RALEIGH – Nearly 1,000 professionals and business leaders are expected to gather Tuesday at the Women > A Force in Business Conference, one of the most popular programs hosted by North Carolina Chamber.

The conference, set for October 30 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center, includes a full range of programming, from popup strategy sessions to book signings to panels, keynotes and exhibitor tables. In addition, complimentary headshots will be available for attendees by Charlotte photographer Lenn Long.

The keynote speaker is Sara Safari, who survived the April 2015 earthquake and subsequent avalanches on Mt. Everest. She had been climbing Mt. Everest to raise funds and awareness about sex trafficking when the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. She wrote a book about her experience, Follow My Footsteps, and has continued her efforts to bring empowerment to women around the world as a renowned speaker.

Other speakers to headline the event include Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good, Merz North America VP and Head of Global Medical Affairs Terri Phillips, United Therapeutics Associate VP of Clinical Operations Rebecca Gilliam, Red Hat VP of Tax Laurie Krebs, WSP Senior VP and Southeast Regional Manager Pam Townsend, Walk West Partner & VP of Professional Development Sharon Delaney McCloud, NC Women’s Theatre Festival Founder Ashley Popio, Coastal Credit Union VP of Corporate Affairs Creighton Blackwell, InHerSight Founder and CEO Ursula Mead, Trinity University Professor of Negotiations Dr. Rita Kosnik and BASF Director of Communications & Industry Relations Barbara Aguiar.

NC Chamber Marketing Manager Emmy Boyette said the conference is a recognition of women’s position as a force for business throughout North Carolina.

“It’s our goal to ensure that all professionals are empowered to create and embrace new pathways to leadership for women at their respective organizations,” Boyette says. “This year marks our third conference, and turnout is at a record high, signaling to us that this important conversation is timely and relevant.”

Attendees will have a choice of three breakout sessions out of a total of 12. They cover topics including work-life balance, combating sexual harassment, leveraging the differences between men and women, building resiliency, women supporting women, the psychology behind change, the confidence gap, wealth management, negotiations and networking.

An exhibition hall will be open between each content block of the event. Exhibitors include Elon University, Raleigh-based Diversity & HR Solutions, Triangle Dress for Success, the Coastal Pines chapter of the Girl Scouts of North Carolina, Meredith College, Pinehurst Resort, Carolina Partners in Mental Healthcare, Cary-based Technology Associates, and more.

The full agenda is available here.

https://wraltechwire.com/event/nc-chambers-women-a-force-in-business-conference/