The 7th annual Women|Future Conference was held virtually on July 23, bringing together ambitious, forward-thinking women from across industries and career stages to connect and discuss key issues impacting their industries, careers, and lives.

A professional development, learning, and networking event launched in 2018 to complement the highly successful Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program, the Women|Future Conference brings together a community of women small business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals interested in starting a business.

Attendees tuned in from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe. This year the agenda featured sessions that focus on small business and entrepreneurship.

If you missed the live conference, you can still watch all the session replays for just $5, available until the end of 2024 through Zoom Events. Register for access here.

Key Takeaways and Quotations
The conference kicked off with Keynote Speaker Heather Hoytink, President, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America. In this role, Heather leads a beverage portfolio that has grown to nearly $5.5B since she started in 2022. As the company’s first woman named division president, she is responsible for end-to-end P&L ownership and manages all cross-functional activity inclusive of commercial, go-to-market, manufacturing, operations, and marketing. Heather was honored with a Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the 2023 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

In her session titled "Igniting Your Influence," Heather was joined by ForbesWomen Contributor, Vickie Chachere, to engage in an intimate fireside chat delving into the profound impact of influence and relationships on one’s path to career success. 

Heather shared how her relationships have shaped her career, how she feels about being a woman in an executive role, and the concept of "returnship." She commented: "Be grounded in what sacrifices and trade-offs you're willing to make in your career and stay true to your principles. If you have great joy somewhere, stay the course. The grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Worry more about the collection of qualifications that will best help you get your dream job down the line."

She emphasized how mentors completely transformed her career: "They took a vested interest in me and helped me navigate corporate America," teaching her how to persuade and influence, how to design a career map, and sharing their professional insights. To help other women reach success, Heather created a returnship program at PepsiCo in partnership with "Path Forward." These are 16-week paid learning opportunities for women who had to take a break from work, whether due to family needs, health issues, etc. Returnships serve to help women assimilate back into corporate America with the support, mentors, and resources to be successful. At the end of the experience, if both parties are interested, "returners" may be offered a permanent position.

In her closing remarks, Heather encouraged the audience: "It's a great time to be a woman—we need to harness this moment and do great things."

The next session was a panel discussion, "Unlocking Awards Success: The Power of Stevie Awards in Building Credibility and Business Growth," which examined how organizations can utilize Stevie Awards to enhance their credibility, leverage their achievements to drive business growth, and effectively integrate award recognition into their overall strategic approach.

Nicole Schmitz, Founder & CEO of a leadership coaching consultancy, started her business during the COVID pandemic. She shared how winning an International Business Award helped her business grow rapidly. She encouraged others not to wait to nominate their business if they have found success—even if their business is newer: "My business went from zero to 100 after I won that first International Business Award. The more awards you enter, the more credibility, confidence, and experience you gain!"

She explained how "the backstage interview and the awards ceremony add another layer of leverage that provide value as well," while sharing that her red carpet interview from The 2023 International Business Awards ceremony in Rome, Italy, racked up over 20k views online!

CEO of Branch & Bramble Emily Lyman commented: "Applying for an award is a testament to your confidence in your company or your campaign to even submit. You can build out your campaigns with the Stevie Awards in mind: How can I craft a campaign that is award worthy? What is cutting edge and innovative and will help us win?"

Managing Partner and Founder of Purpol Marketing and 36-time Stevie Award winner Denise O'Leary, MBE, said that she collects press mentions, screenshots, and other articles that will support her Stevie Award nominations throughout the year. She recommends that all prospective entrants make a practice of this, so that it's easier to find and craft the story of your business accomplishments when it's time to collect evidence and make a case for any award submission.

In the third session of the conference, "Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles" panelists hosted by Trust Relations CEO & Founder April White shared advice for brand leaders to decide when to take a public stance on issues in the press and how to prepare for and manage crisis situations.

Panelists included Rachel Griffin, Co-Founder of PlayWise Partners; Ronjini Joshua, Owner & President of The Silver Telegram; Catharine Montgomery, Founder & CEO of Better Together; and Marissa Nance, CEO & Founder of Native Tongue Communications.

All panelists agreed how important honesty and consistency are in developing trust with an audience. Catherine noted that it is just as essential to know your audience: "If leaders and companies don't know their audience, they can't connect authentically." Understanding your audience will help you create messaging that will truly resonate.

Ronjini added that consistency of messaging across channels should involve clear communication between internal teams so that all departments of an organization can be on the same page regarding messaging and tactics.

These strategies contribute to building authentic connections and trust with your audience and customers. In addition, if an organization makes a misstep in messaging or has compromised its reputation in another way, having that foundation of trust will help to repair and heal brand loyalty. Panelists highly recommend that leaders have a ready-to-go crisis management plan in place (before it's ever needed) that is up-to-date and consistently reviewed.

Marissa offered four practical tips for organizations who find themselves in a crisis situation: 1) make sure you clearly understand what the issue is—don't react to a misunderstanding or something that doesn't even exist; 2) determine if the issue is based in fact or fiction; 3) address it with sincerity in a way people feel seen and heard; and 4) take a step back during the situation and reflect on if what you're doing is actually working—if not, optimize and relaunch where and when needed.

If resources allow, there may be instances when you need to ask for help. "Don’t spend hours trying to be an expert when you can outsource to someone who is an expert," said Rachel. Even though social and cultural pressure sometimes makes women feel they should manage alone, part of being a leader is honestly evaluating your strengths and determining when to ask for assistance and support.

In the next session, "Breaking Barriers, Building Empires and Elevating Women: Driving Change in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Business" speakers shared their personal journeys and experiences through the world of leadership and entrepreneurship.

It all begins with self-confidence, noted business strategist Kerry-Ann Powell, Founder of Trafalgar Strategies LLC: "It is important for you to always go back to how you see yourself....Do the work within....That internal belief about who you are and your vision is what enables you to step into yourself in a more positive way." 

Bosky Mukerjee, Founder of PMDojo, echoed Kerry-Ann's sentiments and added that you need to decide on your non-negotiable priorities that support your core values. She related her own experiences of hitting rock bottom in her mental and physical health while serving as President of a tech company. She said it was months of inner work reflecting on what she really cared about and what she wanted the next few years to look like: "You only grow when you are in the deep end of the pool," she said. Despite the intense pressure to shatter the glass ceiling, sometimes you have to walk away from roles or activities that are not serving your vision-- even if they might be million-dollar offers.

The panelists examined the role “hustle culture” has played in motivating and driving change, however, Angelique Hamilton, CEO & Chief Coaching Officer at HRCG, noted that there should be boundaries and parameters that you determine for yourself. Business Growth Strategist and Consultant Danielle Levy of The Boardroom League agreed, noting that this involves being in alignment with who you are to create your own journey of what work-life balance and professional development look like in practice.

