TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from Event Co-Chairs
5
Tips & Tricks
7
Thank you to our sponsors
9
Summit Schedule
21
WNY Women's Foundation Leadership
37
Next Steps
41
LETTER FROM CO-CHAIRS Dear Sponsors and Guests, Welcome to our first-ever Leadership Summit and thank you for joining our movement to ensure every woman in Western New York has the opportunity to earn, learn, and lead. Gender equity in the workplace is not inevitable. It requires our bold commitment to advance women in all industries, at every level, and across our community. The pandemic has uniquely and disproportionately affected women—now, we have the opportunity to build our workplaces back better and improve public policy with passion, intention, and empathy for all.
Thank you for taking the first step towards a bright future by joining us here today at the Leadership Summit. Together, we are building a movement of collective impact that will advance gender equity and move Western New York forward. Your support of the women in our communities has never been more important. As Co-Chairs of this event, we would like to thank our C.E.O., Sheri Scavone, our amazing staff, and our Committee, whose dedication and passion brought this important event to life. Thank you also to our Board members, especially Chair Andrea Vossler, for their commitment to our mission of creating a culture of possibility for all women. Most of all, we thank you—our sponsors and participants. Your support, knowledge, and time assists our efforts to create significant change in the lives of women in Western New York and beyond. We believe this is a unique and special time in history for women. Today we celebrate the incredible strides that are possible when we work together and have a seat at the leadership table. Thank you for joining us. Your Co-Chairs, Emily Burns Perryman & Siobhan C. Smith
TIPS & TRICKS Get the most out of the Leadership Summit by using these pro-tips and tricks!
TECH
Use Firefox or Chrome as your browser. Internet Explorer is not supported. Use a computer (laptop or desktop). iPads are not supported. If you are watching on a work-issued computer, we recommend checking with your IT department ahead of time to make sure there will be no firewall issues. Visit https://hopin.com/pre-event-check to make sure your computer is ready to go for the event.
NAVIGATION
Navigate the event using the left-hand navigation bar: Main Page features the full event schedule. Sessions brings you to session happening right now. Networking features "speed-dating"-style virtual networking. Expo & Inspo features on-demand "Words of Wisdom" from prominent leaders across the country, plus information about our wonderful event sponsors.
PROTOCOL
Update your Hopin profile to include your pronouns. Most sessions are webinar-style, meaning you do not need to share your video or audio. Hopin does not support blurring or virtual backgrounds. So, if you do share your video, be prepared with a clean, non-distracting background. If you have questions for the speaker of your session, type them in the Session Chat Box. Chatting from the Main Page messages all event attendees. Use this tool judiciously!
TROUBLESHOOTING
Having trouble? Contact Hopin support at support@hopin.com. Visit the Hopin Knowledge Base to troubleshoot your issue. Visit the Help Desk via the Sessions tab to connect with an Event Organizer.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING GLASS CEILING SPONSOR
INSPIRATION SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS CHANGEMAKER SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS REVOLUTIONARY SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS REVOLUTIONARY SPONSORS
MARY ANN COULSON & KATHERINE MOHNEY
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS ADVOCATE SPONSORS
ELISA APPELBAUM SUSANNA SCHENK
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW Use this schedule overview to plan your day at the Leadership Summit. As a reminder, we will be using the platform Hopin to host this entirely virtual event. There are a number of different spaces to explore:
Main Page is your home base. Find the full schedule and event-wide chat here. Navigate to any currently-happening session from here.
Sessions tab features all currently-active sessions. (View the full Summit schedule on the Main Page to see ALL sessions happening throughout the day.)
Networking tab offers the opportunity to meet new people. Get randomly paired up and chat for 3 minutes to see if you want to continue the conversation.
Expo & Inspo features "Words of Wisdom" messages from prominent leaders viewable on-demand, plus more information about our amazing event sponsors.
There are 16 different sessions happening throughout the Summit, so we've organized them into tracks to help you prioritize relevant sessions. You will see these tracks noted throughout the schedule: Track: Established Leader
Sessions designed for leaders who are established in their careers.
