SLC44 Agenda

March 14, 2023

In-Person in Boston / Online from Anywhere

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Simmons Leadership Conference, long recognized as the world’s premier leadership conference for women.

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 alumnae 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, 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 that support this vision.

This year’s conference brings a diverse range of exceptional women leaders to the stage, each with her own fascinating story about defining her own measure of success and, by example, inspiring others to do the same. Our 2023 theme – Renewal and Innovation – will ground our conversations and also serve as our invitation to you to renew and innovate your leadership. We have all been through a great deal in recent years; your time is now to give yourself the gift of this day.

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 renewal, connection and a creative energy – key ingredients that propel innovation. Together we can build the path wider and stronger for girls and women to walk with confidence towards their true potential. 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

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

Day at a Glance

9:00 am EST Welcoming Remarks

9:15 am EST Carla Harris: Lead to Win

9:45 am EST Business Panel: Leading through Change

10:15 am EST Networking Break

10:45 am EST Amy Purdy: A Story of Renewal Against All Odds

11:30 am EST Signature Sessions: Concurrent Choices

12:15 pm EST Lunch Break

1:15 pm EST Gloria Estefan on Renewal & Innovation: Fireside Chat

1:45 pm EST Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award

2:00 pm EST Dorie Clark: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World

2:30 pm EST Networking Break

3:00 pm EST Masih Alinejad with Juju Chang: Ending the Gender Apartheid Regime

3:30 pm EST Sheryl Lee Ralph and Quinta Brunson: Renewal and Innovation

4:45 pm EST 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 2022

Keynote Speakers and Honored Guests

Gloria Estefan

Grammy Award-Winning International Superstar

Quinta Brunson

Emmy Award-Winning Writer, Actor, Producer of ABC’s Abbott Elementary, & Stand-up Comedian

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Emmy Award-Winning Star of ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Singer, Producer, & Activist

Indra Nooyi

2023 Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award Winner

Iranian-born Activist, Journalist & Author

Emmy Award-Winning Co-Anchor of ABC News Nightline

Wall Street Journal

Best-Selling Author & Expert at Self-Reinvention

Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley

Best-Selling Author of On My Own Two Feet, World Class Snowboarder & Founder of Adaptive Action Sports

Masih Alinejad

Carla Harris

Juju Chang

Amy Purdy Survivor, New York Times

Dorie Clark

Susan MacKenty Brady CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Program Schedule

9:00 am EST

Welcoming Remarks

Our esteemed co-hosts, Joyce Kulhawik and Kristen Palson, will kick things off and set the stage for the exceptional women’s leadership keynotes, events, and workshops ahead.

Susan MacKenty Brady will offer personal and professional insights into this year’s theme – Renewal and Innovation.

9:15 am EST Carla Harris:

Lead to Win

What does it take to lead effectively today? The world of work has undergone a sea change, presenting a new matrix of concerns and questions for leaders and potential leaders. Powerhouse Carla Harris will get the morning started with a message that is timely, inspiring, and filled with her trademark “pearls” of practical advice and wisdom about renewal and innovation. This session will empower you to become a more intentional and impactful leader no matter where you are in your leadership journey.

9:45 am EST

Business Panel: Leading through Change

In this moderated discussion, women business leaders will reflect on their personal journeys, offer career-building advice, and engage in a thoughtprovoking conversation with a focus on how – through life circumstances or by choice – they were able to innovate and reinvent themselves to succeed in leadership. Speakers will share the stories of those who sponsored their success and supported their rise, and they will offer tips and strategies for innovating in the years ahead.

10:15 am EST Networking Break

Network with peers from around the world and learn more about sponsor organizations in the virtual exhibit hall.

10:45 am EST Amy Purdy: A Story of Renewal Against All Odds

As a three-time Paralympic Medalist — the most decorated Paralympic snowboarder in U.S. history — Amy Purdy has taken what could have been a devastating setback and turned it into an opportunity for innovation. Amy will share her inspiring story of achieving Paralympic glory as a remarkable survivor who beat a deadly virus that claimed both legs below the knee and her spleen and required her to undergo a kidney transplant. With courageous spirit and resilience, she confronted her challenges and emerged as a leader who has succeeded at every stage of her multifaceted career.

11:30 am EST Signature Sessions: Concurrent Choices

With our Signature Sessions, you have the opportunity to choose the topic that most intrigues or inspires you. Our presenters are global experts who will provide timely and relevant expertise on key topics. We are also offering a moderated discussion, where women business leaders will share their personal stories about their leadership journeys during a time when leading with a spirit of renewal and innovation has been the only way to achieve positive impact. Note some offerings are online only, some are in-person only, and some are available for both audiences. But don’t worry, you won’t miss out! Post-conference, you’ll also be able to access the wisdom shared in the sessions you didn’t attend via video on demand.

For more information, see page 12

12:15 pm EST Lunch Break

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

1:15 pm EST

Gloria Estefan on Renewal & Innovation: Fireside Chat

Gloria Estefan, the Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman, is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard. Join her, in conversation with Susan MacKenty Brady, to hear her story of renewal and innovation over a decades-long career filled with challenges and extraordinary success.

Signature Sessions

All Signature Sessions are offered concurrently starting at 11:35 a.m.

IN-PERSON ONLY

Women and Work-Life Balance: “Juggling Is What Clowns Do!”

According to Dia Simms, “There is no work-life balance. Not for the women that I know.” For her, life is not a matter of keeping multiple balls in the air at once (“Juggling is what clowns do!”). It’s about taking on every aspect of your life from a batting cage — focusing all of your force on one ball at a time. From her daughter’s science fair to negotiating a $100-million deal, Dia is 100% present on each ball in each moment. In this inspiring speech, CEO/mom/wife/philanthropist/ award-winning entrepreneurial business leader Simms will outline how women can go from juggling it all to hitting life, family, and career out of the park.