Bosky highlighted the value of “finding your tribe”—the people who understand and support you—or if you can’t find a tribe you fit into, create your own and invite others with like priorities and goals. This also gives women leaders an opportunity to make space for other women in challenging sectors, she noted.

When it comes to battling against stereotypes and snap judgments in the workplace, panelists remarked that there are times for productive corrections and times to let it go. You can’t teach everyone good manners, said Bosky, relating how she used to get quite angry at the stereotyping that occurred in her workplace: “It’s all about picking your fights….be at peace in the things you can control.” 

In the final session of the conference, speakers explored "Leveraging AI Technology and Navigating the Social Media Landscape" panelists discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for businesses, featuring insights from industry leaders including an AI tech startup Founder, a Product Leader, an AI Strategist, and the SVP of Growth for Fortune 500 client brands.

AMP Solutions CEO Lisa Thee emphasized the importance of automation in reducing the mental load for leaders and employees and establishing a brand presence. She highlighted how AI and social media can help startups and businesses create engaging content, turning complex information into digestible sound bites. "AI is like hiring an amazing assistant that allows you to focus more on your super special powers," Lisa commented, which allows professionals to do less of the minor organizing and planning tasks that get in the way of executing their vision.

Kristen Dolan, SVP of Growth at Influential, discussed the integration of AI into social platforms, including tools like ChatGPT, and how companies are leveraging AI to enhance productivity. She cited examples like Meta AI, TikTok Symphony, and Snapchat’s MY AI, which provide small and medium-sized businesses with powerful, accessible tools for content creation and trend detection.

Deboshree Dutta, Founder & CEO of Criya, elaborated on AI’s impact on marketing, explaining how AI can create multi-mode content, streamline drip campaigns, and boost sales productivity by providing executive summaries and outlines.

The panel conversation also touched on the evolution of creator content. Kristen underscored the enduring need for genuine human connections, while Deboshree spoke about the burgeoning creator and influencer economy. She noted that content creation involves not just creativity but also business acumen, and AI can assist with the demanding business aspects. The panelists agreed that AI tools can help creators maintain authenticity and scale their efforts, suggesting that businesses and individuals experiment with AI to understand its capabilities.

Stay Connected: Replay Sessions and Nominate for Women in Business Stevies
If you didn’t get a chance to register for the live event, you can watch all the session replays for just $5, available until the end of 2024 through Zoom Events. Whether you attended the conference or are catching up now, these sessions are a treasure trove of knowledge.

Individuals and organizations can also still submit nominations for the 2024 (21st annual) Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. Entries will be accepted through August 21. Request the Entry Kit Now.

Finalists will be announced in September, and the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie-winner placements of the Finalists revealed during a gala awards dinner in New York City on Friday, November 8.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about next year's conference.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS AND PARTNERS​

Gold Sponsor:
The Boardroom League

Silver Sponsors: 
nFOLD
Dominique Young Law, P.C. 

Bronze Sponsors:
Enterprising Women Magazine
Divine Wealth Solutions
Lead Twist
PMDojo

Noch ist etwas Zeit, sich für die 7. jährliche Women|Future Conference anzumelden, die von den Stevie® Awards for Women in Business veranstaltet wird!

Die diesjährige Konferenz wird am 23. Juli 2024 in virtueller Form stattfinden. Melden Sie sich an, indem Sie unsere Registrierungsseite besuchen.

Ziel der 7. jährlichen Women|Future Conference, die von den Stevie® Awards veranstaltet wird, ist es, durch aufschlussreiche Vorträge, Workshops und Networking Kontakte zu knüpfen und die berufliche und persönliche Entwicklung zu fördern. Wenn Sie Inhaberin eines Kleinunternehmens, Führungskraft oder Unternehmerin sind oder die Gründung eines Unternehmens in Erwägung ziehen, sollten Sie die Veranstaltung #WomenFuture24 nicht verpassen.

#WomenFuture24 Hauptrednerin und Details zur Tagesordnung
Wir freuen uns, dass wir Heather Hoytink, President, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America, als Hauptrednerin für die 2024 Women|Future Conference gewinnen konnten.

Heather ist Präsidentin der PBNA South Division und leitet ein Getränkeportfolio, das seit ihrem Amtsantritt im Jahr 2022 auf fast 5,5 Milliarden US-Dollar angewachsen ist. Als erste Frau im Unternehmen, die zur Präsidentin des Geschäftsbereichs ernannt wurde, ist Heather für die gesamte Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung verantwortlich und leitet alle funktionsübergreifenden Aktivitäten in den Bereichen Handel, Markteinführung, Produktion, Betrieb und Marketing. Heather wurde bei den Stevie® Awards for Women in Business 2023 mit einem Gold Stevie Award für "weibliche Führungskraft des Jahres" ausgezeichnet.

Heather wird zusammen mit der ForbesWomen-Mitarbeiterin Vickie Chachere ein intimes Kamingespräch führen, in dem es um die tiefgreifenden Auswirkungen von Einfluss und Beziehungen auf den Karriereerfolg geht.

Die virtuellen Sitzungen sind auf ehrgeizige Fachleute zugeschnitten, die lernen und sich darüber austauschen möchten, was in ihren Organisationen funktioniert, die Herausforderungen, denen sie gemeinsam gegenüberstehen, lösen und wertvolle Kontakte knüpfen möchten.

Sie können Diskussionen über alles erwarten, von der Nutzung von Mentorship als Weg zur beruflichen und persönlichen Entwicklung, über das Gewinnen von Aufmerksamkeit durch Öffentlichkeitsarbeit bis hin zu den Auswirkungen von Technologie auf das menschliche Verhalten. In Sitzungen zu Marketingstrategien, Unternehmensführung und vielem mehr werden Sie praktische Erkenntnisse gewinnen. Zu den Sitzungen gehören:

Aufbau einer vertrauenswürdigen Marke: Authentizität in einer Zeit öffentlicher Kontrolle und angesagter Nachrichtenzyklen

In dieser von April White, CEO und Gründerin von Trust Relations, moderierten Sitzung werden die Podiumsteilnehmer Rachel Griffin (Mitbegründerin von PlayWise Partners), Ronjini Joshua (Eigentümerin und Präsidentin von The Silver Telegram) und Marissa Nance (CEO und Gründerin von Native Tongue Communications) Ratschläge für Markenführer geben, um zu entscheiden, wann sie in der Presse öffentlich Stellung beziehen sollten und wie sie sicherstellen können, dass sie ihre Behauptungen auch belegen können, wenn sie sich dazu entscheiden.

