Women's Leadership Summit (WLS)

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2027 Women's Leadership Summit (WLS)

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Date: Saturday, February 27, 2027

 

The RIT Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) is hosted by the Leadership Academy at Saunders. Our mission is to inspire, connect, and educate women and allies to become the leaders of tomorrow. We focus on driving leadership excellence in all industries, including arts, sciences, and technology.

Directions

Women's Leadership Summit will be held in Saunders College of Business, on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology.

Parking

Please park in Parking Lot S

Download Campus Maps: Interactive Campus Map.

Map/Directions

RIT’s campus is conveniently located five miles from the Greater Rochester International Airport and the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90).

From the Airport
Turn right onto Brooks Avenue, then right onto Interstate 390 South. From 390, take the Scottsville Road exit and turn right. Drive for approximately three miles, then turn left onto Jefferson Road. Travel east for approximately one-half mile to the campus.

From Interstate 90
Take exit 46 and proceed north on Interstate 390 to exit 13 (Hylan Drive). Turn left on Hylan and continue north to Jefferson Road. Turn left on Jefferson and proceed west for approximately two miles to the campus.

Address for GPS
Parking Lot D, Reynolds Dr, Rochester, NY 14623

Sponsors

Please view sponsorship opportunities, to become an event sponsor.

 

Past Events

Saunders College of Business was thrilled to celebrate the 4th annual Women's Leadership Weekend! The Leadership Academy at Saunders was pleased to host the 6th annual Women's Leadership Summit as part of Saunders College of Business's Women's Leadership Weekend, centered around Inclusion & Empowerment. The conference included a keynote presentation from RIT alumna Becky Yaeger BS '18 (New Media Design), lead product designer at The Walt Disney Company, where she leads ESPN’s Watch Pillar.

RIT Leadership Panel

  • Roynda Hartsfield-Nac - CIO of Obie & Ax Inc., leading technology for the largest North American podcast production firm serving corporations and government
  • Alethia Jimenez - Senior Advisor for the United Nations
  • Dinah Weisberg - CEO and President of REDCOM Laboratories, Inc.

Presenters

  • Pamela Conley - Associate Professor at RIT/NTID, with over 30 years of teaching in higher education, including writing to deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and deaf literature to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students
  • Linda Kerrigan - MBA '03 - Associate Director, R&D Agile Sourcing at Bristol Myers Squibb and has over twenty years experience in pharmaceutical drug development covering both Clinical Trial Sourcing and Research
  • Carline Vargas-Gonzalez - RIT alumna, an active member of Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., and a licensed esthetician and massage therapist. She is the founder of Euphoric Transcendence and brings over a decade of experience as a spa professional and educator
  • Aurelkys Estevez - Academic Coordinator at the National School of the Public Ministry (IES-ENMP) in the Dominican Republic and a professor at Universidad Católica Santo Domingo (UCSD)
  • Paula Yandow-Reilly - Lead Developer at Frontier communications. She has been a manager and a lead developer for multiple organizations, including banking, higher education, and telecommunications
  • Keri Jobson - Director of Operations and Maintenance at Boldt Castle and Yacht House in Alexandria Bay, New York, on the St. Lawrence River, where she is employed by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority
  • Kathleen Neville - Global authority on reputation management, gender equality and conduct in the workplace, schools and sports. For the past 15 years Kathleen has served as senior advisor to the National Football League’s EVP of football operations to help address major social issues including sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, gender equality and the advancement of women in sports including Flag Football for women.
  • Shaneek Williams - PMP, ACP, CSM, is a certified delivery leader, strategist, and founder of PMPro Connect, a consulting firm specializing in operations and strategy execution for mission-driven organizations

Seminar Speakers

  • Kristi Mitchell - Founder and Strategist at Marketing Uncomplicated, where she partners with business owners to build actionable, data-driven marketing roadmaps that prioritize growth without compromising authenticity
  • Sue MS '01 (Environmental Health and Safety Management) & Helen BS '98 (Enviromental Management and Technology), MBA '05 - Sue’s career has spanned 30 years, in both the private and public sector.  Sue has spent time in a variety of industrial settings from copier manufacturing to the packaging industry to consulting, where she provided industrial hygiene, consulting and training support for 100s of companies. For 30 years Helen has supported environmental, health and safety in many industries, from manufacturing to distribution and even academia at her beloved alma mater. Currently, she works in biotechnology, as the Director, Environment, Sustainability, Health and Safety at Emergent BioSolutions
  • Stephanie & Tomicka - Our mission at Beyond Boundaries is to share best practices and innovative approaches with thoughtfulness, empathy and care for organizational and transformational change. With over 25 years combined experience in  training, leadership and grant writing, Beyond Boundaries guides you through change and transformation
  • Sherry Dadgar - Board-certified Clinical Molecular Geneticist and Founder and CEO of Personalized Medicine Care Diagnostics (PMC™)

View the 2026 photo gallery

Saunders College of Business was ecstatic to celebrate the 3rd annual Women's Leadership Weekend! The Leadership Academy at Saunders was pleased to host the 5th annual Women's Leadership Summit as part of Saunders College of Business's Women's Leadership Weekend, centered around Inclusion & Empowerment. The conference included a keynote presentation from RIT alumna Kim B. Miller BS '85 (business administration), Award Winning Spoken Word Poet, Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Host, PWC VA Poet Laureate Emerita, Author, Haikuist. 

