Dr. Wendy is a Stanford trained positive psychologist and success coach for female entrepreneurs. She helps women design their most meaningful, intentional, and fulfilling lives and businesses. Utilizing her strengths, values, and evidenced-based success method, Dr. Wendy has helped thousands of women worldwide live a life and business they're obsessed with.

Alessandra is a scientist by training.  In her 30 year career with 3M company she earned three patents and was known as a collaborative and inclusive global business leader with experience in strategic planning, operational execution, and building of high performing diverse teams. 

She recently retired and is ready to explore her passions.  Alessandra is an advocate for integrating mindfulness into effective leadership practices. She is dedicated to advancing STEM education, in particular in under represented groups, promoting women's empowerment, fostering environmental sustainability, and supporting the arts.  She is seeking opportunities to serve on non-profit boards of directors, and drive positive change and social impact. 

Alexia is an Award winning Chef/Restaurateur, Cookbook Author and founder of "The One Week Chef School" . Alexia grew up in Greece and migrated to the US to attend "The Culinary Institute of America" where she graduated with honors.  She worked in Michelin rated restaurants, was a contestant on Top Chef, Athens,  has won many culinary competitions and has been awarded "Best Greek Restaurant in Miami" multiple times.  Alexia continued her education at "Florida International University" while receiving multiple scholarships.  At 26 she opened her first restaurant in Greece and in recession she accomplished to add 2 more units and a commissary.  She returned to the US and worked for a Global corporate company where she run 20 profitable restaurants to educate herself further in restaurant systems.  

Amanda Lucidon is an award-winning documentarian, filmmaker, public speaker, teaching artist, and New York Times best-selling author. Lucidon served as an Official White House photographer responsible for documenting First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. She is one of only a few female White House photographers in history.

She is the co-founder of Grounded, an organization that combines arts and mindfulness practices to reduce violence and address trauma. She lives in Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and children.

Lucidon’s work has been honored by Pictures of the Year International, National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism, and the White House News Photographers Association, among others.

Amy Boyle  is a multimedia journalist, podcaster, and advocate for women dedicated to making sure the stories that matter most get told. A Northwestern University undergraduate alumna, she also holds a Master's from the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications '23. She believes deeply that every woman has a powerful answer inside her and has spent eight years creating a platform where those stories can shine.

Dr. Anna Tess is the Education Coordinator at the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR). Before that, she was a school principal and teacher of the deaf for 8 years. Anna has her doctorate in special education and two masters degrees in deaf education and educational leadership. Being deaf herself, Anna is passionate about ensuring success for all children with hearing loss and their families.

Anupy Singla is the founder of Indian As Apple Pie, now shown on Chicago's WTTW - Chicago PBS as well as a lifestyle brand and food company. She's also the author of four cookbooks on Indian cooking, including her latest, Instant Pot Indian. 

Anya Cheng is an accomplished and award-winning Product Head with extensive experience overseeing and directing product initiatives and processes for leading technology, eCommerce, food-delivery, and retail organizations. Founder & CEO of https://taelor.style

Expertise in creating product vision, strategy and roadmap; building and leading high-performing teams; overseeing product management, design, development, go-to-market and monetization processes; managing stakeholders and responding to industry trends in fast-paced, dynamic and ambiguous environment. 

Winner of 20+ awards including Girls in Tech “40 Under 40” and Webby Award Best App of Year. TEDx Talk speaker. Background in website and app product management, growth/product marketing and analytics. 

Arionne Nettles is a professor, culture reporter, and audio aficionado who serves as the Garth C. Reeves Eminent Scholar chair and instructor for digital journalism at Florida A&M University. As a journalist, her stories often look into Chicago history, culture, gun violence, policing, and race & class disparities, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Opinion, Chicago Reader, The Trace, WTTW, and WBEZ. She is the author of We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, published by Lawrence Hill Books/Chicago Review Press.

Bhavana Jain is a Chicago based women’s wear designer and has been CEO and lead designer of BHAV since March 2018.  Bhavana who comes from an Indian background and born/raised in Chicago, had a vision with BHAV to use South Asian textiles in a way that felt contemporary and elegant. South Asia has such a rich diversity of heritage fabrics (outside of just what we see in Indian formalwear), featuring techniques such as hand-dying/weaving and block/screen printing. Our goal with BHAV is to use these textiles to create versatile and flattering ready-to-wear pieces tailored to fit the daily lives of real, modern women... and re-imagine what fusionwear can be.

