2024 Simmons Leadership Conference Agenda

April 3, 2024

In-Person in Boston / Online from Anywhere

Welcome to the 2024 Simmons Leadership Conference, one of the longest-running and most respected leadership conferences in the world, bringing together an international group of women and allies who want to better themselves, their workplaces, and the world.

Simmons University was founded on a revolutionary idea – that women should be able to earn independent livelihoods and lead meaningful lives. Nearly half a century ago, a visionary group of our alumni set out to deliver a conference that showcased highly successful women who, through sharing their stories, would inspire each of us to think bigger about our leadership potential and to achieve our goals.

Today, 45 years later, the conference is brought to you by the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. The Institute builds on the University’s rich heritage of igniting positive action, fostering everyday leadership and striving for lasting social justice. Our vision is simple: Manifest gender equity in leadership in our lifetime. We accomplish this by offering leaders groundbreaking inclusive learning tools, resources and programs in support of this vision.

This year’s conference brings a diverse range of exceptional leaders to the stage, each with their own fascinating story about defining their

own measure of success and, by example, inspiring others to do the same. Our 2024 theme – Creating Impact – will ground our conversations and also serve as our invitation to you to think about the impact you create as a leader.

The Simmons Leadership Conference has once again partnered with extraordinary sponsors, without whose support we could not provide the high-quality programming we deliver each year. We are so very grateful for the contributions of all who make this day possible.

We hope today is a celebration providing space for inspiration, connection and a creative energy – key ingredients that propel your impact. Together, we have the power to construct new leadership paths that are broader and mightier, empowering girls and women to boldly march towards their boundless potential with unwavering confidence. We are delighted to have you with us and look forward to supporting you throughout your professional journey.

Thank you for joining us, and enjoy the day!

Kristen Palson Executive Producer, Simmons Leadership Conference COO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Day at a Glance

9:00 am EDT Welcoming Remarks

9:15 am EDT

Cassandra Worthy: Uncover Your Inner Change Enthusiast to Maximize Your Impact

10:00 am EDT Business Panel: Creating Impact as a Leader

10:35 am EDT Networking Break

11:00 am EDT

Jennifer Hyman: How to Have a Big Career AND a Big Life

12:00 pm EDT Signature Sessions: Concurrent Choices

1:00 pm EDT Lunch Break

2:00 pm EDT Magie Cook: Think Like a CEO

2:45 pm EDT

3:00 pm EDT

Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award

Padma Lakshmi and Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten: Fireside Chat: Taste the Nation & Impact the World

3:35 pm EDT Networking Break

4:00 pm EDT

Gloria Steinem and Trevor Noah: Allyship: Uniting for Change

5:00 pm EDT Program Ends

It’s changing the lives of not only women but also of the men who are allies for us.

– Carmita Bass from Cisco Conference Attendee 2023

Keynote Speakers and Honored Guests

World’s

Co-founder and CEO, Rent the Runway

CEO

Best-selling Author

Cassandra Worthy

Leading Expert on Change Enthusiasm

Padma Lakshmi

Emmy-Nominated Food Expert, Television Host & New York Times

Jennifer Hyman

Magie Cook

and Founder of Maggie’s All-Natural Fresh Salsa’s & Dips, Author

Trevor Noah

Comedian & Best-selling Author

Gloria Steinem Writer & Feminist Activist

2024 Visionary Leader Award Winner President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA

Susan MacKenty Brady

CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten President, Simmons University

Thasunda Brown Duckett

This has been one of if not the best leadership conferences that I have ever attended! Such diversity of all types and very inspirational.

– 2023 Attendee

Program Schedule

9:00 am EDT Welcoming Remarks

Our Institute CEO, Susan MacKenty Brady, will ignite the atmosphere as she welcomes you to an electrifying day. She will then hand the spotlight to our esteemed co-hosts, Joyce Kulhawik and Kristen Palson, who will set the stage for an outstanding day of leadership and allyship.

9:15 am EDT Uncover Your Inner Change Enthusiast to Maximize Your Impact

Cassandra Worthy is the world’s leading expert on Change Enthusiasm®. She will light up the stage with her refreshingly unique take on not just “managing” but growing through change. The Change Enthusiasm® strategy she will share in this keynote empowers you to self-assess your change emotions and redirect anxiety and fears into moments of opportunity and impact. You will leave with the steps to cultivate a growth mindset to thrive in the face of change, and the motivation to take the first step to becoming a Change Enthusiast.