Den Erfolg von Auszeichnungen nutzbar machen: Die Macht der Stevie Awards beim Aufbau von Glaubwürdigkeit und Unternehmenswachstum

This panel discussion will delve into how organizations can utilize Stevie Awards to enhance their credibility, leverage their achievements to drive business growth, and effectively integrate award recognition into their overall strategic approach.Diese Podiumsdiskussion wird sich damit befassen, wie Organisationen die Stevie Awards nutzen können, um ihre Glaubwürdigkeit zu steigern, ihre Erfolge zu nutzen, um das Geschäftswachstum voranzutreiben, und die Auszeichnung wirksam in ihre gesamte Strategie zu integrieren.

Barrieren brechen, Imperien aufbauen und Frauen fördern: Den Wandel in Führung, Unternehmertum und Wirtschaft vorantreiben

Diese Sitzung beleuchtet die Wege und Erfahrungen von Frauen in der Welt der Führung und des Unternehmertums und zeigt, wie leidenschaftsgetriebene Initiativen unsichtbare Barrieren durchbrechen und Geschäftsbranchen revolutionieren. 

Nutzung von KI-Technologie und Navigation in der Social-Media-Landschaft: Strategien für Unternehmenswachstum und -erfolg

In dieser dynamischen Podiumsdiskussion bringen wir eine Gruppe von Frauen zusammen, die an der Spitze von Innovation und Technologie stehen. Nehmen Sie an dieser Sitzung teil, um in das Reich der künstlichen Intelligenz und ihr transformatives Potenzial für Unternehmen einzutauchen. Die Diskussion wird von einem vielfältigen Panel geleitet, das aus einer Gründerin eines AI-Tech-Startups, einer Produktleiterin, einer AI-Strategin und einer Senior Vice Präsidentin für Wachstum von Fortune-500-Kundenmarken besteht. 

Die 21. Stevie Awards for Women in Business
Im Jahr 2018 wurde die erste jährliche Women|Future Conference von den Stevie Awards präsentiert, um das äußerst erfolgreiche Stevie® Awards for Women in Business-Programm, die weltweit höchste Auszeichnung für Unternehmerinnen, weibliche Führungskräfte, Mitarbeiterinnen und die von ihnen geführten Organisationen, zu ergänzen. Viele der Rednerinnen von 2024 sind ehemalige und aktuelle Stevie-Award-Gewinnerinnen, die in einem (oder mehreren) unserer neun Stevie-Awards-Programme ausgezeichnet worden sind.

Einzelpersonen und Organisationen können noch Nominierungen für die 21. jährlichen  Stevie® Awards for Women in Business 2024 einreichen. Der letzte Einsendeschluss ist der 24. Juli, aber verspätete Einsendungen werden bis zum 21. August gegen Zahlung einer Verspätungsgebühr angenommen. Fordern Sie jetzt die Teilnahmeunterlagen an.

Die Finalistinnen werden im September bekannt gegeben und die Platzierungen der Gold-, Silber- und Bronze-Stevie-Gewinnerinnen während eines Gala-Dinners in New York City am Freitag, 8. November, bekannt gegeben.

 

There's still time to register for the 7th annual Women|Future Conference, hosted by the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business!

This year’s conference will take place virtually on July 23, 2024. Sign up by visiting our registration page.

The mission of the 7th annual Women|Future Conference, hosted by the Stevie® Awards, is to foster connections and professional and personal development through insightful sessions, workshops, and networking. If you’re a small business owner, executive, entrepreneur, or considering starting a business, #WomenFuture24 is an event you won’t want to miss.

#WomenFuture24 Keynote Speaker and Agenda Details
We are excited to have Heather Hoytink, President, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America, as our Keynote speaker for the 2024 Women|Future Conference.

Heather is the President of PBNA South Division, leading a beverage portfolio that has grown to nearly $5.5B since she stepped into the role in 2022. As the company’s first woman named division president, Heather is responsible for end-to-end P&L ownership and manages all cross-functional activity inclusive of commercial, go-to-market, manufacturing, operations, and marketing. Heather was honored with a Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the 2023 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

Heather will be joined by ForbesWomen Contributor Vickie Chachere, to engage in an intimate fireside chat, delving into the profound impact of influence and relationships on one’s path to career success.

Virtual sessions are tailored to ambitious professionals looking to learn and share what’s working in their organizations, troubleshoot the challenges they collectively face, and make meaningful connections.

You can expect discussions about everything from how to utilize mentorship as a path to professional and personal development, gain traction through public relations, and how technology affects human behavior. You’ll learn practical takeaways from sessions on marketing strategies, business ownership, and more. Sessions include:

Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles

In this session hosted by Trust Relations CEO & Founder April White, panelists Rachel Griffin (Co-Founder of PlayWise Partners), Ronjini Joshua (Owner & President of The Silver Telegram) and Marissa Nance (CEO & Founder of Native Tongue Communications) will share advice for brand leaders to decide when to take a public stance on issues in the press, and how to ensure that when they decide to do so, they can back up their claims.

Unlocking Awards Success: The Power of Stevie Awards in Building Credibility and Business Growth

This panel discussion will delve into how organizations can utilize Stevie Awards to enhance their credibility, leverage their achievements to drive business growth, and effectively integrate award recognition into their overall strategic approach.

Breaking Barriers, Building Empires and Elevating Women: Driving Change in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Business

This session explores women’s journeys and experiences through the world of leadership and entrepreneurship, highlighting how passion-driven initiatives are breaking glass ceilings and revolutionizing business industries.

Leveraging AI Technology and Navigating the Social Media Landscape: Strategies for Business Growth & Success

In this dynamic panel discussion, we bring together a powerhouse of women who are at the forefront of innovation and technology. Join this session to delve into the realm of artificial intelligence and its transformative potential for businesses, led by a diverse panel comprising an AI tech startup Founder, Product Leader, AI Strategist, and SVP of Growth for Fortune 500 client brands. 

The 21st Stevie Awards for Women in Business
In 2018, the first annual Women|Future Conference was presented by the Stevie Awards to complement the highly successful Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program, the world’s top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run. Many 2024 speakers are past and current Stevie Award winners who have earned recognition in one (or many) of our nine Stevie Awards programs.

Individuals and organizations can still submit nominations for the 2024 (21st annual) Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. The final entry deadline is July 24, but late entries will be accepted through August 21 with payment of a late fee. Request the Entry Kit Now.

Finalists will be announced in September, and the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie-winner placements of the Finalists revealed during a gala awards dinner in New York City on Friday, November 8.

 

Jetzt als freiberufliche Journalistin und Kommunikationsberaterin nutzt sie ihr umfassendes Wissen über globale Herausforderungen, wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und öffentliche Politik, um ansprechende und wirkungsvolle Inhalte für verschiedene Zielgruppen zu erstellen. Mit über 30 Jahren Erfahrung zeichnet sie sich im Schreiben und Redenschreiben aus und liefert klare und überzeugende Botschaften, die informieren und inspirieren. Wir freuen uns, die Hauptrednerin der Women|Future Conference 2024, Heather Hoytink, Präsidentin, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America, ankündigen zu können.