Carolina Baldin is a journalist from Brazil based in Chicago. Having worked in law, policy and regulation, she is passionate about everyday stories that illustrate larger issues. She has reported on energy, housing, work, productivity and culture and is a guest blogger on the "Speaking of Phenomenal" podcast. She graduated from a master's program at Northwestern University in 2023.

Carolyn is the Founder and Executive Director of the Charlie Cart Project, an all-in-one mobile platform for food education. The Charlie Cart Project makes hands-on cooking accessible to all children with a turnkey set of tools, training and a fully equipped compact mobile kitchen. Prior to launching Charlie Cart in 2015, Carolyn led Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project, developed programming with British Chef and activist Jamie Oliver, and co-produced the undergraduate course, Edible Education 101 at UC Berkeley with Author Michael Pollan. Carolyn is the author of New Favorites for New Cooks, (Ten Speed/Random House, 2018) a cookbook for children and families.

Chundria Brownlow is a TV Talk Show Host, Speaker and New Filmmaker. She has produced her first short film called 'Dare To Love' which premieres online on Saturday, February 13, 2021. 

Dana Frost is a body, mind, and spirit alchemist who educates and coaches women toward optimal health to enjoy vibrant lives with the people they love and fulfill their mission in life.  She hosts a weekly podcast, Vitally You®, with conversations that provide inspiration and insights for feeling younger while growing older. 

Dana has been in the wellness industry since 2007.  Dana is committed to continuing education, including certifications as a Master Life Coach, Aromatherapist, HeartMath® Facilitator, Myers Briggs Facilitator, Light Therapist, and Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner. Since the beginning of her coaching career, she led international retreats. Dana’s rich life experiences empower her coaching practice, including navigating the challenges and joys as a mom for thirty two years to five children, thirty-four years of marriage, and living abroad for ten years.   

Dana is the founder of Dana Hirt Parenting and a PCI Certified Parent Coach®, offering parents, both new and experienced, concrete skills and personalized guidance and support. Her commitment to Intentional Parenting enables clients to identify their core values, appreciate their strengths, and increase their competence and confidence as parents. She is also passionate about effective co-parenting for all couples, including those navigating separation and divorce. Dana is the grateful and proud mother of three adult children.

With over 60 years of experience dealing with some of life’s toughest challenges, Debbie is an expert in chasing your own dreams in spite of your circumstances. She is the best-selling author of the memoir “On second thought,...maybe I can" as well as a co-author in the Amazon best seller collaborative book “Heart Whispers”. Debbie's soon-to-be-published book, “The Sprinkle Effect: A Guide to Living a More Colorful and Fulfilling Life,” adds another vibrant chapter to her literary journey.

In addition, Debbie is a Canfield Certified Trainer in the Success Principles, an entrepreneur running both an insurance agency and her online store, “A Sprinkle of Hearts,” host of the “maybe I can” podcast, inspirational speaker, family caregiver, and mother. Debbie has overcome her own limiting beliefs and fears, allowing her to begin to live her best life. Her life’s passion is to help and inspire others to do the same. 

Delores Morton is the chief executive officer of Step Up, the nonprofit that guides girls, and those who identify with girlhood, to their success. Under Delores’s leadership, Step Up supports high school girls and young women ages 18-29 in becoming confident, connected and career-focused through free mentorship programs. Delores is an accomplished nonprofit executive with more than 20 years of experience designing and leading creative enterprises that make a lasting difference. 

Devorah Brinckerhoff is the creator of Soul Portraits. She is a professional artist with more than thirty years of practice and a BA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Art has been her primary language since childhood - the way she sees the world, processes experience, and returns to herself

Dr. Debi Silber, Founder of the PBT (Post Betrayal Transformation) Institute and National Forgiveness Day (celebrated annually on September 1st), is an award winning speaker, and a 2-time #1 International bestselling author. Her podcast: From Betrayal to Breakthrough is also globally ranked within the top 1.5% of podcasts. Her recent PhD study on how we experience betrayal made 3 groundbreaking discoveries that changes how long it takes to heal. In addition to being on FOX, CBS, The Dr. Oz Show, TEDx (twice) and more, she’s dedicated to helping people move past their betrayals as well as any other blocks preventing them from the health, work, relationships, confidence, and happiness they want most. 

