Breakout Session Descriptions
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9:00 - 9:30 AM
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Natalie Hauff
Charleston County Public Library |
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10:15-10:30 AM
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Networking Break
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Breakout Session 1
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10:30 - 11:15 AM
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What Taylor Swift Teaches Women About Effective Advocacy and Communication
Breakout A Through examination of Taylor Swift's music and success in a male dominated industry, there is a lot to be learned for women in leadership positions seeking to overcome implicit bias many women face. This presentation focuses on persuasive communication techniques for women leaders including speaking with vocal conviction, honing emotional intelligence, leading with warmth, leveraging the power of storytelling, active listening and utilizing non-verbal communication powerfully. |
Julie Moore
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10:30 - 11:15 AM
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Navigating the Forces of Change: Embracing Transformation for Growth and Success
Breakout B Change is an inevitable force that impacts both personal and professional lives. It can be unsettling, met with resistance due to a natural preference for stability. However, for change to succeed, it’s crucial to influence others and help them embrace it. Execution is equally important. A clear, actionable plan helps break down the change process into manageable steps, ensuring resources are allocated and responsibilities are clear. Flexibility is key, as change rarely follows a linear path. Ultimately, successful change requires both effective influence and structured execution. By focusing on the "why" and "how," individuals and organizations can turn change into an opportunity for growth and long-term success. |
Jodi George
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10:30 - 11:15 AM
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Design Your Life To Scale: Using the Power of UX
Breakout C To explain the power of User Experience (UX) Design, this presentation would show the scalability of design systems in Figma that can also translate to creating a career/life that can scale women to greater heights. While tying in the power of popular design systems of renowned companies such as Google, Spotify and more. |
Micheala Bennekin-Eduafo
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10:30 - 11:15 AM
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Leadership: Aligning Your Inner Strengths with Outer Success
Breakout D Unlock the power of authentic leadership by aligning your inner strengths with your professional goals. In this engaging session, discover how self-awareness, energetic alignment, and emotional resilience can elevate your confidence and impact as a leader. Drawing from personal experiences and practical tools, you'll learn how to identify your unique strengths and apply them to thrive in challenging work environments. Walk away with actionable insights to lead with clarity, inspire others, and achieve success on your own terms. Perfect for women ready to break barriers and lead authentically in any industry. |
Angela Ortiz
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11:15-11:30 AM Networking Break
Breakout Session 2
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11:30- 12:15 PM
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From Support Representative to Senior Executive; Building a Personal Brand and Thriving in Leadership
Breakout A As a senior executive at a billion-dollar company, I have navigated the challenges of leadership while leading with confidence and resilience. This 10 year journey from an entry level Support Representative to Director was not without challenges - immigrating to the United States at 13, I faced the hurdles of adapting to a new culture and subsequently decided to enter the workforce without a college degree. Neverthertheless, I climbed the corporate ladder through determination, tenacity, and a commitment to continuous learning, while developing a personal brand that has been crucial in establishing my professional identity and advancing my career. I can't wait to share my story, insights, and strategies for building a personal brand, the power of mentorship, and thriving in leadership roles. Let’s empower each other to break through our limits and achieve our fullest potential! |
Tara Palmatier
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11:30- 12:15 PM
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The Future-Focused Leader: How AI-Powered Foresight Gives You the Edge in a Rapidly Changing World
Breakout B Industries are evolving faster than ever—leaders who wait to react risk falling behind. The key to success in today’s rapidly changing world isn’t just working harder—it’s seeing what’s next before it happens. In this session, you’ll discover how AI-powered foresight is revolutionizing decision-making, career growth, and business strategy. Walk away with practical insights to anticipate change, make smarter moves, and future-proof your success. The #1 mindset shift future-focused leaders make Simple foresight frameworks for tracking industry shifts The next steps to start using AI-powered insights |
Sonja Pemberton
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11:30- 12:15 PM
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Bridging the Gap Between Education and Industry
Breakout C This presentation examines the region’s workforce product through the lens of Education and Industry. The gap between what the k-12 system produces and what business leaders are reporting they need has grown increasingly wider. By examining the regional initiative, Tri-County STEMersion, attendees will be able to:
