The schedule of events is tentative and subject to change. Breakout sessions are listed below. Keynote speaker information can be found here.
First Breakout Session
Second Breakout Session
Third Breakout Session
8:45 – 9:45 Opening Keynote - Exhibit Hall A
Melinda Spaulding, anchor, KRIV Fox 26
Anita Perry, First Lady of Texas
Jeff Moseley, president & CEO, Greater Houston Partnership
Andrea White, First Lady of Houston
Bob Malone, chairman & president, BP America
Rick Perry, Governor of Texas
Meg Whitman, former chair and CEO of eBay
1:00 – 2:30 Keynote Lunch - Exhibit Hall A
Melinda Spaulding, anchor, KRIV Fox 26
Anita Perry, First Lady of Texas
Cherie Blair, leading human rights lawyer and wife of Tony Blair
Interviewed by Douglas Brinkley, fellow in history, Baker Institute and a professor of history, Rice University
Marcus Luttrell, author, Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and
the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10,
Scholarship Presentation
4:30 – 5:30 Closing Keynote Session - Exhibit Hall A
Jeri Callaway, senior vice president, HP
Anita Perry, First Lady of Texas
Sarah Jones, Tony Award ® winning playwright and performer
First Breakout Sessions and workshops
Guiding the Next Generation of Female Leaders – Meeting Room 342
Women who have reached the top of the ladder will discuss the collective benefit of building the next generation of female leaders. Learn how to reach out to those working their way up and how to identify a mentor to assist you in your own ascent.
Mae Jemison, first African American woman in space; founder and president, BioSentient Corporation and The Jemison Group
Renu Khator, Ph.D., president of the University of Houston and chancellor of the UH System
Kathleen Lucas, vice president of assurance for BP America
Moderator: Karen Otazo, Ph.D., managing director of Global Leadership Network, Inc.
Host: Iris Cross, manager, external affairs
Session hosted by BP
You: Staying Young – Ballroom A
Would you like to live 35 percent longer and be healthier? This session will teach you how to fight life's major agers. Dr. Roizen will outline a 14-day action plan, based on cutting-edge science, to help you extend your natural warranty and live to a ripe old age with all the vim and vigor of your youth.
Michael Roizen, M.D., author of The RealAge Makeover and coauthor of The RealAge Workout, YOU: The Smart Patient, and YOU: The Owner's Manual
Host: Rachael Baker, event coordinator, National Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation
Session hosted by Speaking of Women’s Health
A Brand New, Brand You – Ballroom C
This turbulent economy requires that you maintain and showcase a constant competitive edge. Are you confident that you are your employer’s brand of choice? This session will teach you how to stand out from the competition and market yourself effectively.
Lois Frankel, Ph.D., author, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
Host: Telisa Toliver, vice president of commercial development, Chevron Global Power Generation
Recession-Proofing Your Finances – Meeting Room 332
Does the current state of the economy have you questioning your financial stability? This session will outline a plan for keeping your financial ship afloat in stormy seas.
Valerie Coleman Morris, personal finance expert
Moderator: Marilyn Logan, author, I Can’t Afford to Marry You
Actions Speak Louder than Words: Understanding the Secrets of Body Language – Ballroom B
More than ninety percent of all face-to-face communication is nonverbal. In this session, you’ll discover how to make a positive impression, powerfully communicate your ideas and know what others are really thinking — even when they are not being honest! Jan Hargrave, an expert in nonverbal communication, will teach you how to decipher the secret language of gestures.
Jan Hargrave, author, Let Me See Your Body Talk, Freeway of Love, Judge the Jury and Strictly Business.
Host: Lisa Dollinger, chief communications officer for Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
Building On-Ramps and Off-Ramps: Smart Strategies for Career Transitions – Meeting Room 351
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom looking to get back into the work force, a fulltime employee looking for more flexibility or someone who just needs to tweak your work habits, learn from the experts on how to utilize on-ramps and off-ramps for successful career transitions.