We Got You Covered, founder and Director, Kimberly Lloyd is an African American woman, who is a Ph.D., a police officer, and a previous Chicago Public School educator and administrator. For over 26 years, she has had a front row seat to the adverse effects of poverty, lack of nutrition, subpar schools, inadequate teachers, and poor policing as it pertains to African American boys and how these forces negatively affect their literacy.

Ellen Wilcox is an investor and the Head of Listening at Listen Ventures. At Listen, Ellen is on a mission to bring design thinking and design research to the world of venture capital, turning human stories into consumer insight and intellectual curiosity into investment conviction. She mixes methods to craft investment theses, bring the consumer voice to due diligence, and help founders design brands that listen. She authored “Mindsets from the Middle” an ethnographic exploration of modern midlife womanhood. The work explores the behavior in this life stage and the barriers that seem to get in the way of women being, staying, and feeling 'well' in midlife.

Ellen is a reflection of her roots: she blends the curiosity of a Montessori kid with the grit of a Deloitte consultant, the creativity of an IDEO designer, and the business chops of a Kellogg MBA.

Heather H. Bennett is a marketing strategist and personal brand coach with over 20 years of experience marketing brands.  Drawing from a background in Research and Development, a University of Illinois MBA, and a Northwestern University Social Media Marketing Certification, she coaches her clients to create strong, authentic, and unique brands through her business, Creative Brand Coach.   

Her personal branding method has been shared at workshops and webinars and is featured in her workbook, Personal Branding for Fulfillment in Life, Work & Play and her book, Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time (#1 New Release for Job Hunting on Amazon!)

Heather lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and four children, where she enjoys volunteering for non-profits, reading mystery novels and spending as much time as possible outside swimming, kayaking, and hiking.  

Heather is a creative strategist who loves bringing consumer products to life. She started her career as a management consultant at Deloitte before heading to Stanford Business School to get her MBA. She subsequently worked on product strategy at Rothy's before starting her own venture, a braless clothing brand called Frankly Apparel, which has been featured by Martha Stewart Living, The Daily Beast, InStyle, Reader's Digest, and more. Heather now works as Head of Product for Joe & Bella, the world's finest adaptive apparel brand. She also freelances as a fractional Chief Product Officer for consumer brands across various industries. When not working, Heather loves painting, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her husband, children, and dog in Chicago.

Hillary is a Co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Carallel, the nation’s most comprehensive caregiver support program that blends human guidance with digital support. 

Carallel began with a simple question — How can we make the caregiving journey less isolating and overwhelming? After caring for her parents and realizing just how daunting caregiving can be, Hillary co-founded Carallel in 2016 to answer that question. Since then, under Hillary’s leadership, Carallel has become a trusted support system for thousands of caregivers around the country. 

Jacqueline (Jack) Pérez is a first-time poet who, at 60, discovered the transformative power of words—even those that rhyme. Unexpectedly, after a month-long sojourn in Istanbul, Jack felt compelled to explore life’s intricacies stanza by stanza.

Facing significant life moments, as we all do, she began crafting poetry in the wee hours of dawn as a means of expression and connection. Jack shares her vulnerability directly with the reader, QR code by QR code, often hiding in her closet to read these poems aloud. Metamorphosis in Stanzas is a heartfelt debut, capturing themes of love, loss, and renewal while inviting readers to embrace the beauty of change.
When not writing or traveling, Jacqueline is a Pro-Aging Champion and the Founder of Kuel Life, a platform dedicated to normalizing aging for women. You can find Jack at therealjackssmack.com.

Jeanne Sparrow is renowned speaker, top consultant, 7-time Emmy-winning television host, award-winning radio personality and podcast host. She is also a graduate faculty instructor at Northwestern University.

Jeanne helps people and organizations find more success by delivering their unique, authentic value through visionary leadership, effective sales and inspiring speaking. Jeanne has spoken to a variety of organizations including Guaranteed Rate, AnitaB.org, iHeartRadio’s Women’s Initiative Network and AT&T.

Listen to Jeanne’s podcast Fearless Authenticity with Jeanne Sparrow wherever you get your podcasts and look for her forthcoming book, “Fearless Authenticity: Lead Better, Sell More and Speak Sensationally” from Diversion Books is available out now.

