RIT Hosts Women's Leadership Weekend with Conference and Summit

·  RIT’s Women’s Leadership Weekend (Feb. 28-Mar. 1) includes the Power Your Potential Conference, focusing on resilience, with keynote Eva Ames and workshops by RIT alumni.

·  The Women’s Leadership Summit on Mar. 1 features keynote Kim B. Miller and focuses on inclusion and empowerment for students and professionals.

RIT's Saunders College of Business celebrates its third Women’s Leadership Weekend, Feb. 28-Mar. 1, featuring the 15th annual Power Your Potential Women's Conference, a half-day event for professionals on Feb. 28 at the Susan R. Holliday Center.

The fifth annual Women’s Leadership Summit, hosted by The Leadership Academy@Saunders, for high school and college students, occurs on Mar. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Max Lowenthal Hall.

The Power Your Potential (PYP) Women’s Conference, held on Feb. 28, kicks off Women’s History Month. It provides a platform for businesswomen to gain insights, participate in educational activities, and promote success in various professional fields. This year’s theme, “From Setback to Strength: Navigating Adversity with Resilience,” focuses on the power of perseverance and highlights how challenges can lead to growth and empowerment.

Keynote speaker Eva Ames ’09, vice president of global key accounts at DSV, shares her expertise gained from over 15 years in automotive design and federal regulation. Workshops include Sue Piotrowski ’95 MS, founder of BadFish Consulting, and Melanie Kerr ’12, an accomplished chef, professor, and event planner.

The event also features a panel discussion on resilience, “From Setback to Strength,” with Milagros Concepcion ’92, ’07 MBA, Shayla Scott ’16, ’17 MBA, and Heather Smith, CEO of Velocitii, sharing inspiring stories of overcoming adversity in their careers. This conference serves as an empowering space for women to learn, grow, and connect.

The Women’s Leadership Weekend will be moderated by Phillippa Thiuri, assistant vice president for Academic Access and Success at RIT. With over 25 years of experience, she leads programs fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, enhancing student success.

Jacqueline Mozrall, dean of Saunders College of Business, highlighted the importance of resilience in leadership. She said, “We celebrate the strength in overcoming challenges and create a space for professionals, students, and aspiring leaders to learn from one another.” The event aims to empower women in leadership and equip them with the resources to thrive.

The Women’s Leadership Summit will take place on March 1 at Max Lowenthal Hall, hosted by the Leadership Academy@Saunders. The summit focuses on inclusion and empowerment, with keynote speaker Kim B. Miller ’85, an award-winning poet, author, and former telecommunications executive. Miller, recognized with multiple accolades, including the 2023 Vivien H. Hansbury Award, will lead the event, featuring RIT alumni and faculty.