2024 Women's Forum

Opening Keynote: The HEART of the Matter: Innovative Leadership Strategies for Women

Sherry Budziak
Founder and CEO, .OrgSource

is an inspiring session crafted for women leaders seeking to revolutionize their approach to association management through empathy, innovation, and strategic foresight. This session delves into the HEART Leadership Framework, an empowering model that encapsulates the essence of transformative leadership: Humanize, Empower, Ascend, Reimagine, and Transform.

Designed with the challenges and opportunities of the digital age in mind, this presentation is a call to action for women leaders to harness their unique strengths and perspectives. Attendees will explore the importance of humanizing technology to foster deeper connections, empowering teams to unlock their full potential, ascending beyond traditional leadership paradigms, reimagining the role of associations in today's world, and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Participants will leave with actionable insights and strategies to apply the HEART framework within their organizations, cultivating a leadership style that not only drives success but also inspires change and nurtures community. Whether you're an established executive or an emerging leader, "The HEART of the Matter" promises to be a transformative experience, empowering you to lead with purpose and passion in the ever-evolving landscape of association management. Join us for an empowering journey to the heart of innovative leadership, where your vision can become a powerful catalyst for change.

General Session Keynote: Stress, Health and You Today

Shirley J Burks
Speaker - Trainer - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion - Creator of Pathways for Growth, Development & Understanding

Stress is not merely an inconvenience or a passing annoyance; it's a physiological and psychological response to perceived threats or challenges that we encounter daily. Whether it's deadlines at work, financial pressures, relationship conflicts, or health concerns, stress can be infused throughout every facet of our existence. Join me as we identify ways to successfully navigate through stressful obstacles. We start today on a healthier journey!

Breakout Session: Mastering Assertiveness

Autumn Way
CEO, People Possibility

Breakout Session: Empowering the Next Generation of Female Leaders: Strategies for Building a Strong Pipeline of Women Board Members and Amplifying Their Impact in Our Communities

Breakout Session: Tales from the Darkside: Overcoming Adversity and Finding Resilience

Sherry Budziak
Founder and CEO, OrgSource

Dive into a highly interactive session designed to leverage the collective wisdom of participants for solving real-world challenges. This session offers a platform for individuals to present an issue they are facing, sparking a dynamic exchange of insights and recommendations in a community-driven atmosphere.

Breakout Session: The Power and Impact of Mentorship for Women: Leveraging the Relationship for Mutual Growth and Success

Moderator: Jennie Socha
CAE, Executive Director of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, a client of EDI

Panelists:
Shahree Douglas, MS-IMC, Director, Association & Services Marketing at Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Tara Withington, CAE, Vice President at Executive Director, Inc.
Tracy Kern, Accountant at League of Wisconsin Municipalities

While we all know the power of mentorships, studies show that few women are actively seeking mentors. The panel will discuss barriers to developing mentor/mentee relationships, the benefits of being a mentor or mentee, and how we can leverage our current networks to establish mentorships.

Closing Keynote: 

Dr. Stacia Thompson
President/CEO, Sherman Phoenix Foundation

Dr. Stacia Thompson is the President & CEO of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Thompson is known for being a change agent in developing economic empowerment and workforce strategies. With deep expertise in community development, program development, entrepreneurial services and economic development, she is also an expert speaker and facilitator for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Her previous roles include tenures at the University of Wisconsin Parkside, Gateway Technical College, City Colleges of Chicago and the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

In addition to her professional roles, Thompson has served on many boards such as Community Women’s Club, Hispanic Business and Professionals Association, National Council of Workforce Education, Career Launch Chicago Advisory Committee, Cook County Coordinated Re Entry Council, Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute Workforce Development Board, Racine Creative Center, The Main Project, Islands of Brilliance, and Fathers Making Progress. She is a past recipient of the UW Parkside Community Service Award, YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin Women of Distinction Award, Black Softball Circuit Hall of Fame inductee, Professional Women’s Network for Service Inspiring Women Leadership Award, Milwaukee Business Journal Woman of Influence, 98.3 Black History Jammin’ Legend and Milwaukee Community Journal Diamond Honoree. Under her leadership, the Sherman Phoenix was awarded the BizTimes Non-Profit Social Enterprise of the Year.