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Michelle McDonald
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11:30- 12:15 PM
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Improve your mindset and level up your leadership
Breakout D Neutral is the space between positive & negative. Neutral thinking is an approach that involves acknowledging and impacting When we learn to better control our mindset, we not only make better decisions, but we move on from missteps quicker. My session would include going through actionable steps listeners can take, immediately, to take control over their mindset. The first part is recognizing where all the negativity lies and the second are tools to shift your mindset away from assigning "good or bad". When we look at things for what they are- we don't waste time being emotional about a decision/choice. More importantly, we don't dwell on an event/thing. Regular practice of neutral thinking will have you moving in better directions and surrounding yourself with people that talk about ideas versus other people. It's important to me to share a framework that women can start using THAT day. In my opinion, those are some of the best parts of a workshop- the takeaways. |
Brenna Lawrence
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12:15- 12:45 PM
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Buffet Lunch
Conference Center Lobby and Main |
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12:45- 1:45 PM
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Lunch Keynote: Elevate Your Voice
Main Stage Elevator Pitch Competition - featuring an interview with Linda J. Riedel, COL SCARNG |
Jackie Kohlhepp
The Rez Rev |
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1:45-2:00 PM
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Networking/ Break
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Breakout Session 3
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2:00-2:45 PM
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2:00 - 2:45 PM
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Turning Your Breaking Point into Your Breakthrough
Breakout B Months before turning 30, I lost my only brother, which forced me to question everything I thought I knew about success, happiness, and balance. I had been living a career-driven life, believing exhaustion was the price of ambition. In my national-level role in Learning and Development, I spent 80% of my time traveling, sacrificing my health and family for success. That loss sparked a journey of transformation. I redefined my values, set boundaries, and shifted my focus to a life of presence, joy, and true self-care. I restructured my role, cut my travel in half, and built a career that honored both my ambition and well-being. Now, as a certified executive and career coach, I help women like me create success without burnout. Through mindset shifts, boundary-setting, and practical tools, I empower them to pursue their goals while honoring their health and happiness. Together, we turn “someday” dreams into a fulfilling reality. |
Amanda Riffee
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2:00 - 2:45 PM
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Deliver the Goods: Building Quality Software Products
Breakout C This talk explores essential skills and strategies for excelling as an individual contributor on high-growth software products. We'll dive into methods for delivering consistent results to multiple stakeholders, balancing product-driven goals with operational demands, and overcoming common frustrations in fast-paced environments—all while demonstrating your value to the team. Key topics will include managing system complexity, navigating obstacles, and moving features from concept to production. Attendees at every career stage will gain practical insights to elevate their performance, build quality software, and foster a culture of excellence, competence, and collaboration. |
Natalie Davidson
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2:00 - 2:45 PM
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Path to Leadership: Lessons Learned from a Physician-Scientist
Breakout D The goal for this session is for the audience to realize their opportunities to enact influence at any level and maximize their potential to be leaders in their personal and professional lives. Join Dr. DeAnna Baker Frost, a physician-scientist and faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), for an engaging and thought-provoking session as she walks the audience through her journey to becoming a leader as a physician-scientist. Through the example of her lived and current life experiences, she knows the audience will leave inspired and eager to take risks and start their journey to leadership. |
Dr. DeAnna Baker Frost
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2:45- 3:00 PM
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Networking Break
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3:00 - 3:45 PM
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Space Inspires...Trailblazers, Leaders - YOU!
Main Stage Space Inspires humans of all ages. It inspires us to look up, to consider the possibilities of something grander, to dream big, and it inspires some to lead and trailblaze in whatever cosmic corner of the universe they are in. Join Michelle as she shares about her Space Inspired journey and shares about some of the industry trailblazers who just might inspire YOU! |
Michelle Lucas
Higher Orbits |
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Beth Meredith
KBR |
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4:00 PM
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Social
Conference Center Lobby |