14th Women's Leadership and Empowerment Conference [WLEC2023]
1st - 3rd of March 2023, Bangkok, Thailand
Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit

​SPEAKERS

GUEST SPEAKER AND BOOK READING

Nyika, I Love You
(Nyika means, the world the earth)
This story is about a relationship between a child and eventually a woman and her Shona maid, in the lowvelds of a war-torn Zimbabwe. Seen through the prismatic eyes of Joanna, this is the source for a multifaceted and captivating story of people, culture and personalities. The story means a lot more than black and white. A raw and romantic perspective that can only be provided by someone who grew up in the midst of it all and who is able to brilliantly paint the picture in the language of her African heart. As brutal and beautiful as the reality of the wildlife and her roots - The Save Valley Conservancy, 3442kms squared in size and world-famous stature, her playground. Crazy parties, sad events, hate, love, motherhood and murder, lions and liars, the cowards and the courageous. Tears and laughter as loud and as beautiful as the backdrop of the African bush itself.
As you will see after reading this book, the synopsis of Alice’s life, hers was an upbringing which was arguably the envy of any number of people. A life worth living; her world full of adventure, excitement and enjoyment with, at times overwhelmingly sad lessons. She has contributed to this planet, indeed making it a better place for Zimbabwean wildlife and her people. Her cup truly overflowed in many respects, and she has very few regrets. Alice clearly has a will of her own. Her love will always be the African bush, specifically the Zimbabwean Lowveld and Chishakwe, the Save Valley Conservancy. Alice (referred to as Joanna in this book), is currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. She is writing her next novel, ‘The Flamboyant’, a story about her family’s arrival in Africa at the Cape of Good Hope before the 1850s, her uncle (who is a published author in his own right) will be assisting her with the history of their family’s great trek.

alicevyehenningway.ampbk.com

The Secret Sauce to Resiliency

Resiliency is our ability to bounce back from challenging situations which impacts every area of our lives. Often when we think of being resilient, we think of pushing ourselves to our limits and beyond. What if there is a different, more gentle way, to step into resiliency and more easily bounce back from adversity through self-compassion? There is! Join Arliss Dudley-Cash MA, MBA for a deep dive into the neuroscience behind developing resiliency and the secret sauce to resiliency, self-compassion. We will get nerdy with the scientific research on how our brain processes self-compassion and why that supports us being resilient. Get inspired to deepen your self-compassion and step away with simple, practical ways to develop your resiliency.
#1 International Best-Selling Author, Business Consultant, and Self Love Coach Arliss Dudley-Cash is an inspirational speaker and self-love movement leader. With a background in business, neuroscience, and forensics her career expands over several industries including operations management, research scientist, and death investigation. Arliss unites this eclectic background with her personal journey to overcome the odds and survive a terminal diagnosis. Her awarding winning presentations include topics on extreme self-love, mindful business practices, and body positivity. Arliss is a big believer in the magic of our individual stories and the power of storytelling to affect positive change in this world. In 2021, she co-founded The Body Positivity Podcast which she hosts with her colleague Diana Gremillion. Through her company, Soullutions LLC, she is passionate about helping her clients to become powerful, joyful, authentic business owners experiencing freedom, having a lot more fun in their business, and experiencing the success of their dreams. Arliss’s dream is for each of us to become the loves of our lives!

Ignite Your Strength Through Mind, Body and Voice

Since the start of the pandemic, the way that we navigate in and out of situations and engage with others has changed so the way we have to defend ourselves must evolve with it. In this heartfelt talk, hear a holistic approach to self-defense that inspires you to root yourself in love and courage.
Leslie is the Founder of Reclaiming Your Courage, a Trauma-informed Self-Defense Coach, international best-selling author, and speaker. She values love, courage, and community. Her mission is to save the lives of women globally. Leslie is a second-generation Korean and Chinese American, mother of two, and wife. She is a San Francisco native and has been a martial artist for over 20 years. Leslie empowers purpose-driven women to ignite their strength through mind, body, and voice. At the start of the pandemic, Leslie was deeply impacted by the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. She has dedicated her life to #stopasianhate and strengthening her community by helping Asian women find their voice and not fall victim to being perceived as easy prey. She is an ally to the BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent, and Differently Abled communities.