Betsy Bagley, director of business development for the Texas Region for YourOnRamp.com
Host: Tonya Kerr, journalist
On Your Own: Starting a Small Business – Meeting Room 362
Are you dreaming of starting your own business? Women are launching businesses at three times the rate of men but often times do it differently. Hear from experts who can help you formulate your business plan, identify financing for start-up and catapult your dreams into reality.
Jen Groover, founder, Butler Bags and Launchers’ Cafe
Margaret Martin, owner, Margaret's Legendary Tea and Martin Institute for Leadership and Cultural Relations
Janet Morris, leads the US small medium business marketing, Hewlett-Packard's Imaging and Printing Group
Moderator: Kelly Stallings, owner of FlatRateFax.com
YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM
Girls Take Charge – Meeting Room 361
Girls Take Charge will explore your own strengths and talents and develop key skills for future success. Learn from key female leaders and participate in a hands-on fun workshop focused on you, your goals and dreams!
- WORKSHOP -
Beth Mooney, director, Learning to Lead
Second Breakout Sessions and workshops
Leading in Good Conscience – Meeting Room 342
In today’s interconnected world, people with a socially conscience reputation forge relationships that lead to bigger and better opportunities, both personally and professionally. Experts will share why being a force for good should be a part of your organizational mission.
Marian Harper, vice president, Foundation Development, Houston Astros
Shannon McFayden, senior executive vice president, Human Resources and Corporate Relations, Wachovia Corporation
Leah Raney, managing director of Global Environmental Affairs, Continental
Moderator: Ellen McGirt, senior writer, Fast Company Magazine
Session hosted by Continental
Separating Fact from Fiction — Scientists & Medical Experts speak up about Women's Health – Ballroom C
Carol Allred, president of the board of directors of WomenHeart, The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
Massimo Cristofanilli, MD, associate professor of medicine, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, and director of the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, MD Anderson
Kathryn Peek, Ph.D., associate professor and director of summer internship programs for the University of Texas Department of Biomedical Engineering, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and instructor for the Department of Bioengineering, Rice University
Host: Melissa Parker, regional sales director for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Women’s Voices, Women’s Words – Meeting Room 332
Women authors discuss their work and their motivation for writing. You’ll find inspiration for your own writing and clarity for those trying to find their own voice. You’ll leave ready to write the next chapter of you.
Sarah Bird, author, How Perfect is That?
Katherine Center, author, Bright Side of Disaster
Andrea White, author, Window Boy
Moderator: Khotan Shahbazi-Harmon, co-host of the popular radio shows Soul Talk and Writing on the Air on KOOP 91.7 F.M.
It’s Your Money, So Take It Personally – Ballroom C
Do you feel like you have a mental block when it comes to your finances? This session will help you redefine the way you think about money so that you can keep your financial house in order.
Marilyn Logan, author, I Can’t Afford to Marry You
Moderator: Valerie Coleman Morris, personal finance expert
Green Living – Meeting Room 362
Every action counts when it comes to protecting the planet. Learn how to incorporate environmentally friendly practices in your day-to-day activities and lead a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life through green living.
John Byrd, strategic business manager, americas environmental group, Hewlett-Packard
Diane MacEachern, author, Big Green Purse
Moderator: Patricia Gras, senior producer and host of Houston’s award-winning public television series, Living Smart with Patricia Gras
Host: Naila Seif, director, strategic alliances and business development, Americas Personal Systems Group at Hewlett-Packard Company
Session hosted by HP
Kicking Your Career into Gear: An Action Plan for Creating a Worklife that Thrills – Ballroom A
If you’re not looking out for your career then no one is. If you want to be passionate and successful, you must take control of your professional destiny. This session will help you evaluate where you are today and most importantly, where you want to be tomorrow.
Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, authors, The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear
Host: Wendy Taylor, chair, Texas Governor’s Commission for Women
Make it Grow: Strategies for Building Your Small Business – Meeting Room 351
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? This session will outline strategies to help you with networking, marketing and increasing sales. You’ll find resources and references to help you grow your small business.
Gay Gaddis, president and CEO, T3
Cece Sutton, executive vice president, Wachovia
Laura Murillo, executive director, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Moderator: Suzan Deison, founder and president of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Host: Nataline Oelkers vice president, small business leader, Houston Gulf Coast Region, Wachovia Bank
Session hosted by Wachovia
YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM
Action Heroes - Young Women Creating Social Change – Meeting Room 361
You have the power to change the world. Hear from young women you have launched initiatives they hope will have a lasting impact on the community and find out how to become your own “action hero.”
Third Breakout Sessions and workshops
Second Acts and New Beginnings – Meeting Room 342
What will be the next chapter of you? Whether you are looking to reinvent yourself or simply start down a new path, this session will help you see that the reasons you should take the leap far outweigh the reasons you shouldn’t. The next chapter of you is in your hands.
Janet Gurwitch, Gurwitch Products
Pamela Mitchell, CLC, is the founder and CEO of The Reinvention Institute, Inc.
Ariane de Bonvoisin, founder, The First 30 Days
Moderator: Ellen Susman, producer and host of Balancing Your Life
Fit to Live: The 5-Point Plan to be Lean, Strong, and Fearless for Life – Ballroom A
Are you Fit to Live – mentally, nutritionally, physically, financially and environmentally? Dr. Peeke presents the “21st century lifestyle-expanding waistline connection,” as well as her holistic plan to optimize men and women’s ability to literally cut the fat from lifestyle habits, as well as their bodies.
Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, chief medical correspondent for Discovery Health TV and author, Fit to Live
Host: Rachael Baker, event coordinator, National Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation
Session hosted by Speaking of Women’s Health
Take Control: When Work Runs Your Life – Meeting Room 362
Are you spending more time at work than at home? Can't find time to relax? Experts provide tools for you to take control of your life before it gets the best of you.
Rolando Balli, work-life strategist, Global Diversity and Inclusion, Dell
Crystal Ashby, vice president of government and public affairs, Refining & Marketing for BP America Inc.
Renée Peterson Trudeau, president of Career Strategists and author, The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life
Moderator: Tonya Kerr, journalist
Session hosted by DELL
Culinary Culture – Meeting Room 351
From celebrity chefs, gourmet clubs and underground restaurants, the culture of food is on the rise in America. These gourmands will identify the latest trends and examine why we all love talking about food.
Moderator:Jim Oseland, editor in chief, Saveur Magazine
Networking - Making Relationships Click – Ballroom C
Today, it’s not enough just to know your business or your job. You have to know people and how to connect with them. In this workshop you will learn how develop a network of mutually collaborative relationships and how to how to transform your existing and new relationships into valuable connections.
Julia Hubbel, The Art of Principled Networking
How I Came to Be THE Sweet Potato Queen – Ballroom B
Jill Conner Browne, best-selling author of the Sweet Potato Queen books will deliver her unique brand of highly motivating, hopefully hilarious, totally G-rated witticisms. Whether you find inspiration to start your own parade or write your own story, you are sure to get a good laugh.
Jill Conner Browne, author, The Sweet Potato Queens
Host: Kim T. Whitaker, director, public relations, UnitedHealthcare
YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM
The Respect Connect – Meeting Room 361
Did you know that respect is connected to everything — your feelings about yourself, your choices, your relationships and your future? Learn the secrets to boosting your self-respect, making healthy choices, designing the life you want, and changing your world for the better. Courtney will inspire you to create a vision for your future self and make decisions today that will help you live the life you want tomorrow.
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Courtney Macavinta, author, RESPECT: A Girl’s Guide to Getting Respect and Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed and founder, Respect RX