Breakouts

Building a compelling professional presence online can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. This practical workshop walks you step-by-step through optimizing your LinkedIn profile, shaping an authentic narrative, and creating content that reflects your expertise. Explore simple systems for staying consistent, measuring what matters, and engaging meaningfully with your network. You’ll also uncover overlooked opportunities—from speaking engagements to industry events—that can elevate your visibility and accelerate your career.

Your Takeaways:

• A strategic checklist for fully optimizing your LinkedIn profile (including headshots, banner and “About” section), ready for immediate implementation.
• A clear framework for generating authentic, engaging thought leadership content and measuring its impact using LinkedIn’s analytics tools.
• Identification of at least three professional development avenues (e.g., webinars, speaking, industry events) to leverage immediately, solidifying your expert status beyond your internal company network.

Type: Facilitated Workshop
Who should attend: Women of all ages; mid-career and supervisors

Presenter: Jennifer Heilman Flanery ’07
Jennifer Heilman Flanery brings nearly 20 years of strategic communications and advertising expertise, specializing in transportation and public safety. As an equity partner at Stratacomm, she leads research-driven, creatively executed campaigns that inspire behavior change and deliver measurable results. Jennifer is known for her ability to pair strategic vision with operational excellence, developing structures that improve performance and accountability. For more than a decade, she has guided the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s high-profile traffic safety initiatives, including “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” An Elon alum with a BA in Journalism, she also holds a master’s degree from American University and a certificate in Agile Project Management. Jennifer has served in numerous leadership roles in the Washington, D.C., area and currently facilitates WTS-DC’s Executive Women’s Roundtable.

What if the very strengths that once fueled your success are now quietly holding you back? Many high-achieving women build their identities around strengths and self-given labels that feel empowering but over time, those same qualities can become invisible barriers to growth. In this insightful and energizing session, you’ll explore how to recognize when your strengths have become ceilings, reframe feedback into fuel, and evolve without losing your authenticity. Walk away with fresh strategies to lead with more agility, less rigidity and the mindset shift needed to step into your next level with confidence.

Your Takeaways:

• A fresh perspective on how self-given labels can limit potential even when they feel empowering.
• Insight into how strengths can quietly become barriers and how to spot the signs.
• Strategies to grow authentically without needing to become someone else.
• A mindset shift that prioritizes agility over rigidity.

Type: Single Presenter
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages

Presenter: Joy DeBolt ’13
Joy DeBolt is a transformative speaker who helps women break through self-imposed boundaries and rediscover the power of their untapped strengths. With over a decade of experience in high-performance industries—including medical devices, financial services, and tech—Joy brings a grounded, relatable perspective to the challenges women. A Toastmasters-certified and 2026 TEDx speaker, Joy blends compelling storytelling with practical, actionable frameworks that empowers audiences to reframe feedback, challenge limiting labels, and step fully into their personal and professional power. Joy is a proud 2013 graduate of Elon University, where she studied Strategic Communications. Her time at Elon laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to growth, service, and leadership—values she now brings to every room and every stage.

Soft skills often create the strongest results. This engaging session explores how skills like empathy, communication, and emotional intelligence can shift frustrations into clarity, deepen influence, and inspire those you lead. Through thoughtful reflection and interactive exercises, participants will identify personal growth goals and learn how small shifts can drive meaningful impact. Come prepared for honesty, insight, and practical tools you can apply immediately.

Your Takeaways:

• Strategies to increase relational capital within your community to enhance future collaborations.
• Renewed self-awareness to aid with connections and role identification.
• Defined opportunities for increased satisfaction and retention of the right people in your chosen communities
• Clear vision for next steps.

Type: Single Presenter
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages

Presenter: Dr. Renita L. Webb ’04
Dr. Renita L. Webb is a dynamic educator, leadership strategist, and advocate whose career spans teaching, school leadership, ministry, authorship, and nonprofit work. A proud Elon alum and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she holds degrees in English, Education Administration, and a PhD in Leadership in Education Administration. Dr. Webb helps leaders strengthen authenticity, elevate influence, and expand impact—work that inspired her online show Leadership Live, her podcast Room for Refinement Radio, and her nonprofit, The Refining Life, Inc. She is the author of multiple books, including Stepmom: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs and The Case of the Unlikely Leader. A mentor, speaker, and creative force, Dr. Webb continues to champion growth and empowerment in every space she enters.

