This just in! We are excited to announce our opening Keynote Speaker for the 2021 Women|Future Conference; Sandy Carter, Vice President of Public Sector Partners and Programs, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

We have some truly incredible speakers this year who are leading the industry in everything from Finance to Influencer Marketing, Social Media, Lead Generation, and Public Relations, but in today's blog, we highlight our anticipated Opening Keynote Speaker, Sandy Carter of Amazon Web Services.

To say that Sandy is a woman who wears many hats would be an understatement. Sandy has earned dozens of impressive accolades for her work spanning from Cloud Computing to thought leadership, to her positive influence on girls in technology. Sandy's responsibilities at AWS include evolving partner models to intensify partner innovation, AWS cloud adoption, and the creation of mission-critical cloud solutions with partners across the public sector. In addition to driving next-generation partnering at AWS, Sandy has also been a Founder and CEO of a startup, and in her last role at IBM, she ran the Cloud and AI/ML Ecosystem on behalf of the IBM corporation.

Sandy is the Chairman of the Board of Girls in Tech, Chairwoman for WIoTCoE, and an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley. As if that wasn't enough, Sandy is also the author of the book, Extreme Innovation: Three Superpowers for Purpose and Profit. 

• Federal 100 Award Winner
• 2020 Stevie Award Winner for Woman of the Year – Technology
• Women in Tech: Top 50 Influencers
• CRN Women of the Channel 2021 Power 100
• 2021 Cloud Girls Rising Inaugural Visionary Award
• Top 50 Influencers
• Top 150 Global Cloud Thought Leaders and Next Generation Leaders of 2021
• Top 40 Cloud Computing Influencers on Twitter
• Top 50 Digital Influencers
• Awards Magazine Top 50 Women of Influence
• Top 15 IoT Premier League
• Lifetime Achievement Winner, 'Excellence in Cloud Achievement'
• AI Innovator Nominee of the Year
• Top 10 AI Influencers 2019
• Verdicts ten of the most influential people in artificial intelligence on Twitter during Q4 2020
• Top 10 Cloud Computing Influencer
  
  

Our closing Keynote Speaker will be announced later this month.

What to Expect at the 2021 Women|Future Conference

Hundreds of ambitious women business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives from around the world will be tuning in to the fourth annual Women|Future Conference November 1-5, 2021. The Women|Future Conference is a professional and personal development, learning, networking, and mentorship conference hosted by The Stevie® Awards.

The five-day agenda features over 40 sessions, interactive workshops, and a motivational keynote. Topics range from mental health to financial wellness, lead generation, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, and workplace diversity. The 140+ Speakers at this year's conference are a diverse mix of women from global organizations such as Facebook, IBM, Infosys Limited, John Hancock, Pinterest, Quartz, Ralph Lauren, Salesforce, SAP North America, Talkspace, and others. Below is a partial list of conference panels, sessions, and workshops:

• Entrepreneurship – Success Stories Fireside Chat
• How to Blend Strategy and Storytelling to Grow Your Company
• Marketing Tactics to Future Proof Your Business & Your Career
• Networking Tips & Tricks: Learn How to Become Memorable and Build Authentic Relationships
• Personal Development Training: Abundance 360 - Creating Your Best Life Ever
• Real Life First Impressions: Rethinking How To Do Business
• The Future of Work - Preparing for the Changing Business Landscape
• The Truth Bombs on Work-Life Balance to Avoid Burnout for Busy Women
• Top Secrets from World-Class Speakers on How to Use Presentations to Grow Your Business
• Why Diverse Teams Drive Better Outcomes
• The Smart Women's Guide to Financial Success

Registration for the Women|Future Conference is open. Attendees save 10% when groups of three or more individuals register together. Students may attend the Women|Future Conference for a discounted rate of $49 (with proof of a valid current student ID).

