2023 Women of Isenberg Conference

Keynote speaker Amy Shecter, UMass graduate and CEO of Ever/Body, kicked off the Women of Isenberg Conference’s 10th Birthday by recounting her first time taking a risk: During her time at UMass, she was accepted to an internship in London for the summer, but was not able to go. Stressed, confused, and frustrated, she decided to do something bold—after learning about an internship program in New York City with Bloomingdales that was completely full, she decided, “I am going to write a letter to the CEO.” Amy Shecter wrote a letter to the CEO of Bloomingdales detailing why they needed her in the program, and soon enough, she received a call from their office, and was off to New York City the next week. This risk set off a series of lessons and practices that have helped her on her journey to becoming a 4x CEO and president of various multimillion-dollar companies.

Shecter connected this story to the audience by reminding attendees to explain to employers why they need you. When asked what the key to her success is, Shecter shared her own personal motto, “You don’t know if you don’t try.” She encouraged attendees to get outside of their own fear, forget the stories in their head, and reminded them that “The person that you’re counting on is you. Who better to count on than yourself?” Shecter also spoke with attendees about establishing connections in the workplace, projecting a personal brand, and using personal experiences. She ended her keynote speech by reminding attendees of the importance of having a strong handshake. All attendees stood up, connected with the person next to them, and practiced their handshake to set them up for a day-long event of networking, panel discussions, workshops, and more.

This year’s conference focused on taking risks, building confidence, and navigating the workplace. During Panel Breakout Session A, Kokui Adesokan, Technical Project Manager at Bridgewater Associates, Carolyn Warger, Partner at Grant Thornton LLP, and Kavya Krishna, Founder of the Society of Women Coders, discussed how to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. When asked what keeps you motivated, Kokui Adesokan reminded attendees, “You are in competition with yourself.” She advised attendees to use their support systems, ask for help, and to follow their passions. Carolyn Warner also emphasized the importance of having a good support system, noting her experiences in the workplace with taking risks, and letting the audience know that “Not taking the risk at all is worse.” Kavya Krishna also discussed the risk she took by leaving her corporate job to start a non-profit organization that trains young girls from developing countries in digital literacy and coding. She told attendees to always follow their passions, even if they’re afraid.

The day continued with a career reception including sponsors like Wayfair, Raytheon Technologies, TJX, and more. Further panels included topics like Passion to Purpose, What to Do When Your Briefcase is Too Full, and Owning Your Voice. During the Owning Your Voice Panel, speakers Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director of MassEquality, Sabrina Victor, Columbia MFA Student and Miss Massachusetts USA 2020, Nicole Tessein, Audit Manager at RSM US LLP,  and Molly Silva, Naval Radars Finance Associate Director at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, gave attendees advice on how to develop the self-confidence to take risks, overcome imposter syndrome, and more. Victor shared the personal practices she uses to develop self-confidence, like practicing daily affirmations and superhero poses, and reminded attendees to “Never let someone’s ‘no’ stop you from creating your ‘yes.’ Be unapologetically you, don’t shrink yourself down, and remember that the things you do in this lifetime are going to influence the next generation for years to come.”

The Women of Isenberg event also held a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Panel led by Xiomara Alban DeLobato, Chief of Staff of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, Alaina Macaulay, Senior Director of Inclusion and Strategic Engagement for UMass, and Shantel Palacio, Educational Policy Analyst for the NYC Department of Education. This luncheon panel discussed how to be an empathetic leader, taught attendees the significance of DEI, and how representation and support is a key part of the workplace. Finally, the day ended with workshop breakout sessions where attendees practiced public speaking and learned about personal finance, entrepreneurship, and more. As the first in-person conference since 2020, the event sold out with 450+ attendees, making it one of the most successful conferences organized by the Women of Isenberg team, which was led by President Madison Hughes ’23, an accounting major.