2023 Speakers
The 24th annual Texas Conference for Women was held October 2, 2023. Below is a recap of the speakers. For 2024 speaker updates, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Keynote Program | 10:15am - 1:15pm
Jacinda Ardern
Keynote Speaker
Prime Minister, New Zealand (2017-2023); Senior Fellow, Harvard University; Special Envoy, Christchurch Call to Action; Board Member, The Earthshot Prize
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAME JACINDA ARDERN became the Prime Minister of New Zealand at just 37 years of age. During her time in office she faced the challenges of a live streamed domestic terror attack against ...
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Elizabeth Banks
Keynote Speaker
Actor, Producer, Writer & Director
ELIZABETH BANKS is an actress, producer, writer and director, known for her comedy and drama roles in both film and television. Banks most recently produced and directed Universal Pictures’ hit comedy-thriller ...
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Gail Devers
Keynote Speaker
Olympic Gold Medalist & Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Patient Advocate
GAIL DEVERS is a five-time Olympian, nine-time World Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field who was one of the fastest women alive for almost two decades. Amid this unprecedented feat, ...
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Lulu Garcia-Navarro
Keynote Speaker | Host of The Interview at NYT Magazine ...
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Jameela Jamil
Moderator
Actor, Host & Activist
JAMEELA JAMIL is a one-of-a-kind multi-hyphenate who works as an actress, writer, host, and activist. Jamil was first seen on American television starring as Tahani in Golden Globe-nominated sitcom The Good ...
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Nora McInerny
Moderator
best-selling Author, Creator & Host, Terrible Thanks for Asking and It's Going to Be OK podcasts
NORA MCINERNY wants to know the truth: How are you? As the creator and host of the podcasts Terrible, Thanks For Asking & It’s Going To Be OK, and the TED speaker known for her viral talk, “We Don’t ...
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Michelle Zauner
Keynote Speaker
Musician, Japanese Breakfast; Author, Crying in H Mart
MICHELLE ZAUNER is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. She has won acclaim from major music outlets around the world for ...
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Special Guest Speaker
First Lady Cecilia Abbott
FIRST LADY CECILIA ABBOTT in January 2015, Abbott made history by becoming the first ...
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Anna Beninger
Introduction
VP & Director, DEI Business Advisor, Liberty Mutual Insurance
ANNA BENINGER is VP & director, DEI business advisor at Liberty Mutual ...
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Tamara Fields
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Reinventing Your Career Portfolio
TAMARA FIELDS, US Public Service Industry Lead is responsible for enhancing the ...
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Mariely Franzetti
Introduction
VP, Product Lifecycle & Supply Chain Engineering, Cisco
MARIELY FRANZETTI is vice president of Cisco IT Product Lifecycle, and Supply ...
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Vanice Hayes
Introduction
Chief Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Dell Technologies
VANICE HAYES is responsible for enabling an inclusive workplace where everyone ...
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Sally Hernandez
Emcee and Keynote Conversation Partner
Morning News Anchor, KXAN
SALLY HERNANDEZ anchors the Emmy award-winning morning show on KXAN. A proud ...
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Amy Magro
Introduction
Executive Director, Patient Advocacy, Horizon Therapeutics, now a part of the Amgen family
AMY MAGRO currently serves as executive director of patient advocacy at Amgen and ...
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Liz McDaniel Watson
Remarks
First Lady of Austin
LIZ McDANIEL WATSON is a happy retiree and grandma to Effie (5) and Birdie (2); ...
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Session 1 Program Offerings | 8:45-9:45am
Sara Alligood
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating the Tech Workplace
SARA ALLIGOOD is the worldwide leader of the Accenture AWS business group which ...
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Madeyline Brown
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Getting to the Next Level
MADEYLINE BROWN is vice president of North America channel inside sales at Dell ...
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Melania Croce
Introduction
Small Group Peer Networking
MELANIA CROCE is a supply chain sustainability program manager at Cisco, ...
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Myrna Estrada
Introduction
SVP & Field Executive, Liberty Mutual Insurance
MYRNA ESTRADA is a senior vice president and field executive for Liberty Mutual ...
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Tamara Fields
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Reinventing Your Career Portfolio
TAMARA FIELDS, US Public Service Industry Lead is responsible for enhancing the ...
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Amber Gunst
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Navigating the Tech Workplace
AMBER GUNST is a dynamic, energetic, results-driven leader and business developer ...
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Mayerland Harris
Learning Stage ...
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Brenda Hudson
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Bright Futures in Tech Workplaces
BRENDA HUDSON is senior vice president of commercial sales, sales enablement, ...
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Dr. Alejandra Mielke
Facilitator
Small Group Peer Networking
DR. ALEJANDRA RODÍGUEZ MIELKE is a diversity, equity, and inclusion and ...
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Laura Rice
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
LAURA RICE is the managing producer for the Texas Standard. Rice wears many hats ...
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Jennifer Sanders
Moderator| That’s a Good Question
Getting to the Next Level
JENNIFER SANDERS is an Emmy-award winning and an Edward R. Murrow award-winning ...
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Rose Smith
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
ROSE SMITH is a visionary, CEO & Founder of Black Women In Business (BWIB) ...