Track: Aspiring Leader
Sessions designed for younger and mid-career professionals.
Track: General
Sessions appropriate for all career levels.
Tracks are entirely optional and you are welcome to attend any session you like, regardless of your career stage.
SCHEDULE 9 - 9:25 a.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
WELCOME
RADICAL PRODUCTIVITY: ELEVATE YOUR WORK HABITS AND SHIFT THE STATUS QUO
Join WNY Women's Foundation CEO Sheri Scavone and event co-chairs Emily Burns Perryman and Siobhan Smith as we kick off our first-ever Leadership Summit. Get expert tips on navigating the Summit and a sense of community, plus remarks from very special guest New York State Governor Kathy Hochul.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. CREATIVE LEADERSHIP: FINDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES Speaker: Ismet Mamnoon Moderator: Kerry Spicer Location: Sessions Track: General Creative leadership is an approach to being the kind of leader who models, supports, and nurtures collaboration and creative thinking among those they lead. In this session, we will explore a simple framework that introduces a mindset, heartset, and skillset for creative leadership. We will introduce simple and effective strategies that can be applied immediately in both a personal and professional setting.
Speaker: Marijke Kemble Moderator: Andrea Schillaci Location: Sessions Track: General Einstein famously said, "we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them." Together let's explore new ways to think about productivity that can get us closer to our goals and influence transformation in the workplace as well. This is an interactive workshop - come prepared to work on your specific challenges with a special tool designed for the event!
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. THE DIFFERENTIATING POWER OF MENTORSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP Speaker: Sarah Gilson Speaker: Dr. Judy Larkin Moderator: Arlene Kaukus Location: Sessions Track: Aspiring Leader Women with mentors and sponsors experience increased connection, broader perspective, and more engagement at work. Learn how to unlock the power of a mentor and the importance of finding a sponsor to advocate for you at work.
SCHEDULE 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
BEST PRACTICES IN INCLUSIVE TALENT MANAGEMENT
DELIBERATELY FLOW INTO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL
Speaker: Talethea Best Moderator: Athena Howk
Speaker: Najja Bouldin Moderator: Alice Jacobs
Location: Sessions
Location: Sessions
Track: Established Leader
Track: General
Recruiting and developing productive, innovative, qualityminded, multigenerational, multicultural, and diverse employees is far more complex than ever before. Uncover bias in your talent recruitment process and make a plan to improve across the talent management spectrum with Talethea Best, Founder & CEO of Best Innovations Consulting.
Mix creative problem solving, innovative thinking, and applied imagination into a mental workout that makes you free to navigate success. Flow with speaker Najja Bouldin, a creative problem solving master and adjunct lecturer at Buffalo State College.
10:30 - 11 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK Location: Networking Get to know professionals across sectors with our unique "speed-dating" virtual networking. You will be randomly matched with other leaders and given a fixed amount of time to chat. Then, you can decide to move on or to exchange info to meet up later during summit breaks!
WORDS OF WISDOM: MY LEADERSHIP LENS Location: Expo & Inspo Gain insights from some of the brightest leaders in our region via exclusive Summit content. Learn from their wisdom as they share stories of their most impactful leadership experiences and strategies.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. NEW ERA, NEW LEADERSHIP: CREATIVE AND RESPONSIVE APPROACHES TO MANAGEMENT Speaker: Nicole Touzien Moderator: Mary Ann Coulson Location: Sessions Track: General As staff and organizational needs and expectations evolve, new approaches to leadership are both important and necessary. Hear from Nicole Touzien, Executive Director at Dancewave in Brooklyn, NY, on how she creatively approaches leadership, and gain insights into responsive management tactics that can serve emerging and established professionals alike.
SCHEDULE 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
MEN AS ALLIES: WHAT ALLYSHIP MEANS TO FEMALE LEADERS
BALANCE & SELF-CARE: WOMEN AT WORK & MENTAL HEALTH
Moderator: Mario Hicks Panelists: John Bair Jack Greco John Koelmel Thomas Vane Gary Wilson Location: Sessions Track: Established Leader Stand up for the women in your workplace! Hear from male leaders about how they actively support gender equity and recognize the unique challenges women continue to face in the workplace.
