Opening Ceremony
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Stuart Franco
President
(Opening Remarks)
Keynote Speaker
10:50 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Panel Discussion - Inclusion Matters: #InspireInclusion
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Being included in the workplace means more than just having a physical presence; it involves creating an environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and respected, regardless of their gender, background, or any other characteristic. Hear from experts and leaders who have invested in inclusion policies to empower women while helping men to become better supportive allies.
This session will help participants to:
• Create an inclusive workforce by eliminating tokenism, unconscious bias, stereotypes, and harassment.
• Take steps to foster inclusive teams and leadership styles to establish trust, value, and acceptance.
• Understand the rules that would create space for genuine dialogue, open communication, and feedback from employees.
• Engage male allies to be stronger advocates for gender equity and inclusion.
LUNCH
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Feature Speaker
1:15 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Panel Discussion - UNTIE THE KNOTS – Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word)
1:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
The famous quote from the 2023 film, Barbie “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us,” expresses the pressures that women often feel to conform to societal expectations and seek approval at the expense of chasing their ambitions.
Research has shown that ambition culturally is seen as a positive trait in men but criticized in women. In this session, we will examine how we can untangle the knots to ensure that ambition in women is no longer seen as a dirty word.
Participants will gain:
• Steps to reclaim and reframe ambition to build happier, more successful careers while navigating societal expectations.
• Identify policies for organizations to promote and elevate women.
• Tips to invest in oneself to develop new skills and build networks of like-minded ambitious people.
• The importance of having both empowering male and female mentors in aligning career goals in pursuing leadership.
BREAK
2:50 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion - BALANCE & GROWTH
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Research shows that a toxic workplace — including harassment, bullying, and ostracism — is a significant source of psychological strain for women and can lead to high levels of stress and burnout.
In this session, we will examine:
• The importance of building psychologically safe workplaces to empower women.
• Understanding work-life balance – learning to say no, communicate boundaries to unplug, and investing in strong nurturing relationships.
• Learning how to manage stress, anxiety and burnout.
• Handling criticism to achieve personal growth.
• Overcoming fears, self-limiting beliefs, and rejection to forge meaningful relationships with ourselves and colleagues.
Cocktail Reception
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