The Magic Fire Within You: How to go from burnout to lit up!

This interactive presentation is based on the Energy Leadership framework to provide working professionals with new perspectives on how to lead with innovative ideas, increase engagement at work and productivity, and advance in future career opportunities.
Michelle Kuei is an international speaker, certified visibility coach, marketing strategist, certified storytelling master, and author. Michelle mentors women to use the power of storytelling as their secret sauce in attracting clients and turning their passion for coaching into a profitable business.

http://elevatelifecoaching.org

About the women’s entrepreneurship promotion program in the Japanese local city; 
from a viewpoint of the legitimacy acquisition of - women entrepreneur

I would like to introduce Japanese women's entrepreneurial activities and support program in rural area. The reason why I focused rural area is that we can find out more gender norms or gender gaps than urban area. I will show you some successful cases to encourage women entrepreneurs and promote their activities to acquire the legitimacy in rural business community.
I hope I will be abele to share the way to solve the difficulties of women's entrepreneurship in rural area. 
1986 Graduated from Ochanomizu University
( Got Bachelor degree in Home Economics)
1996 Graduated from Hose University Graduate School (Got Master of Business Administration)
2009 Graduated from Waseda University Graduate School (Got Ph.D. degree in International Studies

1986-2001 Worked for Small Business Corporation (Public organization related to Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Japan)
2002-2010 Takachiho University Lecturer ~ Professor
2010- Professor of SME Management and Entrepreneurship/ School of Commerce/ Senshu University, Tokyo Japan

Self-leadership habits of highly resilient individuals and leaders

In today's world, most leaders face the challenge of producing ROI and driving results while staff retention and turnover are at an all-time high. It is said that people work for people, and it's true. Therefore, we must continue striving to be the best leaders to ensure the success of our companies and personal businesses and to create and sustain high-performing teams engaged and inspired by our leadership shadow. For women, this is particularly difficult because of the added stress and pressure of constantly having to prove ourselves and our right to a seat at the table. We need to continually work on our self-development to feel empowered to step up to greatness. We can only do that by overcoming our internal challenges and regaining confidence in our skills and capabilities. After this training, you will walk away with a greater understanding of how to: • Assess your current self-leadership tendencies, and gain self-awareness of potential areas for growth. • Identify fundamental behavioral changes that will increase your impact as a leader and individual. • Feel empowered to make small changes and increase ownership and accountability for personal development. You'll be inspired to take the first step into creating the success you deserve.
Gina Martin is a Self-Leadership expert, Life and Leadership Coach, Mental Fitness Advocate, Entrepreneur, Mother, and Breast Cancer survivor. Gina's Self-Leadership journey started when she became a single mother and immigrated to the US before turning 18. As an entrepreneur, she built two direct sales businesses where she drove record-breaking sales and received national recognition and multiple awards. Her passion for sales, love for people, and personal development led her to start her Retail Leadership journey, where she trained, promoted, and impacted hundreds of individuals over a twenty-year career. She has led cross-functional teams of up to 600 people for prestigious brands such as Victoria's Secret, GUESS, Inc., and Gap. Her mission is to help her clients discover and develop their self-leadership skills, unlock what's keeping them from achieving the success they deserve, and inspire them to take massive action toward creating the lifestyle they've always dreamed of.