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Conference Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

Ruslana Milikhiker, Conference & Event Manager

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Conference Marketing and PR 

Nina Moore, Marketing Manager

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The third annual Women|Future Conference has announced that the conference, originally planned November 12-13 in Las Vegas, will now be presented virtually for the safety of attendees during COVID-19. Though the world is different today than it was this time last year, there is no time to waste when it comes to the advancement of women professionally and personally.

This two-day conference presented by the Stevie Awards encourages engaging connections, professional and personal development, and health and financial wellness through motivational keynotes, educational sessions, and networking. With panel discussions, plenty of networking opportunities, case studies from Stevie® Award winners, and a showcase of young women-owned businesses, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

The 2020 Women|Future Conference agenda has just been announced. Join us this November 12-13 to Cultivate Your Tomorrow and be inspired by over 100 talented, transformative women speakers from across the globe who will be leading 32 sessions, panels, and workshops. This exciting conference addresses the latest innovations and impending changes in areas such as technology, sustainability, career planning, diversity in the workplace, leadership, crisis management, and so much more.Stevie Awards President Maggie Gallagher added,

“We started this conference three years ago to compliment the Stevie Awards for Women in Business program, and now it has evolved to serve women on a larger scale. The conference will address topics beyond the future of work for women; it focuses on today's trending topics and current issues from the female perspective, hosted by speakers from various industries and backgrounds, from corporate to small business owners, to entrepreneurs.”

Stay tuned for updates about the conference as it comes together, including the announcement of our keynote speaker later this summer.

• Business Chemistry! Using Science to Improve the Art of Relationships Workshop by Deloitte
• Overcoming Personal Adversity
• Conquer Crisis. Train Like a Triathlete. Body + Mind + Business
• Balancing Motherhood + Business: for "Mompreneurs" and Working Moms
• Financial Wellness: Your Relationship with Money
• Diversity & Inclusion: The Importance in Your Workplace
• Pushing Your Envelope: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Once and For All
• Women Driving the Future of Tech: How AI, VR, and Robotics Will Be the Norm
• Create Joy in Your Career on Your Own Terms
    ...and many more.

Now that we’ve gone virtual, there’s a new lower cost with incredible value - just $199! The virtual platform replicates the beloved in-person networking, workshops, and panels. Register for the conference now to reserve your spot.

What’s New for the 2020 Conference?

• Showcase of young women-owned businesses
• Business pitch competition
• One on one networking: the virtual conference platform has AI matchmaking capabilities to match you with different attendees, sponsors, sessions, and workshops based on your commonalities
• Women|Future Conference Exclusive Webinar Series leading up to the conference

Connect With Us!👍

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenFutureConf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenfutureconference/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenFutureConference/

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevie’s recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

When discussing gender equality, the wage gap between men and women nearly always becomes a part of the conversation. While most people know this gap exists, not as many realize the far-reaching and detrimental impacts of that inequality.

Why Does This Gap Exist?

Before diving into the consequences of wage inequality, it’s important to look at some of the reasons the gap exists. It’s a complicated issue involving many interconnected factors, but some of the most prominent reasons include:

• Occupational segregation, wherein more men work in higher-paid industries
• Vertical segregation, with more men in senior (and, therefore, higher-paid) positions
• Nonexistent, poorly enforced, or ineffective legislation related to equal pay
• Barriers to entering the labor market, including outright discrimination, access to education, and work-hindering issues related to child-rearing

Real-World Consequences of the Gender Wage Gap

Closing the wage gap would, of course, be positive because it would be a step toward overall gender equality. However, there would be myriad other positive effects that should motivate people and businesses to make this issue a priority.

For example, gender wage inequality reduces overall economic output. While it’s certainly not the case for every woman, the wage disparity does make it more likely for females to be dependent on welfare or other social aid programs—a problem that becomes even more pronounced in old age. With less savings and fewer pensions, women are generally at a disadvantage in regard to retirement and more likely to face poverty after the age of 65. One study by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs in Australia found that eliminating the 17 percent wage gap there would translate to approximately $93 billion in increased gross domestic product (GDP), or 8.5 percent of overall GDP.

