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Chaifetz School Hosts Second Annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference

The Chaifetz School of Business at pro hosted the second annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference on March 9 and 10 at the Busch Student Center. 

Taking place closely after International Women’s Day, and in the first week of Women’s History Month, the conference was organized by the Emerson Leadership Institute and focused on topics of personal effectiveness, communication barriers and solutions, emerging research findings related to women in business and amplifying female voices in organizations.

“Every aspect of the conference was meticulously planned and executed by a dream team of Chaifetz School students, faculty and staff,” said Barnali Gupta, Ph.D., Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business. “To each of our speakers, thank you for sharing your leadership story. You were all incredibly inspiring.”

Attendees sit at tables looking at a speaker on a platform.

The 2023 Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference was held in the Busch Student Center March 9-10.

The lineup of events kicked off on the evening of March 9 with a research symposium highlighting the latest research from women at SLU, including students and faculty. The symposium featured a keynote address from Dr. Seemantini Pathak, associate professor of management at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. 

The second day of the conference on March 10 featured a full schedule of presentations, breakout sessions and a networking lunch all in support of women in leadership. Mich Hancock, CEO of 100th Monkey and co-founder of TEDx St. Louis, served as emcee for the day. 

The keynote address for the conference was delivered by Lindsay Wrege, co-founder and CEO of 321 Coffee. The company employs more than 50 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at three locations in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area. Friday’s agenda included five other featured speakers, and in response to feedback from the 2022 conference, the topics of breakout sessions were targeted based on attendees’ particular career levels.

The conference was sold out, with a total of 250 tickets sold. The event highlighted and supported St. Louis area women in business through choices of vendors, partners and speakers. Each attendee took home a gift bag featuring items from many of these collaborating organizations.

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about the richard a. chaifetz school of business

Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at pro has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.