The MYTH that “Leaders are born” ─ a product of inheritance, heredity, genes, gender, background, or even divine destiny ─ has reared its ugly head again in America and must again be beaten down. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi aptly declared:
Leadership emanates first and foremost from an individual’s intentional choice to embrace the challenge to lead, that is, to inspire, empower, and mobilize others to collective action to achieve shared goals – while helping them realize their full potential. Second, strong leadership demands essential competencies forged through a mindset to grow one’s potential; education and development; hard work; practice amplified by individual strengths ─ all reinforced by experience over time. And the highest level of leadership is leaders who create other leaders.
For these reasons FWLE chose this year’s WLC theme “Made. Not Born.” to reemphasize these basic truths. This is fundamentally a statement about the nature and origin of leadership itself in America and the vital qualities that make good leadership. At the same time, no matter your leadership level, it is an inspirational call to action to evolve as leaders, as leadership learning is a life-long activity. You are the architect of your leadership journey, shaped by what you choose to build across your career.
2026 WLC structures our learning experience around four cohesive aspects of successful leadership – Capability & Expertise; Credibility & Influence; Visibility; and 360° Sustainability. Every Main Stage keynote address and discussion, every education session, and every organized activity will build on these leadership dimensions – for leading self as well as others, and/or will show how leadership works in organizations.
As you progress through our program, you should focus on your own personal development scaffold:
• building your career plan
• strengthening your competencies to advance your and your teams’ delivery of excellence in results
• honing strategies to leverage your work, credibility, and visibility
• fortifying strategic relationships internal and external to your organization
• continuing your leadership growth.
Whether you are an aspiring supervisor, experienced director, or seasoned executive ─ and whatever your organization, you should leave WLC with a sharper perspective that positions you to assert your voice with confidence and clarity; expand your influence rooted in positive results, credibility, and trust relationships; and achieve the impact you desire as a leader.
“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Human history underscored by research studies show that effective leaders – indeed great leaders – span the gamut of humanity and backgrounds, and manifest innumerable characters, personalities, visions, values, strengths, skillsets, and styles.”
Women’s Leadership Conference in the News
SCHEDULE
2026 Women’s Leadership Conference
DAY 1: Monday, August 31, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration & Information Desk Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Main Stage Opening Remarks / Phyllis A. James
9:20 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Main Stage Emcee Introduction / Dethra U. Giles
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Main Stage Opening Keynote Address
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Networking Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Main Stage WLC Talk / Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard: “The System Beneath Leadership:Why Sustainable Performance Starts Within”
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Empowerment Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDUCATION SESSION 1
Education Session 1 - CAPABILITY & EXPERTISE
Emerging Leader Track
Option 1: What’s Behind the Business: Gain the Business Acumen and Expand Enterprise Focus to Build Credibility and Impact
Dr. Anita Polite Wilson, The Leets Consortium
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: AI Is My New Best Friend….and I Love Her! From Curiosity to Capability to Confidence with AI at Work
Dr. Sherrie Tennessee,The Leets Consortium
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Make the Call: Using Financial Acumen to Drive Business Decisions
Julia Lazzara, Spectrum Leadership Advisory
Emerging Executive Track
Option 1: Elevating Your Strategic Leadership
Nancy DeViney,Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: AI Is My New Best Friend….and I Love Her! From Curiosity to Capability to Confidence with AI at Work
Dr. Sherrie Tennessee, The Leets Consortium
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Make the Call: Using Financial Acumen to Drive Business Decisions
Julia Lazzara,Spectrum Leadership Advisory
Executive/Officer Track
Option 1: Navigating Complexity, High-Stakes Decisions, and Resistance as an Executive
Rebecca Shambaugh / Fasika Tefera,Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: AI Is My New Best Friend….and I Love Her! From Curiosity to Capability to Confidence with AI at Work
Dr. Sherrie Tennessee,The Leets Consortium
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDUCATION SESSION 2
Education Session 2 - CREDIBILITY & INFLUENCE
Emerging Leader Track
Option 1: So Now You’re the Boss: Success Strategies for New Leaders and Mistakes to Avoid
Jennifer Buck, The Leets Consortium
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Holding Your Own™: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Influence in High-Visibility Roles
Melissa Maher,Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Emerging Executive Track
Option 1: From Doing to Developing: Coaching Leaders to Expand Your Impact Through Others
Dr. Anita Polite Wilson,The Leets Consortium
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Holding Your Own™: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Influence in High-Visibility Roles