RIT Alumnae Leadership Panel

  • Kendra Evans - Director of the Spectrum Support Program and the Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative (NHI) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
  • Melissa Murphy - '12 (graphic design, communications, and fine art) - Senior Creative Director at NVE Experience Agency
  • Jackie Nicholson -  Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at RIT
  • Elizabeth Stone - Associate Ombuds for the Department of State

Presenters

  • Sammy Boyd & Amy Sadler - Sammy is a Copywriter who develops written content across social media, email campaigns, websites, and more to resonate with diverse audiences. Amy is the Creative Services Lead, Production at the digital marketing agency, Helen + Gertrude
  • Garland Nichols - Vice President of the Optical Systems Business Line at IDEX Health & Science, she leads teams to deliver critical optical components for life-saving instruments in the life sciences sector
  • Maggie Dempsey - '22 (MIS), MBA '24 - Portfolio Management Analyst at Mattel, Inc.
  • Merrill DiPonzio - Human Resources Assistant in Talent Development at RIT
  • Terri Monsees - Passionate advocate and champion for neurodiversity, dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments where all minds can thrive.

  • Kelly DeFranco - CEO of the Gates Chili Federal Credit Union

Seminar Speakers

  • Breeann Wilson - Founder of Pure Podiatry of WNY, PLLC
  • Amanda Jackson-Scott - '09 (EMBA) - global productivity program manager at Praxair Inc., adjunct faculty member at SUNY Brockport in Business Administration and Economics
  • Christina Gullo - Co-owner & Partner of True North Executive Solutions, LLC

  • Ruth Starr - Interdisciplinary program manager who has worked with many museums and government organizations including the Smithsonian, MoMA, NASA, and NSF

View the 2025 photo gallery

Saunders College of Business was ecstatic to celebrate the 2nd annual Women's Leadership Weekend! The Leadership Academy at Saunders was pleased to host the 4th annual Women's Leadership Summit as part of Saunders College of Business's Women's Leadership Weekend, centered around "Owning Your Voice" The conference included a keynote presentation from RIT alumna Erin Sarofsky BFA '98 (graphic design), MFA '00 (computer graphic design), Executive Creative Director and Owner of Sarofsky Corporation

RIT Alumnae Leadership Panel

  • Jernee Bramble '00 (biology) - Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Professional Development at Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.
  • Ushi Patel '00 (graphic communications), MBA ’01 - Founder and CEO at USHI
  • Amy Stornello 96' (criminal justice) - NTID Deputy Title IX Coordinator at RIT
  • Stacey Wronkowski 03' (management info systems) – Vice President of Digital Technology at United Airlines

Ted Talks Speakers 

  • Laura Hild '00 (mechanical engineering) - Director of Global Technical Support at Cambridge Mobile Telematics
  • Ann-Katherine Candelori '22 (MIS) - Engineering Product Management Specialist at Cisco Systems, Inc.
  • Claire Candelori '20 (industrial engineering), '21 (MBA) - Process Improvement Analyst at Navy Federal Credit Union
  • Peggy Tirrell '95 (human resource management) - Senior Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs at RIT Saunders College of Business

Seminar Speakers

  • Linda Kerrigan ’02 (biotechnology), MBA ’03 - Associate Director, Sourcing Excellence at Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Rawan Alsukairi '17 (biomedical science and diagnostic medical sonographer) - ARDMS sonographer double boarded in Abdomen and OB/GYN specialties

Workshops

  • Trisch Axsmith Tavolette ’93 (photo process & finish mg), MS ’95 (instructional technology), ACT ’08 (project management) – Team Lead, Technical Publications/Training at Alstom Transport
  • Bethany Collins '04 (MIS) - Senior Director, Global Information Technology and Data Protection Officer at Oceana
  • Ashley Mason - Senior Communication Specialist at Helen & Gertrude 
  • Becca Post '09 (new media design and imaging, communication) - Founder & CEO at Helen & Gertrude

View the 2024 photo gallery

The Leadership Academy at Saunders was pleased to host the 3rd annual Women's Leadership Summit as part of Saunders College of Business's 1st annual Women's Leadership Weekend, centered around "Be the Future YOU Want." The conference included a keynote presentation from RIT alumna JoAnne Ryan MS '04, President & CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities. 

