four traits of leadership that helped them become the influential leaders they are today. Learn how credibility, authenticity, emotional resolve and confidence will help you find your voice, improve your leadership skills and impact others.

Thought Leader: Angie Morgan, author, Leading from the Front

Panelists:
Bobbi Dangerfield, VP, business operations & IT integration, Dell
Susan E. Docherty, CEO, Canyon Ranch
Nina Tassler, advisor, former chairman, CBS Entertainment and author, What I Told My Daughter

CAREER ADVANCEMENT: Designed for the mid/senior level professional with significant experience looking for advice around professional skills and job advancement

No matter your age, life stage, bank account balance, or career level, you can learn how to pivot strategically into your next opportunity. Career change doesn’t have to be a crisis, and plateaus don’t have to be a problem. In fact, if change is the only constant, now more than ever as it relates to our economy, it behooves us all to get better at it. Your best chance of success lies right under your feet. By doubling down on what is already working, you can cut through confusion and move more quickly in a new direction. Pivoting is a mindset and a skillset, and it is one we can all get better at. This workshop will resonate with anyone facing the question of what comes next by providing a methodical plan to move forward, one that you can cycle through as many times as necessary. This interactive workshop focuses on Jenny’s Pivot Method, a 4-stage process that will teach you how to:

• Identify your existing strengths, interests and experiences, and define your version of success.
• Scan the horizon for new opportunities, skills, people and opportunities, without falling prey to analysis-paralysis or compare-and-despair.
• Reduce risk by running small experiments that can provide feedback and help determine next steps in your career trajectory.
• Launch with confidence, bolstered by the skills and methodology to adjust seamlessly and continuously as you move in your new direction.

Speaker: Jenny Blake, author, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS: Designed for Millennials and newer professionals entering or re-entering the workforce

Whether you are trying to ace a job interview, sign a new client or promote your business, it is critical to sell yourself. Often times, professionals fall into the trap of regurgitating bullets about their past jobs instead of sharing the value you they can offer as a result of their experiences. Bringing together a diverse group of powerhouse women, this interactive session will share best practices and lessons learned from experts around branding and selling yourself professionally. From portraying a physical presence to speaking the language, attendees will walk away armed with the ability to position your value…not just your resume.

Thought Leader: Ana Flores, digital influence expert and founder, Latina Bloggers Connect

Panelists:
Kemal Harris, celebrity stylist and costume designer, House of Cards
Kristen Nolte, VP, global marketing, CRM, HomeAway
Shanteka Sigers, SVP and executive creative director, Sanders\Wingo and Business Insider’s Top Creative Women in Advertising

TRANSITIONS: Offering expertise for maneuvering career and life transitions

Every day, in every part of our lives, we face an increasing number of choices. Our futures depend not just on the results, but on how well we handle making these hard choices and the serious scrutiny that comes with them. But is a woman’s experience issuing a tough call any different from a man’s? Men and women approach decisions differently, though not necessarily in the ways we have been led to believe. And despite popular misconceptions, women are just as decisive as men — though they may pay a price for it. Cognitive psychologist Therese Huston will to break open the myths as to how we decide and then lead a discussion with a panel of decision makers about how to improve decision-making skills, create options, make optimal choices and ensure that others will take your decisions seriously.

Thought Leader: Dr. Therese Huston, author, How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices

Panelists:
Anne Arvia, SVP, bank transact, USAA
Trudy Bourgeois, CEO, The Center for Workforce Excellence and author, Her Corner Office and The Hybrid Leader: Blending the Best of the Male & Female Leadership Styles
Sonya Reed, SVP, human resources, Phillips 66

Moderator: Jane Gasdaska, GM, US Product Supply & Distribution, Phillips 66

HEALTH & WELLNESS: Offering strategies for managing and improving your physical, mental and emotional well being

Mallika Chopra, the daughter of spirituality guru Deepak Chopra, has been steeped in questions of purpose, fulfillment, and enlightenment for her entire life. As she looked to answer these questions, she struggled with the challenges of guilt and finding balance and serenity as her to-list multiplied by the second. Her tipping point led her to authoring Living with Intent, which is a chronicle of her search to find more meaning, joy and balance in life. In this session, Mallika Chopra will share her personal journey – successes and failures) and provide a practical road map for how we can all move from thought to action to overcome. Attendees will leave both inspired and armed with solid tools to make positive changes for living a life of intent.