https://www.ginamartin.coach/

Power Of Vision- 3 Keys to Master Your Results

As the traditional roles for women have changed , women have the desire to impact, inspire, connect, grow, rise and shine brightly . Despite all the personal growth work, women still sense a barrier in both their professional and personal lives and just can’t seem to breakthrough or feel overwhelmed about how to get started. Whether women looking to My seminar addresses the 3 keys to mastering results. 1. Create a Vision. Have a greater clarity on goals 2. Breakthrough the inner glass ceiling. It identifies the core belief of self and the old stories that have been keeping women from showing up in both personal and work life. 3. Befriend with your fears. Participants will discover how to shatter the invisible barrier that blocking their brilliant from fully realizing their greatness, releasing limiting beliefs that hold them back which are the root cause of self doubt, procrastinating, feeling invisible, isolated or not good enough. They will also be given practical tools to overcome fears that stop them from moving forward and shine their light. At the end of the speaking, the participants will be feeling even more confident in their ability to achieve those goals and dreams.
Si Liew is a transformational coach, author of two books, holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree specialized in Occupational Health Nursing, Master of Business in Administration, and founder of The Vision of the Future Program. Healthcare. She has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas and enforcement law. She acts as a medical subject matter expert to these corporation Executive Team and leads the employee health and safety programs. She develops corporate health a wellness programs and works directly with employees through training, mentoring with the objective of achieving healthy workplace. Si inspires people on stage, offers workshops as well as transformational in-depth coaching programs committed to help clients achieve new heights of success, fulfillment, and spiritual aliveness.

www.siliew.com

What You Fear Will Set You Free: The Secret to Finding Your Voice and Living Your Most Courageous Life

What are your biggest fears? If speaking is one of them you are not alone. 
Fear by definition is what we are scared of. But what if the very thing you are afraid of, sharing your voice, holds the keys to unlock your true passion and purpose? What if instead of telling yourself you must break free from and overcome that fear, instead you learned how to run towards it. In this presentation participants will dive in deep with identifying their speaking fears and learn how to use them as a way to align with their truest selves and most authentic story. They will learn strategies to begin to lean into their fears with a calm confidence while courageously pursuing their most sacred goals. This presentation will be interactive, slide-free and provide clear action steps for the participants to begin using immediately.
Having grown up with a severe stutter, paralyzing public speaking fear and social anxiety, Laura Reid, M.Ed., is an unlikely International Keynote Speaker, Public Speaking Coach and Stand-Up Comic. But that’s what makes her uniquely aligned to help others overcome their fear, find their voice, and tell impactful stories. An expert in storytelling, Laura has received numerous awards for her presentations and won several speaking competitions. She lives somewhere over the rainbow on the Big Island of Hawaii where she is working on her next books.

www.thespeechslayer.com

How Spirituality empowers women leaders

The presentation addresses the question of whether women are as capable as men in the field of Spirituality and leadership, considering many authorities favor men over women for higher positions. Our research has shown that both men and women are equally capable to grow spiritually. And spiritual growth is synonymous with the stability of mind, care for others, and a greater proportion of qualities such as courage, humility, enthusiasm, positive thinking, etc., all of which are required in a leader. The presentation will also address the obstacles men and women face and how they can overcome those with the help of Spirituality. The research has been conducted using aura and energy scanners along with advanced sixth sense of the spiritual research team members.
Mrs Shweta Clarke is the Project Coordinator for the Spiritual Research Team, and a key member of the Conference team at the Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay (also known as the Maharshi University of Spirituality), Goa, India. She has over 5 years of experience as a spiritual instructor at the 5-Day Spiritual Workshops conducted by the university. It has been attended by students from more than 45 countries. She has also travelled extensively in the Asia-Pacific Region (Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia) conducting Spiritual Workshops. During this period, she has nurtured many youths and has helped them advance in their spiritual journey. She is also a part of the editorial team for the Spiritual Science Research Foundation website (ssrf.org) which is a world leading spiritual research website with over 60 million views.

www.ssrf.org

Inclusive Leadership - A Shift in Mindset

Despite recent initiatives and targeted recruitment strategies, the proportion of women in leadership positions in the U.S. is just 40% despite women representing nearly 50% of the workforce (Catalyst, 2020). Moreover, according to UN Women as of 19 September 2022, there are 28 countries where 30 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government. This suggests that a shift in mindset is needed to create more inclusive cultures that examine their organizations to ensure they have equal opportunities and empower women to pursue leadership positions. This research examines inclusive leadership, how it compares to traditional leadership models, and why it is critical in today’s global environment and society at large. Inclusive leadership is a style of leadership which encompasses a range of traits that leaders rely on to seek out and embrace differing perspectives to support effective decision-making, find diverse talent and collaborate with colleagues to motivate and drive teams toward individual and shared success. If the worldview and mindset of leaders can change, they will be able harness the value and power of inclusion and diversity to positively impact women and society at large.
Elena Einstein, Ed.D., is a Director, Contracts and Grant at Universities Space Research Association (USRA), where she leads the contracts and grants function with NASA as its’ primary customer. Previously, she was Senior Contracts Manager at L3Harris Technologies and has 11 years of experience with The Boeing Company in satellites and space launch programs. She is also an adjunct faculty at University of La Verne teaching Diversity Management and Gender and Culture in the undergraduate and master’s program. Dr. Einstein holds a doctorate from Pepperdine University, a MSLM from University of La Verne and a BS from Cal Poly Pomona. She has recently co-authored a book on Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration and is a member of the Work-Life Integration Project. As founder of The Einstein Group, she provides business consulting in global leadership, change management, and supports advocacy projects to help improve the lives of women and minorities.