ONLINE ONLY

Emotional Intelligence: Lessons from the Flight Deck

Olga Custodio considers her sheer determination to be one of the essential assets that propelled her to success and helped her understand how her actions and feelings as an airline captain and crew member affected her crew. Identifying her responsibilities as the authority in charge of the aircraft’s flight operation and safety helped her manage and understand the value of listening to each crew member’s needs to assist them in fulfilling their duties. Her perseverance and tenacity drove her to accomplish her duties regardless of the situation. In all the tasks she has undertaken, Olga has always demonstrated her strong motivation to achieve results that would deliver positive impacts and inspire others.

IN-PERSON or ONLINE

Thriving as a Leader: Innovating with Courage

Drawing from the best-selling book Arrive & Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership, Susan MacKenty Brady and Elisa van Dam offer this skill-building workshop with tools for taking courageous and thoughtful action when opportunities and risks emerge. You will learn to identify your fears and employ strategies to mitigate them. You’ll leave with a “power phrase” that will remind you of your own sources of courage and innovation so you can thrive as a leader.

ONLINE ONLY

The Prepared Leader

The next crisis might be here now or it might be around the corner. In this discussion exploring their book, The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before, two history-making experts in crisis leadership, Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten, will argue that the time to prepare is always.

In no other time in recent history have leaders in every industry and on every continent grappled with so many changes that have independently and simultaneously undermined their ability to lead. The Prepared Leader encapsulates more than two decades of the authors’ research to convey how it has positioned them to navigate the distinct challenges of today and tomorrow. Their insights have implications for every leader in every industry and every worker at every level.

IN-PERSON or ONLINE

Signature Business Panel: Renewal & Innovation as a Leader

As we begin to break free from the pandemic and gain momentum for a brighter, stronger, more inclusive future, Kerry Seitz will lead this moderated discussion and bring to the stage top women business leaders. Sharing their personal stories in this rich, dynamic conversation, you will hear how each leader has been able to reinvent and renew themselves and creatively reimagine how they lead.

This session will be held live in Boston and will be broadcast simultaneously to our virtual audience.

– Yvonne Beamon from Dell Technologies Conference Attendee 2022

I see it as an investment into my career, my skillset, and also into my own well-being.

Program Schedule (Continued)

1:45 pm EST Helen G.

Drinan Visionary Leader Award

Join us as we present Indra Nooyi, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, 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. Learn more about Nooyi and her inspiring leadership journey.

2:00 pm EST Dorie

Clark: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World

It’s no secret that we’re pushed to the limit. Today’s professionals feel rushed, overwhelmed, and perennially behind. How can we break out of this endless cycle, allow ourselves time to renew, and create the kind of interesting, meaningful lives we all seek? In this talk, Dorie Clark, described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives,” will share concrete strategies to help you sharpen your strategic thinking and embrace a long-term perspective that pays future business and career dividends.

2:30 pm EST Networking Break

Network with peers from around the world and learn more about sponsor organizations in the virtual exhibit hall.

3:00

pm

EST Masih Alinejad with Juju Chang: Ending the Gender Apartheid Regime

For Masih Alinejad, hope abounds. The Iranian-American journalist, women’s rights activist, and founder of My Stealthy Freedom – her viral social media campaign against compulsory hijab that became the biggest civil disobedience movement in the history of the Islamic Republic – believes change is coming to Iran. The revolution has started, she says. In fact, what’s happening now with protests across Iran is the beginning of the end of gender apartheid in Iran and Afghanistan. In this moving talk, Masih will share her story of growing up in a small village in Iran, her journey from “troublemaker” to activist and leader of the fight for women’s rights, and overcoming adversity while going against the tide.

Juju Chang, one of the most prominent Asian-Americans in broadcast journalism, will join Masih for a moving conversation. Juju’s highly visible reporting on Asian hate is the culmination of decades of covering everything from natural disasters to terrorism, mass shootings, immigration, violence against the LGBTQIA+ community, and, most recently, the inequities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for her in-depth personal narratives with underlying themes of civil rights, women’s rights, and social justice, this powerful conversation is not to be missed.

3:30 pm

EST Sheryl Lee Ralph and Quinta Brunson: Renewal and Innovation

Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph, the Emmy Award-winning co-stars of the smash hit Abbott Elementary, will take to the hybrid stage for a lively discussion in this powerful closing keynote. We’ll hear from Quinta about her innovative — and meteoric — rise to fame and learn about Sheryl Lee’s decades-long career on the big and small screen, the Broadway stage, and in concert halls and how she experienced renewal along the way.

4:45 pm EST Program Ends

Lt. Colonel Olga Custodio, USAF (Retired)

America’s First Latina Fighter Pilot & STEM Advocate

Erika H. James

Dean, Wharton School

Dia Simms

CEO of Lobos 1707 & Former President of Combs Enterprises

Elisa van Dam

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

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

Co-Hosts

COO,

Kerry Seitz

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten President, Simmons University

Kristen Palson

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

Joyce Kulhawik Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Visit Our Bookstore

Author Book Signing

Meet two 2023 keynote speakers as they sign books in our All She Wrote Bookstore.

Amy Purdy Room 306 12:45pm – 1:15pm

Pre-Order Available

Dorie Clark Room 306 2:40pm – 3:00pm

Explore these titles and more in the Bookstore Room 306.

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.

Saidah Grayson Dill Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Cisco

Ann Stanberry Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Joanne Stephane Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and Executive Director, DEI Institute