Speaker: Mallika Chopra, founder and CEO, Intent.com, author, Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy

Moderator: Colette Pierce Burnette, president & CEO, Ed.D. Huston-Tillotson University

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

With ever changing policies on retirement planning, it’s tempting to put off saving for retirement until there is a clear path to follow. Do you invest safely knowing that the money will be there, but might not be quite enough? Or do you invest more aggressively in the hopes that you have more money to spend later in life? Labor economist and a nationally recognized expert in retirement security, Dr. Teresa Ghilarducci will help you cut through the confusion and misinformation with a strategy to help you achieve what you are planning for in your retirement savings. Her program will explain:

What a person or household needs to have saved;

How much to expect from Social Security; and

How to make your money grown between now and then.

There are no gimmicks or magical thinking in this presentation —just valuable recommendations that will make attending this session a wise investment. 

Speaker: Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economics, director at Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, The New School for Social Research and author, How to Retire with Enough Money

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

As the tech workforce continues its expansive surge, offering its employees numerous opportunities for both personal and professional growth, women still face barriers in their upward trajectory. From limits in leadership positions and an absence of female role models, to pay equity and a lack of venture capital funding, women continue to face numerous challenges. While progress is slow, advancements are being made and women are changing the rules so that there are greater chances of success in male-dominated workplaces.Panelists will share their firsthand experiences and lessons learned while trying to help create a more equitable tech environment.

Thought Leader: Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief, Texas Tribune

YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM: Designed for high school junior and senior girls

“Follow your gut” is advice easy to give, but harder to follow. How do you know when following your intuition will lead you to happiness and success? In the session, super stars in their industries will share with you the reasons why fostering your passions, seeking purpose in your chosen interest and taking the road less traveled is often the most rewarding, despite (and because of) the hiccups and failures you may encounter on the way.

Thought Leader: Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, co-founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief, hercampus

Panelists:
Madhavi Bhasin, global partnerships director, Technovation

LEADERSHIP: Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling

The stats are staggering and while we have taken steps in the right direction, progress remains slow. Impacting real change will require a top down and bottom up approach. The most effective leaders navigate highly diverse teams, being aware of any unconscious bias – all with an eye toward innovation and profitability. Using real-world examples from workplaces who are making strides, this interactive discussion will explore what leaders at all levels can do to contribute to the overall movement including:

• How to deal with unconscious bias in yourself and team members;
• How to measure, motivate and reward the best teams;
• What types of metrics optimize innovation; and
• What actionable steps you can take to immediately impact positive change for your team and organization.

Thought Leader: Robin Hauser Reynolds, documentary filmmaker, CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap

Panelists:
Kweilin Ellingrud, principal, McKinsey Global Institute and author, The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in the United States
Jay Newton-Small, TIME magazine’s Washington correspondent and author, Broad Influence: How Women are Changing the Way America Works

CAREER ADVANCEMENT: Designed for the mid/senior level professional with significant experience looking for advice around professional skills and job advancement

Being passed over for a promotion you knew you were ready for is nothing new. What may be unique is this little culprit: a disparity in confidence. While men are prone to overestimate their abilities, women too often sell themselves short and confidence plays a crucial role in the ability of women to succeed. Confidence expert Grace Killelea has done the research and will share how to turn your job competency into the kind of authentic confidence that gets noticed. Attendees will learn:

• The Four Rs of Success–relationships, reputation, results, and resilience;
• How to build circles of influence, leverage and promote your skills and cultivate executive presence; and
• Strategies to help you bounce back from setbacks.
• Join this session to find the confidence you need to step off the sidelines onto the playing field—and claim the success you deserve.

Speaker: Grace Killelea, author, The Confidence Effect: Every Woman’s Guide to the Attitude That Attracts Success

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS: Designed for Millennials and newer professionals entering or re-entering the workforce

Making a decision to “push the boundaries,” whether it is switching to a new division of your current employer, starting your own company or joining a start-up can be overwhelming. If you have dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but not sure you are ready for the gamble, this panel of experts can help you navigate your fears and assess the risks involved. Learn the best practices of these seasoned entrepreneurs, so that are prepared for the challenged and armed to achieve success. 

Thought Leader: Nely Galán, first Latina president of a U.S. television network (Telemundo), Emmy Award-winning producer and author, Self Made

Panelists:
Suzy Bátiz, CEO, Poo-Pourri
Emily Núñez Cavness, co-founder, Sword and Plough
Brandy Pham, co-founder and CCO, Planoly and founder, BrandyPham Jewelry

Moderator: Trisa Thompson, Chief Responsibility Officer, Dell Inc.

