PIVOTING FOR PROGRESS!
Join hundreds of women and other diverse business owners, along with local and regional corporate, civic, and government leaders, on a dynamic virtual platform where you can be informed, network, and explore business opportunities!
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW
PANEL DISCUSSIONS FEATURING WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS AND WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
SHIRLEY MARX PITCH COMPETITION REGIONAL FINALE
1:1 BUSINESS MATCHMAKER (WBENC-Certified WBEs Only)
Thank you Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, for your continued support of the Women's Business Development Center.
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
PIVOTING FOR POWER | BE INVIGORATED!
Keynote speaker Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, a heralded entrepreneur, business leader, board member, speaker, author, and educator, will share her insights on weathering uncertainty (economic, business, and social), fostering inclusion and equity, and maintaining balance during these turbulent times in a conversation with Emma Asante, Vice President of Special Projects and Community Relations, NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago.
Cheryl Mayberry McKissack
Emma Asante
Keynote Speaker, Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, has a long history of success in business, as entrepreneur, corporate executive, board member, author, speaker, and educator. During her impressive career, Cheryl has built world-class management teams, led digital transformations, raised capital from investors, and penetrated multicultural markets. For more than a decade, she challenged and motivated young entrepreneurs as Associate Professor in the MBA program at Northwestern University’s prestigious Kellogg School of Business. In her role as CEO of Nia Enterprises, Cheryl propelled revenue growth with a focus on entrepreneurial ventures and start-ups. In the past, she provided essential data to refine growth strategies for Fortune 500 firms. Previously Cheryl has held executive positions at IBM, US Robotics, Open Port Technology, Johnson Publishing Company, and Ebony Media. In 2019, Cheryl became President and Co-Owner of Black Opal, a global cosmetics and skin care company founded in 1994 for women of color. Cheryl and her business partner Desiree Rogers also acquired Fashion Fair Cosmetics in November. Together they now own the two most iconic beauty brands for women of color. Cheryl has served on corporate boards for over 20 years and was appointed Chairman of the Board for Deluxe Corporation in 2019, becoming the first African American and woman chair in its 105 year history. In her most recent book, The Entrepreneurial Sell: Tools and Techniques Every Start-Up Needs to Succeed, Cheryl makes the case that there has never been a better time in history to be an entrepreneur.
PANEL DISCUSSION
PIVOTING FOR PARITY | BE INSPIRED!
Corporate leaders share their thoughts on how their companies have pivoted, how small businesses can pivot, and the future of supplier diversity
Moderator: Sandra Rand Board Treasurer, WBDC Retired Director of Supplier Diversity United Airlines
Panelists: Carlos Cubia Vice-President, Diversity and Inclusion, Global Chief Diversity Officer Walgreen Boots Alliance, Inc.
Daryl Hodnett System Director-Supplier and Business Diversity & Inclusion, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion Advocate Aurora Health
Punita Patel Vice President, Global Supplier Diversity JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Byron Witherspoon Director, Supplier Diversity Ameren
PANEL DISCUSSION
PIVOTING FOR RESURGENCE | BE INFORMED!
Women business owners share how they have been adjusting and pivoting and discuss sustainability and growth strategies
Moderator: Rona Fourte Global Community Engagement – Supplier Diversity Business Management United | Corporate Support Center
Panelists: Lili Hall President/CEO KNOCK
Kimberly Moore President and Founder KDM Engineering
Mary Porter, Ph.D. Owner/CEO Emergent Safety Supply
SHIRLEY MARX PITCH COMPETITION REGIONAL FINALE
PIVOTING FOR DEVELOPMENT | BE GUIDED!
Local market pitch competition finalists (Chicago, Twin Cities, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Kansas City) vie for the $5,000 and $2,500 regional finale grand prizes
BUSINESS MATCHMAKER (WBENC-Certified WBEs Only)
PIVOTING FOR GROWTH | BE POSITIONED!
Be positioned! WBENC-certified WBEs individually pitch for contracting opportunities to corporate and public sector representatives on the My Business Matchmaker platform. Matches are based on buyer procurement needs with no guarantee of a match.
Please note that WBENC-certified WBEs looking to participate in the Business Matchmaker will receive in an email from EventBrite a link to register and complete a profile on the My Business Matchmaker platform after registering for the conference.
THE APP IS HERE, DOWNLOAD IT TODAY!
We are excited to announce that we are unveiling the technological lynchpin for this virtual networking and learning experience: the Pivoting for Progress app and platform. Once you register, you’ll get to take advantage of this extraordinary technology and networking platform, where you can download the app and build your profile, scope out like-minded business owners, and start the online convo!
If you are a WBENC-Certified WBE, please be sure to sign up for the Business Matchmaker when you register and download the app!
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Interested in becoming a Sponsor? For more information, please contact Jihan Tchamba Diallo, Director of Development, at JTDiallo@WBDC.org
The mission of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) is to support and accelerate business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.
WBDC © 2020. All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY
Women's Business Development Center 8 S. Michigan Avenue. 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60603
P: 312.853.3477 www.wbdc.org