Agenda - June 13, 2024

7:30-8:15
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15-8:30
Welcome and Introductions
8:30-9:30

Morning Keynote - Leading through Change

Barb Vlacich , Vice President Global Sales Operations & Chief of Staff, UKG
Presented by UKG

As vice president of global sales operations and strategic programs at UKG, Barb Vlacich manages teams across the world. Her focus is on innovating the buying experience, from reimagining business processes to supporting customer interactions.

Vlacich joined Kronos Inc. in 2003, which merged with Ultimate Software in 2020 to form UKG, as director of human resources and payroll services, and was later promoted to the role of vice president of presales operations. Previously, she held leadership roles at such companies as Delphia Consulting and Sage Software (formerly Best Software).

Vlacich, who attended Rider University, has presented at the Massachusetts Conference for Women and at the annual conferences of the American Management Association and the American Payroll Association. She founded the Kronos Women's Leadership Forum in 2009. For nine years, she received the Kronos SVP MVP award for the global sales organization. She serves on the board of the United Teen Equality Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Barb Vlacich
9:30-9:40
Break
9:40-10:40
Concurrent Sessions 1
Presented by TESco Associates
Negotiate Now!
Location: Talon Club

Gender stereotypes can influence negotiations and their outcomes; therefore, negotiation skills are critical for women. Do you find yourself regretting inaction after a salary conversation? Did you leave a critical business negotiation feeling like you left money on the table? In this session, you will meet amazing panelists who will help you learn the skills needed to advocate for yourself or your business. From learning why preparation and making the first offer are important and using emotions to your favor to overcoming resistance, this session will leave you empowered to take on your next negotiation, whether it is a salary discussion, a new home or getting a seat at the table.

Speakers:
Moderator:
  • Karyn Puleo: Executive Director of Facilities Business Operations, Adjunct Faculty, UMass Lowell
The Hustle: How Four Female Founders Turned Passion into Profit
Location: Tsongas Lobby

What do fine jewelry, construction sites, mocktails and a lipstick-red kitchen island have in common? Come to this panel to find out. Four female founders will share how they each turned a passion into purpose—eventually supporting themselves in the process. Hear their stories and get practical advice on the most important skills and steps when it comes to starting, sustaining and growing a business.

Speakers:
  • Melissa Clayton: Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Tiny Tags
  • Rachel Dunham: Founder and Principal Designer, Rachel Dunham Design
  • Abbie Romanul: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Raising the Bar
  • Liseth Velez: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LJV Development
Moderator:
Thrive: Burnout Prevention and Recovery
Location: Arena Floor

In this interactive workshop, attendees will hear stories, see data-driven techniques and learn valuable tools to bring participants back to building a strong foundation that allows them to recalibrate their nervous system and thrive in their decision-making and their lives. Attendees will walk away equipped to take control of their current condition, whether recovering from or preventing burnout.

Speaker:
10:40-10:50
Break
10:50-11:40
Concurrent Sessions 2
Confidence: Validation is for Parking
Location: Arena Floor

Understanding what strengthens confidence, and what chips away at it, is key. Everyone wants to feel confident; there's a constant stream of experts telling us to BE confident. But nobody tells us HOW to build it. That changes now. This workshop will take you through the five key confidence derailers, create a deeper connection to knowing who you are and provide you with actionable tools that will have you leaving the room with expanded confidence!

Speaker:
  • Nicole Kalil: Host of the "This Is Woman's Work" podcast, author
Game Plan to Bottom Line: Lessons in Sports, Strategies in Business
Location: Tsongas Lobby

From the surge in popularity of women's basketball to the newly launched Professional Women's Hockey League, women's sports are booming. What does the growth mean for other industries? How are the skills developed in the realm of sports transferable to broader professional pursuits? Our panelists will explore the intersection of sports, business and empowerment and share their views on how the athletic landscape is driving innovation and success far beyond the world of sports.

