Best Breakouts The Conferences for Women

Often, people measure their success based on their ability to earn more, produce more, be more of everything—including busy. Author Courtney Carver knows firsthand about the quest for success. She also felt the consequences of surrendering to the rat race which for her, resulted in compromised relationships and health issues. In this session, Carver offered a different perspective on success, by discovering the power of simplicity and not getting caught up in the rush and the stuff.  She explores how conscious minimalism (the act of de-cluttering) can improve your professional and personal life, relieve stress, remove excess and create more with less—more space (physically and emotionally), more time, and ultimately more success in all aspects of your life.

Starting as an intern and rising all the way up to president of Arial Investments, there is no doubt why Mellody Hobson was named one of TIME Magazine’s most influential people in the world. From her humble Chicago childhood, to success as nationally recognized financial expert and director of major public companies like The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corporation, this intimate fireside chat will explore her remarkable journey. The multi-dimensional Mellody Hobson will share insights and inspiration around what it means to be successful professionally, personally, financially, and as a woman of color in corporate America.

We love our kids, but do we love our role as parents? We strive for our kids to be successful, but do we feel successful as parents? According to New York Times columnist and author KJ Dell’Antonia, the two go hand-in-hand and you can’t have one without the other. By experiencing joy – real happiness, you can learn how to mitigate the day-to-day downers from getting everyone out the door in the morning, to making sure chores and homework gets done without battles, or having siblings without rivalry. This session will share the common problem spots that cause parents the most grief, and offer doable steps to become more successful as a family unit.

Bestselling author, playwright and screenwriter with movies that include: You’ve Got Mail, Hanging Up and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Delia Ephron explores the crossroads of life and offers her insight as to how to find the courage and imagination to take a different path. With humor and grace, she will teach you what you can run from and what is just part of life.

The anxiety, second-guessing and often unsolicited opinions we face during times of transition are abundant and can result in a lot of self-doubt. They can also make you feel stuck and prevent you from making the small decisions that will help you get where you want to go. Social worker and psychotherapist Amy Morin will briefly share the psychological factors that contribute to our mindset when facing transition and lead a dynamic panel conversation that will explore how to think about your choices, trust your instincts and decide whether to stay the course or pivot in a new direction.

Franchesca Ramsey became an online sensation when she transformed her “viral moment” into a platform for social justice and ultimately became what she describes as an “Accidental Activist.”



In this session, she moderates an engaging discussion with a panel of pioneers to discuss their personal journey to a forging a life of meaning. They offer practical tips for driving change–even if you aren’t in charge of policy. Explore what it means to be an authentic activist; how to create a clear vision, inspire supporters, and persuade decision makers.