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The popular and powerful Women > A Force in Business: Raleigh conference is the statewide event for championing equity for women in the workplace. Attendees will explore timely topics on leadership development, mentorship, self-care, financial health, and hear from extraordinary speakers. Do not miss this unforgettable day of personal growth, insight, and inspiration.

The conference is Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 8:15 am until 2:45 pm at the Raleigh Convention Center (Virtual Option) 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, 27601.

To RSVP, please email Jennifer Dart: jdart@ncchamber.com.

View the agenda below:

8:15 am Event Opens

9:00 am Opening Session

Emcee: Barbara Gibbs, ABC11 Eyewitness News

Welcome Remarks: Andrea Hughes, Services Operations Director, Dell Technologies

Opening Keynote: Speak Up. Stand Out. Be Heard.

Charmaine McClarie, C-suite Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, and Executive Presence Authority

Communicating is more than words and phrases. You’ll learn strategies that increase your ability to project competence and presence, voice opinions confidently, speak up in meetings, move plans and projects forward, and present ideas “up, down, and across” the organization in a way that engages and influences the outcome.

10:00 am Networking Break

Visit exhibitors, purchase some great selections in the bookstore, network with fellow attendees, attend a pop-up session, or get your complimentary headshot.

10:05 – 10:20 am Pop-Up Session: 5 Ways Women Can Cultivate their Investing Superpower

Grace Kvantas, CFP, Financial Symmetry
Allison Berger, CFP, Financial Symmetry

10:30 am Breakout Session I

Harness Your Mental Agility: Strategies for Balancing Ambition and Well-Being

The mental, physical, and financial toll of the pandemic on women is undeniable. Managing everyday stress in a fast-paced world of overpacked schedules, changing work environments, and challenges in our personal arenas has become a daunting task. Hear from experts on how to stay on track with your professional and career goals without compromising your overall well-being.

Heather Adams, Senior Counsel, Senior Vice President, First Citizens Bank
Jen Hoverstad, Of Counsel, Forrest Firm
Andrea Rekrut, Senior Manager, Process Engineering and New Products Program Management, Dell
Moderator: Ruby Brown-Herring, President, RBH Wellness Solutions, LLC

Degrees of Leadership: Projecting Your Potential and Talents

This thought-provoking session will delve into the styles and levels of leadership and provide insight into how demonstrating your personal characteristics and qualities can help you illustrate your leadership potential and reach your long-term career goals

Averi Parris, Director of Sales Training, Bioventus
Paula Henderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, Americas, SAS
Abha Bowers, Senior Vice President, Walk West
Megann Vaughn Watters, Vice President, Corporate Development, New Ventures & Strategic Alliances, LabCorp
Moderator: Dr. Jo Allen, President, Meredith College

Build Your Personal Brand and Boost Your Career

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Having a credible personal brand – how you project your authentic self – positions you as a person of influence, opens massive opportunities for growth, and ultimately results in accelerating your career. In this interactive, highly engaging, as well as entertaining session, you will be guided by an improvisation and sketch comedy expert to help you develop your personal brand, communicate your unique personality and leadership traits, and demonstrate the value you bring to your organization.

Robyn Lynne Norris, Core Faculty and Solutions Designer, Business Improv

11:30 am Lunch Session

Emcee: Lauren Johnson, ABC11 Eyewitness News

The Importance of Women in the Workforce: How to Attract and Retain Them

We have all seen the data and positive impacts of having a diverse workforce – especially women in leadership positions – on employee engagement, creativity, productivity, and motivation levels. Join in the dialog on the importance of recruiting, rewarding, mentoring, and promoting women to forge a path for the current and future generations of female leaders.

Sepi Saidi, President and CEO, SEPI, Inc.
Paul Rea, Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions North America, BASF
Kelly Williamson, President, North America, APCO Worldwide
Moderator: Gary Salamido, President and CEO, NC Chamber

1:15 pm Networking Break

Visit exhibitors, purchase some great selections in the bookstore, network with fellow attendees, attend a pop-up session, or get your complimentary headshot.

1:20 – 1:35 pm Pop-Up Session: Streamline Your Life: Apps to Save You Time

Emmy Boyette, Director of Marketing, NC Chamber

Time is one of our greatest, and least abundant, resources. Finding balance while juggling work, school, and life is a challenge many of us face. In this session, you will learn about apps and resources to make life easier and more productive.

1:45 pm Breakout Session II

Closing the Equity Gap: Communicating Your Worth

The research clearly illustrates women continue to lag professionally not only in compensation, but also in their trajectory to leadership roles. This session will focus on building your communication skills to help you assert yourself. From negotiating a salary, promotion, or work-life benefits, to having your voice, ideas, and decisions heard, you will walk away with tangible action items to advocate for yourself as well as other women in your organization.

Rachel Chase, Vice President, Human Resources & Communications, Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Latisha Johnson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Girl Scouts – NC Coastal Pines
Kim Korando, Partner, Smith Anderson
Moderator: Sterling Ingui, VP, Business Information Security Officer, Fidelity Investments

Using Your Privilege to Become an Ally in Your Organization and Beyond

Privilege is a complex topic because people often associate it with affluence, race, or gender, and it can often carry a negative connotation. However, to move beyond the resistance associated with the notion of privilege and leverage its benefits, we first need to understand it and broaden its scope. In this interactive session, The Diversity Movement consultant Sharon Delaney McCloud will lead you through an exercise and then discuss how to use our advantages to advocate for equity and inclusion across our organizations and communities.

Sharon Delaney McCloud, Director, Corporate Communications, UNC Health

Career Longevity: How to Remain Marketable

Whether you are just starting out on your career path, contemplating embarking on a new professional journey, hit the mid-point and plateaued, or are perfectly content, showcasing your talents should always be top of mind to stay current in today’s marketplace. This practical session will provide attendees with tips and best practices on how to stand out in a crowd.

Marirose Steigerwald, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Delta Dental of North Carolina
Ellen Kearney, Vice President of HR Operations, Curi
Yadira H. Salamander, Senior Manager, Bulk and Utilities Process Engineering, Seqirus
Moderator: Veronica Clemons, Communications Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Wells Fargo

2:45 pm Event Concludes

About the NC Chamber:

The NC Chamber works to research, develop, advocate, and communicate for solutions and policies that produce a nationally competitive business climate in North Carolina. For more information, visit ncchamber.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2hUkTYRQU&authuser=0