October 18, 2024
Enhanced and Expanded for 2024!
Join hundreds of ambitious women and their supportive male counterparts in Raleigh on Friday, October 18 at Women Lead NC, North Carolina’s premier leadership and personal development conference. Discover the latest tools and strategies to supercharge your career, enhance personal well-being, and achieve professional fulfillment.
Expanded with bigger names and a more interactive event space, we expect a sold-out crowd of 1,000+ to join us. This dynamic event offers a transformative full-day experience of promoting women in leadership, fostering advocacy, nurturing mentorship, prioritizing self-care, and striking work-life balance. In a world constantly evolving in how we work and live, Women Lead NC is your opportunity to stay ahead and thrive. Secure your ticket or reserve a table for 10 for your team and guests!
Event Features:
- Globally-renowned, inspirational keynote speakers who will ignite your passion and drive.
- Informative breakout sessions with interactive Q&A, and pop-up sessions covering timely topics.
- NEW: Expanded networking opportunities, from speed networking to guided networking groups, for forging valuable connections and expanding your community.
- 50+ Exhibitors: Our largest, most interactive exhibit hall ever, showcasing organizations dedicated to fostering both professional and personal growth and women-owned businesses.
- Women’s bookstore with handpicked selection of the latest titles, professional headshot photography, and more!
Support Local Women with The No Woman, No Girl Initiative
“No woman or girl will go without access to everyday essentials to survive a crisis or transition.” Join us in getting behind this mission! Hygiene should never be a luxury. Help us gather toiletries such as hand sanitizer, body lotion, wash cloths, and feminine hygiene wipes to create hygiene kits for women and girls facing adversity. Your small gesture can make a big difference in their lives. Come to our service project station to drop off your donations.
This Program has been pre-approved for 4 HR General Credit Hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™,PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
Watch a highlight from last year’s event to get a glimpse of the experience:
Presented By
Agenda
Friday, October 18
| 8:15 am | Event Opens - Registration, Exhibit Hall, Networking Pop-up: Refresh & Refocus: Simple Moves to Increase Energy & Ease at Your Desk In this 20-minute pop-up session, you will learn simple yet powerful exercises you can do right from your desk. We will cover gentle stretches to release tension, effective breathing techniques to boost focus, and easy tips for including these movements into your daily routine. Leave with practical tools to elevate your workday wellbeing in just minutes! |
| 8:30 am | ERG Certificate Program Overview Amy Baldwin, President, United Partnerships |
| 9:00 am | Opening Session - Welcome and Keynote Mia Hamm: From World Cup to Olympic Gold Mia Hamm takes audiences through the triumphant story of her inspirational career. She reveals how commitment, preparation, purpose, and effort helped lead her team to World Cup and Olympic victory and achieve in a matter of years what history had long denied women’s athletics—global credibility. Mia offers audiences an amazing opportunity to bear witness to Olympic history and athletic greatness. Moderated by Leslie Walden, Vice President of Public Affairs, Fidelity Investments |
| 10:00 am | Networking Break Pop-up: Women’s Health: The Heart of the Matter
In this quick session, you will hear from health care professionals from UNC Rex on the heart and brain symptoms not to ignore and how our EMS community partners are an integral part of the continuum of care. |
| 10:30 am | Breakout Session I Fit to Lead: Integrating Mental, Physical, and Emotional Wellness for Success In this insightful session, our expert speakers will share research-based and practical strategies for integrating mental, physical, and emotional wellness into your busy life as a professional. You’ll learn how to:
Walk away with a comprehensive, research-backed action steps to improve your overall wellbeing and enhance your leadership potential. Speakers:
Shifting Gears: Accelerating Your Career Advancement Are you feeling stuck in your career? Eager to break through to the next level of leadership? This session is designed to help you overcome obstacles, build momentum, and move forward. Join us for an insightful session, where we’ll share proven strategies, personal stories, and practical tools to accelerate your career and leadership growth. You’ll learn how to:
Leave feeling unstoppable, with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Speakers:
The Inclusive Leader’s Toolkit: Strategies for Success and Impact Join us for a transformative session designed to equip professionals at any stage of their career with the knowledge and tools necessary to become agents of change and inclusion in their workplaces. Whether you’re just starting out or already in a leadership role, this session will provide you with the skills and confidence to build bridges across differences, foster a culture of belonging, and drive business results through inclusive leadership. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, you’ll learn how to:
Gain a deeper understanding and network with like-minded professionals committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all. Speakers:
Ready, Set, Connect: Speed Networking for Women in Business Join us for a dynamic networking experience, where you can connect with numerous fellow attendees one-on-one in a safe setting. Whether you’re looking to offer your expertise and guidance, seek insights and support, aim to expand your community, or simply love meeting people, this session is designed for you. In a speed-dating-style format, attendees will have the opportunity to explore shared interests, goals, and values. Our aim is to facilitate connections that lead to meaningful and lasting relationships to help you grow both personally and professionally. |
| 11:30 am | Lunch and Keynote Crystal Washington: Harness Generative AI Like ChatGPT for Enhanced Performance The future of generative artificial intelligence is here, and you don’t have to look far to see it. Technologies like ChatGPT are quickly becoming the most effective and efficient way for busy business professionals to increase profits and productivity. But if you’re not using it, your competitors certainly will. In this keynote, Crystal Washington will share her insights on how you can use this cutting-edge technology to drive performance and take business to the next level. |
| 1:15 pm | Networking Break Pop-up: It’s More Than Just a Connection Your career is what you make it. Identifying what connections are needed to get the most out of your career is the first step. Learn about what an intrapreneur is and how to leverage and find the right connection to enhance your career and create opportunities. |
| 1:45 pm | Breakout Session II Transition Tales: Navigating Career and Leadership Shifts with Confidence Join us for an inspiring session, where we’ll share stories and strategies for navigating career and leadership transitions with confidence. Whether you’re looking to switch roles or sectors, or grappling with new leadership responsibility, this session will provide the guidance and support you need to make a successful transition. Through real-life examples and interactive discussions with women who have successfully navigated career and leadership transitions, we’ll explore:
Speakers:
Well, This Is Awkward: Building Relationships through Assertive Communication Join us for a dynamic session designed to equip women leaders to navigate conflict with confidence and assertiveness. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to communicate more effectively and resolve conflicts in a way that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and drives business results. Through real-life scenarios, group discussions, and practical exercises, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to:
Take away actionable strategies and techniques to immediately apply in your workplace and become a more confident and effective leader in all domains of life. Speaker:
The State of Caretaking: Something’s Gotta Give Join us for a critical conversation about the state of caretaking in North Carolina and its impact on working families. This session will delve into the pressing issues of affordable and available child care and elder care options, and present the latest data on the challenges faced by families across the state. Through a combination of expert presentations, group discussions, and personal storytelling, we’ll explore:
This session aims to educate and offer support to help navigate the complexities of caretaking, while also advocating for systemic change. Come share your experiences, learn from others, and join a growing movement towards creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for working families. Speakers:
Guided Networking Table Discussions Looking to network with like-minded individuals but in a more structured environment? This session is for you! Guests will select a networking table based on their preferred topic or interest. Table discussion will be facilitated by a topic expert, promising riveting conversation and connections for all. No awkwardness here, all are welcome! |
| 2:45 pm | Reception Book Signing: Jessica Mekkes, I’m Speaking: Every Woman’s Guide to Finding Your Voice and Using It Fearlessly |
| 3:30 pm | Event Concludes |