Melissa Maher,Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Executive/Officer Track
Option 1: Strategic Influence and Executive Presence for Executives and Officers
Rebecca Shambaugh / Nancy DeViney,Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Holding Your Own ™: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Influence in High-Visibility Roles
Melissa Maher,Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Option 3: LEARNING LAB: Building Leadership Capacity at Enterprise Scale
David Yudis,The Leets Consortium
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Networking Break
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Main Stage Keynote Address
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Emcee’s Closing Remarks, Dethra U. Giles, CEO, ExecuPrep
5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. VIP Networking Cocktail Reception (Open to All Attendees)
DAY 2: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration & Information Desk Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Opening Session / “Ask the Coach” Moderated by Dethra U. Giles, CEO, ExecuPrep
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Main Stage WLC Talk / Sally Allen: “The M.I.N.D.S.E.T. Framework: A Leader’s Mental Toolkit”
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Empowerment Lunch
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Education Session 3
EDUCATION SESSION 3 - VISIBILITY
Emerging Leader Track
Option 1: Is Your Work Visible – or Invisible? Get Noticed – and Regarded – for Work That Drives Decisions
Julia Lazzara,Spectrum Leadership Advisory
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Your Personal Brand + AI = Your Competitive Advantage
Haydee Antezana, Haydee Antezana International
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Owning Your Leadership Trajectory: Visibility, Sponsorship, and Strategic Career Moves
Nancy DeViney, Shambaugh Leadership
Emerging Executive Track
Option 1: High Performance to High Influence: Building Strategic Relationships and Sponsorship
Fasika Tefera,Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Your Personal Brand + AI = Your Competitive Advantage
Haydee Antezana, Haydee Antezana International
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Owning Your Leadership Trajectory: Visibility, Sponsorship, and Strategic Career Moves
Nancy DeViney, Shambaugh Leadership
Executive/Officer Track
Option 1: Navigating the Political and Organizational Landscape in the New Workplace
Rebecca Shambaugh,Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Your Personal Brand + AI = Your Competitive Advantage
Haydee Antezana, Haydee Antezana International
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Owning Your Leadership Trajectory: Visibility, Sponsorship, and Strategic Career Moves
Nancy DeViney, Shambaugh Leadership
1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Networking Break
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Education Session 4
EDUCATION SESSION 4 - 360 DEGREE SUSTAINABILITY
Emerging Leader Track
Option 1: Organizational Skills for the Overwhelmed: Chaos to Clarity – An Organizational Skills and Time Management Reset for Today’s Leaders
Jennifer Buck, The Leets Consortium
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Resilient Leadership: Sustaining Performance, Confidence and Well-Being Under Pressure
Melissa Maher,Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Emerging Executive Track
Option 1: Mastering the Transition from High-Speed Execution to Intentional & Sustainable Executive Leadership
Fasika Tefera / Rebecca Shambaugh, Shambaugh Leadership
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Resilient Leadership: Sustaining Performance, Confidence, and Well-Being Under Pressure
Melissa Maher,Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Define Success on Your Own Terms: Personal Brand, Courage, and Career Choice for Senior Leaders
Dr. Anita Polite Wilson,The Leets Consortium
Executive/Officer Track
Option 1: Crisis Management: Preparing Your Organization for the Unknown
Speaker To-Be-Announced
Option 2: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Resilient Leadership: Sustaining Performance, Confidence, and Well-Being Under Pressure
Melissa Maher, Pinnacle Enterprises Group
Option 3: CROSS-TRACK SESSION: Define Success on Your Own Terms: Personal Brand, Courage, and Career Choice for Senior Leaders
Dr. Anita Polite Wilson,The Leets Consortium
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Networking Break
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Main Stage Closing Keynote Address
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks / Emcee, Dethra U. Giles, CEO, ExecuPrep
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Closing Remarks / Phyllis A. James
2026 Conference Registration & Pricing
Our all-inclusive conference registration includes:
* Admission to the 2-day conference program
* Continental breakfast
* Lunch and beverage breaks
* Keynote speakers
* Track presentations
* Executive coaching
* Networking opportunities
* Conference bag and on-site activation
* Welcome Reception
Pricing
Individual:
Tickets $1,095 per person
Nonprofit & Government price $995.00
Universities & Academia price $995.00
Students $700.00 per person
Table:
10,950.00 for table of 10
$5,475.00 for table of 5
Government $9,950.00 per table of 10 seats
Government $4,975.00 per 5 table seats
Nonprofits $9,950.00 per table of 10 seats
Nonprofits $4,975.00 per 5 table seats
Colleges/Universities
$9,950.00 per table of 10 seats for faculty/administrators
$4,975.00 per 5 table seats: faculty/administrators
$7,000.00 per table of 10 seats for students
$3,500.00 per 5 table seats: students
Please submit any inquiries about pricing to info@fwle.org.