Jennifer Froemel, CMHIMP, has been in private practice as a bilingual Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) since 1998. Jennifer received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University in 1996.  Jennifer is the founder/owner and therapist at Innovative Counseling Partners, PLLC since 2014.  She provides consultive services with medical, alternative, and spiritual practitioners to ensure a holistic approach to improve client mental wellness.
Jennifer has worked as a bilingual mental health clinician in community mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment centers, clinics, and in different supervisory capacities in both medical and mental health settings since 1991.  She has taught Advanced Psychology at DeVry University and has been a field placement supervisor for Masters’ level students for the last 25 years.

Jennifer Jones is a renowned dancer, recognized as the first African American Radio City Rockette and a Broadway performer who was part of the original cast of the iconic show "42nd Street", which won a Tony Award for Best Revival. 

She is celebrated as a dedicated activist advocating for equal rights in the arts, with her contributions acknowledged by esteemed institutions such as the Harlem School of the Arts, Radio City Music Hall, and Madison Square Garden. Jennifer's courageously battled and survived colorectal cancer, inspiring her to become a passionate advocate for early detection and screening. 

Jen is also a published author, having penned the children's book "On The Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette" and is preparing for the release of her memoir, "Becoming Spectacular" (Harper Collins 2025). Jennifer currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jeffrey.

Jessica Buchleitner is a communications scientist, journalist, and diplomat. As the author/curator of the award-winning 50 Women anthology series and a lead editor of "Stories from Girls and Women of Mogadishu," her features and books tell the stories of global unsung heroes while attacking hard-hitting issues of sexual violence, armed conflict, diplomacy structures, and the impact of emerging technology on society. Her journalism appeared in Nieman Storyboard, Women News Network, Smithsonian, Publisher’s Weekly, Reveal/Center for Investigative Reporting, L'Atelier Insights, and Northwestern University Knight Lab, among others.

Jillian Melero is a journalist and news editor. She is the founder of Connect Puerto Rico, an English-language newsletter focused on Puerto Rico’s transition to renewable energy. Through her work, Jillian’s goal is to connect policymakers, investors, and community leaders to collaborate on solutions that support sustainable, resilient energy infrastructure and workforce development.

International Speaker Joyce Marter, LCPC, CSP
Internationally renowned mental health thought leader and financial mindset expert, Joyce Marter, considers it her life’s purpose to spread the Mental Wealth; to remove the shame and stigma from both mental health and financial stress and provide a global audience with practical strategies and tools to heal, recover, thrive and prosper.

Joyce enjoys travel and has visited over 20 countries, with Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine being some of her favorites. She welcomes opportunities to travel internationally to speak at large conferences or events. While she only speaks English, she has experience collaborating with a translator during her talks. 

Juliana Zavala

With an academic foundation anchored in a Bachelor's degree in Health and Exercise Science from Northwestern State University in Louisiana and a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University, Juliana has established a remarkable career in sports management and education, underscored by her pivotal role in collaborating with the Chicago Bears to launch and expand girls' flag football in Chicago. This initiative not only broadened the league within three years but also led to its recognition as an IHSA sanctioned sport. Ms. Zavala’s contributions to the field have been acknowledged through the prestigious 2023 NFL Game Changer Award by the Chicago Bears, highlighting her impact as a transformative leader in youth sports administration. 

Kari Fagin is a creative leader with over 30 years of experience. She currently serves as a Director of the Osher National Resource Center, a center of excellence supporting 120+ Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (or OLLIs) nationwide. In this role, she consults with OLLI directors across the country to help their programs thrive. Before stepping into the national role, Kari directed the local OLLI at Northwestern University, which served over 1,200 intellectually curious adults across two campuses. Her previous leadership roles include Director of Engagement and Communication at a 3,500-member congregation—where she developed strategies to connect members through learning, social action, and community—and Senior Manager of Organizational Development at a global customer management firm with 125,000 employees, where she led company wide performance management and leadership development initiatives.

Kate Markland is the founder of StoryQuest, the first platform that builds self-leadership, confidence, and communication skills through every child's own story, and the co-author of the Adventures of Gabriel series. 

A former award-winning chartered physiotherapist with twenty years of clinical experience, Kate developed StoryQuest during a court-ordered separation from her son that reduced their contact to one hour a week on FaceTime. That one hour became two international bestsellers, a methodology piloted across 465 children in nine UK schools with 100% engagement, and a global story library connecting children from Bradford to Lahore to Buenos Aires.