TRANSITIONS: Offering expertise for maneuvering career and life transitions

This session is for anyone facing the daunting question of what comes next – whether your perfect-on-paper job has hit a plateau, you are considering taking on a new role, are moving into a new company or industry, or even starting or folding your own business. By taking your priorities into account and leveraging what is already working, you can cut through confusion and move more quickly in a new direction with greater growth, meaning and purpose. This session will feature women from the frontlines who can share real-life stories of success and help you avoid the common mistakes so you can position yourself for a successful transition into Career 2.0.

Thought Leader: Jody Greenstone Miller, founder and CEO, Business Talent Group and Fortune Magazine’s ten “Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs”

Panelists:
Jenny Blake, author, Pivot: The Only Move that Matters is Your Next One
Kim Davis, EVP and Chief HR Officer, NFP Corporation
Amie and Jolie Sikes, founders, Junk Gypsy

HEALTH & WELLNESS: Offering strategies for managing and improving your physical, mental and emotional well being

Women are maxed out, addicted to being busy, and overwhelmed. Keeping busy at all costs is the cultural status quo, but the drive to do more is impacting our families, our work, and our health. Women process burnout differently than men and the result of our busyness is not only a lack of time, but also exhaustion, anxiety, guilt, fear, social comparison, inauthenticity and physical illness. Meet Paula Davis-Laack, a stress and resiliency expert, who will provide you with tips to avoid burnout and specific strategies to help you ease the guilt and the pressure when you can’t avoid being busy.

Speaker: Paula Davis-Laack, stress and resiliency expert

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

Creating a less stressful and more balanced life is something many women are working to achieve. But, the concept of “balance” means something different to everyone and there is no right answer. Enter Christine Carter, a happiness expert at UC Berkeley, who will offer advice on how to stop multitasking, prioritize and gain efficiency in your day.

Speaker: Christine Carter, sociologist and senior fellow, UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center and author, The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Grove at Home and Work

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

Lisa Nichols is no stranger to transformation. Her own story is extraordinary – she transformed her life from a single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur. Her own struggles have been the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Using her signature systems, Lisa will guide you through this interactive workshop, teaching you how to accomplish unfathomable goals and tap into your own potential. Get ready to have your norm disrupted and move out of your comfort zone to find success and prosperity in your both personal and professional life.

Speaker: Lisa Nichols, New York Times bestselling author, personal transformation guru, and life coach

YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM: Designed for high school junior and senior girls

Every day, we are bombarded with messages that lead us to question who we are. Meet Emily Greener, 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: Emily Greener, founder, I AM THAT GIRL

Moderator: Jillian Hamblin, COO, UnitedHealthcare Texas

Keynote Luncheon Lineup:

Diane von Furstenberg, iconic fashion designer

Linda Cliatt Wayman, principal, Strawberry Mansion High School

Amal Clooney, human rights attorney

LEADERSHIP: Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling

Are leaders born or made? Leadership has nothing to do with positional authority and everything to do with how well you influence outcomes and inspire others. This session shares action-oriented practices that allow you to lead and impact change even if you are not “in charge”. Dive deeper with leadership expert Angie Morgan, who will draw on her personal experience and share the core behaviors of influential leadership: credibility, authenticity, emotional resolve and confidence. You will walk out of the room knowing how to use your voice and project power, even when you are not the designated leader in the room!

Speaker: Angie Morgan, author, Spark and Leading from the Front

Do you have what it takes to be a self-made entrepreneur? It’s not just about the potential for financial independence, but financial empowerment is where it begins. It means getting out of survival mode, where you are one problem away from catastrophe. It means changing your mindset from instant gratification to goal orientation. It means being able to sleep at night without worry. How do you get there? Nely Galán will share her story and research from interviewing hundreds of self-made women to find out what it takes. Come learn how to not only become self-made, but to inspire change in those around you!

Speaker: Nely Galán, first Latina president of a U.S. television network (Telemundo), Emmy Award-winning producer and author, Self Made

There are many slices in the pie of life, but what are your priorities and how do you meet those goals? Samantha Ettus has worked with thousands of women on their work/life challenges and will share her one-of-a-kind strategies and tactics in this session designed for women looking to thrive professionally and personally. Her easy-to-apply practical and down to earth advice will help you decipher your priorities and inspire you to live your life to its full potential.

Speaker: Samantha Ettus, author, The Pie Life: A Woman’s Recipe for Success and Satisfaction

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

Lisa Nichols is no stranger to transformation. Her own story is extraordinary – she transformed her life from a single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur. Her own struggles have been the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Using her signature systems, Lisa will guide you through this interactive workshop, teaching you how to accomplish unfathomable goals and tap into your own potential. Get ready to have your norm disrupted and move out of your comfort zone to find success and prosperity in your both personal and professional life.