The relationships we build with other women often become our greatest sources of strength. This candid panel highlights the friendships that sustain us through ambition, burnout, transition, and growth. Hear inspiring stories of connection and discover how community, compassion, and shared experience fuel resilience and leadership. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about the role of sisterhood in helping women thrive—professionally and personally.

Your Takeaways:
Using the real-life experience of a friendship that has endured for more than 35 years, participants can expect to:

• Gain insight into how authentic female friendships foster resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being.
• Learn practical ways to nurture meaningful relationships.
• Discover how shared experiences can inspire leadership, creativity, and collaboration.
• Explore strategies for maintaining supportive relationships through change, stress, and transition.

Type: Moderated Panel Discussion
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages

Presenters: Stephanie K. Dawkins ’90 and Suzanne Saunders Woods Hawes ’91 

Stephanie K. Dawkins, retired ICMA-CM, brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in local government, having served in diverse communities across Kansas, Colorado, Florida, and Illinois, including as City Administrator for Geneva, IL. An Elon graduate with a degree in Psychology, she went on to earn a master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a Juris Doctor, and has contributed extensively as an instructor, coach, and board member throughout her career. Stephanie has been honored with multiple professional recognitions for her service and leadership. Today, she continues to teach in the MPA program at Northern Illinois University and delights in planning travel adventures and hosting an annual women’s retreat that has grown into a beloved tradition.

Suzanne Saunders Woods Hawes, an Elon alum with a degree in Leisure Sports Management, built a distinguished career in public service, fitness training, and federal law enforcement. After earning her master’s in Exercise Fitness and Health Promotion, she served as a Firefighter/EMT and later as a Physical Fitness Trainer at the FBI Academy, preparing new agents and senior law enforcement leaders from around the world. Suzanne went on to become a United States Secret Service Special Agent, serving under five U.S. Presidents and working with domestic and international partners across the globe. Now retired from the Service, she continues her security career as an Executive Protection Agent for a Fortune 150 CEO. She proudly embraces the number two—with two children, two cats, and two dogs.

Money isn’t just numbers—it’s emotions, habits, and beliefs—which can sometimes feel like a barrier to financial progress. This candid chat provides a space for you to explore attitudes, perspectives and mindsets that might be holding you back. Whether you are early in your financial journey or seasoned in your experience, through our time together, you will learn approachable frameworks and gain insights to help you use money as a tool to create the future you want.

Presenter: Vaishali Shah, Elon Faculty

Vaishali Shah is a Teaching Professor of Finance at Elon University and a CFP^® Certificant dedicated to advancing financial education and empowerment. Since 2022, she has taught personal finance courses and leads Elon’s CFP^® Educational Program, preparing undergraduate students for careers in financial planning. She is also the founder of Copper Seed, a female-focused financial coaching firm launched in 2020, where she supports women in personal and small business finance. With nearly a decade of experience in inter-generational financial planning at Piedmont Trust Company and a background in elementary education, Vaishali brings a unique, people-centered approach to finance. A lifelong learner, she holds an MBA from Wake Forest University, a Master of Teaching from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is currently pursuing coursework toward the CPA designation.

You have a personal leadership brand. But do you have the right one? A dynamic leadership brand conveys your identity and distinctiveness as an empowered leader. It communicates the value you offer. A strong personal leadership brand allows all that’s powerful and effective about your leadership to become known to your colleagues up, down, and across the company, enabling you to generate maximum value. This session will connect, inspire and transform participants to define and build their own personal brand through networking.

Your Takeaways:

• How to engage trusted people to share 3 words to describe you. Look for themes, what are they saying, what are they not saying.
• How to stay authentic while also being strategic about your brand.
• Steps to find a Mentor or Sponsor.
• How to sell and tell your story; learn what role does storytelling play in your personal brand.
• Ways to extend your leadership impact outside your organization.