theeinsteingroup.net

The Time is Now: The Case for Women Starting, Scaling, and Investing in Businesses on a Global Level

As the global economy continues to feel the trailing impacts of the pandemic and concerns of a recession are top of mind one must be aware that there is a need for local, national, and global communities to focus on the economy. Startups consistently have had a beneficial impact and influence on their country's economic performance. Startup growth raises the material well-being of society, improves standards of living, and is the primary source of long-term economic prosperity. Women-led startups have been shown to outperform those led by men by being more flexible, solution-focused, profitable, safe, socially responsible, and by providing a higher customer experience. Despite this, women-led businesses face a disproportionate amount of obstacles in receiving funding and scaling. This talk is a call to action for 1) citizens and governments to fight for policies that will support women to start and scale businesses; 2) investors to prioritize investments into women-led startups; and 3) women to start and scale businesses.
Kerry-Ann is a global business strategist, speaker and champion of small and medium sized businesses. She has over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial she launched her strategic business and consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies.  She and her team advise business owners from various industries and countries on creating the strategies, systems, and mindsets to thrive in business and in life. Over the years, Kerry-Ann’s expertise and speaking have been sought after by international brands, organizations, and institutions, such as Working Women’s Magazine, Dallas Leadership Foundation, CIEE, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mogul and Philanthropist Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and more. When not speaking, running her business and working with her clients, Kerry-Ann can be found traveling, practicing her Spanish, and enjoying a good meal with good people.

www.trafalgarstrategies.co

Employee Perceptions of Empowerment from Leaders in Remote Work Environments amid COVID-19

Due to social distancing mandates, many organizations rapidly transitioned employees to remote or work from home. Employees and leaders forced to work in a virtual environment had to adjust their communication, management, and leadership methods. Empowered employees and effective leadership within an organization may lead to improved performance for the employee and the organization. By understanding employee perceptions of empowerment from leaders and the organization amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we aim to identify recommendations for ways leaders can promote empowerment.
Shaniece L. Parker is a Ph.D. student of Organizational Leadership and Development at Indiana Wesleyan University. In her role with a nonprofit healthcare organization, she leads an international team in supporting patient services. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with the Metroparks and local food banks. Her areas of research interest are women in leadership and empowerment in organizations.

Retrogressive cultural practices on women and LEC’s effort in empowering women in Busia county, Kenya

The project is effectively addressing retrogressive cultural practices on women and girls in the County of Busia with the objective of preventing and responding to retrogressive cultural practices through awareness creation and strengthening existing child protection systems and structures especially on girls. Statistically, Busia county has a population of 893,653 people (426,252 female and 467,401 male) out of this 48% constitute children. This is according to the Kenya National Bureau of statistics. Due to the high level of primitivity in the region, girls are married off at a very tender age and for exchange of cows as bride price. The rate of HIV infection has risen over the 2 years due to wife inheritance after the passing on of the husband. As a woman, you don't have the right to make a decision on your own. Girl child is never given priority for school. It has been a norm in the region for a widow to sleep with the dead husband in the same house as a symbol of loyalty. Women are forced to shave their beautiful hair once the husband dies among many other. We are hoping and looking forward to partnering with stakeholders to end and discourage retrogressive practices in our community.
My name is Leah Nyalobo from Kenya. I am the founder of LEC Community Organization. I have a background in community development and Social work. I studied Women Leadership at Aga Khan University Kenya and currently perusing my bachelor Degree in gender and development studies at the University of Nairobi (Kenya) I believe in society where women, girls and children are empowered for access to equal opportunities in the society. As a result, LEC COMMUNITY ORGANIZATON focuses on projects that enhances women’s and girls spaces in the community. Through my leadership at LEC as the Executive Director, we have implemented various projects including-; -Women economic empowerment project that target equal vulnerable women from the slum of Mathare and rural area of Busia with life skills including business skills that enhances their economic capacities to be able to meet their needs and those of their children. -Education sponsorship programmes for girls that has enhanced vulnerable girls from the slums of Mathare and the rural area of Busia with educational opportunities to enable them achieve their career dreams.

