Mark your calendars for Dec. 4. The Fort Smith Women’s Leadership Summit is bringing together industry leaders and business professionals for a day of connection, learning and inspiration. The annual event will take place at the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center, and we have our first look at the lineup of keynote speakers and presenters.
Kicking off the summit is Keisha B. Merritt, founder of KBM Executive Strategies, author of “WorkSick” and a leadership and well-being strategist. Her session, “The Great Undoing: Ending the Era of Performance Culture,” will challenge outdated ideas of perfection and productivity while offering a fresh blueprint for leading with clarity, purpose and balance.
Next, Dr. Sheila Jacobs, chancellor of ATU Ozark and a longtime advocate for workforce education, will dive into the art of collaboration across silos, navigating with grace and the power of story.
Closing out the day is Christy Valentine, manager of academic and philanthropic programs for Arkansas State University. In her talk “From Imposter to Influencer: Unlocking the Power Within,” Valentine will explore how imposter syndrome can hold women back from recognizing and embracing their full influence.
“The Fort Smith WLS event continues to provide women in the area with an outlet for networking and education,” says Mandy Richardson, symposium/summit founder and publisher of Little Rock Soirée magazine. “The team has dedicated significant resources to ensure this year’s event is exceptionally impactful, and we anticipate that attendees will depart feeling inspired, engaged and equipped to lead effectively.”
Lori Brooks of ArcBest and Dr. Teresa Browne of ACHE will lead a content panel discussion where they will speak candidly about how they handle workplace dysfunction, inequality and what they do when they see workplace toxicity. The 2025 event will also include a women’s wellness panel discussion with Baptist Health, and the speakers will be announced in the coming week.
Registration for the half-day summit is now open. Click here to reserve your spot.
Learn more about the Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium and Summits at the event website, and follow along on Instagram for updates.
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