12 - 12:30 p.m. LUNCH / BIO BREAK Take a quick break to grab a bite, check in with work, or explore the Expo & Inspo booths!
Speaker: Dr. Wendy Weinstein Moderator: Odie Porter Location: Sessions Track: General Self-care isn't selfish. We all know that staying mentally healthy is vital for your career -- and your life -- but how to fit it in? Learn how to balance better and build your resilience with techniques from psychiatrist Dr. Wendy Weinstein of BryLin Behavioral Health.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. CREATING A CULTURE OF FULFILLMENT AT WORK: THE INWARD JOURNEY Speaker: Pam Say Moderator: Mercedes Wilson Location: Sessions Track: General Finding fulfillment requires deliberate action by leaders, and agreed upon bargains amongst teams. If we had the opportunity to create environments that are both operationally successful AND emotionally fulfilling, how might we do that? In this session, Pamela will walk through the critical formula to achieving innovation and harmony at the same time. She will share the role of the team but, more importantly, the means in which each individual human can move into emotionally-intelligent and trustworthy leadership.
SCHEDULE 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
1:30 - 2 p.m.
BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
NETWORKING BREAK
Speaker: Dr. Leigh George Moderator: Emily Burns Perryman Location: Sessions Track: Aspiring Leader Tell your story and highlight your unique experiences! By harnessing the power of your unique brand, you can boost your professional profile and achieve your goals. Identify and build your brand in this session with Dr. Leigh George, founder of the strategic branding and marketing un-agency, Freedom.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. MODERATED CONVERSATION: OPTIMIZING WORK/FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS Moderator: Dr. Danielle Tussing Location: Sessions Track: Established Leader Feeling like the so-called balance between work and "real life" is impossible? Your internal and interpersonal roadblocks can actually be tools to improve your life and career. Bring your ideas and best practices to the table as we discuss how to stay motivated while optimizing your personal relationships in this open discussion led by Professor Danielle Tussing of the University at Buffalo.
Location: Networking Get to know professionals across sectors with our unique "speed-dating" virtual networking. You will be randomly matched with other leaders and given a fixed amount of time to chat. Then, you can decide to move on or to exchange info to meet up later during summit breaks!
WORDS OF WISDOM: MY LEADERSHIP LENS Location: Expo & Inspo Gain insights from some of the brightest leaders in our region via exclusive Summit content. Learn from their wisdom as they share stories of their most impactful leadership experiences and strategies.
2 - 3 p.m. UNCONSCIOUS BIAS: BREAKING BARRIERS Speaker: Tiffany Hamilton Speaker: Kara Oliver-Pérez Moderator: Christine Bonaguide Location: Sessions Track: General Our mental shortcuts can lead to snap judgments of others, often based on race or gender. Avoid these pitfalls and break down your own mental preconceptions with Daemen College's Chief Diversity Officer Tiffany Hamiltion and Kara Oliver, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Tapestry Charter School.
IN THE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE NO
female leaders. THERE WILL JUST BE
leaders. —Sheryl Sandberg
SCHEDULE 2 - 3 p.m.
2 - 3 p.m.
NAVIGATING YOUR CAREER IN A ROOM FULL OF MEN
MODERATED CONVERSATION: LEADING IN THE NEW NORMAL
Speaker: Erin Johnson Moderator: Gretchen Fierle
Moderator: Althea Luehrsen
Location: Sessions
Track: Established Leader
Track: General What do you do when you're the only woman in the room? Erin Johnson, IIMAK's Vice President of Global HR and Marketing, offers experiences, ideas, and tips for how to have the courage to make your mark and accelerate your career in male-dominated spaces.
2 - 3 p.m. ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN WAYS TO CATAPULT YOUR CAREER Speaker: Marsha Koelmel Speaker: Tasha LeFevre Moderator: Siobhan Smith Location: Sessions Track: Aspiring Leader Learn proven ways to take charge of your own leadership journey. Boost your career with you own personal strategic plan. Become the best version of YOU. Experts from Catapult Executive Consulting lead you through your next steps in developing as a leader.