Aptitude Research Partners also found that organizations that specifically prioritize gender equity perform better. They are 54 percent more likely to exceed industry average turnover numbers and 46 percent more likely to have higher year-over-year ratings on Glassdoor. With better retention rates and more engaged and motivated employees, companies are more likely to attract top talent, which then generally leads to improved customer satisfaction and higher-than-average financial returns.

In short, closing the wage gap would improve individual employee satisfaction and quality of life, improve a company’s bottom line, and positively impact an entire nation’s GDP and economic standing.

The March Toward Equality

According to the World Economic Forum, if progress continues at its current pace, it will take 108 years to close the global pay gap in the 106 countries covered in that report. This pace is a result of the slowness of global action on the topic and the sheer vastness of the gap itself.

While these numbers can seem disheartening, many individuals and companies are using them as motivation. Lauren Hasson founded DevelopHer, which is based in Dallas, Texas, United States. DevelopHer is an award-winning platform that bridges the gender wage gap, inspires, and empowers women to advocate for themselves to break glass ceilings.

The scalability and affordability offered through DevelopHer programs has allowed and empowered thousands of women to earn 26%, 43%, and 67% salary increases in just a single negotiation. Through DevelopHer, Lauren has created real change at a grassroots level. Women have also gained the confidence to secure better positions and move beyond glass ceilings, bridging the challenging opportunity gap.

Hasson just won the Gold Stevie Award for Entrepreneur of the Year - Consumer Services in The 2020 American Business Awards® as well as a Silver Stevie® Award in the category of Female Solo Entrepreneur of the Year, and Startup of the Year - Consumer Services Industries in the 2019 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the Stevie Award for Women in Business?

Hasson acknowledges not only the complexity of this global issue but the need to focus on local solutions.

“Pay disparity is an intractable issue that will not be solved overnight,” says Hasson, “but the DevelopHer mission is to foster engagement by businesses and individuals at a grassroots level to affect true change.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the ways we think about our routine habits and work environments, among other lifestyle practices. For businesses large and small around the world, the importance of putting people over profits has heightened. The mission of the Stevie Awards is to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.

We’d like to recognize some of the ways that Stevie Awards for Women in Business winners and 2019 Women|Future Conference attendees have pivoted their services, products and strategies to help individuals, businesses and communities impacted by the virus.

While thousands of Stevie Award winners are doing incredible work in their fields during this time, here are six that make the top of our list:

1. Arco + Associates, St. Louis, MO

Andrea Arco is the founder and CEO of Arco + Associates, LLC, a marketing communications firm based in St. Louis, MO that serves clients nationwide. Her company is a 2019 Silver Stevie® Award for Women in Business winner in the Women-Run Workplace of the Year category. Andrea also served as a panelist during the 2019 Women|Future Conference Panel – “The Significance and Simplification of Being Strategic.” Since March 2020, the Arco team has been offering an incredible value of free 30-minute virtual consultations to any business executives and owners looking for strategic marketing advice during this time. The sessions cover everything from messaging to clients, talking through fears, remote working strategies, bounce back marketing strategies, and more. Learn more about the Arco + Associates COVID-19 response here.

2. ScriptDrop, Columbus, OH 

ScriptDrop is a nationwide prescription delivery startup. The company’s president Amanda Way is a Silver Stevie® winner for the Women in Business Awards category Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Services. ScriptDrop has recently switched from solely a business-to-business model to a consumer-facing one. Its prescription delivery service is making a difference in the lives of all patients who are sheltering at home without a way of getting required medications by enabling pharmacies to deliver directly to customers’ homes. ScriptDrop Founder Nicholas Potts explained this shift during this April 21^st  interview with Fortune: “The coronavirus pandemic has meant a sevenfold increase in order volumes—and the execution of a multiyear business plan in just six weeks.” Learn more.