www.legacyeducation.co.ke

How to Find Freedom in an Unfree World?

To live free and happily, you must sacrifice boredom.
It is not always an easy sacrifice. ~ Richard Bach

During the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, some people were worried, others were in a panic, and others did not see any reason to worry. Moreover, in moments of global upheaval, people behave differently. Stress, depressive disorders, mysophobia, anxiety, insomnia, emotional instability, post-traumatic syndrome, fear of death and a lot more imbalanced the life of each of us during the outbreak. But why do we usually focus on the negative aspects of such situations instead of full acceptance that we can’t change, and finding a way to keep life going in these unstable times? Why do we focus on the end instead of the beginning? Why do we hope and wait for someone’s help instead of cultivating resilience, optimism, and the desire to be? In one word, how can we find freedom in an unfree world?
My name is Alexandra. I am a certified coach ICF, mediator, and inspirational speaker. In one word, as a life and business coach, I am an opportunity for every person, who wants to get rid of his limitations and go beyond his consciousness, explore the corners of the subconscious, and achieve a state of balance, harmony, calmness, and confidence that only moves a person forward to his success. As a mediator, I help people who cannot understand each other and find common ground and interests to resolve their conflicts in a win-win resolution. And as a speaker, I share with you interesting and useful content about the fundamental factors of human relations, fears, anxiety, uncertainty, personal and professional growth, and transformations that happen during coaching sessions at every step of the client's movement to himself. 

Mind Your Ps and Qs

Mind your Ps and Qs is an English language expression meaning "mind your language" and “be on your best behaviour" so it felt like an appropriate title for my next talk. IQ, EQ, PQ- so many Qs, which one is more important to focus on? This session will share an overview of all the quotients and the differences between them. At the end of the day, we want you conquering your saboteurs and leaning into your sage to inspire and influence others through your authentic leadership style.
Sandy is passionate about helping executives and known for challenging the status quo. She saw executive coaching as the perfect opportunity to give back the expertise and operational insights she learned in corporate America while allowing her to spend more time blending family and wellness into her life. As owner and CEO of Altitude Executive Coaching, Sandy will help you build a culture of belonging and mutual respect in the workplace. Sandy graduated from Johns Hopkins University with an MBA in International Business. She spent her career working in program management within many male-saturated industries, including nuclear power and telecommunications. She sits on several non-profit Advisory Boards, including 4Word and Tomorrow People Organization. She has traveled the world to share her passion for leading with emotional intelligence on stages across the U.S., Canada, and Southeast Asia. She is also an international Tedx speaker coach and has helped 20+ people to land on the big red dot in both the US and Italy. Sandy resides in Colorado with her husband of 25 years. In her “blended” time, she loves to hike, do hot yoga and attend bible study. In 2022, her and her husband began learning Goju-Ryu karate together from their son’s Sensei.

