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Pow(H)er 2026 Sessions

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8:30 to 10:15: Keynote Speaker

8:30 to 10:15

Location
Main Ballroom

10:30 am: Stop Beating Yourself Up: Leading with Compassion

10:30 to 11:30

Location
Talcott
Speakers
  • Matt Kovatchis
    Matt Kovatchis, CPCC, is an ex-corporate banker turned self-compassion and resilience speaker and executive coach. He delivers high-energy keynotes and workshops for associations and corporations nationwide, focusing on stress management, self-compassion, and heart-led leadership. After seven years at multinational banks, he left outward success behind to pursue emotional healing — now helping others do the same. Trusted by leading organizations, he also hosts The Men in the Arena, a top 1% mental health podcast. Matt is based in Chicago, IL and can be found exploring a new coffee shop or hanging out with his dog, Patty.
Summary
Self-compassion isn't self-pity or complacency—it's the foundation of resilient, effective leadership. This session explores how leading yourself with compassion makes you a better leader to others, and how to break the perfectionism and self-criticism patterns that drain your energy and undermine your work. Key Take Aways: The difference between self-compassion and self-indulgence, and why it matters. Practical ways to interrupt self-criticism and lead yourself with the same compassion you give others. How self-compassion creates more resilience, not less.

10:30 Munthe

10:30 to 11:30

Location
Munthe

10:30: Get the Trophy: How to use recognition programs as a strategy

10:30 to 11:30

Location
Nelson
Speakers
  • Caitlin Pusateri - COO
Summary
Awards and recognition are not just nice to have, they are a strategic tool for visibility, credibility, and business growth. This session demystifies how recognition programs work and how to use them intentionally, from identifying the right opportunities to crafting nominations that win. Key Take Aways: See recognition and awards as a deliberate visibility and growth strategy. How to identify the right programs and opportunities for you or your organization. Practical tips for nominations and applications that stand out. A resource list of local award opportunities

11:30 Luncheon

11:30 to 1:30

Location
Main Ballroom

1:30: Negotiating with Confidence: Evidence-Based Strategies for Women Leaders

1:30 to 2:30

Location
Talcott
Speakers
  • Joan Phillips-Hernandez
Summary
Negotiation is one of the highest-leverage skills in a career, and one where women are too often penalized for the very assertiveness the moment requires. Grounded in research, this session offers evidence-based strategies for negotiating salary, scope, and resources with confidence, and for navigating the double standards that can come with it. Key Take Aways: Evidence-based negotiation strategies tailored to the realities women face. How to prepare, anchor, and advocate for your value without backlash. A repeatable approach you can use in your next negotiation.

1:30pm: Dress for Who You’re Becoming

1:30 to 2:30

Location
Munthe
Speakers
  • Anisha Grimmett
    Anisha Grimmett is a Wardrobe Strategist, speaker, entrepreneur, and former corporate leader with more than 20 years of professional experience. As founder of A New Look by Nisha, she helps women align their wardrobes with their identity, goals, and the lives they are building. Anisha is passionate about empowering women to embrace change, lead with confidence, live intentionally, and become who they were created to be—without waiting for permission from others to pursue what’s next.
Summary
Stop Waiting for Permission to Show Up as the Woman—and Leader—You Were Created to Be As women, our careers, bodies, priorities, confidence, and aspirations continue to evolve—but our wardrobes and the way we see ourselves don’t always evolve with us. In this interactive workshop, Wardrobe Strategist Anisha Grimmett invites women to explore the connection between identity, leadership, and personal style. Through meaningful discussion and practical wardrobe strategies, participants will identify what no longer serves them, define the woman they are becoming, and consider how their personal presence can support where they are going next. Because becoming doesn’t have an age—and neither does showing up confidently as yourself.

1:30 Nelson

1:30 to 2:30

Location
Nelson

2:30 Invest in Your Dreams: Create your Pow(H)er Board

2:30 to 4:00

Location
Main Ballroom
Speakers
  • Tasha Wendorf
  • Gina Caruana
Summary
Turn your financial goals into a vision you can see, feel, and achieve. Join us for a creative session where you'll design your own PowHer board focused on dreams like travel, home ownership, philanthropy, or financial independence and discover simple steps to start making them happen today.
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