Ninth annual Women’s Leadership Conference held at A-State

Nearly 700 people attended the ninth annual Women’s Leadership Conference held recently at Arkansas State University. The Women’s Leadership Collaborative and Women’s Business Leadership Center (WBLC) hosted the event.

“Boldness is about what we do with it,” said keynote speaker Lenore Trammell, who serves as chief administration officer, chief compliance officer, and general counsel at Big River Steel.

Trammell told attendees about her history as well as what it means to her to “be bold,” which was the theme of the annual event.

“Other people are watching, and they are waiting for the impact that you are going to make,” Trammell said. “Boldness is not easy, but it is always worth it. What will your bold move be? Seek it out. Write it down. Share it with a friend. You need to know you can do it.”

Attendees were able to network and make personal and professional connections.

“I love being able to come together with women from different areas, from different businesses, and from different stages in life so that we can grow together,” said Tara Thomason, director of alumni engagement and outreach for the A-State Alumni Association.

Kennidi Ridgell, who has attended this conference each year, said she appreciated hearing from the various speakers and connecting with other women at the event.

“Every year I network with a new group of women, and I learn many valuable lessons every time I attend,” said Ridgell, program coordinator for Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care. “The important thing about someone attending a conference like this is coming with an open mind paying attention to the theme. I think this is the season for women and young girls to understand how important it is to be bold and how to be resilient and how to take chances, and I think this conference gave us that.”