Empowering Leaders, Inspiring Futures

Be part of the first-ever She Runs It Empowering Leaders, Inspiring Futures event at The Woman’s Athletic Club. Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and empowerment as leaders and learners tell their stories and share their wisdom. The experience will be curated to provide a vibrant atmosphere that includes networking opportunities, transformative discussions, and fuel for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re launching your career or striving for the next milestone, this event will spark your ambition, fuel your confidence, and provide the tools to accelerate and elevate your journey.

Session #1: Titan Talk: A distinguished industry leader will take the stage to share success strategies, lessons learned, shortcuts, and war stories highlighting the power of resilience, ambition, and vision. Discover how this trailblazer is reshaping the definition of success, both personally and for their company.

Andrea Zahumensky, President, North America Baby & Child Care, N.A. Personal Care Transformation and K-C Canada at Kimberly-Clark

Session #2: Detours, Pivots & Roundabouts: Very few successful careers are linear. There are leaps, stalls, twists, turns, roadblocks and detours that happen along the way. How a person responds to those shifts can propel an admin to a CEO, an accountant to a creative, or a marketer to the music industry. This panel conversation will convene remarkable shape-shifters who will explain the roadmap between point A and point X. Learn how to embrace adversity, anticipate divots, and push through roadblocks on your journey to you. 

Moderator

Lynn Branigan, President & CEO, She Runs It

Speakers

Jackie Bruzek, Vice President, Customer Engagement, McDonald’s

Kristin Haarlow, Chief Investment Officer, Starcom

Alycia Mason, President, Midwest, WPP Media

Jennie Peelle, Vice President, Global Media, Hyatt

Session #3: Moonshots and Wildfires: Get ready for a lively and insightful discussion as marketers pull back the curtain on campaigns that have captivated audiences and created unforgettable buzz. From unexpected viral hits to meticulously planned successes, these duos will dissect the stories and the sizzle … whether it’s maximizing earned reach on a shoestring budget or reinvigorating legacy brands with fresh ideas. Discover the creative strategies, bold risks, and key insights that earned these campaigns a place in contemporary culture.

Moderator

Lindsay Lichtenberg, Global Strategic Operations Lead, Publicis Groupe

Speakers

Jess Vultaggio, VP – Creative, Capabilities & Innovation, Kraft Heinz North America
Kathleen Bokar, Head of Strategy, The Kitchen North America

Ashley Gill, VP, Brands and Content Marketing, North America, Mars
Jaime McGill, Head of Strategy, DDB Chicago

Meg Mitchell, Global Creative Director, Brand Marketing, United Airlines

Julia Fedor, Director, Brand Marketing, United Airlines 

Session #4: High Note Power Hour: Close the afternoon with an Elevated cocktail hour. This is your moment to make meaningful connections, expand your network, and exchange ideas with new friends and cohorts. Reflect on the insights, tools, and inspiration you’ve gathered throughout the Elevate event, and take the first steps in turning them into action—all while enjoying a lively and uplifting atmosphere.