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Speaking Role Descriptions

As an organization committed to amplifying women’s influence in the workplace and beyond, the Conferences for Women recognizes the importance of hearing women with diverse backgrounds and professional achievements speak at our events. When selecting your speaker, we encourage you to consider women who have a strong connection to the topic at hand or to the local market, who reflect your company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and who are comfortable on camera.


Speaker Form

If your organization has a speaking role, complete the SPEAKER FORM for each speaking role under your sponsorship.


External Program Grid

View the PROGRAM GRID to select your session preferences.


CFW – November 16, 2023

Austin Convention Center – LIVE

Main Stage Role

Company executive will receive a speaking role during the in-person main stage keynote session. Sponsor will propose a senior executive for consideration by the Conference Programming Team and CFW will work in concert to best position this individual in the CFW in-person program – either in the form of a speaker introduction, remarks, or in some other role that best showcases your leader and your company. Speaker will be prominently promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program. The session will be LIVE so the senior executive is required to be on-site. 


Panelist Role

Geared for senior professionals who are comfortable participating in a moderated conversation.  After the thought-leader presents, panelists will participate in a one hour moderated conversation to answer a mix of pre-determined and audience questions. Panelists will be seated in a standard height chair onstage and use a wireless mic.

Speaker Prep: Panelists provide the CFW team with 2-3 questions they want to be asked by the moderator that align with the session topic. These questions will be used to create the overall session brief which will be shared with all speakers to prepare in advance. The thought-leader and panelists will be required to participate in a 30-minute prep call with the CFW program team approximately 2-3 weeks pre-Conference to “meet”, discuss the flow and answer questions.


Executive Insights – That’s a Good Question

Geared for senior leaders who are comfortable and willing to respond to LIVE audience questions. Executive Mentors including Conference board members, senior professionals and community leaders will respond to LIVE attendee questions offering insights and lessons learned about their career journey. Sessions will be one hour and address timely and relevant career topics based on the needs of the CFW community and will feature up to 3 Executive Mentors.

Speaker Prep: Executive Mentors will receive a session brief to review in advance of arriving onsite to familiarize themselves on the topic, format and fellow peers participating in the session. Questions are not scripted or pre-determined as this session is audience driven.


Breakout Session Host

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership position to host one (1) select Conference breakout session. Host will welcome attendees, describe the intention of the session, provide dedicated remarks about her personal (or her company’s) perspective on the topic at hand, and offer any relevant anecdotes or insights. She will then introduce the session leader using materials provided to her and help facilitate the Q&A at the end. Session selection will be made with input from our Program Director to ensure the most appropriate fit and a strong showcase of your speaker. Speaker will be prominently promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program. Host will be required to participate in a prep call held in advance of the Conference to ensure success on event day. 


Executive Spotlight Speaker

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership position to be featured in an Executive Spotlight case study that will run during one (1) select In-Person Conference breakout session. The executive will be asked questions (Q&A style) about her perspective on a relevant topic. She may relay her own personal or company experiences and provide additional anecdotes or insights.  Speaker will be prominently promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program. The Executive Spotlight will be recorded in advance using conference parameters and run during an in-person breakout session prior to the Q&A. 


Interactive Hall Learning Burst Speaker

LEARNING BURST SPEAKER Topics & Deadlines

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership position to be featured as a speaker (approximately 20 minutes in length plus 5 minutes Q&A) on the Learning Stage in the Interactive Hall. The Conference Program Director will collaborate with your team to identify topic(s) to best engage attendees based on the selected speaker’s area of expertise and to select the best time of day (based on logistics and potential audience draw). Speaker will be prominently promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program.


National CFW Virtual Event – March 14, 2024

Main Stage

MAIN STAGE SPEAKER REMARKS
Company executive will receive a prominent speaking role in the Keynote Session program during the NATIONAL Virtual Conference. Sponsor will propose a senior executive for consideration by the Conference Programming Team and CFW will work in concert to best position this individual in the program either in the form of remarks prior to a speaker, or in some other role that best showcases your leader and your company.  Speaker will be prominently promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program.The session will be recorded in advance using conference parameters.

