Page 31 - BusinessWest March, 21, 2022
P. 31

                                not eating or drinking.
Woods said ticket sales have been brisk, and
a turnout similar to what has been the norm over the past several years is expected.
“We’ve been following the trends and the local, state, and federal guidelines,” she said. “Normally, we would start our advertising in the fall, and we were really looking at this spring.
In speaking with our sponsors, exhibitors, and those buying tickets, we sense that people are feeling comfortable and ready to come back out for a gathering like this.”
“We made the decision that this was
an event that was really focused on professional development, networking, and helping senior leaders in the grow. And the real power of this particular conference is in the face-to-face component of it.”
As noted earlier, the overall lineup of speak- ers for the 25th WLC hasn’t changed since that event was originally blueprinted in 2019. But what has changed are the times, and some of the challenges being faced by women — and all those in the workforce.
And the speakers have been asked to reflect on what has transpired and incorporate these changes and mounting challenges into their presentations, said Doran, noting that the 25th WLC, like those before it, will leave attendees
with plenty to think about as they consider how to reimagine their own lives and careers.
Indeed, the three keynoters are all successful entrepreneurs and innovators, who took decid- edly different paths to success.
The day will start with what promises to be an inspirational, and entertaining talk by Batiz, founder of Poo~Pourri and supernatural, brands she has transformed into a more than $500 mil- lion business empire.
Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur, Batiz has been named one of Forbes’s “Richest Self Made Women in America” (2019) and EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2017). But to get there, she had to overcome some
of life’s lowest lows — poverty, sexual abuse, depression, two bankruptcies, and a suicide attempt — which led to what she calls “the lux- ury of losing everything.”
The luncheon keynote speaker, Patrice Banks, is credited with opening up the male- dominated automotive industry and bringing
a fresh perspective to that business. Girls Auto Clinic offers automotive buying and repair resources, services, and products by women to women. Prior to establishing GAC, she worked for more than 12 years as an engineer, manager, and leader at DuPont, a science and technology company.
Frustrated with the lack of resources edu- cating women on car care and her inability to find a female mechanic in the Philadelphia area, Banks enrolled in automotive- technol- ogy school to learn how to work on cars. Her mission with Girls Auto Clinic was to create a place she wanted to bring her car for repair and maintenance. She has since made it her mission
to educate and empower women through their cars.
By telling her story, she continues to make history, through engaging talks, interactive workshops, authoring an informative car-care guide, and the successful running of a repair garage with female mechanics and a nail salon.
The day’s programing will conclude with a keynote talk by Tyra Banks, the supermodel who has become a serial entrepreneur as well. She created and executive produces America’s Next Top Model, has an Emmy Award-winning talk show (The Tyra Banks Show), hosted America’s Got Talent, and is consistently ranked by Time magazine as one of the world’s most influential people.
Banks is CEO of the Tyra Banks Company, a multi-faceted corporation focused on beauty and entertainment. In 2012, she graduated from the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School, from which she cre- ated her one-of-a-kind cosmetics experience, TYRA Beauty. She recently developed Fierce Capital, the investment arm of the Tyra Banks Company, which invests in early-stage com- panies, including firms that are female-led or female-focused.
Her passion is the TZONE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that invests in young women to help them realize their ambitions and approach life’s challenges with fierce deter- mination. The TZONE now takes residence at the Lower Eastside Girls Club Center for Com- munity in New York City and focuses on five
Conference
Continued on page 36
        Altus Dental sure looks different these days.
Introducing
in partnership with
The company that’s been delivering great dental plans for the last twenty years now offers total vision coverage, in partnership with VSP®, a national leader in vision benefits. With Altus Vision, you get:
Robust plans | Easy access | Great rates And you thought we only did great dental plans.
View plans at vision.altusdental.com
Altus VisionTM is underwritten by Altus Dental Insurance Company. Claims processing, claims service, and provider network administration for Altus VisionTM are provided under contract by Vision Service Plan Insurance Company (“VSP”).
  BusinessWest
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
MARCH 21, 2022 31
 
































































   29   30   31   32   33