“Let Her Speak” focused on success of women in business
By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA
Catherine Porth is a fairly recent arrival in Knoxville, but the MBA candidate and Graduate Assistant in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee is channeling what she has learned into an event set for next week.
“Let Her Speak” is an almost all-day session of presentations and discussions focused on the life experiences of women and ways to be successful in business and life. It runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at The Hive, 854 North Central. Registration is $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door. Interested individuals can register here.
“The event is my brainchild based on personal experiences since moving to Knoxville and input I’ve received from countless other women,” Porth told us. “I began interviewing women in the community last year, and the topics, as well as itinerary and vision for the event, are based on feedback and discussions uncovered during those meetings.”
The team at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center has provided support.
Porth said there are six presenters. Each will have 15 to 18 minutes to tell her story.
“Following each presentation, there will be questions posed for roundtable discussions where each attendee will have the opportunity to voice her experience and thoughts on the topic and begin talking about actions we can take to drive real change in our communities,” Porth explained.
Presenters and their topics are:
- Jennifer Gamble – “Bridging the Cross-Generational Gap”;
- Kate Ziegler – “Building Confidence, Finding a Mentor, and Creating Your Brand”;
- Nina Howell – “Commitment to Our Communities, Fellow Women, and Ourselves”;
- Kathryn Schrader – “Establishing a Support System for Female Professionals and Entrepreneurs”;
- Booth Andrews – “Harassment, Abuse, Bullying, and the Power to Speak Up”; and
- Samantha Lane – “Work/Life Integration.”
“The last session will involve bringing everything together for each woman to make a commitment to actions they can take to improve the support system for women in business (entrepreneurs and those working for corporations),” Porth said. The entire event will end with a Maker Market where attendees can show their support for local women makers.
