2012 Speakers

Charlotte Beers

Charlotte Beers has combined her business insight with an innate Southern charm to become highly successful in the competitive world of adverti... Read Full Bio

Leslie Rhode

Leslie Rhode anchors the 5pm, 6pm and 10pm newscasts for KXAN-TV in Austin.  This is her second stint at KXAN where she has worked for a total... Read Full Bio

Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of “Happier at Home,” an account of her adventures when, starting in September (the new January), she dedicate... Read Full Bio

Sylvia Acevedo

Sylvia Acevedo, is the CEO of CommuniCard LLC, a company specializing in education and workforce solutions. Acevedo has had a broad business ca... Read Full Bio

Alyce Alston

Alyce Alston brings magic to launching and growing businesses across diverse industries and consumer markets. Known for a rare mix of creativit... Read Full Bio

Katherine Anderson

Katherine Anderson is the director of Naturopathic Medicine at The Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Oklahoma hospital. She talks about h... Read Full Bio

Elizabeth Avellán

Elizabeth Avellán is the co-owner and vice president of Troublemaker Studios and president of EYA Productions.  During the past decade, Avell... Read Full Bio

David Bach

David Bach credits his Grandma Bach as the woman who taught him almost everything he knows about money. She helped him buy his first stock at s... Read Full Bio

Alissa Bayer

Alissa Bayer is the owner and founder of milk + honey, a collection of premier day spas and salons in Austin, Texas, and soon a new organic, pe... Read Full Bio

Lauren Berger

Lauren Berger is chief executive officer and founder of internqueen.com and author of the National Campus Best-Seller, “ALL WORK NO PAY: Find... Read Full Bio

Dr. Jennifer Berman

Dr. Jennifer Berman is a urologist and an internationally renowned expert in the field of female sexual and menopausal health. She is the found... Read Full Bio

Kate Betts

Kate Betts is an author and contributing editor at TIME magazine, where she has written about the worlds of style and design since 2003. Betts ... Read Full Bio

Jacinda Boneau

Jacinda Boneau is an entertainment marketing executive turned stay-at-home-mom, turned successful DIY blogger. She is co-founder of PrudentBaby... Read Full Bio

Colleen Brewer

Colleen Brewer becamevice president of sales and marketing for the Austin American-Statesman in August 2011. Brewer has worked in the media ind... Read Full Bio

Gigi Edwards Bryant

Gigi Edwards Bryant speaks with passion, vision and clarity. She believes that through faith, hope and forgiveness in our actions, we can learn... Read Full Bio

Gina Carroll

Gina Carroll began writing, blogging and speaking after leaving a large corporate law practice to become a stay at home mom to... Read Full Bio

Sarah Palisi Chapin

Sarah Palisi Chapin has a wealth of experience and brand savvy expertise that extends across multiple food industry-related businesses, includi... Read Full Bio

Sue Chen

Sue Chen founded Nova Medical Products in 1993 when she was just 23 years old with a strong vision to improve lives…with style. Today, Nova h... Read Full Bio

Carrie Contey

Carrie Contey is not your typical parenting expert. In fact, she challenges the whole idea that someone outside a family could possibly BE an e... Read Full Bio

Cory Cotton

Cory Cotton is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, and one of the founders of the five-man trick basketball shot team known as Dude ... Read Full Bio

Jennifer Davis

Jennifer Davis currently leads the global communications team for Dell’s Brand, Consumer and Small Business divisions and is responsible for ... Read Full Bio

Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario

Dr. Jacqueline DelRosario has received keys to several cities, multimillions in federal funding, bi-partisan recognition from two U.S. Presiden... Read Full Bio

Patti DeNucci

Patti DeNucci is an award-winning communicator, networking and connections strategist, and author of “The Intentional Networker(tm): Attracti... Read Full Bio

Allison Dew

Allison Dew is an accomplished marketing executive with significant experience in online, integrated cross-discipline global marketing, brand a... Read Full Bio

Nikki Drummond

Nikki Drummond is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) specializing in the field of neuroscience. As the founder and CEO of NeuroFit Nutriti... Read Full Bio

Mary Ellen Dugan

MARY ELLEN DUGAN is chief marketing officer of WP Engine. She leads all WP Engine global marketing activities ranging from product marketing, p... Read Full Bio

Sheri Falk

Sheri Falk is an image consultant, fashion coach, and corporate speaker.  She presents wardrobe seminars and workshops to women in the workpla... Read Full Bio