RECORDING:

  • In advance of the recording session, CFW will identify in which session your speaker’s recording will be featured (morning or afternoon).
  • Your speaker will pre-record a 3-minute segment that includes brief remarks on behalf of your organization to illustrate your support of the Conference and your commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace and diversity and inclusion.
  • A member of the conference team will participate virtually when the speaker records the segment to ensure a smooth process, and answer any questions in real-time.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Your speaker’s final remarks must be submitted to the CFW team and all scripts must be reviewed and approved in advance of recording.
  • Your recording is allotted 3-minutes within the program and cannot exceed that length. CFW may edit the recording if needed.
  • Keynote sessions are viewable LIVE on conference day and will not be available for audience playback.

Session Host

SESSION HOSTSpeaker Recording Guidelines

External Program Grid

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership position to host one (1) select Conference breakout session. The HOST will record in advance (using conference parameters) a session welcome to attendees describing the intention of the session, and dedicated remarks about her personal (or her company’s) perspective on the topic at hand offering any relevant anecdotes or insights. She will then introduce the session leader using materials provided to her. Speaker will be promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in Conference program. The session will be recorded in advance using conference parameters.

RECORDING:

  • Your speaker will pre-record a 3 minute introduction.
  • A member of the conference team will participate virtually when the speaker records the segment to ensure a smooth process, and answer any questions in real-time.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • CFW will provide your speaker with a sample script and your speaker’s final must be reviewed and approved by the CFW team in advance of recording.
  • Your recording is allotted 3-minutes within the program and cannot exceed that length. CFW may edit the recording if needed.
  • Breakout presentations including session host introductions are viewable on-demand for 30 days post-conference.

SAMPLE VIDEO – See below video as a sample of how the Host will be produced.


Executive Spotlight

EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHTSpeaker Recording Guidelines

External Program Grid

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership role to be featured in an Executive Spotlight case study that will run following one (1) select National Conference breakout session. The executive will be asked questions (Q&A style) about her perspective on a relevant topic. She may relay her own personal or company experiences and provide additional anecdotes or insights.  The sponsor spotlight will be recorded in advance using conference parameters.

 
RECORDING:

  • The interview will be pre-recorded and edited into a 4-5 minute video.
  • A member of the conference team will participate virtually when the speaker records the segment to ensure a smooth process, and answer any questions in real-time.
  • The interviewer will not be onsite during the interview, but will be edited in/call in virtually.

PLEASE NOTE:  The questions that will be asked of the speaker/executive during the interview will be submitted to you in advance. If questions need to be revised based on the expertise of your executive, the CFW team will collaborate to make necessary adjustments.

 SAMPLE VIDEO – See below video as a sample of how Executive Spotlights will be produced and what the final product will look like.


Learning Burst

LEARNING BURSTS – Speaker Recording Guidelines and Topics & Deadlines

Opportunity for a woman in a leadership role to be featured as a speaker in a VIRTUAL Learning Burst (3-5 minutes) within the national virtual Conference Day program. The Conference Program Director will collaborate with your team to identify topic(s) to best engage attendees based on the selected speaker’s area of expertise. The speaker will be promoted with a headshot and bio on the Conference website and in the Conference program. The speaker will pre-record her session in partnership with the Conference Program Director and content will be featured post-event within CFW communication channels.  Note: Conference attendees continue to rave about these short, actionable takeaways in the post-Conference surveys; the finished video will be provided to sponsor to utilize internally and/or promote externally (post-Conference).

RECORDING:

  • Your speaker will pre-record a 3-5 minute learning burst.
  • A member of the conference team will participate virtually when the speaker records to ensure a smooth process and answer any questions in real-time.

PLEASE NOTE: Topics for Learning Bursts have been identified based on specific feedback from our community. Topic selection is first-come, first-serve, and topics will not be repeated, so we encourage you to make your selection as soon as possible. Once we have confirmed your topic, the CFW team will work with you to tailor it to your goals as an organization and to your speaker’s expertise.

SAMPLE VIDEO – See below video as a sample of how Learning Bursts will be produced and what the final product will look like.