altitude-exec.com

Craftivism : A disruptive force for positive change

As a multicultural woman of influence, Najla adds value to individuals and organisations as she has an insider's perspective of lifelong learning, has lived experiences of individualism and collectivism and understands the importance of leadership. Najla's past roles reflect her leadership success yet nothing could have prepared Najla for the role of caregiver. Why do we assume high profile women - leaders, executives or visionaries - have the resources to handle any situation? Najla claims care-giving is an energy game. “It can rob you emotionally, physically and socially.” In 2022, SPHERE received support from Black Dog Institute and UTS Centre for Carers Research to conduct a qualitative research study with carers for a “Stitch it for Dementia” project. Using the materials of needle, thread and fabric, the participants, all leaders in their own right, conveyed their experiences of grief, isolation, pain and hardship in cloth. The process of making and stitching was not only nourishing, but it was also transformational and inspired personal growth. Najla’s artwork, a majestic diamond, represents the outcome of self-exploration. Not only can self-exploration save people emotionally, diffusing burn-out and helplessness, self-exploration can re-enable women to value themselves, their experiences and self-worth.
Najla Turk (pronounced ‘Nudge-la’) is a bi-cultural woman of global influence. As an international speaker, trainer, coach and advocate for lifelong learning and personal growth, Najla works tirelessly to build individual capacity and resilience, resulting in positive engagement and improved personal and professional performance. Najla is a member of the Global Leadership Academy, global Life Skills Ambassador, advisor on cultural and linguistic diversity issues and strong advocate for care givers and people living with disability. Equipped with formal qualifications, decades of lived experience of stakeholder engagement, training expertise and an author of published articles and the book, The Art of Diversity: How to gain competitive advantage through Engagement, Najla is unique. Najla has an ‘out-of-the-box’ perspective on life and is able to ignite human connection and enrich our human resources in the workplace, community and life in a simple and matter-of-fact way. Najla creatively uses her difference to make a difference.

www.najlaturk.com

Illuminate Leadership:
​Going from rock-star individual contributor to results-driven, people-focused manager

Congratulations you are a new manager. You worked so hard to get here, but guess what, everything is different now. All the skills that helped you get to this point aren’t going to be what you need to grow from here. Using real life stories from Karen’s years activating new managers to be future c-suite leaders, we will put a spotlight on what it takes to become the results-driven, people-focused leader that your team needs you to be. You will walk away understanding WHAT type of manager you want to be, WHY that is important not just to the team but to the business and HOW to become that manager.
Karen’s purpose is helping organizations build amazing cultures while guiding individuals to find fulfillment in their careers and their lives. Currently, she’s the Chief People Officer at Ordergroove and the CEO/ Chief Career Coach at KDW Coaching. Karen is an award-winning people & culture advisor, career coach, speaker, published author, and podcast host. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and furry babies.

www.karendweeks.com

Being the Source of Change 

Being a disruptor in anything has its challenges and its blessings.

Though this presentation I will take you on how to tap into that source, understand how to use your skills and create change, that is sustainable, authentic and more.

Thinking you can
Saying you can
and
DOING
are very different things, only the later. is really the one that makes change happen.
My name is Lynn Howard. As an Entrepreneurial Development Strategist. I work with global companies, entrepreneurs, and leaders on how to get out of their own way and get shit done, while building foundations to grow with.
I have been an Entrepreneur for about 25 years now, bootstrapped, started and sold multiple business across three continents. Worked with thousands of global entrepreneurs, either as a coach and consult or trainer.
I have always been a change agent, thought leader and doer to create and inspire change, growth and learning around me.
Best selling author, podcaster and more! The Pursuit of Badasserie (book, podcast and YouTube name)
I LOVE what I do and am damn good at it.

lynnahoward.com 

Eco-friendly comparison that benefits you

Eco-friendly comparison that benefits you

1. Comparison as a vital human function
2. In what ways can comparison be harmful?
3. How can comparison be transformed into a helpful tool?

Objective
I want women to see both sides of comparison and learn how to use it to their advantage, rather than allowing it to hold them back. Comparison can be a valuable tool in achieving success, if approached in the right way
My name is Yana Seiz, I’m a certified ICF personal growth coach , founder of Miracles Mechanics, co-founder of crypto project Minebase. I see myself as a global leader with a mission to expand the boundaries of perception and empower people to realize their potential, values, and unique place in the world. This means becoming the architect of one's own life, taking responsibility for what happens within it, and building inner support by embracing who we are and accepting the duality of the world.