10:00 am EDT Business Panel: Creating Impact as a Leader

In this moderated discussion, business leaders will reflect on their personal journeys, offer career-building advice, and engage in a thought-provoking conversation with a focus on how they were able to create an impact and succeed in leadership. Moderated by Kerry Seitz, the Institute’s VP for Women’s Leadership, our panelists will share their stories of overcoming obstacles and offer tips and strategies for how to create impact in your own organization.

10:35 am EDT Networking Break

Network with peers from around the world and learn more about sponsor organizations in the Boylston Hallway and Virtual Exhibit Hall.

11:00 am EDT How to Have a Big Career AND a Big Life

There is unending debate about work-life balance and whether it is possible, especially as a senior executive. As a founder of a high-growth company, the CEO of a public company, and board member of three public companies, Jennifer Hyman is uniquely positioned to share how she manages both a big career and a big life. She will join us virtually to discuss how she is able to have a huge impact at work while being married, having and raising two kids, and building a community.

12:00 pm EDT Signature Sessions: Concurrent Choices

With our Signature Sessions, you have the opportunity to choose the topic that most intrigues or inspires you.

See details on page 12-13.

1:00 pm EDT Lunch Break

Enjoy a 60-minute lunch break to refresh, renew, and refocus for the afternoon sessions.

Signature Sessions: Concurrent Choices

All Signature Sessions are offered concurrently starting at 12 pm.

IN-PERSON ONLY

Dare to Educate: Impact that Inspires

Raised in Kabul during the Taliban’s first regime, Shabana Basij-Rasikh has dedicated her entire adult life to educating Afghan girls. She is the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) –the first and only boarding school for Afghan girls, operating in Kabul from 2016 through the summer of 2021. In this deeply moving talk, Shabana will share the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members from SOLA to Rwanda after the Taliban took power in 2021.

In this session she will share her experiences to better amplify the voices of countless individuals striving to create a positive impact in the face of adversity. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of education in empowering individuals and shaping brighter futures.

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE

Thriving with Impact: Creating a Best Self Team Culture

Being intentional about how you show up can skyrocket your career, your leadership, and your team. In this breakout, learn from best-selling author and Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership CEO Susan MacKenty Brady how to create team cohesion and inspire the best people to want to join, stay, and fully engage. In this session you will build the capability to return to your best self in the moment and deepen your understanding of how to coach team members in ways that value and motivate individuals.

IN-PERSON ONLY

Are you Ready? What It Takes To Make an Impact

This deeply reflective, highly interactive session with DEI thought leader and executive coach Audra Bohannon will guide you toward recognizing and understanding what is required to make the impact you want. Through big picture prompts, small group conversations, and a laser focus on how we all must learn to link our behavior to our intentions, every single day, you’ll be motivated to identify and tap into your own capacity to do the things you say you want to do.

ONLINE ONLY

Break Free of Good Girl Brainwashing & Embrace Your Power to Lead

If you struggle with people-pleasing, perfectionism, or prioritizing other people before yourself, chances are you’ve been subjected to what Lisa Carmen Wang describes as “Good Girl Brainwashing.”

In this session, you’ll learn how to identify and release the good girl habits that sabotage your confidence and how to embrace power over perfection to take decisive action. Plus, Lisa discusses how to leave behind the competitive zero-sum system driven by fear and scarcity, and she advocates for a new world order where powerful women lead to collectively build a system of financial abundance and global impact.

ONLINE ONLY

Create Impact through the Art of Active Listening

When you hear the term Active Listening, you may think, “Well, I’m already good at that!” But do you really listen as well as you think you do? Get ready to turbocharge your listening skills and elevate your impact at work with Heather R. Younger. Active listening isn’t just about hearing; it’s the secret sauce for increased belonging, loyalty, profitability, and innovation. Heather, armed with 12 years of experience and insights from reviewing 25,000 employee engagement surveys, is here to unveil a game-changing five-step change model for organizational listening.

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE

Inclusive Leadership In Action™

If you’re on a journey to become a more inclusive leader, but you aren’t sure exactly what steps to take, you’re not alone! In this interactive and action-oriented session, Elisa van Dam, the Institute’s VP for Allyship and Inclusion, and Dr. Gary Bailey, Professor and MSW Program Director of the Simmons University School of Social Work, will share the 6 Actions of the Work of the Inclusive Leader™. You’ll explore how you are already acting as an ally and upstander, and leave with a game plan for changes you can implement immediately to increase inclusion and belonging for yourself and your team.