3. Jeunesse Global, Lake Mary, FL

Jeunesse Global is a global direct selling company with a mission to impact the world by helping people look and feel young, while empowering each other to unleash their potential. The company’s exclusive skin care and nutritional products are available in more than 145 countries around the world. Jeunesse Founder and Chief Operations Officer Wendy Lewis is a Gold Stevie winner for Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Products. Jeunesse has added new products to its Youth Enhancement skincare line in response to COVID-19. The newest addition is the AlōClnz Hand Sanitizer single use packets. Jeunesse also recently donated $500,000 USD to COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Learn more.

4. Income Access (a Paysafe Company), Montreal, Quebec (Headquartered)

Income Access is an affiliate software provider, digital marketing agency and affiliate network that serves the iGaming, lottery and forex industries. The company received a 2019 Bronze Stevie Award for Women in Business in the Women-Run Workplace of the Year category. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Income Access key leaders have been hosting webinars about how to create a contingency plan and maintain affiliate marketing business during trying times. Income Access SVP and General Manager, Tara Wilson recently spoke on the April 22, 2020 free webinar Business as Unusual. Making Remote Work 'Work'  about keeping teams productive and connected from a distance. Tara Wilson was a Moderator on the 2019 Women|Future Conference panel “The Art of Inclusion: How to Craft Your Company's Diversity Mosaic” and is currently serving on the 2020 Women|Future Conference Advisory Board.

In addition, Paysafe has been providing solutions for small business that want to pivot their model to include an online scheduling or order ahead service using POS systems. For businesses not currently operating a sophisticated POS system, Paysafe works with their payment services provider to launch lightweight solutions such as Clover Go or Clover Flex.

5. TriageLogic Group, Jacksonville, FL

Triagelogic is a URAC-accredited physician-led company that offers leading-edge solutions for patient care management including emergency healthcare solutions that can be implemented quickly for remote monitoring. Dr. Charu Raheja is the co-founder and CEO of the TriageLogic. She and her team are working tirelessly to help as many healthcare organizations as possible during this crisis. TriageLogic is offering free COVID-19 Protocols to doctor’s offices and hospitals to efficiently triage those who may have been exposed or who are concerned about the virus. The company CTO spoke on live TV network News4Jax to explain the do's and don'ts of wearing a protective face mask. If you need help setting up a #COVID-19 hotline, contact info@triagelogic.com or call (855) 734-4463.

TriageLogic Group and Dr. Charu Raheja are 2018 Stevie® Awards For Women in Business winners. TriageLogic is a Silver Stevie® Award winner in the Company/Organization Awards category, and Charu is a Gold Stevie® Award winner in the Individual Awards category for Women in Business. Dr. Charu Raheja was a breakout session speaker at the 2019 Women|Future Conference; her session was titled “Finding Your True Self and Meaningful Support at Work.”

6. Noonday Collection, Austin, TX

Noonday Collection designs and sells jewelry and accessories made by Artisans in some of the world's most vulnerable communities. The company partners with Artisan Businesses through fair trade, empowering them to grow sustainably and to create dignified jobs for people who need them. Noonday announced on April 21, 2020  that they are partnering with @nokidhungry to help end childhood hunger. In a time when schools have closed their doors, kids in need have missed millions of school meals that their families rely on. They are also running contests on social media to nominate healthcare workers to receive healthcare packages and work appropriate Noonday accessories. Noonday Founder and Co-CEO Jessica Honegger is a 2019 Gold Stevie® Awards for Women in Business winner in the category Female Entrepreneur of the Year- Business Products.