Als Gewinnerin eines Gold Stevie Award als Female Executive of the Year bei den Stevie® Awards for Women in Business 2023, ist Heather, anknüpfend an unsere Tradition, prädestiniert dafür, die Konferenz als Hauptrednerin zu gestalten.


Heather ist Präsidentin der PBNA South Division und leitet ein Getränkeportfolio, das seit ihrem Amtsantritt im Jahr 2022 auf fast 5,5 Milliarden US-Dollar angewachsen ist. Als erste Frau im Unternehmen, die zur Präsidentin des Geschäftsbereichs ernannt wurde, ist Heather für die gesamte Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung verantwortlich und leitet alle funktionsübergreifenden Aktivitäten in den Bereichen Handel, Markteinführung, Produktion, Betrieb und Marketing. 

Heathers Keynote, "Igniting Your Influence", wird die Eröffnungssitzung der #WomenFuture24 am 23. Juli um 10:00 Uhr ET (16:00 Uhr CEST) sein.

Im Jahr 2024 wurde sie vom Orlando Business Journal als "Woman Who Means Business" geehrt, und im vergangenen Jahr wurde sie vom Florida Trend Magazine zu einer der 500 einflussreichsten Wirtschaftsführer:innen Floridas gewählt. Zu ihren weiteren jüngsten Errungenschaften gehören unter Anderem die Auszeichnung "Orlando Magazine's 2023 Woman of the Year" und die Auszeichnung "Profiles in Diversity Journal's 2023 Woman Worth Watching in Leadership". Während ihrer fast 20-jährigen Karriere bei PepsiCo hatte Heather in allen vier Getränkedivisionen Führungspositionen im Vertrieb und im operativen Geschäft mit zunehmender Verantwortung inne.

Von 2017 bis 2019 war Heather als Senior Vice President of Foodservice Sales tätig. In dieser Zeit erzielte sie ein Rekordwachstum der Einnahmen über zehn Jahre und baute die erste E-Commerce-Bestellplattform, PepsiCo Partners, auf, die 30.000 Kunden erreichte. Als Verfechterin von Diversitäts-, Inklusions- und Mitarbeiterengagement-Initiativen setzt Heather weiterhin auf ihre persönlichen Werte. Mit dem "Returnship"-Programm ihres Teams in Zusammenarbeit mit der gemeinnützigen Organisation Path Forward hilft sie Frauen, die nach einer Auszeit für die Pflege von Angehörigen wieder ins Berufsleben zurückkehren möchten. Sie leitete die Einführung des internen Programms von PepsiCo, "One Smile at a Time", das Mitarbeiter:innen zu ehrenamtliche Veranstaltungen in ihren Gemeinden ermutigt und für diese rekrutiert.

Heather wird zusammen mit der ForbesWomen-Mitarbeiterin Vickie Chachere ein intimes Kamingespräch führen, in dem es um die tiefgreifenden Auswirkungen von Einfluss und Beziehungen auf den Karriereerfolg geht.

Zuvor war Vickie als leitende Redakteurin von Florida Trend tätig, einem preisgekrönten Magazin für Wirtschaft und öffentliche Angelegenheiten. Davor leitete sie die Kommunikationsabteilung der University of South Florida Research & Innovation und hob deren Leistungen als führende öffentliche Forschungsuniversität hervor. Als Journalistin arbeitete sie unter anderem als Aufsichtskorrespondentin für Associated Press sowie als Reporterin und Redakteurin für die Tampa Tribune. Sie widmet sich der Erforschung und Erläuterung der komplexen Themen, die unsere Welt prägen.

Jetzt, als freiberufliche Journalistin und Kommunikationsberaterin, nutzt sie ihr umfassendes Wissen über globale Herausforderungen, wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und öffentliche Politik, um ansprechende und wirkungsvolle Inhalte für verschiedene Zielgruppen zu erstellen. Mit über 30 Jahren Erfahrung zeichnet sie sich im Schreiben und Redenschreiben aus und liefert klare und überzeugende Botschaften, die informieren und inspirieren.

Die diesjährige Konferenz wird virtuell am 23. Juli 2024 stattfinden. Melden Sie sich an, indem Sie unsere Registrierungsseite besuchen.

Ziel der 7. jährlichen Women|Future Conference, die von den Stevie® Awards veranstaltet wird, ist es, durch aufschlussreiche Vorträge, Workshops und Networking Kontakte zu knüpfen und die berufliche und persönliche Entwicklung zu fördern.

Wenn Sie Inhaberin eines Kleinunternehmens, Führungskraft oder Unternehmerin sind oder die Gründung eines Unternehmens in Erwägung ziehen, sollten Sie die Veranstaltung #WomenFuture24 nicht verpassen.

WAS SIE ERWARTET
Die Sitzungen sind auf ehrgeizige Fachleute zugeschnitten, die lernen und sich darüber austauschen möchten, was in ihren Organisationen funktioniert, die Herausforderungen, denen sie gemeinsam gegenüberstehen, lösen und wertvolle Kontakte knüpfen möchten.

Sie können Diskussionen über alles erwarten, von der Nutzung von Mentorship als Weg zur beruflichen und persönlichen Entwicklung, über das Gewinnen von Aufmerksamkeit durch Öffentlichkeitsarbeit bis hin zu den Auswirkungen von Technologie auf das menschliche Verhalten.

Sie werden aus den Sitzungen praktische Erkenntnisse über Marketingstrategien, Unternehmensführung und vieles mehr mitnehmen können. Die Themen der Sitzungen umfassen:

• Aufbau einer vertrauenswürdigen Marke: Authentizität in einer Zeit öffentlicher Kontrolle und angesagter Nachrichtenzyklen
• Den Erfolg von Auszeichnungen nutzbar machen: Die Macht der Stevie Awards beim Aufbau von Glaubwürdigkeit und Unternehmenswachstum
• Barrieren brechen, Imperien aufbauen und Frauen fördern: Den Wandel in Führung, Unternehmertum und Wirtschaft vorantreiben
• Nutzung von KI-Technologie und Navigation in der Social-Media-Landschaft: Strategien für Unternehmenswachstum und -erfolg

KNÜPFEN SIE KONTAKTE ZU GLEICHGESINNTEN FACHLEUTEN 
Frauen aus den Vereinigten Staaten, Kanada, Australien, Asien und Europa nehmen Jahr für Jahr an der Konferenz teil, um sich inspirieren zu lassen, ihre Widerstandsfähigkeit zu stärken und sich über Veränderungen auszutauschen, die sich auf ihre Branche, ihre Karriere und ihr Leben auswirken. 