Examining the Impact of Religion in Deciding Women’s Leadership Positions in Nigeria

This paper examined how the main religions in Nigeria view women in leadership positions. It considered the influence that these beliefs have on the leadership styles of women. Also, various factors that prevented women from occupying key positions thereby limiting their leadership roles to supportive roles were considered. In practical terms, this paper provided several examples that demonstrate the leadership abilities of women, giving them more confidence to strive for prominent leadership roles in their communities. Finally, extolling these skills, can lessen the perception that women are inferior to their male counterparts in the religious sphere and endorse active participation of women in leadership positions.
Nneka is an Instructional Management and Leadership PhD candidate who has land administration experience in the Maritime sector for over 20 years. Expertise in land management, leasing, property management, project management, office administration, supply and government procurement, and jetty supervision. Also, knowledgeable in grant writing.

Textualizing and theorizing Black women in Leadership positions in Canadian Academic Institutions

The purpose of the research was focus on the marginal representation of Black women in leadership positions in the academy. The study examined the challenges the women faced, the impact on them and their coping mechanism. The presentation will emphasis the notion that leadership is not about managing things but developing people. I will textualize how many of the women interviewed focus on developing people and not managing these. They did this despite the many challenges they faced they carried out their duties. In addition, I will theorize how the women turn to their inner strength, spirituality and community almost on a day-to-day basis. This presentation is situated in inclusive social justice leadership framework and Black Canadian feminist theories.
Dr Njoki Wane, a professor at the University of Toronto, is currently serving as Chair in the Department of Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). An accomplished educator, researcher and educational leader, Professor Wane headed the Office of Teaching Support at OISE from 2009 to 2012 establishing its priorities and activities while recognizing equity as a central dimension of good teaching. From 2011 to 2014, Professor Wane served as Special Advisor on Status of Women Issues, contributing to research and policy development concerning the intersectionality of gender with race, disability, sexual orientation and aboriginal status, and the impact of these issues on the lived experiences of women faculty, staff and students at the University of Toronto. From 2018-2021; she also served as the advisor the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity. She also served as Director, Center for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies (CIARS) at OISE from 2006 to 2014. An award-winning teacher, Professor Wane was the recipient of many awards, the most recent one being The President of Toronto Teaching Award. She is well published with her most recent book being: From my Mother’s Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada.

Women Lead With S.P.IC.E. - Authentically Leading & Excelling in Career and Business

Just imagine, you can show up to work and be your full authentic self without leaving a piece of who you are at the door to fit into corporate cultural norms. It has been reported that women suppress up to 65% of themselves daily in the workplace. And for women of color, even more astonishing, up to 90% of themselves. Born from personal and professional experience, Shayla moves women to overcome the plague of changing who they are (“codeswitching”) to survive and shift to thriving and disrupting cultural norms by Leading with S.P.I.C.E. Key Takeaways: • Shayla teaches women in leadership to shed the layers that keep them stagnant, make bold choices and begin leading with their Savvy, Performance, Image, Communication and Exposure as their competitive advantage. • She empowers and equips women to build intentional relationships, deliver results that matter, cultivate an authentic personal brand, position their authenticity as their differentiator and excel their career beyond middle management, by being themselves. • Through this compelling keynote, women are learning to develop key leadership skills, lead authentically to deliver results, and navigate the obstacles that comes with being unapologetic.
Shayla serves as CEO/Founder of The Atkins Impact, a global coaching and consulting firm that specializes in cultivating fair workplace cultures where individuals can thrive, without causing division. She is the creator the firm’s signature professional and leadership development program, Women Lead with S.P.I.C.E., which empowers, and equips women in leadership to lead authentically, build an authentic personal brand and develop key leadership skills to deliver impactful results. Shayla Atkins is a highly sought-after speaker leveraging 20 years of experience as a HR leader, with extensive leadership expertise which has earned her invitations to speak on some of the largest stages. Shayla is a visionary who has been recognized with numerous certifications and awards, including the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award and being featured in on over 100 prominent media platforms such as the CW, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and USA Today and in leading talk shows, podcasts, and magazines.

www.theatkinsimpact.com

Women Empowerment and its Effect on Community Development
​in Marginalized Communities in Kenya

