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21st Annual

Women Lead Festival

OCTOBER 05 - 06, 2023

BROOKLYN, NY

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Join us at the 2023 Women Lead Festival with some of the world's top women leaders in business, nonprofits, public policy, science, and the arts. Collaborate with your peers on advancing allyship, redefining authentic leadership, innovating on recruitment, retention, re-entering the workforce, and recreating new inclusive workplaces.

Discussion topics include:

  • The Leadership Journeys of Some of the Most Powerful Women Executives in the World Today
  • Pay Equity and Transparency
  • Combating Sexual Harassment
  • Transforming Historically Male-Dominated Cultures
  • Authentic Leadership and Mental Wellbeing
  • Women's Health
  • Mentoring Future Leaders - and Ourselves

Who Should Attend: We recommend this conference for senior-level women and men who support women's advancement. Titles may include Chief Human Resource Officers, Chief Diversity Officers, Women's Initiative Officers as well as Vice Presidents and Directors of Diversity and Inclusion, Learning and Development, Employee Engagement, Employee Experience, Human Resources, and Talent Management.  Also of interest to Executive Sponsors and leaders of Women's Employee Resource Groups.

 

Women Lead Festival 2022:

"A lot of interesting ideas, amazing speakers, and overall, a wonderful opportunity to connect with other professional women!" Corporate Paralegal, Cantor Fitzgerald 

"Amazing speakers and networking opportunities!" Women’s Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of the Navy 

"It was an amazing experience!" Business Transformation Officer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory 

   

 

 

Speakers

Conference Agenda

Thursday, October 05, 2023

08:25 AM - 08:30 AM ET

Welcome and Introductions

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08:30 AM - 08:50 AM ET

Listening to Each Other

Attendees will use the conference app and a special networking exercise to meet each other and learn about their sectors, their roles, and their goals …

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08:50 AM - 09:20 AM ET

Paula Johnson, President of Wellesley College

We are honored to welcome Paula Johnson, the 14th president of Wellesley College, one of the most highly respected institutions of higher education in …

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09:25 AM - 10:00 AM ET

The Purple Method: From #MeToo to What's Next

The Purple Method has brought together a broad coalition of diverse stakeholders in the battle against sexual harassment, working together to implemen …

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10:05 AM - 10:35 AM ET

Priscilla Almodovar, Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae

We welcome Priscilla Almodovar, Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae, one of the leading providers of mortgage financing in the U.S. We will discuss …

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10:40 AM - 11:10 AM ET

Jessica Spence, President of North America, Beam Suntory

We welcome Jessica Spence, President of North America at Beam Suntory, to share her journey to the top of the still male-dominated global spirits indu …

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11:20 AM - 11:55 AM ET

General Dynamics IT President Amy Gilliland:How a US Naval Aca…

We welcome Amy Gilliland, president of the largest business unit of General Dynamics Corporation. She will share how her experience as a US Navy veter …

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11:55 AM - 12:10 PM ET

Presentation and Performance: Tapping into Dance Wisdom

With digitalization, remote work, and AI de-emphasizing human in-person participation, it is time to lean into dance. Drawing upon research and 30 yea …

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12:10 PM - 01:00 PM ET

Concurrent Lunch Workshop - How to Drop the Ball: Strategic D…

Keep Company specializes in giving high-achieving parents and caregivers the tools to integrate the demands of work and family - while also taking car …

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12:10 PM - 01:00 PM ET

Lunch

 

01:00 PM - 01:30 PM ET

Belonging in Today's Workplace: How Business Leaders Can Ampli…

People are essential to the critical services businesses provide across industries and sectors. Amidst the challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the G …

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01:35 PM - 02:05 PM ET

Anne Pasternak, Director of the Brooklyn Museum

We welcome Anne Pasternak, Director of the Brooklyn Museum, one of the oldest and largest fine arts institutions in the nation. For more than thirty …

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02:20 PM - 03:00 PM ET

Panel: Transforming Cultures

We welcome distinguished C-suite leaders from historically male-dominated sectors such as tech and finance to share what it takes to drive real cultur …

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03:05 PM - 03:50 PM ET

Developing the Next Generation of Leaders and Allies

Leaders of major nonprofit organizations share how they work to inspire, support and develop girls and boys as they grow into our next generation of l …

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03:50 PM - 04:20 PM ET

Book Club: Juliet Funt, Author of A Minute to Think

It can happen to any of us: a constant "busyness" amidst the mayhem of work and life that can deprive you of the oxygen your talents need to really ca …

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04:20 PM - 04:25 PM ET

Day One Recap, Day Two Preview

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04:25 PM - 04:50 PM ET

Resistance Revival Chorus

The Resistance Revival Chorus (RRC) is a collective of more than 60 women, and non-binary singers, who join together to breathe joy and song into the …

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04:50 PM - 06:00 PM ET

Reception with a Touch of Magic

Join us for cocktails, appetizers, and roving performances by magician Kayla Drescher.

05:30 PM - 06:30 PM ET

Brooklyn Bridge: Walking with History

Join fellow attendees in an invigorating, informative and inspiring walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and learn the remarkable hist …

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Friday, October 06, 2023

08:00 AM - 08:50 AM ET

Breakfast Roundtables

Breakfast Roundtables Attendees are welcome to join a Breakfast Roundtable for small group discussions on focused issues including:

1. Return …

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08:50 AM - 09:05 AM ET

Women in Magic

Throughout magic history, women have contributed extensively to the work of magicians you see and know today. But why haven't we heard of them? Kayla, …

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09:00 AM - 09:05 AM ET

Welcome and Introductions

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09:10 AM - 09:40 AM ET

Conversation: New Narratives

In this conversation, we will hear from leaders changing the narratives around gender, in news, television, film, fiction and nonfiction, and the impa …

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09:45 AM - 10:20 AM ET

Claire Spofford, CEO of J. Jill, and Chip Wade, CEO of Union S…

We are honored to welcome two CEOs of companies known for innovating around inclusive, welcoming experiences: Union Square Hospitality Group, comprisi …

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10:35 AM - 11:25 AM ET

Panel: Pay Equity and Transparency

When it comes to pay equity - and wealth equity - for women, what is having the most impact? What are the biggest challenges? How can we make a differ …

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11:30 AM - 12:00 PM ET

Health Without Shame

President Paula Johnson of Wellesley College helped begin our Festival with a discussion of her groundbreaking research on gender bias in health care. …

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12:00 PM - 12:15 PM ET

Bacchantae: Barnard's A Cappella Group

Join us for a great vocal performance by Bacchantae: Barnard's A Cappella Group, followed by a discussion with the artists. Baccha …

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12:25 PM - 01:10 PM ET

Panel: How We Mentor our Teams and Ourselves

Powerful leaders across sectors share experiences and advice on how they mentor new potential leaders - and how they have shepherded their own advance …

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01:10 PM - 01:15 PM ET

Conclusion

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Special Lunch Workshop

Thursday, October 05, 2023

12:10 PM - 01:00 PM

How to Drop the Ball: Strategic Decision-Making at Work and Home

Keep Company specializes in giving high-achieving parents and caregivers the tools to integrate the demands of work and family - while also taking care of themselves. In this in …

Frequently Asked Questions

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
Address: 333 Adams St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 246-7000

Women Lead Festival

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