Women in Leadership Series
Breaking Boardroom Barriers
- March 13, 2025
- 11:00 am - 1:30 pm ET
- Online
In the landscape of U.S. corporate boards, women occupy a mere 27% of positions, despite research consistently demonstrating that board diversity correlates with increased profitability.
This intimate conversation features two trailblazing women who have shattered the glass ceiling and are now thriving in boardroom leadership roles. They will share their personal journeys, invaluable insights, and practical advice to help you develop actionable strategies to overcome challenges and make a lasting impact in the C-Suite and boardroom.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this event promises to be a catalyst for change, offering inspiration, education, and practical tools for women at all career stages who aspire to leadership roles or seek to support other women in their professional growth.
How can we dismantle existing barriers and pave the way for women to ascend into board leadership positions?
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Mandy Fields
CFO, ELF Beauty & Board Member, Allbirds
Mandy joined e.l.f. Beauty in 2019 with over 16 years of finance experience, most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of BevMo!, the number one retailer of alcoholic beverages on the West Coast. At BevMo!, Mandy was responsible for overseeing accounting, risk management, investor relations, financial planning and analysis, and merchandise planning. Prior to this, Mandy held positions of increasing responsibility at Albertsons Companies LLC, a grocery company. Mandy began her retail finance career at The Gap, Inc., after working in equity capital markets at J.P. Morgan. Mandy holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University of Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business.
Anne Chow
Former CEO, AT&T; Author, Lead Bigger, The Transformative Power of Inclusion
Anne Chow was named CEO of AT&T Business in September 2019, making her the first woman to hold that position and the first woman of color CEO in AT&T’s history. She oversaw more than 35,000 employees who collectively serve 3 million business customers worldwide. She is currently Lead Director on the board of Franklin Covey and serves on the board of 3M. Chow is a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and coauthor of The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias. She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and actively supports numerous local and national organizations.
AGENDA
11:00 am – Noon
Leading Bigger
Featuring Anne Chow
Anne Chow’s career exemplifies breaking barriers in corporate leadership. As the first woman of color to serve as CEO of AT&T Business, Anne redefined leadership in a major telecommunications company. Her book, Lead Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion, captures how diverse teams and inclusive cultures are not just ethical imperatives but strategic advantages.
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In her journey to the top, Anne encountered and overcame many of the barriers that often limit women and minorities from reaching the highest levels of leadership. Anne will share her personal story, insights on inclusive leadership, and practical advice for female executives seeking to break through their own barriers and lead with impact.
Noon – 12:50 pm
Taking Big Leaps
Featuring Mandy Fields
Mandy Fields has built an impressive career in finance, making her mark as a transformational leader at ELF Beauty and as a board member at Allbirds.
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ELF has become a vocal advocate for increasing representation in corporate leadership, launching a bold campaign in 2024 to confront the lack of board diversity in big business. A champion for diversity, Mandy exemplifies how diverse C-Suites and Boards fuel innovation, drive better decision-making, and lead to more sustainable business practices.
She will share her personal and professional journey, strategies for overcoming obstacles and taking big leaps (which she has done more than a few times!) and discuss the importance of tenacity, resourcefulness, adaptability, and being intentional in pursuing your career aspirations.
12:50 – 1:30 pm
Peer-to-Peer Roundtables
We’ll break into small groups in Zoom meeting rooms for facilitated discussions on the key takeaways from the sessions, share challenges with one another, and help each other create an action plan that benefits from one another’s experiences and lessons.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to:
Gain insights into common unconscious and implicit biases influencing decision-making processes that often keep women out of the boardroom
Develop strategies to overcome networking disparities and expand your access to influential circles that lead to boardroom opportunities
Learn how to challenge stereotypes about gender roles and leadership abilities that can undermine women's credibility and hinder advancement
Learn how to showcase the value of your diverse perspectives in decision-making
Break down organizational cultures that perpetuate gender bias to create inclusive cultures that are essential for attracting, retaining and promoting talented women
Make inclusivity your company’s superpower
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Event Series + Membership
Attend the Event Series and Join-
4 Event Series Sessions Per Year
Single Session Ticket
Attend individual event sessions-
Single Event Session
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Session Recording Ondemand
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Membership not included
Corporate Memberships are available for a discounted rate for teams of 3+.