Die Women|Future Conference ist eine großartige Gelegenheit, Kontakte in der Branche zu knüpfen, sich über Herausforderungen auszutauschen und gemeinsam mit Frauen wie Ihnen nach Lösungen zu suchen. In jeder Sitzung können Sie sich in der Gesellschaft der Gründerin einer gemeinnützigen Organisation, einer Unternehmerin, einer Publizistin und eines weiblichen CEOs wiederfinden.

Sehen Sie sich die vollständige Agenda und die Redner jetzt online an.

Registrieren Sie sich, um von den Besten zu lernen und sich unserer wachsenden Gemeinschaft ehrgeiziger Frauen in der Wirtschaft anzuschließen!

Um mehr über die Rednerinnen der Women|Future Conference zu erfahren und das vollständige Programm einzusehen, besuchen Sie www.womenfutureconference.com.

Für Partnerschafts-, Presse- und Medienanfragen wenden Sie sich bitte an Nina@stevieawards.com. (Englisch)

We are excited to announce the keynote speaker for the 2024 Women|Future Conference, Heather Hoytink, President, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America.

Keeping with our tradition of past Stevie® Award winners keynoting the conference, Heather was honored with a Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the 2023 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.


Heather is the President of PBNA South Division, leading a beverage portfolio that has grown to nearly $5.5B since she stepped into the role in 2022. As the company’s first woman named division president, Heather is responsible for end-to-end P&L ownership and manages all cross-functional activity inclusive of commercial, go-to-market, manufacturing, operations, and marketing. 

Heather's Keynote, "Igniting Your Influence," will be the opening session of #WomenFuture24, at 10:00 am ET on July 23.

In 2024, she was honored as a 2024 “Woman Who Means Business” by the Orlando Business Journal, and last year she was selected as one of Florida’s 500 most influential business leaders by Florida Trend Magazine. Her other recent accolades include Orlando Magazine’s 2023 Woman of the Year, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 2023 Woman Worth Watching in Leadership, and during her nearly 20-year career at PepsiCo, Heather has served in sales and operating leadership roles of increasing responsibility across all four beverage divisions.

From 2017 to 2019, Heather served as Senior Vice President of Foodservice Sales, during which she delivered record 10-year revenue growth and scaled the first e-commerce online ordering platform, PepsiCo Partners, to 30,000 customers. As a champion of diversity, inclusion and employee engagement initiatives, Heather has continued to tap into her personal values through her team’s “Returnship” program with non-profit Path Forward, aiming to help women professionals return to the workforce after taking time off for caregiving. She led the rollout of PepsiCo’s internal program, “One Smile at a Time,” which encourages and recruits employees for volunteer events in their communities.

Heather will be joined by ForbesWomen Contributor, Vickie Chachere, to engage in an intimate fireside chat, delving into the profound impact of influence and relationships on one's path to career success.

Vickie previously served as the executive editor of Florida Trend, an award-winning business and public affairs magazine. Before that, she led communications for the University of South Florida Research & Innovation, highlighting its achievements as a leading public research university. Her journalism background includes roles as a supervisory correspondent for the Associated Press and a reporter and editorial writer for the Tampa Tribune. She is dedicated to exploring and explaining the complex issues that shape our world. 

Now a freelance journalist and communications consultant, she uses her extensive knowledge of global challenges, economic development, and public policy to create engaging and impactful content for various audiences. With over 30 years of experience, she excels in writing and speechwriting, delivering clear and compelling messages that inform and inspire.

This year’s conference will take place virtually on July 23, 2024. Sign up by visiting our registration page.

The mission of the 7th annual Women|Future Conference, hosted by the Stevie® Awards, is to foster connections and professional and personal development through insightful sessions, workshops, and networking.

If you’re a small business owner, executive, entrepreneur, or considering starting a business, #WomenFuture24 is an event you won’t want to miss.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Sessions are tailored to ambitious professionals looking to learn and share what’s working in their organizations, troubleshoot the challenges they collectively face, and make meaningful connections.

You can expect discussions about everything from how to utilize mentorship as a path to professional and personal development, gain traction through public relations, and how technology affects human behavior.

You will learn practical takeaways from sessions on marketing strategies, business ownership, and more. Session Topics include:

• Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles
• Unlocking Awards Success: The Power of Stevie Awards in Building Credibility and Business Growth
• Breaking Barriers, Building Empires and Elevating Women: Driving Change in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Business
• Leveraging AI Technology and Navigating the Social Media Landscape: Strategies for Business Growth & Success

CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS 
Women from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe attend the conference year after year to be inspired, build resilience, and share insights into changes that impact their industries, their careers, and their lives. 

The Women|Future Conference is a great opportunity to build industry connections, share challenges, and brainstorm solutions alongside women like you. In any given session, you may find yourself in the company of the Founder of a non-profit, an Entrepreneur, a Publicist, and a CEO.

View the Full Agenda and Speakers online now.

Register to Learn from the Best and Join Our Growing Community of Ambitious Women in Business!

To learn more about the Women|Future Conference speakers and view the full agenda, visit www.womenfutureconference.com.

For partnership, press, and media inquiries, contact Nina@stevieawards.com.

We are excited to announce that the speakers and agenda for the 2024 Women|Future Conference are now available!

This year’s conference will take place virtually on July 23, 2024. 

The mission of the 7th annual Women|Future Conference, hosted by the Stevie® Awards, is to foster connections and professional and personal development through insightful sessions, workshops, and networking. 

Hear From Leading Women in Business
If you're a small business owner, executive, entrepreneur, or considering starting a business, #WomenFuture24 is an event you won't want to miss.

Our speakers will delve into the challenges, successes, firsts, and setbacks of their journeys. Many 2024 speakers are actually past and current Stevie Award winners who have earned recognition in one (or many) of our nine Stevie Awards programs. Speakers this year include:

• Angelique Hamilton, CEO, Chief Coaching Officer, HR Chique Group
• April White, Founder & CEO, Trust Relations
• Bosky Mukherjee, Founder, PMDojo
• Danielle Levy, Business Growth Strategist & Consultant, The Boardroom League
• Deboshree Dutta, Founder & CEO, Criya
• Denise O’Leary MBE, Managing Director & Founder, Purpol Marketing Ltd
• Emoly Lyman, CEO, Branch & Bramble
• Kerry-Ann Powell, Founder & Business Strategist, Trafalgar Strategies, LLC
• Kristen Dolan, SVP, Growth, Influential
• Lisa Thee, CEO, AMP Solutions LLC
• Marissa Nance, Founder & CEO, Native Tongue Communications
• Nicole Schmitz, Founder & CEO, Nicole Schmitz Leadership Coaching
• Rachel Griffin, Co-Founder, PlayWise Partner
• Risa Arin, Founder & CEO, XpertPatient LLC
• Ronjini Joshua, Founder & CEO, The Silver Telegram
• Surbhi Gupta, Product Leader, Zoox

Sessions are tailored to ambitious professionals looking to learn and share what’s working in their organizations, troubleshoot the challenges they collectively face, and make meaningful connections. 