RIT Alumnae Leadership Panel

 

  • Chitra Sivanandam '98 (imaging science) - Chief Technology Officer at Rohirrim
  • Rebecca Brubaker '93 (newspaper operations management) - Vice President of Manufacturing | Operations at Power Drives Inc.
  • Elizabeth Del Valle '10 (international business) - Global Creator Marketing at YouTube
  • Danielle Walters '12 (electrical engineering) - Principle Electronic Engineer at MKS Instruments
  • Elizabeth Kiehner '22 (EMBA) - Chief Growth Officer at Nortal 
  • Ebony Watson '04 (applied computer technology) - Software Engineering Project Manager at Apple

TED Talks:

  • Janine Susz '92 (graphic design) - Instructor of Graphic Design at Bryant & Stratton College 
  • Krista Vardabash '12 (EMBA) - Business Development Manager, Executive Education at RIT Saunders College of Business
  • Karen Putz - 16X Author, International Speaker, Midlife (and Beyond) Life Coach
  • Crystal Gallagher '20 (EMBA) - Corporate Manager of Organizational Development at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Seminars:

  • Angelica Pilato '64 (food administration) - Public Speaker and Author of Angel's Truck Stop (a Memoir) A Woman's Love, Laughter, and Loss during the Vietnam War
  • Kristen Jones Seymour '05 (biotechnology)

Workshops:

  • Jennifer Gress - Professional Speaker. Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga Teacher. Former CPA. Optimist.
  • Jean Ellefson '98 (applied statistics) - Assistant Professor Analytics, Jon and Mary Tabor Chair in Family Business and Entrepreneurship at Alfred University
  • Melissa Scrimo '90 (biotechnology) - President and Founder at Applied Intelligence Consulting 

View the 2023 photo gallery

 

The Leadership Academy at Saunders was pleased to host the 2nd annual Women's Leadership Summit, as they expanded their opportunities of offering interactive workshops, professional development seminars, RIT TED Talks, BE STEAM Challenge, and our most anticipated C-Suite Panel. The conference included a keynote presentation from RIT alumna Laurie E. Axelrod BS '86, co-founder and CEO of Wheelhouse Group Inc.

C-Suite Panelists

  • Erin Crowley-Ellis '08 (mechanical engineering) – Co-Founder and Managing Director of ATVentureCenter
  • Pooja Kapoor '04 (information technology)  - Managing Director of Google’s Corporate Strategy team
  • Rosa Lee Timm '00 (social work) – biracial deaf queer innovation artist known mostly for her YouTube ASL music videos, her work as a solo performer of The Rosa Lee Show, and as a lead actress in ASL Films’ feature film, Versa Effect
  • Sophie Schillaci '10 (advertising and public relations) –  seasoned entertainment journalist 
  • Sheri Watkins '04 (information technology) - transformational nonprofit and small business leader

TED Talks:

  • Anjeanette Agro '92 (graphic design) - Risk, Reward, and Roller Derby
  • Dawn Aprile '14 - Small Business Leadership: Opportunities to Lead Change within the Small Business Environment
  • Kimberlie Barrett '81 (marketing) - Path to Leadership & Success
  • Jessica Carnovale, RIT Saunders College of Business Adjunct Faculty - Women in Supply Chain Management (WiSCM)
  • Lindsay Connelly '11 (marketing), '18 (MBA) - "The First 3 Years" - The Top Digital Strategies and Key People to Build your Service Business. 
  • Jane Elliot '88 (accounting) - Actively Managing your Career through the Process of Goal Setting
  • Taylor Evans '15 (biomedical sciences) - How My Style Blog Made Me a Better Scientis
  • Crystal Gallagher '20 (MBA) - Change Management: How to Effectively Manage the People Side of Change and How to Best Communicate Change in the Workplace
  • Celia Garland '14 (glass and glass sculpture) - Leading through Storytelling - Parallel Passions & the Power of Public Speaking
  • Rachael Gootnick '09 - Building your Personal Brand
  • Kimberly Hill '09 (communication), MS '15 (media technology) - When Introverts and Extroverts Unite: A Story of Combined Leadership Growth
  • Tara M. LoCastro '96 (environmental management), '98 (MBA) - The Value of Authenticity and Values-Based Leadership
  • Christina Pierce '92 (hotel management), '96 (mechanical engineering), ME '11 (engineering management)  - Recruiting your own Personal Board of Directors
  • Mona Samaan-Ockenden '94 (civil engineering) - Joy of an Entrepreneur: Knowing when it's Time to Jump and Fly and Becoming Comfortable, Being Uncomfortable
  • Susan Stewart '98 (civil engineering technology) - Leadership Begins with You
  • Peggy Tirrell MS '95 (Career & Human Resource Development) - Powerlifting as Leadership
  • Lorena Valenzuela MS '12 (innovation management) - Turning Flames into Fuel

Fireside Chat:

  • Arina Kotlyarskaya '06 (graphic media) and Kara Burns - Leading Outside of your Expertise

Seminars:

Workshops:

  • Lindsay Connelly '11 (marketing, '18 (MBA), Michele Judkins '20 (new media marketing), and Elyse Mee '11 (new media marketing) - Workshop Title Marketing Essentials for Launching Your Business
  • Melissa Scrimo '90 - Create Your Own Destiny by Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

View the 2022 photo gallery