Bringing together the most forward thinking female leaders.

APRIL 13, 2017

7:30 am – 4:15 pm

WORCESTER, MA

The Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference

This conference is an opportunity for women to build their careers and share their experiences with other women. This year’s conference will expands on the mentorship program, “Reach Up & Out” to provide opportunities for conference participants to connect and engage.

Keynote Speakers

Alison Levine

Levine, a world-renowned adventurer, shares lessons learned from various extreme environments–ranging from Mt Everest to the South Pole–and explains how they apply to business and beyond. Her advice is flat-out contrarian and flies in the face of what you’ve been told by well-known management gurus and highly-paid executive coaches: encourage big egos, go backward —…

Anita Hill

University Professor of Law, Public Policy and Women’s Studies; Heller Graduate School of Policy and Management – Brandeis University; Of Counsel at Cohen, Milstein, Sellers and Toll – Washington, D.C. The youngest of 13 children from a farm in Oklahoma, Hill received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1980. She began her career in…

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2017 Conference Schedule

Morning

7:30 am Registration
8:00 am Opening Remarks
8:15 am – 10 am Breakfast and Morning Keynote

Welcome, Breakfast, Kimberly Salmon, of Fallon Health, and Chair of the 2017 WWLC Planning Committee, will open the conference.

Alison Levine, team captain for a Mount Everest summit expedition will kick off the day with an inspiring message for conference attendees.
Breakfast Sponsor: Coghlin Electrical Contractors

Keynote Sponsor: CSX
10 am – 10:15 am Marketplace

Attendees will have a chance to network and shop throughout the marketplace that features services, products, and volunteer opportunities.

Sponsors: Bay State Savings Bank, MCPHS University, Reliant Medical Group

Mid-Day

10:15 am - 11:30 am Breakout Sessions

Attendees will have a choice of workshops located in rooms A-E
11:30 am – 11:45 am Marketplace & Networking

Attendees will have a chance to network and shop for services, products, and volunteer opportunities at the marketplace.

Sponsors: Bay State Savings Bank, MCPHS University, and Reliant Medical Group
11:45 am – 1:15 pm Lunch and Keynote Speaker

Attendees will enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by remarks from conference sponsors.

Professor of Law, Public Policy & Women’s Studies, advocate and author Anita Hill will deliver the keynote address.
Lunch Sponsor: Saint Vincent Hospital
Keynote Sponsor: The Hanover Insurance Group

Afternoon

2 pm - 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions

Attendees will have a choice of workshops held in rooms A – E.
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Networking Reception

This networking reception will offer a unique opportunity to engage with professional women from all industries and at various stages of their career. Don’t miss it! Stay tuned for additional details on this important conference event.

Sponsor: Stop & Shop

Morning Workshops

10:15 am – 11:30 am

Afternoon Workshops

2 pm – 3:15 pm

2017 Conference Exhibitors (TO DATE)

Rescom Exteriors

SKM Jewelers

Saint Vincent Hospital

Servpro of South Worcester

United Way of Central Mass.

Worcester Center For Crafts

Worcester Jewish Community Center

WPI – Foisie School of Business

Worcester State University

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Work of Art Cookies

Young Professional Women’s Assoc. of Worcester

YWCA of Central Mass., Inc.

Entertainment by Women of Worcester

Women of Worcester Productions

An event production company dedicated to celebrating, inspiring, and encouraging women in Worcester County and beyond through music, art, and leadership.

www.facebook.com/womenofworcester

www.womenofworcesterproductions.com

Cara Brindisi has been performing as a solo guitarist and singer since 2010 after completing her studies at Berklee College of Music. Originally from Central Mass, Cara has expanded her musical ventures throughout New England while also staying close to home in the Worcester music scene. Cara received the award for Best Solo Acoustic Act for the 2014 Worcester Music Awards, the same year she released her first EP Album, ‘Until Tomorrow.’ Over the last 5-years, Cara has performed at various venues such as The Hampton Beach Ballroom Casino in Hampton, NH (opener for Chris Isaak and for Tower of Power), ASYLUM in Portland, ME, and the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Leominster, MA. When Cara is not performing, she works as a board-certified Music Therapist for a local Hospice agency.

Cara founded Women of Worcester Productions in 2016 and now serves as Co-Director.

www.facebook.com/carabrindisimusic | www.carabrindisimusic.com

Amanda Cote has been making waves in the New England area, playing solo shows across Massachusetts and New Hampshire since 2011. Her performances are described as soulful and emotional. Whether in a restaurant, pub, wedding, or concert hall, Amanda wow’s the listeners with the sheer honesty and power in her voice while accompanying herself on her Martin guitar. Amanda recently took on a leadership role as Co-Director for Women of Worcester Productions.

www.facebook.com/amandacotemusic | www.amandacotesings.com

Sarah French is a Worcester based singer and songwriter. With her band ‘Iza Jane, she presents a soulful mix of folk, blues, and country roots. ‘Iza Jane’s debut release (Dirty Hands, 2013) received warm praise and critical acclaim: “…a vibrant mix of guitars, banjos and soulful singing…”(Pulse Magazine). French is also the Co-Director of Women of Worcester Productions, an organization dedicated to celebrating, inspiring, and encouraging women in Worcester County through music, art, and leadership. Her career as an environmentalist supports her close relationship with nature and is a fundamental source of inspiration.

www.facebook.com/sarahfrenchmusic | www.izajane.com.

Memories from #WWLC2016

Reach Up & Out Mentoring Program Expands

Are you a seasoned businesswoman or other professional who would like to encourage up-and-coming professionals in their careers?

Are you new to a profession or an industry, or seeking guidance and advice from an experienced insider?

Then ask for more details about the Reach Up and Out Mentoring Program
at the eigth annual Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference.

Sponsored by Becker College, this program was created to introduce seasoned professionals with newcomers at the conference. Mentees will meet mentors who will share their own experiences and knowledge, answer questions or introduce them to others at the conference.

Signing up is as easy as registering for the conference—once you have registered for the conference, select ‘Interested in Becoming a Mentor/ Mentee.’ Already registered? Click here to take a survey to indicate that you want to be a mentor or mentee.

Once you sign-up, we’ll follow up with you to provide us with some additional information about yourself. In the weeks before the conference, we will facilitate an introduction between you and your mentor or mentee. This will allow you to start getting to know each other, and make plans to meet up at the conference (or before!) for one-on-one advice and guidance.

We recommend that you and your mentor/mentee attend the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours on March 16 at Deadhorse Hill or the Women’s Initiative event in June (details to be shared). And finally, to fully benefit the program, we strongly recommend that you and your mentor/mentee attend a workshop together or attend the networking portion of the conference and engage in conversation on areas of special interest or need – in other words, “table-talk”!

As a mentor, we’d like you to:

Contact your assigned mentee before the conference to introduce yourself beforehand and break the ice!
Attend Business After Hours on March 16, and connect with others in the mentor program.
Meet with your mentee at least once again during the conference for some one-on-one time.
Join at least a workshop or networking portion of the conference with your mentee.

BECOME A MENTOR OR MENTEE