12 ILLINOIS BUSINESS LEADER CONNECTING The eighth Annual Women in Busi ness Conference took place on May 1 at the NIU Center in Naperville. This event has continued to grow each year with strong speakers filling out the agenda this year with the theme The Future is Now. It was a great turnout with over 150 attendees and multiple exhibitors providing resources and opportuni ties for networking. The agenda was designed to build from beginning to end with each speaker adding to the message for the day. Jessica Tepas, speaker and writer opened the conference with her presentation on Bouncing Forward: How to Propel Forward Through Failure. A self-proclaimed “expert at being a beginner”, she spoke about the skill of learning through failure and growing and adapting through life’s vulnerable moments of transition. ILCC Board member Kim Godden then sat down with Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Exec utive, to explore balancing work and personal life and navigating periods of change. The lively Q and A session allowed the audience an opportunity to learn from Jennifer’s journey to her current position. United HealthCare told the group about the Community Cham ber Program, working to lower health care costs for employees across the state in partnership with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Next was Brittany Hizer, co-founder and COO of Pluie, the UV light diaper changing tables. Brit tany left a corporate position in early 2020 to transition into the uncertain ties of entrepreneurship. Navigating through motherhood, she has had great success with her world-chang ing idea to promote cleaner dia per-changing tables across the globe. She shared great insight with the audience members who enjoyed her stories and images. After a fantastic lunchtime networking session, it was back into the agenda with Dr. Dakisha Lewis. The Chairperson/Medical Director at Advocate Health Care discussed the importance of women’s health and the key role women play in making not only their own health decisions but those of their families. The con versation was dynamic and enjoyed by all. That brought us to the closing session, presented by LeeAnn Marie Webster, the host of the Full Self Expression Forum. She pulled the entire day together with her presenta tion on No Regrets, No Limits: How to Achieve the Big Goals (That Really Matter). She talked through her No Regrets Formula to stop putting off your big goals and achieve the results you truly desire, providing lots of takeaways for the audience. Exhibitors then had a chance to talk about their organizations and give away door prizes before the event closed on a successful day. Watch for news about next year’s ninth annual event. Highlights from Women in Business Conference 2025 Kim Godden and Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant This event has continued to grow each year with strong speakers filling out the agenda this year with the theme The Future is Now.
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