You can expect discussions about everything from how to utilize mentorship as a path to professional and personal development, gain traction through public relations, and how technology affects human behavior.

You will learn practical takeaways from sessions on marketing strategies, business ownership, and more. Session Topics include:

• Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles
• Unlocking Awards Success: The Power of Stevie Awards in Building Credibility and Business Growth
• Breaking Barriers, Building Empires and Elevating Women: Driving Change in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Business
• Leveraging AI Technology and Navigating the Social Media Landscape: Strategies for Business Growth & Success

Connect With Like-Minded Professionals 
Women from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe attend the conference year after year to be inspired, build resilience, and share insights into changes that impact their industries, their careers, and their lives.

The Women|Future Conference is a great opportunity to build industry connections, share challenges, and brainstorm solutions alongside women like you. In any given session, you may find yourself in the company of a non-profit founder, an Entrepreneur, a Publicist, and a CEO.

View the Full Agenda and Speakers online now.

Register to Learn from the Best and Join Our Growing Community of Ambitious Women in Business! 

To learn more about the Women|Future Conference speakers and view the full agenda, visit www.womenfutureconference.com.

For partnership, press, and media inquiries, contact Nina@stevieawards.com.

 

Wenn es zu Ihren Zielen für 2024 gehört, Ihr persönliches und berufliches Netzwerk zu erweitern, bessere Geschäftsergebnisse zu erzielen und sich für unerwartete geschäftliche Veränderungen zu rüsten, dann sollten Sie die Women|Future Conference 2024 nicht verpassen!

Die Mission der 7. jährlichen Women|Future Conference, die von den Stevie Awards veranstaltet wird, ist es, durch aufschlussreiche Vorträge, Workshops und Networking Kontakte zu knüpfen und die berufliche und persönliche Entwicklung zu fördern. 

Die diesjährige Konferenz findet virtuell am 23. Juli 2024 statt. Frühbucher sparen über 50 % bei nur 10 $ pro Ticket. Besuchen Sie unsere Anmeldeseite, um bis zum 26. März zum günstigsten Preis teilzunehmen.

Die Sitzungen und Aktivitäten sind auf ehrgeizige Fachleute zugeschnitten, die lernen und sich darüber austauschen möchten, was in ihren Unternehmen funktioniert, die Herausforderungen lösen, denen sie gemeinsam gegenüberstehen, und sinnvolle Kontakte knüpfen möchten.

Egal, ob Sie Unternehmerin, Inhaberin eines Kleinunternehmens, Führungskraft oder Angestellte sind, diese Veranstaltung richtet sich an Frauen in jedem Karrierestadium und bietet Einblicke und Anregungen, die Sie auf Ihrem Weg voranbringen.

Lernen Sie von und vernetzen Sie sich mit führenden weiblichen Geschäfts- und Fachleuten
Im Jahr 2018 wurde die erste jährliche Women|Future-Konferenz von den Stevie Awards präsentiert, um das äußerst erfolgreiche  Stevie® Awards for Women in Business Programm zu ergänzen. Die Konferenz wurde ins Leben gerufen, um leistungsstarken weiblichen Fachkräften, Führungskräften, Unternehmerinnen und Kleinunternehmerinnen einen Ort zu bieten, an dem sie zusammenkommen, Ideen austauschen und sich vernetzen können.

Zu den Rednerinnen gehören in der Regel Changemaker in Fortune-500-Unternehmen sowie (Klein-)Unternehmerinnen. Zu den vorherigen Rednerinnen gehören weibliche Führungskräfte und Manager von Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, John Hancock, Pinterest, Macy's Inc., SAP North America, Talkspace und anderen.

Warum Sie teilnehmen sollten
Sie können sich auf Diskussionen zu zahlreichen Themen freuen, z. B. darüber, wie man Mentorenschaft als Weg zur beruflichen und persönlichen Entwicklung nutzen kann, wie man durch Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Aufmerksamkeit erregt und wie Technologie das menschliche Verhalten beeinflusst.

Das Programm für 2024 wird zwar erst im nächsten Monat veröffentlicht, aber im Folgenden finden Sie einen Überblick über das, was die Teilnehmer erwarten können. Sie können auch die Agenda 2023 erkunden und die wichtigsten Highlights des Programms lesen, um zu sehen, welche Themen und Rednerinnen im letzten Jahr im Mittelpunkt standen.

➡️ Interaktive Sitzungen — Zu den Themen vergangener Sitzungen gehören:

• Markenbildung, PR und Marketing für kleine, von Frauen geführte Unternehmen
• Wie Sie Stevie®-Auszeichnungen nutzen können, um Glaubwürdigkeit zu schaffen und den Ruf Ihres Unternehmens zu verbessern
• Wie man Networking und Mentorenschaft als Weg zu beruflichem Wachstum nutzen kann
• Verwandeln Sie Ihre Leidenschaft oder Ihren Nebenerwerb in Profit
• Tipps zur Gründung und Führung eines Unternehmens
• Frauen in Führungspositionen und berufliche Entwicklung
• Frauen in der Technik - Wie die Technik das menschliche Verhalten beeinflusst

➡️ Bedeutungsvolle Beziehungen — Frauen aus der ganzen Welt nehmen Jahr für Jahr an der Konferenz teil, um zusammenzuarbeiten, Beziehungen zu knüpfen und neue Perspektiven zu gewinnen, wie sie ihr Unternehmen voranbringen können. Rednerinnen und Teilnehmerinnen knüpfen dauerhafte Verbindungen in Form von Geschäftspartnerinnen, Mentorinnen und sogar Freundinnen.

➡️ Vielfältige Perspektiven —  In jeder Sitzung können Sie sich in der Gesellschaft einer Online-Unternehmerin, der Gründerin einer gemeinnützigen Organisation, einer Anwältin, einer Ingenieurin, einer Publizistin und einer CEO wiederfinden.

 

If your 2024 goals include expanding your personal and professional network, achieving better business outcomes, and getting equipped for unexpected business changes ahead, you don’t want to miss the 2024 Women|Future Conference!

The mission of the 7th annual Women|Future Conference, hosted by the Stevie Awards, is to foster connections and professional and personal development through insightful sessions, workshops, and networking. 

This year’s conference will take place virtually on July 23, 2024. Early birds save over 50% at just $10 per ticket. Attend for our lowest price now through March 26 by visiting our registration page.

Sessions and activities are tailored to ambitious professionals looking to learn and share what’s working in their organizations, troubleshoot the challenges they collectively face, and make meaningful connections. 

