2024 Speakers
The 25th annual Texas Conference for Women was held October 2, 2024. Below is a recap of the speakers. For 2025 speaker updates, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Keynote Program | 10:15am - 1:15pm
Isabel Allende
Keynote Speaker
Author, social activist, and feminist icon
Literary legend, social activist, and feminist icon ISABEL ALLENDE has sold over 77 million books translated into more than 40 languages. Her bold and imaginative writing has brought together generations of ...
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Sara Blakely
Keynote Speaker
Founder of Spanx
SARA BLAKELY is the founder of Spanx, a company she started with $5,000 in personal savings and grew to over a billion dollars without ever taking any outside investments. She is an inventor, a category creator ...
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Tabitha Brown
Keynote Speaker
Actress & Emmy Award-winning Host
TABITHA BROWN satisfies the hunger of millions with her unique approach to veganism and her wholesome, comedic personality. From teaching people new recipes, giving a word of wisdom or enjoying a good laugh, she ...
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Mandalit del Barco
Keynote Speaker
NPR Arts Correspondent
As an arts correspondent based at NPR West, MANDALIT DEL BARCO reports and produces stories about film, television, music, visual arts, dance and other topics. Her news reports, feature stories, and photos, ...
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Lulu Garcia-Navarro
Keynote Speaker | Host of The Interview at NYT Magazine ...
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Keynote Speaker
Actor, Producer, Host & Activist
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors and producers. Memorable roles include Selina Meyer in Veep, Elaine Benes in Seinfeld, Christine Campbell in The New Adventures of Old ...
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Ellen McGirt
Keynote Speaker
Editor-in-Chief, Design Observer
ELLEN McGIRT is an author, podcaster, speaker, community builder, and award-winning business journalist. She is the editor-in-chief of Design Observer, an independent media company that has maintained the same ...
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Special Guest Speaker
Jackie Backes
Introduction
Group Vice President, Target Stores
Host | Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention ...
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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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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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DJ KICKIT
DJ
End of Day Party
DJ KICKIT is an energetic open-format female DJ from Austin, Texas. Born in ...
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Carol Lee Mitchell
Introduction
Diverse Business Segments Executive, Bank of America
CAROL LEE MITCHELL leads growth business segments for business banking at Bank of ...
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Session 1 Program Offerings | 8:45-9:45am
Jeff Benton
Speaker
Take Control of Your Stress Response
JEFF BENTON focuses on peak performance training through various aspects of ...
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Marian Cabanillas
Wellness Stage
MARIAN CABANILLAS is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community & ...
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Kristen Cabrera
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Navigating New Work Environments
KRISTEN CABRERA is a producer and reporter for the award-winning national daily ...
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Norma Dorst
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Building Your Career Portfolio
NORMA DORST is an executive with nearly 30 years of experience at NI, now a part ...
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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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Amanda Henry
Wellness 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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Tracy Irby
Learning Stage ...
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Juliet
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Reinventing Your Career Portfolio
JULIET is the afternoon drive on-air personality for Austin’s Majic 95.5 and ...
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Erica Lambert
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
ERICA LAMBERT is an accomplished executive leader with 20+ years of expertise in ...
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Krystina Lyons
Learning Stage ...
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Debbie McClure
Executive Mentor
That’s a Good Question
DEBBIE McCLURE is a career sales professional with more than 30 years in the ...
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Kristie Narvaez
Learning Stage
KRISTIE NARVAEZ is a business community officer dedicated to ...
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Savita Raghunathan
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Bright Futures in Tech Workplaces
SAVITA RAGHUNATHAN us a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and has more than ...
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Delores Rochester
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating New Work Environments
DELORES ROCHESTER is a group vice president in North America cloud ...
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Sonal Shah
Moderator
That's a Good Question: Bright Futures in Tech Workplaces
SONAL SHAH has started and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and ...
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Dr. Sandra Solano
Speaker
Take Control of Your Stress Response
SANDRA SOLANO, M.D., M.S., born in Bogota, Colombia, is a healthcare professional ...
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April Stevens
Learning Stage ...
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Michele Van De Hey
Mentor
That's a Good Question: Navigating New Work Environments
MICHELE VAN DE HEY is a global partner leader for the world-wide public sector ...