Kate's evidence has been submitted to UK Parliamentary committees and her methodology was considered by UNICEF for global distribution. She speaks on children's self-leadership, the psychology of voice, resilience through constraint, and what happens when you refuse to let silence be the ending.

Universal Workplace Design Innovator Creating a More Effective and Sustainable World of Work (People Operations and Recruiting)

Kelly Cervantes is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones and USA Today bestselling book, Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It’s Time to Heal But You’re Not Sure You Want To. She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, and Fortune as well as featured on MSNBC, NY Times, and CNN. She sits on the boards of CURE Epilepsy and The Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation and hosts CURE Epilepsy’s podcast, Seizing Life. Born and raised in the Midwest, Kelly resides in Maplewood, NJ, with her family.

At her core, Kishori is a beauty hunter and holistic well-being seeker inspired by and passionate about nourishing all the senses with beauty and deliciousness. The container of her work is woven with love and mindful presence, and she is curious about the constant transformation that is life: the unfolding, the unlearning, the healing, and the remembering of what it means to be human. Holistic Well Being and mindfulness have been the foundations of her healing journey of mind, body, and heart. 
She thrives in setting and holding healing space for others. Her own mindfulness journey began in 1992, when she found herself immersed in the beauty and deliciousness of Italy. The healing tools that serve as her pillars are yoga asana, meditation and food. This journey continues to teach her that change begins with ourselves. We cannot change other people, but we can change ourselves and be an inspiring example of positive transformation in the world. 

Kristina McMenamin is on a mission to spark aliveness because she believes that when the humans on this planet are consciously living and sharing their unique gifts, the world will be a kinder, more connected, and socially just place. She does this by creating magical immersive experiences of self-discovery and deep human connection at askHUH? immersive. She is the creator of The Labyrinth: Go Within to Go Beyond, Jump into Kid-dom - a trampoline park experience where you unleash your inner child,  RAGEher: a movement experience for women to express their anger and power.

Laura LeClair is a passionate community builder dedicated to creating spaces where people connect, grow, and thrive. Before stepping into the nonprofit world, Laura spent seven years working in the NHL, focusing on diversifying the fan base and expanding access to opportunities in sport. Now, as s Director at Chicago Innovation, she designs and leads mentoring and inclusion programs that connect, inspire, and empower diverse innovators across the region. With a talent for bringing people together, Laura is dedicated to creating spaces where ideas flourish, relationships thrive, and communities grow.

Lisa Cornwell is a keynote speaker, author, and national broadcaster whose work focuses on conflict, clarity, and accountability. A longtime host and reporter for Golf Channel, she became a central figure in a national conversation about workplace culture following her memoir "Troublemaker" and a Washington Post investigation into systemic issues in sports media.

Today, Lisa speaks candidly about the cost of being right, the responsibility that comes with self-awareness, and how clarity—not conflict—creates lasting change. Drawing from lived experience, she challenges audiences to rethink how they show up when it matters most.

Lisa is an internationally recognized expert on philanthropy, charitable giving, and transformational change in both the personal and professional arenas. A leading figure in the American nonprofit sector, her deep experience with fundraising and the nonprofit sector, research on giving patterns, and influential ideas on transformational philanthropy have led her to become one of the most trusted philanthropic advisors in the nation, making numerous appearances on TV and radio. In 2023, named a Fulbright Specialist by the US Department of State.

Lisa’s believes anyone can be an agent for positive change by Making A Difference® in their own life has made her a highly sought after keynote speaker, lauded for delivering compelling and practical tools for personal growth, goal achievement, and maintaining a healthy work/life balance full of “happiness and joy” to a wide range of audiences across all industries. 

CREATOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Melissa Harris

“Division Street Revisited” is the brainchild of Harris, a former Chicago Tribune business columnist, who founded M. Harris & Kern, a Chicago marketing firm. Harris is co-author of the writing guide Everybody Needs an Editor. She is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, one of her alma maters. 

WRITER, NARRATOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Mary Schmich

Schmich has been a journalist since 1980. She spent 29 years as a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She focuses on race, women, family, the human heart and the complex life of Chicago. She won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. She knew Studs Terkel.

