2024 Women in Leadership Conference Aims to Empower SDSU Students and Future Business Leaders
The 8th annual Women in Leadership Conference will kick off on March 7th with the theme of “Finding Power Through Your Passion.”
The conference is hosted by the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University and is comprised of presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that focus on the issues faced by women in the workplace, while providing SDSU students and other attendees with the skills and confidence needed to successfully meet those challenges.
This year’s keynote speakers are award-winning journalist and Project Runway judge, Elaine Welterorth, and social media personality, Anna Sitar. Both of this year’s speakers have created content that energizes, inspires and encourages women to set and meet their objectives and “never settle for less.”
Several of the executive board members of SDSU’s Women in Business student organization served as interns to help plan and execute the conference. Co-presidents Talia Manzanares and Kayla Cunanan, and public relations director, Kendra Landi — all SDSU marketing majors — got valuable hands-on experience during the development and preparation of the event and all three plan to attend and participate in the conference’s sessions as well.
Cunanan says she is eagerly anticipating Sitar’s presentation during the event, partly because one of her favorite marketing professors, Nita Umashankar, will serve as moderator. “Both Anna Sitar and Nita Umashankar are inspiring women who are highly recognized for their work,” she said. “I’m interested in hearing the contrast between their experiences and what they can share about empowering female leaders.”
Elaine Welteroth’s presentation is the session that most intrigues Manzanares because “the tailoring of her career to fit her changing passions and life is quite inspiring to me.”
“As a senior with two months left of school, I’m trying to soak in as much as possible,” continued Manzanares. “I’m hoping to learn about work-life balance, and how to create and build a career that I love.”
Landi, also a senior, said one of the highlights of her internship was helping to select the speakers, creating the questionnaire and developing this year’s theme and promotional materials.
“I believe this event will provide empowerment to young women to continue pursuing their passions, while also building their professional development by listening to the experience and advice of the keynote speakers and panelists,” said Landi. “Their stories may even spark a new idea or an understanding of what role they want to pursue in their career.”
For those wishing to attend, the event begins at noon, with check-in starting at 11:30. The conference is free to all SDSU students who wish to register.
