December 2, 2026
Join hundreds of ambitious women and their supportive male counterparts on Wednesday, December 2, in Raleigh 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.
Why THIS Conference is Different:
- Globally-renowned, inspirational keynote speakers.
- Numerous breakout session options for guests; you choose the sessions that align to your interests and career aspirations.
- Expanded exhibit hall, showcasing more than 40 businesses, many women-owned, with services and products to enhance your quality of life.
- Brief, pop-up sessions offering impactful takeaways in bite-sized format.
- Networking opportunities, from speed networking to guided networking groups, for forging valuable connections and expanding your community.
- On-site headshot photography for those looking to update their personal brand or resume.
- Women’s bookstore with handpicked selection of the latest titles and more!
Watch a highlight from a previous event to get a glimpse of the experience:
Presented By
Agenda
Wednesday, December 2
| 8:00 am | Event Opens and Breakfast |
| 9:00 am | Opening Session & Keynote At the Top of Their Game: Women Leading North Carolina’s Professional Sports Organizations What does it take to lead at the highest levels of professional sports? In this candid, interview-style conversation, Meredith Archie of the NC Chamber will sit down with Kristi Coleman of the Carolina Panthers and Shelly Cayette-Weston of the Charlotte Hornets to explore the leadership journeys that brought them to two of North Carolina’s most prominent sports organizations. From navigating pivotal career moments and complex organizations to building resilience, leading through change, and creating opportunities for others, Kristi and Shelly will share the experiences and lessons that have shaped their leadership. Their stories offer an inspiring look at what it means to lead with purpose, authenticity, and impact—and what it takes to reach the top while helping others rise along the way. |
| 10:00 am | Networking Break |
| 10:45 am | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:45 am | Lunch and Keynote Bet on Yourself: The Courage to Challenge, Change and Lead Cindy Eckert, CEO and Founder or Sprout Pharmaceuticals knows what it means to challenge the status quo. As the founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, she made history by bringing Addyi, the first FDA-approved treatment for low sexual desire in women, to market—and later fought to reclaim the company and continue the mission she started. A trailblazing entrepreneur, advocate and 2026 TIME100 Health honoree, Eckert has spent more than 25 years challenging assumptions about women’s health, entrepreneurship and leadership. Her journey is one of bold decisions, setbacks, reinvention and an unwavering belief that when the system is not working, leaders have the power—and responsibility—to change it. In this inspiring keynote, Eckert will share the lessons she has learned from taking on entrenched systems, navigating high-stakes business decisions and turning adversity into opportunity. With her signature candor, energy and fierce advocacy for women, she will challenge attendees to question the rules, trust their convictions and lead boldly—even when the path forward isn’t obvious. Attendees will leave energized to challenge conventional thinking, advocate for meaningful change and use their influence to create greater opportunities for themselves and the women who follow them. |
| 1:45 pm | Networking Break |
| 2:30 pm | Breakout Sessions |
| 3:30 pm | Sip and Shop: Networking Reception |
| 4:15 am | Event Concludes |