Maryam Myika Day is an actress, author, storyteller, and award-winning producer. She has penned the untold story of Motown sensation Tammi Terrell for the upcoming biopic "Mountain High," starring Kat Graham. Additionally, Maryam crafted a made-for-television movie about Jennifer Jones, the first African American Radio City Rockette, which was shopped by Mar Vista Entertainment. She also successfully sold and wrote "A Sisterly Christmas," starring Deborah Joy Winans, which aired on OWN, and  proudly Maryam  joined the writing team for Lifetime Television's anthology series, "WRATH: A Seven Deadly Sins Story,". 

Maryam is a leader and authority on grief and loss after losing her husband just 8 months after birthing their only daughter. Her podcast North of 40 where she brings women from all walks of life to help each of them navigate their own "soul-shifting" experiences. Her book was released 2025.

Megan Murphy is the founder of The Kindness Rocks Project, a grassroots kindness initiative which spans 90 countries and includes millions of participants around the globe—earning it a unique place in Art History as one of the world’s largest participatory and interactive works of Art ever created. 

She is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Women’s Empowerment Coach, Business Mentor, Kindness Activist, and Meditation Instructor, as well as the creator of the BE THE “I” IN KIND community-focused installation that has been installed around the world and her latest initiative is a women’s storytelling project called Her’d which will officially launch nationwide this Fall.

Meghann Conter uses her power to connect, elevate, entertain, and celebrate extraordinary women as the CEO of The Dames, a global community that is an incubator for the personal and professional greatness of women running and leading 6, 7, and 8-figure businesses. You can learn more about The Dames at https://www.thedames.co

Morgan DeNicola is the Executive Director of the DeNicola Family Foundation. The Foundation incorporates the four Passions of World Health, Humanitarian Recognition, Conservation and Cultural Diplomacy. 
Morgan is the Vice Chairman of the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) in New York. HDI works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. 
Morgan has been active in Congressional Delegations to the United Nations. Her time there led to trips to Beijing China in August 2017 for the Taihe Global Civilization Forum and to Malawi in February 2017, where she visited the Amitofo Care Centre (ACC), alongside other HDI board members. 
Morgan is also an active Board member of the Elmwood Zoo, located in Norristown, Pennsylvania. 

Precious L. Williams is a 13-time national elevator pitch champion. Besides helping women entrepreneurs and business leaders, she is also a TOP corporate sales trainer, helping sales teams to create killer communication skills, craft messaging and understand how to pitch and build sales programs. Precious is a world-class speaker/trainer for global brands including BMW, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, SiriusXM, HubSpot, Conde Nast, Harvard University, Columbia University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, George Washington University, Intuit Quickbooks, Yelp, and more.  As an international professional speaker, she is also hired to Keynote global conferences, summits, and events.

Rachel Simmonds is a mom of 3, teacher, blogger, fitness specialist, and author. Being a mom of three children, and an educator for more than 20 years, she enjoys sharing insight into what she's seen work in the classroom from both perspectives. She understands how difficult it can be juggling parenting at home in addition to ensuring children are supported in their education.

Sarah Harris is a transnational adoptee from South Korea, a mindful midlife blogger, queen of pivot, and your best cheerleader. She loves to make plans, but also loves to follow her nose, and find adventures where ever she winds up. She started her blog, planning her midlife pivot, when she was in her early 40s while her kids were just 12 and 7. 

She knew she wanted to be a writer so she sat down and started tasked with writing 365 words a day for 365 days. That lasted consistently for 4 months, until she pivoted while in grad school. Fast forward, and she took her new skills and pointed them in a new direction. 

She loves to help others figure out what they're passionate about and how to start down that path immediately with just one idea and believes it's better to wander down the path - taking baby steps - than stand still frozen by imperfection.

Shannon Gomes is a San Francisco–based travel writer and podcast host helping Gen X travelers discover great trips, unforgettable meals, and meaningful adventures.

She is the founder of The Gomes Guide, a travel newsletter and podcast that blends destination inspiration, standout food discoveries, and thoughtful travel recommendations.

She is also a longtime marketing and PR professional specializing in food, travel, and lifestyle brands. Shannon previously ran Good Food PR and has worked with companies including Williams-Sonoma, Clover Sonoma, Boudin Bakery, and California Strawberries.

Shannon shares thoughtful travel ideas and trusted recommendations with a growing audience of Gen X travelers who value meaningful experiences and memorable adventures.