Siobhan Fallon

Siobhan Fallon is a writer, whose debut collection of stories, “You Know When the Men Are Gone,” was listed as a Best Book of 2011 by The S... Read Full Bio

Fay Fleming

Fay Fleming is president of the Business Performance Company, a consulting firm started in 1994. With more than fifteen years of senior-level e... Read Full Bio

Lynya FLoyd

Lynya Floyd, health director at Family Circle magazine, is a wellness expert, fitness enthusiast and award-winning journalist.  At Family Circ... Read Full Bio

Caroline Freedman

Caroline Freedman is the CEO and co-founder of Nurturme Organic Baby Foods. She thought of the concept for Nurturme when pregnant with her now ... Read Full Bio

Karen Frost

Karen Frost is principal and owner of Frost Media Relations, yet currently serves as the consulting director of nonprofit relations for I Live ... Read Full Bio

Camille Gaines

Camille Gaines is a best-selling author and the founder of FinancialWoman.com. She motivates women to discern what they really want, and then g... Read Full Bio

Bryony Gomez-Palacio

Bryony Gomez-Palacio A native of  Mexico City, Gomez-Palacio is a graphic designer and writer now living in Austin, Texas. She is co-founder o... Read Full Bio

Jen Grogono

Jen Grogono is founder and chief executive officer of uStudio Inc. She  leads the company’s vision and strategy for its innovative virtual s... Read Full Bio

Tina Hambly

Tina Hambly is the founder and designer of Valentina, a girls fashion brand featuring shoes for “hip, happy girls”. Within months of launch... Read Full Bio

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne

Deborah Hamilton-Lynne has been in love with words her entire life. A published writer and syndicated columnist for more than three decades, sh... Read Full Bio

Dahna Hull

Dahna Hull is the vice president general manager of AT&T Mobility, South Texas. Based in San Antonio. Hull is responsible for wireless oper... Read Full Bio

Tory Johnson

Tory Johnson is a contributor for “Good Morning America” who is all about helping women make great things happen. Johnson made the shift... Read Full Bio

Patti Johnson

Patti Johnson is a career and workplace strategist and the CEO of PeopleResults, a change and human resources consultancy she created in 2004.�... Read Full Bio

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson is the president and co-founder of Clayton Christensen’s investment firm Rose Park Advisors (Disruptive Innovation Fund), and... Read Full Bio

Charley Johnson

Charley Johnson is an entrepreneur and former Owner of a manufacturing company. Johnson has a deep passion for spreading and harnessing the Pay... Read Full Bio

Chelsea Jones

Chelsea Jacquelyn Jones is a graphic designer and artist.  She is a website designer for SpaceCraft, where she helps create easy to navigate, ... Read Full Bio

Kelli Keough

Dr. Kelli Keough is the vice president of active trading at Charles Schwab, where she is responsible for the client experience, product managem... Read Full Bio

Ross Kimbarovsky

Ross Kimbarovsky left a successful 13-year career as a trial lawyer to pursue his dream of founding a technology company (in part so that he c... Read Full Bio

Allison Knaupe

Allison Knaupe leads client strategies for Hill + Knowlton Strategies’ digital and creative offerings. The group specializes in three areas: ... Read Full Bio

Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte is the author of the book “The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide for Creating Success on Your Own Terms” ... Read Full Bio

Jenn Lee

Jenn Lee is known as coach Jenn Lee, is a national speaker, small business advisor, media correspondent and life coach. Lee isn’t letting any... Read Full Bio

Patsy Woods Martin

Patsy Woods Martin is founder and CEO of I Live Here, I Give Here, Austin’s Campaign for Philanthropy. She leads a collabora... Read Full Bio

Shay McBurney

Shay McBurney is director of patient advocacy for Celling BioSciences. McBurney’s passion for the welfare of others was evident in her elementary education ma... Read Full Bio

Lauren McCullough

Lauren McCullough is the COO and co-founder of Nurturme. Prior to co-founding the company, she worked as the culinary arts teacher at the Texas... Read Full Bio

Yvonne McGill

Yvonne McGill is currently the vice president, corporate finance and chief accounting officer at Dell.  In this role, McGill serves as Dell’... Read Full Bio

Monica Mehta

Monica Mehta is an investor, author and sought after expert on small business and finance topics. She brings 15 years of hands-on experience as... Read Full Bio

Tolly Moseley

Tolly Moseley is the voice of Austin Eavesdropper (), a blog that focuses on the creative culture of Austin and beyond. As a writer, her work h... Read Full Bio

