April 16, 2019 (Notre Dame, IN) — Across the globe, women are still paid less than men; there are half as many female entrepreneurs as there are men and only 5% of the top 500 CEOs are women. But it’s 2019, and it’s time for the real boss ladies to please stand up.
Women in the community will have the opportunity to learn, share, and grow while networking with many other women leaders at this year’s annual Engaging Women Conference. The conference will take place Wednesday, May 22, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Saint Mary’s College, an area women’s college with an enduring history of engaging women. The conference is hosted by the College’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative (WEI) in partnership with 1st Source Bank.
The Engaging Women Conference has a proud history of cultivating a unique space for all types of women in business. Since 2015, the conference has hosted 1,000 female leaders.
This year’s theme, #RealBossLady, will embrace “the art of being the boss of one’s personal life, career, and business, while also attending to women's desires to have a lasting impact,” said Willow Wetherall, director of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative at Saint Mary’s. The Engaging Women Conference will also recognize the theme of legacy in honor of the College’s 175th anniversary, as there is no future for women’s leadership without recognition of the past.
“Generations of Saint Mary’s graduates have emerged as global leaders and change-makers,” Wetherall said. “We pay tribute to the visionary leadership and perseverance of the founding Sisters as we come together for a day of growth, connection, and lasting change.”
“We will be providing tools for our attendees to take these messages back out into their communities, workplaces, and businesses to create positive change for women in the greater South Bend-Elkhart region,” Wetherall said. “We want to amplify the impact of this one day and drive it forward so it lives on outside the walls of the conference year round.”
Beatrice Phillips, director of business development at Boling Vision and member of the conference planning committee, said that intentionally engaging career-minded women in the community can be a powerful catalyst for change.
“Women in our community are at many different points in their lives, careers, and businesses - entry-level, rising stars, or executive management. Whether we are launching or growing businesses, advancing our careers, or making a difference in our communities, we can reach our goals and our full potential faster with the support of other women.”
Early bird registration is $70 until May 3. Use the promo code “early bird” for this rate. After, registration for the event will be $85. For more information on this event, contact Willow Wetherall at wwetherall@saintmarys.edu.