Susan Boensch is a 55 year old Canadian woman living for 6+ years in Southern California with a passion for surfing, skating, yoga, travel and building communities. Becoming an active member of the Wahine kai women’s surf club has gifted her with an abundance of friendships and opportunities that nourish her thalassophile appetite. 
She is a self proclaimed minimalist and an experiential maximalist. Susan has had the opportunity to live and work in several countries throughout her lifetime. She has used her entrepreneurial philosophy and service commitment to sculpt a tapestry of career threads along the way. 
Happiness Is sustainable when you’re always doing what you love, sharing and serving others. Make the most of every day and embrace those around you . Open your arms  and your  community will gather. 

 Susan Murphy started as one of the nation’s first radio traffic reporters in Philadelphia, moved to Florida to be a TV news reporter and a “weather girl” (back when they called them that!)...At 25, she helped start the first traffic reporting service in New York...then became a radio talk show host and producer...a news director on Long Island…a Public Television producer and on-air personality...a college dean and instructor...a voice over artist...and now a broadcast voice coach.

Suzanne B. O’Brien RN is a Holistic Wellness Nurse, International Speaker, and bestselling author, She is the proud Founder and Creator of The International Doulagivers Institute based in New York City. She created the award-winning Doulagivers trainings in 2008 and has traveled the world educating and helping build training programs to help support communities globally. In 2015 Suzanne was Awarded "Worldwide Leader In Healthcare” by the International Nurses Association for creating Doulagivers International. Named Oprah Magazine Humanitarian Brand Ambassador in 2019. Today Suzanne has combined her years of training, education and experience to create The Doulagivers Institute for Higher Learning Featuring the Doulagivers Life Café and Global Educational Summits and programs to help raise the individual and collective consciousness to help create a better world for everyone everywhere.

Taylor Elyse Morrison is a portfolio careerist whose work focuses on building accessible personal and professional development experiences. She holds a degree in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Change Leadership from the University of Central Arkansas.

A learning-by-doing devotee, Taylor's (co)created several projects including: the Inner Workout app, a book by the same name, the Lifestyle Business League, Women Facilitating, and more.

Named one of Fortune’s 10 Innovators Shaping the Future of Health, Taylor draws on her coaching, mindfulness, and academic training to meet people where they are and get them closer to what they really want.

San Antonio native and notable singer/songwriter Tiffany Villarreal has never been a stranger to the boundless world of music. Growing up being surrounded by the arts, she strived to find her own voice and use her gift to inspire others to be their true, authentic selves. She was adamant about using her platform to promote vulnerability and spread a positive message. In her debut EP “Wildflower,” listeners witness the graceful composure of Villarreal’s free spirit through melodic, ambient rhythm and harmony firsthand.

The overall premise of adhering to the “reflection of a woman’s heart” comes into full effect by way of the feminine and the precise, delicate balance of each song’s production and lyricism. Music has always been a primary source of inner-peace for Villarreal and her EP “Wildflower,” aspires to be a safe-space for listeners to, in-turn, find their own inner-peace. 

Tina Greenbaum is a seasoned conflict resolution expert with over 41 years of experience helping top-level and executive teams in Fortune 500 companies thrive. With a background in management consulting, psychotherapy, neuroscience and leadership development, she is passionate about helping organizations improve their communication and leadership dynamics.

Ms. Greenbaum has a unique ability to identify the root causes of conflicts within organizations and executive teams. She uses her deep expertise in human psychology and leadership strategies to create actionable solutions that foster trust, collaboration and growth. Her personalized approach allows her to quickly pinpoint issues and implement effective strategies tailored to each client’s needs.

Tonika Lewis Johnson is synonymous with bold, transformative art that inspires fresh, critical thinking about Chicago’s history and future. The social justice artist rose to acclaim with her Folded Map Project, which visualized and explored Chicago’s legacy of segregation by introducing residents who live on the same street but 15 miles apart in racially and economically different neighborhoods, calling them “map twins.” She is currently spearheading UnBlocked Englewood, an ambitious effort to rehabilitate an entire block in her home neighborhood, which was harmed by predatory, racist housing practices of the 1950s and ’60s.

A 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Fellow, Tonika opened her first solo exhibit on February 26 at their gallery in New York. She also released her first book, Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It, co-written with Dr. Maria Krysan.