Agenda
Note: Schedule subject to change
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
MAC
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Registration
Exhibit Hall Opens
MAC
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
Main Gym
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Opening Keynote – Sally Helgesen
Main Gym
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Book Signing / Break / Exhibit Hall
Main Gym
11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Morning Breakout Sessions
Room Location: FSC - Heritage
Presenters: Stefanie Boyer, Professor, Bryant University; Sharmin Attaran, Professor, Bryant University
Learn to unlock four key social-selling techniques — preparing your professional brand, finding the right prospects, engaging them with insights, and building lasting relationships — to transform professional relationships into opportunities.
Room Location: AIC 118
Presenter: Lisa Shorr, Image and Brand Coach, Shorr Success
Why do clients hire us? Perception. Join image and branding coach Lisa Shorr of Shorr Success for an interactive discussion exploring six key strategies that go beyond being perceived as a vendor, to creating lasting relationships as your client’s Trusted Advisor.
Room Location: AIC 119
Presenters: Ellen Feldman Ornato and Jenny Drescher, Partners, Bolder Company Inc.
Get out of your comfort zone and learn the “secret sauce” to networking: engaging at the level of who you are. Through this fast-paced experience, you’ll laugh, form lasting connections, and leave feeling energized.
Room Location: AIC 212
Presenter: Jaime Diglio ’00, Founder, inFirst Coaching
Women are wired to raise a hand and overcommit, leading to exhaustion, anxiety, and emptiness. This immersive workshop will guide you through how to build more breathing room into your day so that you can advocate for your career, yourself, and others.
Room Location: FSC - Papitto
Presenter: Anne Ollen, Managing Director, TIAA Institute
The retirement savings and investments of women generate about 30% less income than men. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the TIAA Institute started publishing research-based insights from women leaders that explore retirement inequality. What drives it? What are the implications? And what would make a difference?
Room Location: Janikies Auditorium
Presenters: Abigail Keating '15, AINS, Amica Insurance; Gabrielle Leitgeb ’20, AINS, API, Amica Insurance
Self-promotion enables you to share your ideas and work in ways that benefit you and your organization. Yet too often women minimize their potential and successes. Stop downplaying accomplishments and start amplifying your value. In this session, you’ll learn to authentically self-promote your purpose and impact.
Room Location: AIC Forum
Presenter: Rita Williams-Bogar ‘76, President & CEO, Personal Development Solutions, LLC
Being promoted doesn’t come with a playbook. This interactive session focuses on the essential skills, competencies, and strategies needed to transition from individual contributor to manager. You’ll cover how to strengthen relationships, earn the respect of your team, communicate, and manage effectively. (Those guiding individual contributors can benefit too.)
Room Location: AIC 222
Presenter: Robin Lovely, Founder & Managing Partner, The Women’s Advisory Group
The secret no one ever told you: Women are natural investors. Leverage your innate strengths and make financial decisions with confidence so you can accomplish more with your money.
Room Location: Interfaith Center
Panelists: Liz Desautel, Banker, J.P. Morgan; Amy Walsh, Executive Director of Commercial Banking, J.P. Morgan; Michelle Buonfuglio, Relationship Executive; Susan Keller, Founder, Entrepreneurial Executives, LLC and CEO Atlas
Learn the game-changing strategies that teams within one of the world’s top financial institutions, J.P. Morgan, and the Women’s President Organization use to harness the power of partnering together.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
- Networking
- Award Presentation
Main Gym
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon Keynote – Darria Long
Main Gym
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Keynote – Beverly Johnson
MAC
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Break
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Room Location: AIC 118
Presenter: Taylor Vahey ’23, Bryant University; Alexandra Fluegel ’23, Bryant University
Global climate change is an urgent issue. Two Bryant University Seniors present their research from a collaboration with the Harvard Radcliffe Institute that shows that women business leaders hold the power to save the world.
Room Location: AIC Forum
Presenter: Mary-Kate O’Leary, Executive Director, A Wish Come True, Inc.
Stop running on empty. This session is filled with ideas on how to achieve true balance through embracing self-care, creating a women-helping-women culture, and influencing the next generation.
Room Location: Janikies Auditorium
Presenter: Donna Rustigian Mac, President, iVoice Communication
Master the art of feedback that creates 360-degree wins, empowering your employees, the company, and you. Walk away with actionable guidelines that will change your workplace — and your life.
Room Location: FSC - Papitto/Heritage
Panelists: Betty Robson H’22, CEO, JF Moran; Sandra Castro, Business Process Manager, JF Moran; Ashleigh Crowe Logistics Manager, JF Moran; Kristin Anastasiades, VP of Marketing, JF Moran
Panel advice on the formula to thriving in a fast-paced world, both in professional and personal pursuits: focus on strengths, seek growth opportunities, be the “Hell, yes!” person, and share the love by giving back.
Room Location: AIC 212
Presenter: Jennifer Sahady ’05, Financial Wellness Consultant
Go beyond investing into the heart of financial wellness and confidence. In this active workshop, you’ll examine your views on money and learn how to have open, honest discussions with family and friends.
Room Location: AIC 222
Presenter: Meaghan Trayner, Associate Director of Human Resources, Bryant University
Focusing on your talents triples your quality of life and makes you six times more engaged at work. So why is self-improvement often obsessed with what we don’t do well? Through the CliftonStrengths model, you can learn the power of leaning into what you do best.
Room Location: Interfaith Center
Moderator: Jess Hutchinson, Vice President, Marketing Executive, Rhode Island, Moderator
Panelists: Shelly Schoenfeld, Sr. Vice President, Credit Review Executive; Christano Andrade ‘03, Sr. Vice President, Audit Director; Kathleen Auth, Managing Director, Private Wealth Management Market Executive
Creating an inclusive environment starts at the top and extends to all teammates. In this session, executives from Bank of America will discuss the unique and diverse experiences of women at the company and focus on how to support and drive an inclusive work environment.
Room Location: AIC 119
Presenter: Kelly Nevins, CEO, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Self-advocacy can lead to a more inclusive environment for all. Interactive group discussions will help supercharge your confidence and skills so you can more effectively promote yourself and those around you.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Closing Networking Reception
- Closing Remarks
- Networking
Bello Center