Program Schedule (Continued)

2:00 pm EDT Think Like a CEO

Magie Cook is a Latina businesswoman who overcame homelessness to become the CEO & founder of Maggie’s Salsa, LLC. She started the company with $800, and after bringing it to tremendous success, she sold it to Campbell’s Soup for $231M. Magie is now living her dream by helping leaders discover their hidden personal power so they can create impact and make a difference. Magie will share her incredible story of triumph against impossible odds, and through her story she will reveal what it takes to create a shift in mentality that allows you to achieve your full potential.

2:45 pm EDT Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award

We are excited to announce Thasunda Brown Duckett as the 2024 Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award winner.

Join us as we present this year’s Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award. The annual award is named in honor of the former president of Simmons University and celebrates a woman leader who embodies the values of inclusive leadership in her personal and professional life.

3:00 pm EDT Fireside Chat: Taste the Nation & Impact the World

Padma Lakshmi is a New York Times best-selling author and Emmy Award-nominated host who currently serves as Executive Producer of Hulu’s Taste the Nation. On-screen she is seen exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. Off-screen, Padma is widely known as a fierce philanthropic advocate, working with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on immigrants’ rights and women’s rights. In this inspiring conversation with Simmons University President, Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten, Padma discusses her life and career while showcasing the ways she has used her platform to make a positive impact around the globe.

3:35 pm EDT Networking Break

Network with peers from around the world and learn more about sponsor organizations in the Boylston Hallway and Virtual Exhibit Hall.

4:00 pm EDT Allyship: Uniting for Change

Under the theme “Creating Impact” and in celebration of our 45th conference, we’re embarking on a new chapter by amplifying the voices of men, showcasing our commitment to allyship. In a groundbreaking keynote, Trevor Noah will join us virtually to share his signature blend of humor, global insights, and a unique perspective on leadership and cultural transformation.

Adding to the brilliance and joining us in-person – is the iconic Gloria Steinem. This presents a rare opportunity to hear from a visionary leader who continues to be a pillar in shaping conversations around women’s rights and social justice. Steinem’s impact spans generations, inspiring both women and men alike.

In an engaging conversation moderated by Susan MacKenty Brady, the Institute’s CEO, Trevor Noah and Gloria Steinem will explore the essence of inclusive leadership and the promotion of equity, regardless of how one identifies. This promises to be a transformative discussion, encouraging us all to rethink how we create inclusion and drive impactful change.

5:00 pm EDT Networking Reception

Immediately following the program mingle and munch in the Boylston Hallway. All in-person attendees are welcome to this networking reception featuring light bites and great connections.

Signature Speakers

Assistant Dean for Community Engagement & Social Justice, College of Social Sciences, Policy & Practice, Simmons University

Vice President, Allyship & Inclusion, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Co-Founder & President of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA)

Founder, Bohannon Advisory

Dr. Gary Bailey

Elisa van Dam

Shabana Basij-Rasikh

Audra Bohannon

Lisa Carmen Wang

Founder and Host of Bad Bitch Empire

Heather R. Younger Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix

Co-Hosts

COO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and Executive Producer, Simmons Leadership Conference

Joyce Kulhawik

Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Kristen Palson

Susan MacKenty Brady

CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Visit our Bookstore Author Book Signing

Morning Break 10:40-11:00 am

Boylston Hallway in front of Room 307

Afternoon Break 3:40-4:00 pm

Boylston Hallway in front of Room 307

Explore these titles and more in the SLC Bookstore provided by Trident Booksellers & Cafe in front of Renewal Lounge B.

Learned great nuggets of wisdom and lessons from outstanding speakers. My leadership toolbox is bursting at the seams!

– 2023 Attendee

The Inclusive Leader’s Playbook

This easy-to-use guide offers a wealth of tips and techniques for fostering a mindset of inclusion and creating a culture of equity in your organization. It will help you increase engagement, foster creativity and innovation, and benefit from all of the talent in your organization.

• Learn essential diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts

• Master 6 actions of The Work of the Inclusive LeaderTM

Take steps to be a more inclusive leader with the help of reflection questions, exercises and suggested actions

Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for

Women Navigating Leadership

Wall Street Journal Best Seller

Forbes’s list of 10 Must-Read books about Women in the Workplace

Thrive in a senior leadership role as your best self. Inspire excellence in your team by channeling your own well-being. Lead a highly fulfilled life. This best-selling practical guide shows you how.

Panel Discussion

Annabel Flores

Raytheon Deputy President, L&ADS, RTX

Denise Millard

Chief Partner Officer, Dell Technologies

Diane Gilworth

Senior Vice President, Health Care Services, Point32Health

Gloria Goins

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Cisco

Kerry Seitz

Vice President, Women’s Leadership, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership