2023 Agenda 

Slow down and clear your mind before you start your day. This mindfulness session will allow you to set intentions for the day and get into the perfect headspace to work on yourself.

Speaker: Marisa Thomas

(for emerging – experienced leaders)

This workshop is designed to help emerging and mid-career leaders effectively articulate their ideas, assert themselves in meetings, and communicate confidently with colleagues and superiors. We’ll address common challenges, such as being the only woman in the room, and subtle forms of discrimination and bias, such as being interrupted or talked over in meetings, being asked to take notes, or being given less strategic assignments than male colleagues. You’ll leave the session with actionable tips to implement now and a plan to address your opportunities for improvement.

Speakers: Marlene Fuller, Carri McQuerrey-Funk

(for experienced leaders)

Transformational exchanges occur between individuals at any stage of a relationship and empower, enlighten, evoke a vision, or advance BOTH parties' agendas, personally and professionally. Learn how to give and get the most out of every relationship. Do you know what you have to offer and what you have to gain? Do you know, and are you practicing, the boundaries required to succeed in your relationships? Are you capable of maintaining the connection? We'll answer these questions and more!

Speakers: Rebekah Luebcke, Lisa Rozzelle

(for all levels)

We know instinctively that there are significant benefits to effective listening, such as improved communication, better relationships, and increased empathy. But so many of us have trouble actually doing it. This workshop will explore the neuroscience of listening, the barriers to effective listening and how to overcome them, and specific active listening skills. You’ll leave with the tools necessary to listen more deeply and enhance your personal and professional life.

Speakers: Cassandra Hurst, Della Franklin

(for experienced/mid-career leaders)

This workshop is designed to help those feeling stuck, unchallenged, or disengaged. It will help you to rediscover a passion for your work and find ways to grow and thrive in your current environment. We’ll cover strategies for identifying your most energizing work, where your interests lie, and what skills you may desire to develop, as well as techniques for increasing engagement and satisfaction with your current job. The goal is to help attendees find new opportunities for growth and fulfillment in their careers while remaining committed to their current organization.

Speaker: Suzanne Currier

(for executive leaders or experienced professionals in the later career stages or approaching retirement)

Do you have more of your career behind you than ahead? At a place in your life or career where you’re rethinking what your career looks like?  If you find yourself thinking about the mark you’ve made and considering what you still want to accomplish, whether you’ve got your eye on a big career move, you’re ready to sit on a board or engage in philanthropy, or ready to retire but want to remain professionally relevant, we’ll help each other clarify our dreams and chart the path forward.

Speaker: Sherry Jordana

(for business owners)

This is an opportunity to gather with WCF attendees who are business owners and share challenges and solutions around growth, strategy, operations, leadership, culture and more. This session will be led by one of your peers, and will have a loose agenda that allows primarily for addressing your top of mind issues.

Speaker: Aleks Whitchurch

(for experienced – executive leaders)

This workshop is designed to help those already at the senior management or executive level develop a stronger executive presence. Whether you need to present to the board, speak on a conference panel or podcast, or influence a broad organizational decision, you’ll learn how to communicate with impact, both verbally and non-verbally, to engage and inspire your audience. Gain insights into your own strengths and areas for improvement and develop a plan for honing your executive presence.

Speaker: Sherry Jordana

(for all levels)

In today's world, leaders face the challenge of managing employees from different generations and life stages, and in different locations. This workshop will boost your confidence to manage a diverse and dispersed workforce effectively. You’ll learn how to acknowledge the different life stages, backgrounds, and values among your team and how to leverage this diversity to enhance teamwork, collaboration, and innovation.

Speakers: Paige Corin, Rachel Auerbach

(for all levels)

We’ve covered the topic of recognizing unconscious bias at WCF before; We know the impact it can have on culture and on company performance. But what to do about it? In this workshop, we’ll focus on practical steps managers and leaders can take to identify and address unconscious bias and mitigate its negative effects. You’ll leave with tools you can use to take action right away and also to work with your team to enhance understanding of this important topic and how to continuously improve the culture at your organization.