Type: Moderated Panel Discussion
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages

Presenters: Becky Witmer Lane ’95 (moderator), Melissa Jordan Johnson ’04, Jill Rose ’00 

Becky Witmer Lane brings more than two decades of experience in business development, external engagement, and enterprise-level program activation. As Senior Vice President of Business Development for Global Community Opportunity at Bank of America, she leads initiatives that unite profit and purpose—advancing Responsible Growth while expanding community access to the bank’s products, services, and financial education. Becky is recognized for creating dynamic, cross-functional environments where marketing, communications, talent resources, and external partnerships come together to deliver measurable social impact. A champion for neurodiversity in the workplace, she plays an active leadership role on the Disability Action Network’s Enterprise and Charlotte teams, helping build more inclusive pathways for employees and clients. An Elon University alumna with a BS in Corporate Communications, Becky also serves on the university’s Women of Elon Advisory Council. She lives in the Charlotte area with her family and remains deeply engaged in community leadership.

Melissa Jordan Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in personal development, leadership coaching, and organizational growth, helping individuals and companies realize their highest potential. She holds a BA in Psychology from Elon University and an MS in Human Services with a counseling concentration from Capella University. As a Senior Program Manager at Amazon, Melissa leads initiatives designed to elevate underrepresented talent and strengthen leadership pipelines across corporate environments. Her work integrates presence, performance, and personal growth to create spaces where professionals can thrive authentically. Beyond her corporate roles, Melissa is a dedicated personal development coach known for her heart-centered approach, guiding clients to build purpose-driven leadership brands grounded in clarity, confidence, and self-authority. She empowers others to own their narrative and lead with intention in every arena of their lives.

Jill Rose serves as Senior Vice President of Client Operations at Wrapbook, a Series B, Andreessen Horowitz–backed startup modernizing production payroll and accounts payable for the entertainment industry. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across fintech and financial services—including tenure at PayPal, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Toast—Jill is known for driving operational transformation, elevating customer experience, and developing high-performing, mission-aligned teams. At Wrapbook, she oversees end-to-end client operations, guiding organizations from onboarding through payroll execution while supporting the company’s expanding footprint in film and television. An Elon University alumna, Jill holds a BS in Business and an MBA from John Carroll University. She now resides in Charleston, South Carolina, where she enjoys exploring the outdoors and discovering new local restaurants with her husband.

Artificial intelligence large language models (LLMs) have become a go-to tool for business writing and much more, but human empathy and personality remain critical differentiators in communications. This interactive session combines group discussion, individual and partner exercises to help attendees assess their core values, explore creative prompting techniques, and reimagine how to personalize AI generated content. Designed for leaders who already use AI in their communications, this session offers practical insights for elevating engagement and trust in an AI-powered world.

Your Takeaways:

• Learn strategies that move beyond command-based, copy-and-paste messaging.
• Learn to create authentic, values-driven communication in the age of AI.

Type: Interactive Workshop
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages who have used AI for communications

Presenter: Dr. Karen Lindsey
Dr. Karen Lindsey brings more than twenty-five years of experience in strategic communications across corporate, academic, and consulting environments. An Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Elon University, she teaches courses focused on leadership, media engagement, and ethical communication. Prior to academia, Dr. Lindsey held senior roles in corporate communications and public relations at organizations including Edelman Public Relations, the Chicago Tribune, U.S. Bank, and Northwestern Mutual. As founder of Lindsey Consulting Group, she advises executives, university leaders, and teams on brand alignment, crisis readiness, inclusive leadership, and effective media presence. Her research centers on the influence of race and gender on leadership identity. She is co-author of DEI in Strategic Communications (2024) and has a forthcoming book on Black women’s leadership in public relations. Dr. Lindsey is an active member of PRSA, NABJ, and AEJMC.

Effective leadership begins with purposeful listening. This interactive session introduces practical approaches to different listening styles and when to apply them. Through reflection, partner exercises, and group dialogue, participants will build skills that strengthen communication, relationships, and decision-making. Whether you lead teams or aspire to grow your influence, you’ll walk away with tools to elevate your leadership through the power of intentional listening.

Your Takeaways:

• Ability to apply listening styles consciously and with intention.
• Awareness of your individual go-to style and areas for improvement.
• Improved ability to navigate management and performance discussions.
• Understanding of how utilizing different listening styles can enhance leadership capacity and relationship management.