Speaker: Lisa Nichols, New York Times bestselling author, personal transformation guru, and life coach

Speaker: Shanteka Sigers, SVP and executive creative director, Sanders\Wingo and Business Insider’s Top Creative Women in Advertising

Small business owners are consumed by the business of their business, 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 tips on, not only which tool to use for your specific business, but also how to know what’s working.

Speaker: Carlotta Stankiewicz, advertising creative director and author, Haiku Austin

We have all heard about that Kickstarter campaign that reached its goal within the hour. Or that GoFundMe campaign whose idea seemed brilliant, but failed to meet its goal. What are the strategies that will make your crowdfunding campaign viable for success? Before you start, meet Carlotta Stankiewz, who just finished a campaign and will share how to maximize this opportunity while minimizing the risk to your business idea

Speaker: Nicole Patel, founder and chocolatier, Delysia Chocolatier

Businesses don’t plan to fail; they just fail to plan. For an aspiring 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 with 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.

Speaker: Rebecca Geier, CEO and co-founder, TREW Marketing

Full session description coming soon!

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. Learn 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.

Are you overwhelmed by the opportunities presented by social media space and not sure how and where to get started? Attend this roundtable to learn to become more socially savvy. Social media strategist Debbie Saviano will explore how you can be more comfortable joining the conversations in the digital age. You will learn which option might best fit your needs, and leave with some simple tools and tactics to help you better navigate and communicate in the online world. From Twitter, to Instagram, to Pinterest, Facebook and LinkedIn, you will better understand and be ready to tackle the social media world!

Speaker: Carla Birnberg, author, What You Can When You Can: Healthy Living on Your Terms

Growing your career or business requires that you elevate your profile and expand your network. Twitter can help you achieve both. It lets others know your expertise and enables you to connect to the industry influencers who can help you grow. Carla Birnberg will guide you through best practices to keep up with the latest information in your field, increase your visibility and be seen as a leader and expand your network to access that next level of opportunity.

Speaker: Brenda Ray Coffee, founder, 1010ParkPlace

Blogging gives you a platform to present your voice to the world — attend this roundtable and learn how to find your voice! Attendees will learn the basic tools you need to get started and learn how to build traffic and attract readers. Together you will explore tips for maximizing your blog’s reach to help you build your business or charity and spread the word.

Speaker: Kelly Wonderlin, Digital lifestyle enthusiast

When you use video on your website, you have a powerful tool that can increase the popularity of your web pages. Whether you want to sell your product, share your knowledge or increase page views, digital expert Kelly Wonderlin will share how you can incorporate video to create a dynamic web site that attracts and keeps visitors.

Speaker: Elayna Fernandez, founder, The Positive Mom, named “Best Latina Lifestyle Blogger”

Instagram has become the app of choice for many looking to promote their business, blog or passion. Find out how to use this image based social network 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!

Speaker: Lauren Modery, founder, Hipstercrite

Brands used to be just for businesses. Now the key to career longevity is creating new opportunities, embracing challenges and treating yourself as a brand – define your message and expertise, be social, build real relationships, and the elevation of your career or business will begin. This interactive roundtable discussion will explore the powerful ways in which social media networks can help establish your brand and expand your network. Together we will determine how to utilize Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Blogs to build your brand.

Speaker: Jena Apgar, digital marketing specialist

Most of us use social media for some sort of professional marketing or selling. Whether you are a professional selling your experience or brand through LinkedIn or Facebook or an entrepreneur building your business on Instagram or Pinterest, we are all looking for ROI on our social media efforts. But, what is the high value social media that will help us market through social media profitably? Jena Apgar creates social media strategies for clients and will share her tips for what works and what doesn’t so you don’t waste a penny more on a strategy that isn’t delivering.

Speaker: Brandy Pham, co-founder and CCO, Planoly and founder, BrandyPham Jewelry

Using social media to brand your business and sell online is nothing new, but what if you could create those posts and make those sales in less time? Jewelery designer Brandy Pham saw the need for a tool to help e-commerce-based businesses streamline their social media and created an app to make it happen on Instagram. Come learn about her time-saving app as well as other tips to help you plan, brand and hone your social media to be efficient and effective.

The end of Conference Day is just the beginning! Connect with us on your favorite network: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or join our email list to receive updates, original articles and news about year-round events – including free monthly teleclasses. Also, don’t forget to download the TexasWomen App to connect with fellow attendees and speakers!