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Laurie Dalton White
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
LAURIE DALTON WHITE is the founding executive director of Conferences for Women, ...
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Michelynn "Miki" Woodard
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating Board Dynamics
MIKI WOODARD has 25 years plus experience as a philanthropist and social impact ...
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Shane Woods
Executive Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating the Tech Workplace
SHANE WOODS began her career as a middle school science teacher in the Fort Worth ...
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Session 2 Program Offerings | 1:45 - 2:45pm
Lara Abrash
Executive Spotlight
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
LARA ABRASH is the Chair of Deloitte US, the largest professional services ...
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Dr. Seema Desai
Moderator
Career Connections Meetups
DR. SEEMA DESAI is a recovering perfectionist and a loving wife and mom of two ...
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Jennifer Dooling
Host
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
JENNIFER DOOLING is a market executive for a commercial banking team in South ...
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Ritu Favre
Executive Spotlight
Harnessing an Inside Out Approach to Career Grow
RITU FAVRE is president of the test and measurement business group at Emerson. ...
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Dr. Marisa Franco
Speaker
Strengthening Social Connection, Community, And Collaboration...And Why It Matters
DR. MARISA G. FRANCO holds a Phd in counseling psychology from the University of ...
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Deborah Green
Learning Stage ...
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Melissa Haire
Host
Living Our Best Lives NOW!
MELISSA HAIRE has spent most of her career in the financial services technology ...
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Minda Harts
Thought-Leader
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
MINDA HARTS is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Memo: What Women ...
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Lisa Heritage McLin
Host
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
LISA HERITAGE MCLIN has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, ...
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Katie Kriete
Panelist
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
KATIE KRIETE is the vice president of emerging sales at Oracle NetSuite. She has ...
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Mariah Martinez
Cisco Talent Professional
Career Connections Meetups
MARIAH MARTINEZ is partner empowerment program manager, global partner marketing ...
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Alicia May
Learning Stage
5 Money Musts
ALICIA MAY is a VP workplace regional leader at Fidelity, with more than 18 years ...
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Carol McGarah
Host
Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence
CAROL MCGARAH is CEO of Blackridge, a Texas government relations firm. She has ...
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Carolyn Richards-Chacon
Host
Harnessing an Inside Out Approach to Career Growth
CAROLYN RICHARDS-CHACON is vice president, BL secure connected edge operations ...
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Liz Tran
Speaker
Harnessing an Inside Out Approach to Career Growth
LIZ TRAN is the creator of Reset, an executive coaching company to CEOs and ...
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Jeanette Ward
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Building Your Career Portfolio
JEANETTE WARD joined Texas Mutual in 1993 after earning her government degree ...
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Hillary Wicht
Speaker
Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence
HILLARY WICHT is a human systems expert and brings life to the phrase, “how we ...
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China Widener
Moderator
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
CHINA WIDENER serves as Deloitte’s US Consulting Technology Sector leader, and ...
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Liz Wiseman
Speaker
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
LIZ WISEMAN is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to ...
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Session 3 Program Offerings | 3:15 - 4:15pm
Brenda Brinson
Panelist
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others
BRENDA BRINSON is chief diversity officer and general manager, culture & ...
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Ali Carmichael
Host
Harnessing an Inside Out Approach to Career Growth
ALI CARMICHAEL (she/her) is a program manager on Google’s people operations ...
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Bobbi Dangerfield
Host
Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence
Bobbi Dangerfield is a senior technology and operations executive. She has held ...
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Dr. Marisa Franco
Speaker
Strengthening Social Connection, Community, And Collaboration...And Why It Matters
DR. MARISA G. FRANCO holds a Phd in counseling psychology from the University of ...
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Minda Harts
Thought-Leader
Creating Workplaces that Work for Everyone
MINDA HARTS is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Memo: What Women ...
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Leteshia Lowe
Panelist
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others
LETESHIA LOWE is a senior technical staff member (STSM) at IBM, leading the ...
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Raquel F. Mestemaker
Host
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others
RAQUEL F. MESTEMAKER is the director - HR business partner, LATAM, HSC & ...
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Joyce Mullen
Executive Spotlight
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
JOYCE MULLEN is president and CEO of Insight Enterprises, a Fortune 500 Solutions ...
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Marlene Phillips
Learning Stage
Seeking Leaders: Women Wanted
MARLENE PHILLIPS was raised in rural Texas by a hard-working mother, put herself ...
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Pilar Schenk
Host
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
PILAR SCHENK is vice president of strategy and planning for all global ...
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Shanell Snyder
Panelist
How to Advocate for Yourself and Others
SHANELL SNYDER is vice president of human resources in Fidelity’s Personal ...
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Liz Tran
Speaker
Harnessing an Inside Out Approach to Career Growth
LIZ TRAN is the creator of Reset, an executive coaching company to CEOs and ...
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Laysha Ward
Host
Strengthening Social Connection, Community, And Collaboration… And Why It Matters
LAYSHA WARD is an accomplished C-suite executive with thirty years of leadership ...
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Hillary Wicht
Speaker
Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence
HILLARY WICHT is a human systems expert and brings life to the phrase, “how we ...
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Liz Wiseman
Speaker
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
LIZ WISEMAN is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to ...
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