Whether you're a female entrepreneur, small business owner, executive, or employee, this event caters to women at every career stage, offering insights and inspiration to fuel your journey forward.

Learn From and Network With Top Women Business Leaders and Professionals
In 2018, the first annual Women|Future Conference was presented by the Stevie Awards to complement the highly successful Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program. The conference was created to give high-achieving women professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners a place to come together, share ideas, and network.

Speakers typically range from changemakers at Fortune 500 companies to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Previous speakers include female executives and leaders from Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, John Hancock, Pinterest, Macy’s Inc., SAP North America, Talkspace, and others.

Why You Should Attend
You can expect discussions about everything from how to utilize mentorship as a path to professional and personal development, gain traction through public relations, and how technology affects human behavior.

While the 2024 agenda will not be released until next month, below is a glance at what attendees can expect to see. You can also explore the 2023 agenda and read top highlights from the program to see what topics and speakers were featured last year.

➡️ Interactive Sessions — Past session topics include:

• Branding, PR, and Marketing for Small Woman-Owned Businesses
• How to Leverage Stevie® Awards to Establish Credibility and Boost Your Company's Reputation
• How to Utilize Networking and Mentorship as a Path to Professional Growth
• Turning Your Passion or Side Hustle into Profit
• Tips on Starting and Running a Business
• Women in Leadership and Professional Development
• Women in Tech - How Technology Affects Human Behavior

➡️ Meaningful Connections — Women around the world attend the conference year after year to collaborate, build relationships, and gain fresh perspectives on how to drive their businesses forward. Speakers and attendees make lasting connections in the form of business partners, mentors, and even friends. 

➡️ Diverse Perspectives —  In any given session, you may find yourself in the company of an online business owner, the founder of a non-profit, a lawyer, an engineer, a publicist, and a CEO.

 

The sixth annual Women|Future Conference, held virtually from August 1-2, brought together over 650 ambitious, forward-thinking women across industries and career stages to connect and discuss key issues that impact their industries, careers, and lives.

A professional development, learning, and networking event, the Women|Future Conference brings together a community of women small business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals interested in starting a business. Attendees tuned in from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

The 2023 conference agenda featured two days of panels, workshops, and breakout sessions hosted by over 30 world-class speakers, including CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and small business consultants from The Audacious Agency, MENTOR New York, Jennings Social Media & MarTech, and others. 

Speakers also included seasoned leaders from global organizations like Microsoft's Corporate Vice President - Global Industry Marketing; SAP's Chief Marketing & Solutions Officer; and the Founder and CEO of Fempire, the #1 global coaching brand for women business owners.

Top Attended Sessions From #WomenFuture23
Throughout the two-day conference, attendees participated in sessions about business networking, work-life balance, wealth attraction, overcoming adversity, mentorship, and more. Below are the top conference sessions attended:

• Turning Passion Into Profit as an Entrepreneur
• From Wages to Wealth: Making the Shift from Employee to Entrepreneur
• Taking the Leap: How to Transfer Your Skills from One Role to the Next
• Should I Enter the Stevie Awards? Learn How Leaders Leverage Awards to Boost their Business and build Credibility

On Day 1 of #WomenFuture 23 in the session “Funding Female Futures: Navigating the Investment Landscape and Bootstrapping Success” two female entrepreneur and funding experts, Marnie LeFevre, Founder & CEO of Fempire, and Mez Gallifuoco, Founder & CEO of The Mad Ones, delved into the realities of the investment landscape for women and shared valuable insights on identifying the right investors and business opportunities. 

With her international coaching brand Fempire, Marnie has made it her mission to inspire women to step up and lead with courage, confidence, and from the feminine. Mez is an award-winning technology entrepreneur and strategist for some of the world’s most innovative companies including QBE, AMEX, Virgin Australia, and several startups in Sydney and New York.

Early in the discussion, Mez relayed that men in business are often asked, “What will you do with success?” while women are more likely to be asked, “How will you overcome all these challenges?” Women are sometimes viewed as already disadvantaged in the business space, in some sectors more than others. Even if you have a brilliant idea and are fully committed to making it work, it can be quite intimidating when it comes to getting your vision off the ground, she said,  especially when it comes to learning about and gaining funding, and then growing it.

Before trying to go directly to investors and trying to push a business plan at them, both Mez and Marnie recommend aiming for casual and helpful conversations with investors first. Instead of calling to abruptly ask someone to review your data and plan, just ask them for coffee. Have a conversation about what you’re trying to achieve, what insights they may have, and try to create a connection. 

“Start asking questions—gain advice. Use them as a mentor, and even if they're not prepared to invest in your business, at least you can gain a whole lot of insight. It's about building a relationship before sticking out your hand,” noted Mez.

She emphasized that who the founders are and who your team members are (and how adept or skilled they are) is even more important than your business plan or statistics. When it comes to finally making the pitch for funding, Mez related her own challenges of walking into very intense and critical business meetings. “They barely look at the idea, to be honest. They only really look at, what is the team? do they know what they’re doing….and we’re interested in the founder.” 

Both Mez and Marne agreed that having a well-connected founder—or, even better, multiple founders—who have similar business values can go a long way in securing the relationship and funding. Marne commented: “We're looking for whether we can get along with you, whether we believe in you, whether we think you've got what it takes, whether you have the grit that it takes.”

Day 2 of the conference opened with an instructional session on “How to Write a Winning Stevie Award Nomination” given by Denise O’Leary, MBE. Denise is a 21-time Stevie Award winner and relayed her extensive experience on how she has repeatedly created winning Stevie Award entries. Her company, Purpol Marketing, specializes in marketing strategy development and bid management for public sector contracts across various industries. 

Denise answered many common questions she gets from clients across industries on finding and applying for awards, including:

• Why should you enter awards?
• Where do you find awards to enter?
• How to find the right awards for your business
• What data do you need to consider? 

Denise explained that, based on your specific industry or field, you should build an award target list and track when your targeted awards are open for nominations and what they will require. For example, even the Stevie Awards has eight distinct programs, and, depending on your field, one or a variety of them will get you a different level of exposure to a specific audience, geographic region, or market. Note the deadlines you need to hit and the networking or marketing opportunities they offer. 

She detailed the full Stevie application journey and even provided hints on what judges really want to see. “Play to your individual strengths in your nomination,” she emphasized. “How do you offer better value? How can you explain what you’re doing and make your strengths clear? Prove what you do with tangible evidence.” She covered how to examine your own organization and objectives and then how to tell your personal and business story as well as what types of data should be included with your entry. 

Regarding gathering evidence before writing your Stevie Awards nomination, Denise said, “It’s really important to gather evidence about your business success before writing your nomination. 

