Page 30 - BusinessWest March, 21, 2022

explained. “The idea was, ‘wherever you are in your life ... own it, move forward, make deci- sions, and decide what’s next.’ But the pandemic changed a lot for people, so to ask people to ‘own their now’ seemed trite; the past two years not only affected the Women’s Leadership Confer- ence, they affected women.
“And so this year, we have the theme of ‘Rei- magine,’ and reimagine is really a gift,” she went on. “Because no matter where you are and what you’ve been through, you have this opportunity to come together, to network, to connect, to be with
“Before the pandemic, people talked about being adaptive, they talked about thinking outside the box; the pandemic has changed the way people think about all those things.”
other women, and really start to think about what is the future, not just for you as an individual, but for our community.”
That theme, ‘Reimagine,’ will be threaded through a full day of programming that will include Banks’s keynote address at 3:15 p.m.; a luncheon talk featuring Patrice Banks, founder of Girls Auto Clinic; and the morning keynote, featuring Suzy Batiz, founder of Poo~Pourri and supernatural (more on them later). And it will also be incorporated into a series of break-in ses-
sions, with titles ranging from “The Misfit’s Guide to Managing, Surviving, and Thriving at Work” to “Staying Sane with Dis- ruptive Personalities in the Workplace.”
Face to Face
The return of the Women’s Leadership Con- ference (WLC), especially in its in-person format,
is an important develop- ment for the region, said Doran, noting that, dur- ing its 25-year history,
it has not only brought provocative speakers and historic figures to Spring- field — a list that includes Margaret Thatcher, Madeline Albright, Rita Moreno, and many oth- ers — it has given attend- ees invaluable insight to bring back to their homes and offices.
Karen Woods says the conference was rethemed from the one canceled two years ago to better reflect pandemic realities.
Doran told BusinessWest that, while some thought had been given over the past two years to staging a WLC remotely, it was quickly deter- mined that such a presentation would simply not be in keeping with the many goals — and expec- tations — for this conference, which has become a tradition in Western Mass.
“We made the decision that this was an event that was really focused on professional develop-
ment, networking, and helping senior leaders in the grow,” she explained. “And the real power of this particular conference is in the face-to-face component of it.”
As organizers of the event saw COVID easing, with cases declining across the country, the deci- sion was made to move forward with a live event, one that will have some restrictions, including proof of vaccine or a negative test to enter the MassMutual Center, as well as masking up when
We Focus on a Personalized Approach to Provide Financial Peace of Mind.
Jean M. Deliso, CFP®
Financial and Insurance Services
B (413) 785-1100 • www.delisofinancialservices.com
540 Meadow St. Ext. • Suite 108 • Agawam, MA 01001
Financial Planning Services are offered through Eagle Strategies LLC. Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities are New York Life companies. Deliso Financial and Insurance Services is not owned or operated by Eagle Strategies, NYLIFE Securities LLC or any of their affiliates. Jean M Deliso, Member Agent, The Nautilus Group® is a service of New York Life Insurance Company. Neither The Nautilus Group®, its member agents, nor its staff provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Clients are urged to seek the advice of their own professional advisors before implementing any planning strategies.
Financial Adviser, Eagle Strategies LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser. Registered Representative
NYLIFE Securities LLC,
Member FINRA/SIPC,
A Licensed Insurance Agency.
When You Partner With Us You Partner With a Team of Experience and Insight.
PLANNING u INSURANCE u INVESTMENTS
30 MARCH 21, 2022
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
BusinessWest