On Saturday, March 9, more than 350 professionals, industry leaders, alumni, students, and community members will come together for Adelphi University’s premier women’s leadership conference.
This powerful day of learning and networking is a great opportunity for community members across industries to make influential connections and have compelling discussions on how to thrive in today’s ever-changing world.
“The modern job market is experiencing rapid change, but many sectors still don’t take advantage of the value women bring to the workplace,” said Adelphi University President Christine M. Riordan. “Our goal in hosting the Women’s Leadership Conference each year is to discuss how we can use education to break down barriers, inspire each other to strive for greatness and maximize our value in every career field.”
This year’s conference titled”The Era of Embracing Change: Dare to be Extraordinary,” will offer several panels, discussions, and sessions with industry leaders on topics from building diverse, equitable workplaces to leading in the AI age. Participants will also have the opportunity to get professional headshots taken, consult with the newly added Career Support Hub, and take the TypeFocus Assessment.
This year’s day-long event will feature a keynote address by Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, a company that is disrupting the trillion-dollar fashion industry and changing the way women get dressed through the Closet in the Cloud, the world’s first and largest shared designer closet.
Hyman co-founded Rent the Runway in 2009 and its mission has been the same ever since: to power women to feel their best every day. The brand offers women the ability to subscribe, rent items a-la-carte and shop resale from hundreds of designer partners, driven by a two-sided discovery engine that connects deeply engaged customers and differentiated brand partners on a powerful platform built around its brand, data, logistics, and technology. Under Jennifer’s leadership, RTR made history as the first company to go public with a female founder/CEO, COO, and CFO.
Hyman serves on the board of directors of The Estee Lauder Companies and Zalando and also is a Founding Member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council, and a Member of the Women. NYC Advisory Board and a Member of the Launch with GS Advisory Council for Goldman Sachs.
She received her BA from Harvard University cum laude and MBA from Harvard Business School and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters Aurora and Selene.
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is the founder and CEO of BrainTrust, will be this year’s lunchtime keynote speaker.
BrainTrust Agency which includes social media, influencer marketing and brand development, BrainTrust Founders Studio a membership based platform providing an ecosystem of mentorship, education and community for Black Beauty and Wellness Founders and BrainTrust Fund 1, a venture fund dedicated to investing in Black Beauty and Wellness Founders.
Bracken-Ferguson has the distinction of being one of only 100 Black women ever to have raised over $1 million in investment for her first company. She has launched three companies herself and achieved over $1 million in revenue for each within the first two years or less.
As someone who has mentored many Black founders over the years, Bracken-Ferguson started BrainTrust Founders Studio in October 2021 out of a need to scale access and resources to help Black beauty and wellness entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses.
She is a transformative brand builder and visionary leader as well as the secret ingredient in guiding and monetizing more than 200 influencer-driven brands which have collectively generated more than $100 million in revenue.
Attendees of the conference will also have the opportunity to give back by donating clothing items to Adelphi’s Career Closet, a new initiative available for students in need of professional work attire for interviews, conferences, and other professional opportunities. For more information on what items are still needed and any requirements for donations view the flyer.
The conference, co-hosted by Adelphi’s Advancement and External Relations, Division of Student Affairs and Student Government Association is open to the public as well as members of the Adelphi community including students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of the University.
General admission for Adelphi’s Women’s Leadership Conference is $30 for in person (with an additional $20 for dinner) and $10 for online access. Adelphi students are free. To learn more and register, visit adelphi.edu/womens-leadership.