Location: Sessions
The world has changed tremendously in the past two years. How do we rise to the occasion as leaders to make sure we are creating inclusive, fulfilling, and effective workspaces for our team now and looking to the future? Join Leadership Buffalo CEO Althea Luehrsen for a safe space conversation about the innovative and creative ways we are all leading in the new normal.
2 - 3 p.m. LEARNING FROM THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS Moderator: Michelle Ostrander Panelists: Olivia Larson Nate Tinbite Dylan Keusch Alexandra Ruby Valutis Location: Sessions Track: General What will the leaders of tomorrow bring to the table? Discuss the future of leadership and enjoy spirited crossgenerational conversation with remarkable Gen Z rising leaders.
SCHEDULE 3 - 3:15 p.m.
4:30-4:40 p.m.
WORDS OF WISDOM: MY LEADERSHIP LENS
CLOSING REMARKS
Location: Expo & Inspo
Location: Sessions
Gain insights from some of the brightest leaders in our region via exclusive Summit content. Learn from their wisdom as they share stories of their most impactful leadership experiences and strategies.
So what's next?
3:15 - 4:30 p.m. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: MOVING FROM PRAGMATIC TO PASSION: BUILDING YOUR LEADERSHIP LEGACY Speaker: Gwen Webber-McLeod Location: Sessions Known as a leadership development expert and “thought leader,” Gwen Webber-McLeod is a contributor to the development of outstanding leaders throughout the country; she is sought after to deliver lectures and conference keynotes on her unique perspectives about the development of emerging and established leaders. Gwen is also the founder of You Can’t Fail Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides strategically designed multicultural leadership development experiences for emerging and established women leaders. These experiences explore and place emphasis on the unique leadership journey of professional women of color and those who support them.
Join Event Co-Chairs Siobhan Smith & Emily Burns Perryman for a recap of the day, plus information about how to keep the movement going in the coming days, weeks, and months.
WIN YOUR WEEK WITH THIS 30-MINUTE ROUTINE By Marijke Kemble Personally and professionally, I’ve been increasingly disenchanted with the basic to-do list strategy.
I do this each Sunday as a way to make sure that I am spending my time on the things that are truly important to me.
There are a variety of reasons, but most importantly I’ve been finding it far too easy to do a lot but not achieve what really matters.
I also find that it helps me get clarity about what is in the way of my goals and reframe the challenges as invitations for further growth and learning.
For me, it's easy and tempting to focus on action instead of impact, but I can't tolerate that anymore. Even when marching through tasks would be more comfortable...I want results. In response to this discontent, I started a new weekly reset activity about a year ago. It’s a simple routine that helps me reflect on the past week and plan for the week ahead. I LOVE it. 😍 It’s made a difference in what I get done and how I do it. I learned a version of this process from a coach and creative named Christine Kane. It’s a series of questions to spark maximum learning and focus on our actions each week. I am struck by how well it keeps me on a path toward my bigger goals while still helping me get the baby steps between here and there done. In this worksheet, I’ve adapted the activity and customized it for all of you. I call it the Weekly Reset.
