We’re less than a month out from the eighth annual Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium and now have details on the big day’s lineup of speakers and panels.
The half-day event will again take over the Statehouse Convention Center with main stage sessions and three breakout tracks (entrepreneur, executive and leading ladies), as well as the option to add on specialized post-symposium workshops.
Here’s a full rundown of topics taking the stage on April 24.
Main Stage
“How Often Do You Rehearse the Best-Case Scenario?”
» Cindy Jones-Nyland, CJN Consulting Group
We are excellent at imagining everything that could go wrong, the question we won’t be able to answer, the moment we might be exposed. But the version we walk in grounded and exactly who we need to be? Both outcomes are equally real, but only one gets most of our practice time. What if confidence isn’t something you find, it’s something you rehearse?
“The Community Quotient: Designing Workplaces for Connection & Impact”
» Liz Bohannon, Sseko Designs, Noonday Collection
The focus on creating connected workplace cultures has been building momentum over the past few years, and now is the time to create a fusion between why it’s important and how to do it, and that is at the heart of this energizing and soulful presentation from entrepreneur, best-selling author and podcast host Liz Bohannon.
Women’s Wellness Panel
» Alyssa Frisby, RDN, LD, UAMS Health
» Leslie McCormack, MSN, RN, APRN, Perspective Health
» Julia Turner, DPN, APRN + Dr. Amanda Novack, Baptist Health
This panel discussion will provide insights into a range of topics impacting our overall health and wellness including infectious disease, preventative cancer care, food as medicine, perimenopause and hormones.
Entrepreneur Track
“Social Media for Small Businesses”
» Aly LaBanca, FLEX360
Social media has moved beyond “nice to have” into a core growth channel for established small businesses, but most teams are too busy running the business to keep up with every new trend. In this session, FLEX360’s digital marketing director will break down what actually works now for growing visibility, driving leads and nurturing loyal customers without requiring a full‐time content team. You’ll walk away with a simple, repeatable framework you can plug into your existing marketing to get more return from the time and money you’re already investing online.
“What Businesses Need to Be Thinking About in 2026: A Panel Discussion”
» Christine Scarlett + Lauren Weaver, upSKILLery
In a year of rapid change, even established small businesses can’t afford to “set it and forget it” when it comes to their business model, relationships and use of technology. This session will explore what smart owners should be thinking about in 2026, from diversifying income streams and integrating AI in practical, human‐centered ways to setting boundaries that protect your time and energy. You’ll also learn how to have better, more strategic conversations with your attorney, accountant and banker so your advisory team is aligned with where you want your business to go next.
Executive Track
“Personal Branding for Executives”
» Lauren McKinnon, Project Mockingbird
This session helps leaders build a personal brand rooted in authenticity, clarity and confidence. Learn how to align your values, strengths and professional story into a cohesive narrative that elevates your visibility and positions you as a trusted voice in your field. Through guided exercises and real-time feedback, you’ll walk away with a clearer sense of who you are as a leader and how to show up consistently across digital and in-person spaces. McKinnon will guide you to define personal brand pillars, craft a compelling leadership narrative and discuss how to show up on LinkedIn and other platforms with confidence.
“Creating Family-Friendly Workplaces: A Panel Discussion”
» Angela Duran, Excel by Eight
» Sarah Riffle, Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
With funding support from Ingeborg Investments, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas recently commissioned a research initiative exploring the intersection of maternal economic security and early child care access in Arkansas, building on the foundation’s work to advocate for and support working moms. This research will be at the center of this interactive session where you can share and generate actionable items that can and should be taken into consideration to create family-friendly workplaces. You’ll leave this session with creative ideas, policies and benefits that can be implemented and discussion points to take back to the table within your own organization.
Leading Ladies Track
“Mind the Gap: Communicating Effectively Across Generations”
» Melissa Bandy + Robbi Riggs, Mitchell Williams
» Dana Silaski + Anna Grace Mills, Stephens
Five generations are now working side by side, each with different expectations for communication, feedback and what “professional” looks like at work. In this session, panelists will share strategies for giving feedback that lands across generations and receiving it with an open mind. Whether you’re managing a multigenerational team or navigating feedback dynamics with colleagues and clients, you will leave with actionable insights to strengthen relationships and drive results in your organization.
“Beyond Your Day Job: Becoming a High‐Impact Board Member”
» Kandi Hughes, JD, MBA, MISO
Serving on boards is one of the most powerful ways women can expand their influence, grow as leaders and shape the future of their communities and industries. In this session, Hughes, a managing senior corporate counsel at Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and an experienced board leader, will demystify what boards are really looking for and how to position yourself as a high‐value candidate, whether you’re an employee, entrepreneur or executive. You’ll walk away with practical guidance on identifying the right boards for your goals, articulating your unique value and taking concrete next steps to get “board‐ready” and into the rooms where decisions are made.
Workshops
“The Rehearsal Lab: Practical Tools for Training Your Brain Toward Possibility”
» Cindy Jones-Nyland, CJN Consulting Group
The keynote introduced a powerful question: How often do you rehearse the best-case scenario? This workshop is where you build the skills to change that pattern. We will explore the neuroscience behind why worst-case thinking dominates, then practice research-backed techniques to systematically retrain your brain.
“Media & Presentation Training 101”
» Susanne Williams, Project Mockingbird
A practical session designed to help leaders communicate clearly, confidently and effectively with the media. Participants learn how to stay on message, handle difficult questions and represent their organization with professionalism and ease.
“PR & Social Media for Nonprofit Communicators”
» Lauren McKinnon + Jillian Bowman, Project Mockingbird
This two-for-one session gives nonprofit leaders a foundational understanding of public relations and social media and how to leverage both to elevate their mission. You’ll learn to build strategies rooted in clarity, dignity and storytelling, as well as what makes a story newsworthy, how to develop relationships with the media and how to craft pitches that resonate with reporters and editors.
Registration for SWLS and the VIP networking event are open now. Click here to reserve your spot.
Learn more about the Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium at the event website, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
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