Speaker: Crystal Walker

(for executive leaders)

Succession planning not only ensures the organization's long-term success and sustainability but also provides opportunities for those moving on and those moving up. In this workshop, we'll explore the elements of a successful succession planning program, including identifying key positions and individuals within the organization, assessing their readiness for leadership roles, and developing and implementing a plan for grooming them for future leadership roles. We'll also talk about the importance of communication and transparency in the succession planning process, both for the individuals being developed and the rest of the organization.

Speakers: Tonia Brown, Nidhi Daga

(for all levels)

Money is our #1 source of stress, and it has an outsized impact on our futures and overall well-being. Data shows that when we take command of our money, it can become a driver of confidence. In this workshop, you'll learn tools to take control of your finances and achieve long-term financial security. It will be led by Ashley Bleckner, a private wealth advisor from Ellevest - the only financial company founded by, funded by, built by, and built for women.

Get ready for Round 2! Inspiring women take the stage to share their stories of challenge, heartbreak, and perseverance. It’s one of the most loved and emotional parts of the conference. Literal tears are shed by the audience, so bring your box of tissues. And also your notebooks, because there's more wisdom and lessons learned that you'll want to remember.

Speakers: Lynn Reynolds, Dorothia Allen-Taylor

Hosted by Amy Anuk, formerly a member of the executive leadership team at Encore Capital Group and now a mentor to and investor in women-led companies, this chat features a powerhouse panel of senior women and their stories of challenge and achievement in the consumer finance industry.

Speakers: Amy Anuk, Melinda McBride, Yolanda Schufford, Marisa Calderon

Who doesn't love a little friendly competition? Get ready for a trivia showdown. Compete with your team, or if you're not on a "Whole Shebang" team, you can play with other trivia lovers. You'll vie for the official - huge - WCF trivia trophy...and bragging rights for a year.

This activity will allow you to meet even more fellow WCF participants. Our structured networking event is the perfect opportunity to connect with women beyond your small team.

After a long day of self-work and professional development, it's time to let loose. Have a meal with your new friends and then join them on the dance floor (this dinner is included in your registration fee).

NEW for 2023 - Sing your heart out with your new friends before you call it a night. (This is, of course, an optional activity for those who prefer to preserve their voices for solo car rides.)

Slow down and clear your mind before you start your day. This mindfulness session will allow you to set intentions for the day and get into the perfect headspace to work on yourself.

Speaker: Marisa Thomas

(for emerging leaders)

This workshop will offer practical tools and strategies to help manage stress, build resilience, and maintain a healthy balance. We will cover mindfulness techniques and other stress reduction strategies that you can use to cope with personal and professional demands. Additionally, we will explore ways to establish healthy boundaries, set realistic goals, and manage your time effectively.

Speakers: Danielle Banner, Amy Lanning, Cayla-Simone Riggs

(for experienced leaders)

Today’s environment demands that leaders must not only attend to their own well-being but also the mental health of their team members, and few of us have formal training in this area. This workshop will help to frame and start the conversation.

Speakers: Jessia Atkinson, Litza Bodden

(for executive leaders)

Promoting mental health in the workplace requires a multi-faceted approach that involves addressing both individual and organizational factors. Employers who prioritize mental health are more likely to have a productive and engaged workforce, lower absenteeism rates, and improved overall business outcomes. But where do you start? This workshop will offer a framework for further discussion with the leadership team.

Speakers: Michelle Macartney, Tricia Wyatt

(for executive leaders)

Is your next step retirement? Gather with a group of women at the same stage for an open and honest discussion about your plans, your dreams, and the complex emotions that retirement can bring up, including excitement, uncertainty, and perhaps even some fear or anxiety. You’ll find a supportive environment to share your concerns, questions, strategies and tips for navigating this life change. Maybe you’ll even leave with a new retirement sister!

Speaker: Lisa Bonalle-Hannan

Event description coming soon...

To close out our time together, we’ll challenge you to reflect upon what you learned and think about how you can apply it moving forward. You’ll have the chance to share your takeaways and goals with your new support system.

"Whole Shebang" teams - this is your final opportunity to bond before parting.

Speaker: Stephanie Eidelman