Speakers:
Moderator:
Stories from the Trenches: Leading in Complex Organizations
Location: Talon Club

Join us as top leaders offer insights on what it takes to navigate, ascend and lead in high-profile, mission-driven organizations. Covering everything from how to break barriers in male-dominated fields to transformational skills that contribute to leadership success, our panelists will share personal anecdotes and practical strategies from their own wide-ranging and varied careers.

Speakers:
Moderator:
  • Elizabeth J. Altman: Associate Professor of Management, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell
11:40-11:45
Transition to arena floor
11:45-12:30
This Sh!t Works: Networking Your Way to Greater Influence and Success
Location: Arena Floor

Join us for a transformative talk as we delve into the strategies, secrets and proven techniques that elevate your networking game from 'meh' to 'heck yeah!' Say goodbye to the mundane exchange of business cards and hello to a whole new way of networking. Listen in as Julie teaches you how to forge connections that are as genuine as Grandma's apple pie, leverage relationships like a ninja with a black belt in success and discover the hidden treasure trove of opportunities lurking within your network for a career glow-up like no other! Let's make networking as exciting as it should be!

Speaker:
  • Julie Brown: Networking Coach, Host of the "This Sh!t Works" podcast, author
12:30-1:30
Lunch
1:30-2:30
Concurrent Sessions 3
Presented by Enterprise Mobility
Leadership 101/Early Career
Location: Talon Club

Whether you are a young professional or an executive, this panel of innovative role models will offer valuable insights. These emerging leaders will highlight competencies that have served them well along their career paths. They will share stories of the challenges and successes they've experienced as they've worked to change what leadership will look like in the future. As we increasingly move toward a new era of empowered and diverse leadership, this session will provide you with inspiration from future leaders who are poised to amplify their voices.

Speakers:
Moderator:
  • Phitsamay Uy: Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator for Ed.D. Programs and Co-Director of Center for Asian American Studies, UMass Lowell
Empowering Women Leaders: Harnessing AI for Impact
Location: Arena Floor

Join us for an insightful exploration into the transformative power of AI and its profound impact on empowering women leaders across diverse fields. Discover how AI technologies can be leveraged strategically to overcome barriers, drive innovation and catalyze professional growth. Engage with industry experts and visionary leaders as we delve into practical strategies and case studies showcasing how women can effectively harness AI to ascend to new heights of success and influence in their respective domains. (This description was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Speaker:
Moderator:
  • Heather Makrez Allen: Executive Director of Alumni & Donor Relations, Adjunct Faculty, School of Education, UMass Lowell
Views from the C-Suite: What Keeps Senior Leaders Up at Night
Location: Tsongas Lobby

Hybrid work and its impact on company culture. Declining trust in leaders. DEIB policies that actually work. Inflation. Generational divides in the workforce. Climate change. Worker stress and burnout. Generative AI. In 2024, business leaders are contending with major societal shifts affecting the workforce and workplace. Our panel of senior executives will share their own experiences and strategies for addressing today's top challenges.

Speakers:
Moderator:
  • Tamara Montag-Smit: Assistant Professor of Management, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell
2:30-2:50
Break
2:50-3:50

Afternoon Keynote - Finding Your Path: My Journey from Reporter to Anchor

Amaka Ubaka , Weekday Morning Anchor at 7 NEWS, WHDH-TV

Amaka Ubaka is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. She anchors 7NEWS Today in New England and 7NEWS at Noon.

A Nigerian American, Ubaka was named one of Boston Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2022. Last year, she received an honorary doctorate from Regis College, where she was chosen by students to serve as Commencement speaker.

Ubaka was previously a reporter in Orlando, Florida, where her stories often received national attention. She also worked as a reporter in Omaha, Nebraska, and landed her first on-air job in Redding, California.

Ubaka often serves as master of ceremonies for charity events supporting organizations such as Project Hope, YWCA Cambridge, The One Mission Buzz Off, Rosie's Place, BMA TenPoint and the Igbo Organization of New England. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

A Florida native, Ubaka earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami.

Amaka Ubaka
3:50-4:00
Closing Remarks
4:00-5:30
Closing Networking Reception

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