Women Lead

Opening Keynote: Don't Just Lead, Be Iconic

Jewel Rodgers, '19, Nebraska State Poet 

By disrupting the traditional expectations of the State Poet role, Jewel Rodgers is transforming a legacy position into a foundation for enduring statewide impact. In this opening keynote, Rodgers shares how leveraging her multidimensional life as both an artist and an analyst has redefined her success. She reminds us that in every role, you have a choice: you can be a leader, or you can be iconic.

Breakout Sessions

Authentically You: Clients, Credibility and Confidence – Sejal Patel, '93, President, Sage Ivy Consulting

This interactive breakout session explores how women can leverage emotional intelligence (EQ) as a strategic advantage in building credibility, influence, and origination. Patel breaks down how relationships actually turn into work—without selling, posturing, or mimicking models that don’t fit—using practical frameworks grounded in real-world experience. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable strategies to strengthen professional relationships, position themselves for origination, and make one intentional “bold move” forward after the conference.  
 

Maximizing AI – Heather Hilgers, Founder and CEO, Hilgers PLLC; and Rose Hunter Jones, Partner, Hilgers PLLC

Hilgers PLLC hosts a fireside chat featuring Rose Hunter Jones, interviewed by Heather Hicks Hilgers, co-founder and CEO of Hilgers PLLC, focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. The program will explore practical strategies for using and testing AI tools within law firms and companies, ethical considerations related to data privacy and cybersecurity, and best practices for safeguarding confidential client information. The discussion will also address how AI solutions are being developed and deployed to serve corporate clients, including risk mitigation, compliance considerations, and strategic implementation. Attendees will gain practical insights into responsible AI adoption consistent with professional obligations and client expectations.
 

Navigating Challenges in Business – Katie Bell, ’96, Senior Partner, Global Account Lead, Korn Ferry; Lori Heffelfinger, ’82, President, The Heffelfinger Company; and Maria Isquierdo, System Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bryan Health Systems

Three professionals come together to discuss the challenges women face in today’s business landscape and how to navigate them with confidence and purpose. Through candid conversation and shared experiences, participants will gain insight into authentic leadership, self-advocacy and workplace dynamics. 
 

Selling Your Ideas to Leadership – Laura McLeod, Assistant Professor of Practice in Marketing, College of Business

Having a good idea is just the starting point. Being persuasive in how you communicate it is what drives action. This session breaks down how to position your ideas so others can understand the value, the impact, and why it matters right now. We’ll focus on practical communication strategies that can help you be more influential as well as explore simple tactics for building buy-in and momentum. 

Plenary Session: The Indispensability of Women in Law and Business
Danielle Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson Law

This plenary session will introduce for some and review for others her story in the construction of civil, social, political, legal and economic life in the United States. The discussion will center women as important catalysts for the project of building a just society, despite often being unacknowledged and uncelebrated in this work. The theme calls out the indispensability of women and their vision, passion and dedication to rebuild a nation on the pillars of justice, equality and fairness for all. The discussion will conclude with recommendations for advancing these pillars in our professions, generally, and in our society, more specifically.

Breakout Sessions

Conflict With Grace – Stephanie Dinger, ’03, Vice President of Small Business Banking, UBT

Conflict doesn’t have to be uncomfortable—it can be a pathway to growth and respect. Together, we will practice strategies on how to stay composed, set healthy boundaries, and communicate clearly so you can protect your peace and strengthen your influence.  It is totally possible to have a backbone without being a b****. 
 

Owning Your Career from Day One: The Unspoken Rules and Their Real Impact – Tara Tesmer Paulson, ’10, CEO and Attorney, Rembolt Ludtke

Professional success isn’t determined by talent alone. It’s shaped by the decisions you make and the effort you bring every single day. In this presentation, we will go through the unspoken rules that quietly influence who advances, who earns trust and who becomes indispensable. We’ll focus on what you can control from day one: your work ethic, your judgment and your response to challenges. The goal is simple but powerful—build a career defined by disciplined decision-making and consistent effort, not by chasing outcomes you can’t control.
 

Mentoring and Leading with Clarity: Supporting Students and New Employees from Day One – Elsbeth Magilton, ’12, Director of Externships and Law Lecturer 

In this session, you'll get practical tips on leading interns, externs and new professionals in their first few years of employment or practice. The session includes an exercise on identifying unspoken rules to share with new hires and guidance on giving feedback. Led by the College of Law director of externships, the presentation also explores the most common miscommunications and tension points between new graduates, students and supervisors. 
 

Now, Near and Next for Mid-Level Career Advancement – Kimberly Rath, ’83, Chair and Co-Founder, Talent Plus

This interactive session is designed to empower ambitious women to navigate their career paths intentionally. Now, Near and Next tackles the common challenge faced by professional women who often prioritize investing in others over their own professional growth, leading to restlessness and dissatisfaction in mid-career. This session highlights the significance of intentional career planning by setting boundaries, clarifying purpose, and implementing actionable steps to accelerate career journeys and realize one's full potential.   

Closing Keynote: The Power of WE
Marilyn Moore, ’71, ’74 & ’80, Retired President, Bryan College of Health Sciences and Former Associate Superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools

The "power of we" is built upon and embedded within a structure of deep connections. Connections with our brains. Connections with our hearts. Connections with our souls. Connections with purpose and passion. Connections with colleagues, with friends and family, with persons we know better than we know ourselves, with persons we've never met. Connections with something bigger than ourselves. In this final session, bring together the learnings of the day with the learnings of your life. It's in the connections that we find meaning, substance, energy and life.