• Read all instructions to make sure you’re eligible.” She also advised doing the following: 
• If you’re doing a video, review their specific rules on formatting, length, language, etc.
• Include key performance indicators (KPIs) or other materials in the supporting materials section of the entry submission, like customer testimonials, photos, case studies, etc.
• Include a folder of press coverage to share, if available. 

“Think about what the judges would like to see. Think about their process,” she noted. “If you need to proofread your nomination more than once a day to make sure it’s perfect, you should. Explain in simple terms what your business does so it’s clear to any judge why you should win a Stevie Award.”

She said you will want to keep track of progress, store, and revisit old nominations you’ve written. In addition, after entering Stevie Awards competitions, all entrants can access the judge’s comments. This feedback can serve as an invaluable asset for guidance on areas the judges were impressed with and how entry nominations can be improved in the future.

In an educational panel discussion, "Make Your Mark: How to Build a Network with Trusted Mentors" that took place on Day 2, speakers explored how to build social capital and a network you can count on.

Brenda Jimenez, CEO of MENTOR New York, led this panel, and other speakers included Alana Beard, four-time WNBA Champion and President of the 318 Foundation and Founder of Transition Play; Dr. Elizabeth Santiago, author, educator, designer, and leader; and Cicy George, Senior, Organizational Capability at Macy’s. These panelists have made their marks in different industries with an interesting story of how they’ve each become supporters of each other in ways that led to career successes.

Panelists initiated the conversation by examining the concept of social capital—the connections built and nurtured over time that may have beneficial professional implications—and how women specifically can work toward building this capital. For women especially, they agreed, it can be hard simply to ask for help and be vulnerable with a mentor. 

Alana commented: "I encourage [those she mentors] to be to be as vulnerable as possible in these moments because there's no way for people to really understand who you are and what you're going through and what your desires are if you don't speak about them.”

Elizabeth added another perspective, noting that getting comfortable relaying your needs and challenges not only helps you find the help and support you need but also enables you to validate and encourage others with your own experiences once you come out on the other side:

“For me, this is where storytelling comes in. As I look back at my life and my career and all the things that have happened and led me to where I am….there are so many people involved, so many stories, so many ways that I've asked for help over the years that I often share those experiences or share an anecdote about something and usually that helps someone else.”

They explained that self-reflection and conscious awareness of your strengths and, even more so, your weaknesses will help to solidify a sense of confidence and self-worth. The sooner you do the inner work and get past the common feeling of imposter syndrome, the faster you and others will see your potential. In a perfect example of how to be authentic and vulnerable with your peers, Cicy shared part of her personal journey with self-worth and acceptance:

“I've only recently gotten more comfortable with feeling like I am enough, and I feel like I have a hidden greatness that I have yet to unleash. That's just a realization I feel I've come into just now in my early 40s. It's taken me a long time to get here — even just to admit in a global forum that I'm in my early 40s—and I'm just learning some of these lessons now that I wish I had learned earlier on in my life and my career.” 

Special Thanks to Our 2023 Sponsors and Partners​
We are proud to partner with publications, media outlets, and organizations that share our mission of supporting women in business:

• Enterprising Women Magazine
• ImageShield
• Investably LLC
• MBE Magazine
• Professional Woman’s Magazine
• Trust Relations 

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 Women|Future Conference, sign up here to get notified of the 2023 prospectus release.

 

Registration is now open for the 6th annual Women|Future Conference, to be held virtually from August 1-2. Attending the 2023 conference is free, but attendees must register in advance to access the virtual platform and sessions.

The Women|Future Conference is a professional development, learning, and networking event that brings together a community of small business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and women who are interested in starting a business.

In 2018, the Women Future Conference was created in conjunction with the highly successful Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program to give high-achieving women professionals, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs a place to come together, share ideas, and network.

Today, we have accomplished this and more, expanding our conference to many ambitious, forward-thinking professionals across industries and career stages. Attendees are a mix of CEOs, founders, small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, directors, and managers, as well as women between jobs or starting a career transition who are seeking mentorship.

Reputed Stevie Award Winners Give Tips on Award Submissions
The 2023 conference agenda features two days of panels, workshops, and breakout sessions hosted by over 30 world-class speakers including CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and small business consultants.

A new feature in the 2023 edition of the program includes a workshop on “How to Write a Winning Stevie Award Nomination,” led by Denise O’Leary, MBE. Denise is a 21x Stevie Award winner and will share her experience on how to construct a winning Stevie Award entry. Denise will share insights from her years of experience in Stevie applications and provide hints on what judges really want to see.

Many 2023 speakers are actually past and current Stevie Award winners who have earned recognition in one (or many) of our eight Stevie Awards programs. Speakers this year who are also past winners in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business include:

• Viola Palescandolo, Founder & CEO, Black Platinum Gold B.V.
• Marnie LeFevre, Founder & CEO, Fempire
• Etosha Thurman, Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer, SAP
• Mez Gallifuoco, Founder & CEO, The Mad Ones
• Kathleen Mitford, Corporate Vice President of Global Industry - Marketing, Microsoft
• Jennifer Harris-Kroll, Director of Growth, Anthill
• Bridgett McGowen, Speaker/Author/Publisher, Press 49, a part of BMH Companies
• Valeria Jennings, CEO, Jennings Social Media & MarTech 
• Jennifer Cloer, Founder & CEO, Story Changes Culture
• Lauren Clemett, Managing Director, The Audacious Agency
• Annette Densham, Creative Director, Audacious Agency

Speakers who have won a Stevie Award in one of our other seven awards programs include: 

• Safiya Johnson, Leadership Strategist & CEO, Safiya Group
• Ciara Ungar, Founder & CEO, The Why Group, Inc.
• Alycia Huston, Founder & CEO, The Culture Cru
• Brenda Jimenez, CEO, MENTOR New York
• Christina Helena, Public Speaking & Communications Coach, Mental Health Speaker, My Scar is Sexy

Women from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe attend the conference year after year to be inspired, build resilience, and share insights into changes that impact their industries, their careers, and their lives. 

Below are a few of the upcoming 2023 Women|Future Conference sessions:

• From Wages to Wealth: Making the Shift from Employee to Entrepreneur
• Taking the Leap: How to Transfer Your Skills from One Role to the Next
• Funding Female Futures: Navigating the Investment Landscape and Bootstrapping Success
• Unveiling the Unspoken: Candid Conversation on Workplace Inclusivity Issues for Women in Business
• From Idea to Empire - Lessons in Branding
• The Must-Have Money-Marketing Marketing Tool…That Few Businesses Have but that Every Single One of Them Needs

To learn more about the Women|Future Conference speakers and view the full agenda, visit www.womenfutureconference.com. 

Free Registration
In order to attend the conference and access the virtual event platform, all attendees must register in advance. 

For partnership, press, and media inquiries, contact Nina@stevieawards.com.