Gloria Brown Oliver

Gloria Brown Oliver As vice president, Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab, Oliver is an investment professional who is dedicated to helping... Read Full Bio

Suzanne Parker

Suzanne Parker serves as H-E-B’s corporate wellness coach. Parker has over 27 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, who has... Read Full Bio

Patti Rogers

Patti Rogers endured the unexpected challenge and blessing of breast cancer in 2008. While witnessing a swell of  selflessness from friends, f... Read Full Bio

Allyson Peerman

  Allyson Peerman is responsible worldwide efforts involving government affairs, community affairs and corporate responsibility at AM... Read Full Bio

Griffin Perry

Griffin Perry is the president of Caddis Energy, L.L.C, an oil and gas investment company currently partnered with Sendero and Providence Energ... Read Full Bio

Bekah Powell

Bekah Powell is the content creator and social media manager for SpaceCraft, an Austin-based web publishing platform. She has spearheaded brand... Read Full Bio

Victoria Pynchon

Victoria Pynchon is the Co-founder of She Negotiates, a training workshop for women which nests today's most effective negotiation strategies a... Read Full Bio

Grace Rodriguez

Grace Rodriguez lives by design. As “creative juicer” at Culture Pilot, Rodriguez crafts brand strategies that transform technology, social... Read Full Bio

Sheila Scarborough

Sheila Scarborough is a writer and speaker specializing in tourism, travel and social media. She’s written for many blogs and print publicat... Read Full Bio

Alexis Sclamberg

Alexis Sclamberg is a personal development writer, speaker and media personality. A former lawyer, Sclamberg has been called “the self-help v... Read Full Bio

Maribel Sierra

Maribel Sierra is director of the Social Media Services Group at Dell, where she is tasked to bring customers social business solutions to meet... Read Full Bio

Casey Sollock

Casey Sollock is the founder of SheShinesWellnessRevolution.com.  She is a women’s speaker, holistic health counselor and passionate smoothi... Read Full Bio

Bonnie St. John

Bonnie St. John Despite having her right leg amputated at age five, St. John became the first African-American ever to win Olympic or Paralympi... Read Full Bio

Patricia Sulak

Patricia Sulak, M.D. is the Dudley P. Baker Endowed Professor of research and education in OB/GYN at Texas A&M College of Medicine / Scott ... Read Full Bio

LisaBeth Thomas

LisaBeth “LB” Thomas is big cheese and partner of the LBTJ Group, an Austin-based advertising agency which specializes in marketing, advert... Read Full Bio

Carla Cook Thompson

Carla Cook Thompson A veteran of the emerging tech industry,  Thompson has counseled startups around the globe on creating, launching and sust... Read Full Bio

Susan Tolles

Susan Tolles is an expert in midlife reinventions who inspires and equips women around the world to flourish inside and out.  As a website cre... Read Full Bio

Wilka Toppins

Wilka Varela Toppins is a business litigation attorney and executive who  offers more than 20 years of leadership in legal, c... Read Full Bio

TX M.I.L.K.

TX M.I.L.K. (Texas Mom I’d Like to Know) co-founders, Lauren Bayne and Claire Jordan, began their careers as advertising copywriters at GSD&a... Read Full Bio

Meredith Walker

Meredith Walker began her television career with Nickelodeon’s “NICK NEWS.”  During her time there, the show won the Peabody Award as we... Read Full Bio

Patricia Walsh

 Patricia Walsh delivers a message of overcoming obstacles, living beyond excuses and achieving to an individual’s full potential. Diagnosed... Read Full Bio

Lena West

Lena L. West is an award-winning social media consultant, blogger, speaker, journalist, technologist and the founder of InfluenceExpansion.com,... Read Full Bio

Shannon Wolfson

Shannon Wolfson is an award-winning journalist whose passion is telling stories that positively impact and enrich people’s lives. Wolfson beg... Read Full Bio

Todd Wright

Todd Wright begins his 14th season as the strength and conditioning coach for the men's basketball program at The University of Texas. The 41-y... Read Full Bio

Dr. Vonda Wright

Dr. Vonda Wright is an orthopedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on active aging and mobility. She specializes in sports medi... 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 ... Read Full Bio

Tiffany Harelik

Tiffany Harelik is a fourth generation Austinite , serving up the American Dream one plate at a time. She writes cookbooks about iconic food tr... Read Full Bio