I still keep a "master" to do list. And consider it extremely valuable. But now I use the to-do list as the ultimate brain dump (sometimes with categories!) while the really intentional work gets outlined during my Weekly Reset. I hope you try it and find it as helpful as I have! P.S. Do you know anyone sick of feeling like there is never enough time or energy to satisfy all the demands out there? The professionals I work with are talented, dynamic and creative yet they squander precious energy that keeps their impact limited and their satisfaction low. Coaching helps to solve this time-energy bind. Email if you want to learn more about whether or not coaching could help! Contact marijke@marijkeocean.com
WNY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrea Vossler, Esq., Chair Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP
Emily Burns Perryman Daemen College
Alice Jacobs, Esq. Delaware North
Teresa Bair, Esq., Chair Elect Athenex
Betsy Constantine Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Lisa Kirisits, CPA, MBA Kirisits & Associates
Helen Cappuccino, M.D., Vice Chair Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Katherine S. Conway-Turner, Ph.D. SUNY Buffalo State
Gia Manley Imagine Staffing
Jeanette M. Robe, CPA, Treasurer Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority
Mary Ann Coulson Community Volunteer
Paula Joy Reinhold Joy Family Foundation
Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers, Secretary Buffalo City Court
Jackie Sanchez Culliton Community Volunteer
Allison Sagraves M&T Bank
Tiffany Adams Hunt Real Estate
Catherine Earle Community Volunteer
Susanna Schenk SUNY Buffalo State
Jamie Batt Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham
Nickole Garrison Garrison Murphy Wealth Management
Siobhan Smith Catapult
Christine Bonaguide, Esq. Hodgson Russ LLP
Gretchen Geitter Buffalo Bills/Buffalo Bills Foundation
Toni Vazquez GBUAHN & Urban Family Practice, PC
Shonda Brock B&C United Home Care
Carolyn Human Carolyn Human Communications
Laura Zaepfel Uniland
STAFF Sheri Scavone, C.E.O. Corey Fabian-Barrett, Director of External Affairs Aster Hathaway, ALL IN Coordinator Cynthia Huebsch, Administrative Assistant Brandy Loveland, Achievement Coach Stephanie Kryst Sullivan, Events Assistant
FOLLOW US TO KEEP UP WITH OUR NEWS AND EVENTS WNY Women's Foundation @WNYWomensFndn @wnywomensfoundation
WNY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP EMERITAE ADVISORY BOARD
EVENTS COMMITTEE
Jennifer Balbach Kristin Bauer Rebecca Collins Carolyn Coppola Clotilde Dedecker Amber Dixon Ann E. Evanko, Esq. Dorothy Ferguson Darby Fishkin, CPA Sue Gardner, Esq. Rosa Gonzalez, Ph.D. Ellen Grant, Ph.D., LCSW-R Jane Griffin, Ph.D. Mary Jo Hunt Gail Johnstone Arlene Kaukus Allison Kupferman Michele Lee Sally Marks Alex Montante Margery Nobel Nicole Nobel Cindy Odom Marcia O’Neil-White Anne Rimmler, Esq. Anne Saldanha, M.D. Tricia Semmelhack, Esq. Kristin Somers Michele Trolli Carolyn Valenti, CPA Sujata Yalamanchili, Esq.
Emily Burns Perryman, co-chair Siobhan C. Smith, co-chair Emily Adolf Elisa Appelbaum Christine Bonaguide Shonda Brock Ashley Cannon-Zelasko Jessica Christensen Rebecca Collins Catherine Earle Gretchen Geitter Erin Hanaburgh Mimi Harris Steadman Irene Holohan-Moyer Anne Joynt Karen King Stephanie Kryst Sullivan Dana Marciniak Kara Oliver Andrea Schillaci Kerry Spicer Kristine Strible Sara Taylor Janine Tramont Toni Vazquez
WWW.WNYWOMENSFOUNDATION.ORG
Are you ready to go ALL IN? Find your Pathway... ALL IN for Employers
Promote diversity, inclusion & equity in your workplace
ALL IN for Individuals
Take action as an aspiring female leader
ALL IN for Entrepreneurs
Access resources for women-owned businesses
www.allinwny.org
NEXT STEPS What's next after the Leadership Summit?
JOIN ALL IN AS AN INDIVIDUAL Stand up for gender equity in your career and join our ALL IN initiative, dedicated to advancing women into positions of leadership. Gain access to mentorship, resources, and a network of passionate professionals. All Summit attendees get $15 off one year of membership by using the code Summit2021.
JOIN NOW
JOIN ALL IN'S EMPLOYER PARTNER COHORT 2 Is your company ready to stand up diversity, inclusion, and equity? Sign up to become an ALL IN Employer Partner. Our POWER certification offers a clear pathway towards a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
LEARN MORE