Women empowerment means that women are free to make and own their choices. They are bound by conforming to what society, customs, protocol or individuals feel but driven by what each woman defines for herself at every stage of her life.
It could range from a young girl wearing what she wants to choosing a career, irrespective of ‘suitable for women or not.’ Or the choices a woman makes in her whatever age bracket to lead her life.
Empowering women in areas like Maasai land in Kenya is what drives many enlightened women. Many rights granted to women in the 2010 Kenyan Constitution are not known or respected in pastoralist communities.
Cultural taboos prevent women from owning land, denying them freedom of mobility and the opportunity to cultivate land for food or business. Abuse, physical, verbal and emotional, is generally accepted within the pastoralist community.
In many communities, women admit that they do not know that they are being “abused,” and that they think this is a normal way for women to be treated.
I am a team player, committed to customer care service with a long track record of working in various Ministries in several administrative roles coupled with good skills in people management and ability to work with minimal supervision. I have skills and ability to communicate confidently at all levels and a highly organized approach with a lot of initiative and a desire to contribute to the success of the organization. Able to deliver high quality personal service to both junior and senior colleagues in the organization. I have a strong background in general administration with experience of working with the government, in offices which have a customer focused delivery agenda.

Academic Qualifications
2018 - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology – PhD in Leadership and Governance (HR) – class work done; on-going thesis
2012 - 2016 Daystar University – Master of Business Administration Degree
in Human Resource Management
2009 - 2012 Kenya Methodist University – Bachelor of Business
Administration Degree in Human Resource Management
2006 – 2009 Kenya Institute of Management – Diploma in Human
Resource Management

Purpose & Resilience: The Real PR to Success

With all the gurus selling success in a bottle and influencers making the journey look effortless, it’s no wonder that many people feel that they don’t have what it takes to pursue their dreams-whether it’s starting a business or advancing in their career. Here’s the thing that no one tells you: success looks different for everyone. But ALL success stories have two things in common: PR-purpose and resilience. This talk will help you to tell Fear to hush and have a seat as you leave mediocrity behind. Use the four-step framework to get the right I.D.E.A to be your version of success. Discover your purpose and learn resilience. Participants will be empowered, exhilarated, and learn a 4-step framework for success.
Vakassia J. Niles ("V.J."), MBA is a Career Strategist and Founder of The Niles Group, a company dedicating to helping individuals take their ultimate career leap. V.J. holds 2 Bachelor degrees and an MBA and utilizes her vast knowledge from working in four industries to arm professionals with essential tools and strategies to develop their careers and increase their visibility. V.J. has over 20 years of experience in corporate and academia providing presentations and trainings. She understands how to climb the corporate ladder, transition a career, and build professional brands. VJ is a contributing author to "Just Me: The Business Woman's Personal Branding Guide". She speaks frequently on career development, employee engagement, sponsorship, career pivots and DEI while motivating audiences. Her past speaking engagements include Tesla, GlaxoSmithKline, Panasonic, DisruptHR NYC, Centene, Enersys, and National Black MBA Association.

“What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?” And Why That is the Wrong Question

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” From an early age, you were probably asked this question. In fact, many of us are still asking ourselves this question far into our adult years. The problem with this question is that we are encouraged to adopt a narrow, one-dimensional approach as we grow up. We are told to follow the path and climb the ladder. It’s never too late, whatever in your stage in life, to reframe this question.
Design Thinking begins with asking yourself the right questions. What is design thinking? Inspired by the pioneering work of Bill Burnett and Dave Evans from Stanford University, my presentation will introduce the application of the design process and mindsets to your life. Burnett and Evans explain design thinking like this, “Designers don’t think their way forward, they build their way forward”.
Since the first home computers were released into the market in 1977, there have been thousands of design changes. Do you remember your first computer? Whatever technologies you are using today have undergone radical changes—and there were many different versions along the way. The same design methodology that is routinely used to solve “wicked problems” (or problems that are resistant to resolution) and drive incredible product transformation can be applied to all aspects of your life. What if the innovations that are applied to technology were applied to your life? Afterall, what is a more interesting, important, or personal design “problem” than your own life?
​In this presentation, attendees will take a deeper dive into the design thinking mindsets and how to put them into practice. They will learn how to think like a designer. They will gain an understanding of the framework to help them build their way forward. Attendees will also explore the mindsets that form the basis for design thinking. Together, we will retire and replace the age old question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”