Women in Leadership Conference provides a place to connect, grow, inspire

Florida State University business alumnae were among an impressive slate of professional and community leaders serving as expert panelists and speakers at the Sixth Annual Women in Leadership Conference at the Turnbull Conference Center.

Sponsored by the College of Business, the College of Communication and Information, the College of Social Work and the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship, the four-hour event drew more than 300 participants from FSU and the Tallahassee community, double the number attending the first conference in 2014. 

Workshops covered practical areas such as mapping career strategy, advocacy, work and life balance, personal finance, negotiations, women in tech careers, and civic and community engagement.

“The conference continues to instill strength, skill and character into the attendees, and we use this opportunity to start the conversations that support our students and our alumni as they engage in leadership on campus and in the community,” said Ebrahim Randeree, associate dean of the College of Communication and Information, who spearheaded the event. “It allows students, alumni and community members to connect, grow, learn and inspire each other.” 

The workshop titled “Mapping Career Strategy” was presented by business alumnae Cristina Larkin (MAR ’92), chief operating officer, Spero Therapeutics; Krista Campbell (MAN ’97/MBA ’06), chief operating officer, FBMC Benefits Management Inc.; and Virginia “Ginny” Dailey (Multinational Business Operations ’96/JD ’99), partner, Panza Maurer & Maynard. 

Other notable panelists included Nina Ashenafi-Richardson, Leon County judge; Kathleen Daly, associate vice president for University Relations at FSU; Kristin Dozier, Leon County commissioner; Holly Raschein, state representative for District 120, Florida House of Representatives; and Claudia Villegas, Student Senate president pro tempore, FSU Student Government Association.

Among the words of wisdom imparted by business panelists garnered from their own experiences: 

• “Look around you at the leaders of your organization and look at their entire lives,” advised Dailey. “Then ask yourself, ‘Is this the prize you want to win?’”
• “Always be learning and always reflect on what’s important to you and what’s important to your family,” Campbell said. 
• “Lift others up as you climb the ladder,” Larkin said. “There’s enough room for all of us at the table.”