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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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Session 2 Program Offerings | 1:45 - 2:45pm
Jackie Backes
Introduction
Group Vice President, Target Stores
Host | Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention ...
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Kate Bowler, Ph.D.
Speaker
Living Our Best Lives NOW!
KATE BOWLER’s work centers on the cultural narratives we construct around ...
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Krista Callaghan
Panelist
How to be Engaged, Productive and Happier at Work
KRISTA CALLAGHAN is a director of market HR and leads the people strategy for the ...
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Gloria Chan Packer
Speaker
How to be Engaged, Productive and Happier at Work
GLORIA CHAN PACKER is an international mental wellness educator, keynote speaker, ...
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Verlinda DiMarino
Panelist
How to be Engaged, Productive and Happier at Work
VERLINDA DiMARINO is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of ...
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Kristine Gatesman
Panelist
How to be Engaged, Productive and Happier at Work
KRISTINE GATESMAN leads a global technology organization that delivers innovative ...
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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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Annie Hardy
Host
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
ANNIE HARDY is a strategist, futurist, entrepreneur, and startup advisor. As ...
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Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
Speaker
Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention
POOJA LAKSHMIN MD is a board-certified psychiatrist whose private practice ...
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Monica Muñoz Andry
Host
Owning Your Authentic Career Voice
MONICA MUÑOZ ANDRY serves as president and chief executive officer for the ...
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Janice Omadeke
Learning Stage
JANICE OMADEKE Janice Omadeke is a proven leader focused on data driven ...
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Dr. Debra Patt
Wellness Stage ...
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Christie Smith, PhD
Speaker
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
DR. CHRISTIE SMITH, PhD has over 35 years of experience advising the C-Suite of ...
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Cyndie Spiegel
Speaker
Owning Your Authentic Career Voice
CYNDIE SPIEGEL is an inspirational speaker and a true force of nature who rallies ...
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Christie Styer
Wellness Stage
CHRISTIE STYER is the customer success director and E2E customer ...
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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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Session 3 Program Offerings | 3:15 - 4:15pm
Kate Bowler, Ph.D.
Speaker
Living Our Best Lives NOW!
KATE BOWLER’s work centers on the cultural narratives we construct around ...
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Christina Buchanan
Wellness Stage
CHRISTINA BUCHANAN is VP of WI Sales, where she leads a team of ...
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Elizabeth Chand
Learning Stage ...
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Heather Crowder
Host
AI: Shaping the Future of Work
HEATHER CROWDER serves as Vice President and General Tax Officer for Phillips 66 ...
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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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Dr. Kim Henderson
Learning Stage ...
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Fara Howard
Panelist
AI: Shaping the Future of Work
FARA HOWARD joined GoDaddy most recently from Amazon Fashion where she led ...
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Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
Speaker
Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention
POOJA LAKSHMIN MD is a board-certified psychiatrist whose private practice ...
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Diana Nuñez
Host
Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention
DIANA NUÑEZ partner of The Dickey Wright Sweeney Apple Groupat Morgan Stanley ...
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Jenny Ovalles
Host
Living Our Best Lives NOW!
JENNY OVALLES currently holds the position of senior manager for inside sales ...
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Carrie Palin
Introduction
SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Cisco
Thought Leader | AI: Shaping the Future of Work ...
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Karen Plotkin
Panelist
Unlocking the Power of AI: Practical Insights for Everyday Use
KAREN PLOTKIN is a 25-year veteran of Dell who is currently responsible for ...
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Tara Roberts
Panelist
AI: Shaping the Future of Work
TARA ROBERTS is vice president of products for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure's ...
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Pamela Sherman
Host
Owning Your Authentic Career Voice
PAMELA SHERMAN is the culture of inclusion leader at Applied Materials. She is ...
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Christie Smith, PhD
Speaker
Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Evolving Workplaces
DR. CHRISTIE SMITH, PhD has over 35 years of experience advising the C-Suite of ...
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Cyndie Spiegel
Speaker
Owning Your Authentic Career Voice
CYNDIE SPIEGEL is an inspirational speaker and a true force of nature who rallies ...
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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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