Full Schedule

Succession planning is not just about filling seats—it’s about building a future-ready organization. In this highly interactive session, we’ll explore how associations can prepare the next generation of leaders through strategic development, mentorship programs, and skill-building initiatives. By leveraging collective intelligence, we’ll uncover practical solutions like rotational leadership roles, cross-functional teams, and internship programs to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

As the landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) faces renewed scrutiny and shifting regulations following recent executive orders from the Trump administration, association leaders are navigating heightened uncertainty, intensified pressure, and a greater sense of responsibility. This session offers a vital forum for leaders to share real-time challenges, explore the evolving regulatory environment, and discuss proactive strategies for compliance without compromising their core values. Through candid dialogue and peer-driven insights, we’ll examine how associations can not only adapt to these changes but also champion DEI as a cornerstone of industry resilience, innovation, and long-term success.

Have you ever stepped into a new leadership role, only to discover that the situation is worse than you were led to believe? "Glass cliff" is the concept where women and people of color are more likely to be chosen for leadership positions during times of crisis. These roles are high risk and high stakes, where success seems nearly impossible. Too often these opportunities are tests on women's journeys towards success. Learn how to be a brave leader when the odds are stacked against you! Discover the power of mentorship, lean on your network of women leaders—many of whom have been there before. Walk away with actionable strategies to not only survive but thrive when faced with unwinnable leadership situations. Glass cliff is pushing a woman off a cliff to see if she can fly. So put your wings on and find out how to surprise everyone with your success!

At times, ongoing administrative and managerial tasks can prevent professionals – especially women – from showcasing subject matter expertise, leadership and strategy. A recent study noted that 54% of men are using AI on a daily basis, but only 35% of women are – creating a growing gender gap in technology use. Unlock your inner superhero with AI! In a world where association management can feel like battling countless manual tasks, AI is the ultimate tool to supercharge efficiency. This session will show you how to harness AI's power for marketing, strategic planning, content creation, data analysis, and educational program development—giving you the tools to conquer daily challenges. Walk away ready to transform your operations and resource allocation by integrating AI into your strategic plans. You’ll also discover how AI can amplify your impact through member persona development, research, and environmental scanning—empowering you to lead with superhuman strength and vision.

Seismic cultural and technological shifts are upending traditional leadership models. Discover a unique approach designed to support women leaders navigating transformational times. This interactive session explores the HEART method, a framework that makes leaders unstoppable, even in the face of disruption. Explore how the HEART values (Humanize, Empower, Ascend, Reimagine, and Transform) cultivate emotional intelligence and create the authentic connections that fuel organizational success. Drawing on real-life challenges, this session emphasizes practical strategies to inspire teams, including:

• Interactive exercises illuminating the role of emotional intelligence in a resilient culture
• Empowerment techniques to elevate your team’s morale and engagement
• Growth strategies to seize new opportunities and drive innovation
• Reimagining leadership to meet evolving expectations
• Transformation tools and practical insights to exceed the demands of change

As women executives, the ability to translate data into strategy is essential—not only for advancing your association’s mission, but for solidifying your voice at the leadership table. In today’s fast-paced association landscape, the power of data-driven decision-making offers ways to drive growth, enhance member engagement, and optimize resources. This session will explore how women in leadership roles can leverage data insights to make more strategic decisions, deliver greater impact, and influence organizational success. We will discuss tools and techniques that turn raw data into actionable knowledge, empowering women to lead with precision and confidence.

Many professionals believe entrepreneurial success stems from having "good" or "creative" ideas. In reality, it starts with identifying the right problems to solve. This interactive session will demystify intrapreneurship by focusing on problem-solving as the key to innovation. Participants will explore different styles of entrepreneurship, discover how their unique talents can best contribute to intrapreneurial success, and learn a systematic approach to identifying and validating high-impact problems. We will cover techniques for customer discovery, recognizing that we often aren’t the target market, and methods for de-risking ideas through early validation. Participants will leave equipped with practical tools to drive innovation within their organizations, reduce risk, and transform challenges into growth opportunities.

Backlash. Resistance. Pushback. Dismantle. Today, these are the terms all too often connected to DEI—diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our workplaces and professional environments represent a microcosm of an increasingly polarized, politicized society. Some leaders feel compelled to distance themselves and their organizations from DEI. Yet, others remain unstoppable in their commitment to building and reaping the benefits of diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultures. Becoming this type of inclusive leader in today’s anti-DEI environments requires learning new leadership styles and approaches. This session builds upon inclusive leadership theory that emerged in management literature in 2006 and incorporates contemporary research and management practices. Participants will gain evidence-based, practical tips and techniques to address real-world challenges to inclusive leadership. Participants will also be inspired to sustain the unstoppable spirit that leads all team members to feel welcomed, respected, and valued ... thus producing better organizational outcomes.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the most successful leaders are those who harness their strengths and empower their teams to innovate from within. This session focuses on how women executives can leverage their unique strengths and foster intrapreneurial thinking to drive transformational change within their organizations. By embracing a strengths-based approach to leadership, you will discover how to foster a culture of innovation, adaptability, and resilience—qualities essential not only for today but for the challenges of tomorrow. Participants will explore how to build future-ready teams by using human capital data to implement skills and strength-based hiring methods, ensuring the right talent is aligned with the right roles. Additionally, adopting agile staffing strategies will allow organizations to remain flexible, responsive, and sustainable in an ever-changing business landscape.

Have you ever asked for a raise? Haggled with a shopkeeper? Tried to convince your spouse to do the dishes? This interactive program will feature a new approach to an issue we all struggle with on a nearly daily basis: negotiations. Changing your perspective on power dynamics and preparation will help participants learn to create roadmaps to get what is most important to you. Participants will learn how to leverage their strengths and weaknesses and use emotion and timing to your advantage. This program is guaranteed to be unlike any negotiations session you’ve been to before. If you want to be empowered to achieve ambitious goals with the support of others in a novel way, this session is for you.

Join us as Artesha Moore, FASAE, CAE, President and CEO of Association Forum, along with the Women's Executive Forum^TM Program Committee, kick things off for our day of bold, interactive, and passionate conversations and networking.

Back by popular demand! We start the day with insightful, in-depth discussions designed to make true connections between colleagues. The impactful World Café model is an innovative, fun, and unique way to host fruitful conversations to identify patterns and derive insights about the most pressing leadership issues facing women today. Join us as we transform ideas into actions in the playful yet informative style of peer learning and networking.

Join us in celebrating the 2025 recipient of the Woman of Influence™ Award, Cie Armstead, DBA, Founder of Owlservations. This Award recognizes an exceptional woman association executive who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the association management industry. Recipients are recognized for their tireless leadership, track record of impact, innovation, and paying it forward through coaching, mentoring, and service to others.

Join us for casual lunch and networking with your peers. 

• Mastering Mindset: Learn how to separate attitude from emotion to sharpen leadership decisions and build resilience.
• Stretch Goals & Growth: Discover how to set career-defining goals that challenge you and push you beyond your limits.
• Unlocking Peak Performance: Leverage insights from female athletes to perform at your best in the workplace.
• Becoming UNSTOPPABLE: Develop mental strategies to overcome obstacles, thrive under pressure, and lead with relentless determination.

Imbibe with Louisville Tourism during a lively happy hour featuring 1920s mystique and prohibition-inspired cocktails, raising our glasses to the 100^th anniversary of The Great Gatsby and its ties to Bourbon City.