The premier women's event of the Southeast.
The Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business kicks off on February 27, 2020 at Sterling Hall of Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District. Join us as we celebrate, elevate, share and connect with women from across South Carolina. Together, we embrace change and inspire a new generation of women to become leaders in their fields and industries.
2020 Woman of Courage Award Recipient
Nikki Haley
Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Created for women, by women.
Celebrate.
Women – and our supporters – have a lot to be proud of. In the past decade alone, women have made major strides in legislature, corporate America, academia and more. While we still have some work to do, we cannot let these accomplishments go unnoticed. At the Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business, our dynamic programming, impressive lineup of speakers and uplifting atmosphere will leave you asking, “what glass ceiling?”
Elevate.
Women have been breaking barriers and making their own rules for quite some time now. From boardrooms to classrooms across the globe and in all industries you can think of, women have (and will continue) to make a name for themselves. The fact of the matter is, we can only go up from here! At the Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business, attendees will learn strategies and acquire the necessary tools to advance in their personal and professional lives.
Share.
Learning who we are, what we want and what we are capable of is a lifelong process. Sharing insights with one another can make that process easier. Talking about our wins and lessons learned teaches us all about how to navigate challenges. It also lets us know what tokens of wisdom to pass down to the next generation of women. At the Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business, attendees will appreciate the act of sharing and what it does for women empowerment.
Connect.
Community is the perfect catalyst for social change because there is power in numbers. Fortunately, being a champion for women comes with a tribe of supporters. At the Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business, you can take the time to make meaningful connections that ignite and foster your personal and professional growth. The Summit will not be just a one-day initiative, but will be an ongoing support system and positive influence in the lives of its attendees.
Speakers
Hear inspiring stories from our lineup.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 27, 2020
From networking to inspiring speakers, you’ll be in for a day of valuable connections and insights. In between sessions, we invite you to visit our marketplace.
Have a light breakfast with coffee and make some connections while you visit the W4W Marketplace powered by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce!
Let’s get the day started!
Featuring:
Alan T. Shao, Ph.D., Dean, College of Charleston School of Business and Interim Vice President for Corporate Partnerships
Learn how this marketing guru became a tech powerhouse in the finance industry.
Featuring:
Cathy Bessant, Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Bank of America
Moderated by:
Kelly Wallace, Managing Director, TrailRunner International
Snag a drink, grab a snack, visit the Marketplace and meet someone new!
Have you ever stayed quiet in a meeting, shied away from asking for a raise or felt like your ideas weren’t being heard equally? We’ll share actionable strategies to shift your mindset, let go of self-doubt and realize your full potential. You’ll be empowered to speak with strength, lead with confidence and own your accomplishments in an assertive yet approachable way.
Facilitator:
Micky Kerwick, Lead Coach, Own the Room
Visit our wonderful vendors in the W4W Marketplace and reflect on the day thus far.
Enjoy lunch and hear from our award recipient.
Featuring:
Andrew T. Hsu, Ph.D., President, College of Charleston
Katarina Fjording, Head of Volvo Car University Americas at Volvo Car Group
Nikki Haley, Woman of Courage Award RecipientReenergize after an inspiring featured keynote speech!
This panel discussion is all about self-empowerment. Hear from women who have built a meaningful career by getting work done! We’ll cover how to put your thoughts into ACTION — and how to navigate the nay-sayers while you do it.
Moderator:
Stephanie Bryant, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Panelists:
Joan Amble, Chair Emeritus, W.O.M.E.N. In America
Gloria Larson, President (2007-18), Bentley University
Stephanie Sonnabend, Co-Founder, 2020 Women on Boards
Betrayal comes in many forms. In the corporate world, there are big lies, white lies, and lies of omission. In relationships, there are cheaters, two-faced lovers and friends, as well as out-and-out family fraudsters. The more trusting the relationship, the more devastating the betrayal. This workshop will focus on the critical warning signs of an impending betrayal, how to hold onto your power if betrayal occurs, and most importantly, the keys to bouncing forward into a brighter future.
Facilitator:
Elaine Eisenman, Ph.D., Managing Director, Saeje Advisors
Visit the Marketplace and talk with someone new about how they combat stress during busy days.
An open and frank discussion about courage and overcoming obstacles.
Moderator:
Joanna Lau, Founder, Lau Acquisition Corporation
Panelists:
Carrie A. Boan, The Brain Diva
Sarah Coleman-Lee, United States Air Force (Ret.), Broker Associate, Agent Owned Realty Co.
End the day feeling inspired and empowered. Try some of the new techniques you learned tomorrow in the workplace!
Featuring:
Joanna Lau, Founder, Lau Acquisition Corporation
Join us to share stories about your day, meet new people and enjoy the W4W Marketplace powered by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Attend
Join our girl pack.
Be our guest at the Women for Women Summit presented by the College of Charleston School of Business on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at Sterling Hall at Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District!
We are now sold out of tickets! If you’d like to be placed on our waitlist, please email W4W@cofc.edu.
Sponsors
Our biggest champions.
Interested in joining the crew? Learn how to become a sponsor.
Lisa Quadrini
In-Kind Sponsors
Helping W4W thrive.
Supporters
Marketplace
Powered by 
It’s no secret. Women have major purchasing power in this economy. Why not flex those spending muscles while supporting women-owned businesses at the W4W Summit?
The W4W Marketplace powered by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is a space dedicated to supporting women-owned-and-operated businesses. Selected vendors have the opportunity to sell their products during the 2020 Women for Women Summit hosted at Hyatt Place Charleston. All proceeds from the Marketplace go directly back into the pockets of the women who earned them.