Type: Single Presenter
Who should attend: Women of all ages; mid-career and supervisors

Presenter: Amanda Aronson ’99 P’29
Amanda Aronson is the Founder and Principal Consultant of StoryB, a research and consulting firm dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations and communities create lasting social change. She has collaborated with a diverse range of partners, including education systems, healthcare and human services organizations, philanthropic institutions, and government agencies. Through her work, Amanda supports executive leaders and teams in strengthening operations and applying a systems-thinking approach to leadership development and organizational growth and impact. Amanda is an active community leader, serving as a Board Ambassador for the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation and Co-Chairs its historic Greater Futures Scholarship Fund Campaign. An Elon graduate with a BA in International Studies and an M.Ed from Lesley University, she is currently conducting an international field-research project, Women’s Work, an international public anthropology project documenting how collective action enables women’s economic independence and supports women-led responses to shared global challenges.

In this guided Embrace by Marcy workshop, participants will explore the emotional and relational importance of boundaries through an embodied, reflective experience. We’ll discuss how boundaries aren’t barriers, but bridges that help sustain healthy connections, self-trust, and peace. Utilizing real-world examples, mindfulness-based tools, and group reflection, attendees will learn how to identify where they may be overextending themselves, communicate their needs with clarity and compassion, and regulate their emotions when discomfort or guilt arises. This session is designed to restore confidence in self-expression while nurturing a more authentic relationship with self and others.

Your Takeaways:

• Tools to identify emotional and physical cues that signal boundary fatigue or overextension.
• Communication scripts and reflection prompts for setting boundaries clearly and compassionately.
• A self-regulation grounding technique to use during emotionally charged moments.
• A practice kit from Embrace by Marcy, featuring reflection cards and journaling prompts designed to support continued grounding and self-awareness.

Type: Facilitated Workshop
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages

Presenter: C. Marcy Harris ’15
C. Marcy Harris is the founder of Embrace by Marcy, an advocacy-centered brand that creates emotionally safe spaces for connection, healing, and expression. As an Intimacy Wellness Practitioner and Intimacy Coordinator, Marcy is trained in professional boundary-setting and emotional wellness practices, guiding individuals and leaders in establishing healthy boundaries and fostering safe, empowered relational practices. Her work bridges the worlds of emotional awareness, embodiment, and advocacy, supporting participants in cultivating more grounded, heart-centered relationships with themselves and others. Rooted in lived experience and compassion, her facilitation blends reflection, mindfulness, and emotional safety practices to help participants navigate vulnerability, rebuild trust in their intuition, and embrace the wholeness of their humanity.

Aging is not something to fear, but an opportunity to embrace growth, possibility, and lifelong learning. Many women, however, carry quiet anxieties about growing older as their bodies, identities, and roles shift. In this session, Dr. Corinne Auman and Jennifer Mock draw on their professional expertise and personal experiences to explore how women can chart new courses in midlife, challenge cultural myths about aging, and navigate both the challenges and opportunities of this season with confidence. Blending humor, stories, and practical strategies, they will guide participants to reframe their narrative about aging, cultivate rich relationships, and create more joy through meaningful connections and giving back. Attendees will leave inspired, hopeful, and equipped to design a personal vision of well-being that honors who they are today and who they are becoming.

Your Takeaways:

• Change the way you look at aging for yourself and others more positively.
• With more people living longer, you can have several career pivors and long learning pursuits.
• Women in particular are encouraged to live more fully and give back through mentoring, philanthropy, and within their careers, communities, and families.

Type: Panel Discussion
Who should attend: Women of all ages and stages with a focus on mid-life and beyond

Presenters: Dr. Corinne Auman ’97 and Jennifer Mock ’93

Jennifer Mock brings more than twenty years of experience in adult education, specializing in college and career readiness for adult learners. As Executive Director at Alamance Community College, she leads programs that expand access, strengthen community partnerships, and support regional workforce development. A long-standing mentor and advocate for community engagement, Jennifer has supported Elon University students for over fifteen years and serves on the advisory board for the Kernodle Center for Civic Engagement. She was recognized in 2021 with the Founders Award for Women Who Lead the Way in Alamance County. An Elon alum with a B.A. in Psychology, she also holds an M.A. in Higher Education from Appalachian State University and is pursuing a doctorate at UNC Wilmington. She recently completed a doctoral internship at Maynooth University in Ireland.

Dr. Corinne Auman is a developmental psychologist, author of Keenagers: Telling a New Story About Aging, and the founder of Choice Care Navigators, a geriatric care management and consulting service. With more than two decades of experience in aging, adult development, and family care, Dr. Auman is passionate about challenging ageism and reframing the way we think about growing older.