About the Stevie Awards for Women in Business

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the world’s premier business awards for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run. All organizations and individuals worldwide are eligible to submit entries to the competition. The awards feature categories to recognize achievement in many facets of work life, including:

• Entrepreneur Awards
• Executive Awards
• Achievement Awards
• Management Team Awards
• Company of the Year Awards
• Communications & Marketing Awards
• PR Awards
• Media Awards
• New Product & Service Awards
• Website & App Awards
• And More

More than 200 professionals around the world will participate in the judging process, and entrants have access to all of the judges’ comments and suggestions about their entries; an invaluable resource! Finalists are announced in early October 2020, and the Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie winners will be revealed during the Las Vegas award ceremony on November 13, in conjunction with the 2020 Women|Future Conference.

Interested in nominating your business in the 2020 Stevie Awards for Women in Business? 

About the Women|Future Conference

This two-day conference for women encourages engaging connections, professional and personal development, and health and financial wellness through motivational keynotes, educational sessions, and networking. The mission of the Women|Future Conference is to help women share insights about the changes that will impact their businesses, their industries, their careers, and their lives.

Speakers and topics address the latest innovations and impending change in areas such as technology, sustainability, career planning, social media, government regulation, access to capital, and more. With panel discussions, a must-see keynote, plenty of networking opportunities, case studies from Stevie® winners, and a showcase of young women-owned businesses, this is an event you don’t want to miss! Learn more.

Registration is open for the 2020 Women|Future Conference, November 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards programs, has issued a call for speakers and topics for its third-annual Women|Future Conference.

This two-day event for professional women to connect and hear about business and career topics will be presented in conjunction with the 17^th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business on November 12-13, 2019, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The Stevie Awards is offering $99 registration for the conference through January 17 at https://stevieawards.regfox.com/2020-womenfuture-conference. Registration fees are 100% refundable through early October 2020. The fee will rise to $299 on January 18.

Speaker and topic proposals may be submitted at https://www.womenfutureconference.com/speaker-topic-proposals. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 1. Questions about the conference, presentation opportunities, and sponsorship options may be directed to Ruslana Milikhiker, Conference & Event Manager, at Ruslana@StevieAwards.com. 

In addition to our call for speakers, we are also seeking young (less than three years) women-owned businesses to showcase at the 2020 event. If you are interested in showcasing your business before an audience of potential customers, investors, and the press, at no cost, click here and tell us about your organization, its products and/or services, and the date you began business.

The mission of the conference is to help women understand and prepare for the changes that will affect their businesses, their industries, their careers, and their lives. Speakers and topics may address impending change in areas such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, career management, diversity and inclusion, and the future of work, for example. The conference will also feature case studies from finalists in the 2020 Stevie Awards for Women in Business about how they are achieving success and preparing for the future.

Last year’s conference speakers included Sheryl Connelly of Ford Motor Company, Gail Becker of CAULIPOWER, Shimona Chadha of HCL Technologies, Ashley Brundage of PNC, and Alex Coren of Wambi, among others. Click here to check out the highlights from the 2019 conference.

Registration for November 2020 Women|Future Conference in Las Vegas Is Just $99 Through January 10

What should you give the ambitious, forward-looking woman this holiday season? A gift card, a fruit basket, a sweater she won’t wear? How about two days of networking, keynote sessions, panel discussions, and a showcase of young women-owned businesses, in the entertainment capital of the world, for just $99?

The Stevie Awards is offering a $99 registration through January 10 for its third annual Women|Future Conference, November 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The conference’s mission is to address the most pressing issues of tomorrow, from the perspective of how they will effect women entrepreneurs, executives, and employees, in all industries. The deeply-discounted registration is available at www.WomenFutureConference.com.

The price will jump to $299 on January 11.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone else or yourself, the best gift is an investment in the future. The 2020 Women|Future Conference will help attendees gain insight into how to secure theirs.

The first two editions of the conference were staged in New York, in conjunction with the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Check out the summary of the 2019 conference.

Like all great gifts, this one is fully returnable. Conference registrations fees are 100% refundable through early October.