Influence by Design: How Credibility and Personal Brand Shape Your Impact at Work

Join us at Otterbein University for our 16th anniversary conference!

WELD and Otterbein University are pleased to announce our 16th anniversary national leadership conference which will be held in person. This one-day national event features 30 breakout sessions with over 30 accomplished speakers presenting on a variety of timely career topics. Centered on this year’s overarching theme, Be Well to Lead Well, participants will spend a day on a variety of topics to help them cultivate and connect with the people and experiences they value most and drive more joy, prosperity and health in their businesses, communities and at home. Register early to obtain a discount!

We are beyond thrilled to share that Nikki Dixon-Foley, Master Coach & Sr. Partner, FutureSYNC International, will be our opening session Keynote speaker.

Co-Presenting Sponsors

Print Sponsor

Diamond Signature Event Sponsors

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Volunteer Care Sponsor Impact Sponsor

                                                                

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Media Partner

Demonstrate your company's support of advancing women's leadership!

Become a sponsor for this event! For questions on sponsorship information, contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org. 

Become a sponsor today!    

Click Here for conference Brochure

Registration Rates

*Those wishing for student rates must be full-time students and submit documentation to Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org . 

Refunds are not available for this conference. Session attendees may not assign their registrations to other attendees without express written approval from WELD.

Registration closes at midnight on June 12th!

Special Membership Rates:

Breakout Session Sponsors will have the opportunity to purchase or extend a Business Level WELD Membership for one year at only $100 (savings of $99!)

Other Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase or extend an Individual WELD Membership for one year at only $100 (savings of $50!)

Contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org to take advantage of this opportunity.

Click Here for conference Brochure

Become a sponsor today!

The 2026 WELD Tell It Like It Is Thursday® theme, "The Evolution of Leadership & Mentorship: Leading in the 21st Century Post-COVID Era" explores how the workplace has fundamentally transformed. This isn't pivoting—it's constant evolution. What does leadership look like now compared to 2018 or 2019? How do we maintain ourselves while interfacing with constant disruption? This series explores how leadership has changed post-COVID and equips women with the tools, connections, and mentorship to thrive in this new landscape.

Session Description: Leadership today isn't about perfect performance — it's about authentic presence. This session explores how to show up as your real self at work while maintaining credibility, impact, and leadership presence, especially during moments of growth, transition, and change.

Through a candid and practical conversation, Katie Chew (Founder of Cultivate Success Consulting) and Kristin Mangas (Talent Strategist and Leader Developer) will explore how leaders can move beyond "performing" leadership and instead lead with clarity, intention, and alignment. From understanding personal strengths and opportunities to navigating transitions and changing expectations, the discussion will highlight how authenticity and sustainability strengthen, not diminish, effective leadership.

You'll leave with personal insights and practical tools you can apply immediately, including a transition map template, along with a clearer understanding of how to lead with greater clarity, continuity, and confidence during periods of transition.

Learning Objective:

• Recognize what authentic presence means for you as a leader, how to leverage it as a strength, and how to navigate through transitions.

Click here to view event flyer.

Registration:

• Individual Member: $0
• E-Member: $25
• Non-Member: $50

No refunds or credits after 7/16/2026. Registration closes on 7/20/2026.  Late fees apply after registration closes. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org.

Securing a seat on a public company board requires a strategic shift from executive execution to corporate governance.

This exclusive 60-minute webinar is designed specifically for executive leaders ready to transition their leadership to the highest level. Featuring a seasoned corporate director with extensive public board experience, this session provides a candid, insider roadmap to the boardroom. You will learn how to evaluate your readiness, cultivate high-demand governance skills, and articulate a compelling value proposition that resonates with nominating committees.  WELD is excited to announce Marla Gottschalk, Independent Director, as the session speaker.  In an insight-rich discussion facilitated by Marcy Ungar, CHRO, Hyperion Materials & Technologies, Ms. Gottschalk will share essential lessons gained from her own corporate board journey and service on public company boards.  

What You Will Learn

• The Public Board Reality: Demystify the actual roles, responsibilities, and liabilities of public corporate directors.
• Strategic Career Mapping: Identify and bridge critical gaps in your current executive experience to align with board needs.
• The Readiness Audit: Evaluate if corporate board service aligns with your personal, professional, and financial goals.
• Your Board Value Proposition: Craft a distinct, high-impact positioning statement that highlights your unique governance assets.

Click here for the event flyer.

Registration Fee:

Regular Member - $50

E-chapter Member - $60

No refunds after 8/3/2026. Registration closes 8/3/2026. Late fees apply after registration closes. Contact Stefany Wendeln at swendeln@weldoh.org with any questions.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org.

Based on McKinsey research, women are not equitably represented in top management because of the “broken rung” – women are less likely to receive their first promotion into management when compared to
men.

The WELD Pathway to Management Program is a six-part, WELD member only/corporate member only program offered that will take a cohort of individuals through six core areas that will build leadership efficacy for the manager role:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Inclusion & Belonging
• Communication
• Teaming
• Executive Level Functioning
• Social Responsibility

Taught by a diverse group of expert instructors with years of leadership experience in a wide range of industries, the WPMP takes a cohort through a rigorous experience that will build self-awareness, stretch their thinking and foster strong relationships over the course of the program. The learning extends beyond that experienced in the classroom. Each session requires pre-work, and case study approaches are used to inject problem-solving learning from real challenges in the workplace. Upon graduation, the learning and relationship building continue after the formal program is completed. Please see the brochure for more detailed course information.

There will be two cohorts in 2026, kicking off in February and offered virtually only.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships are available. Please see the brochure for more information. Please contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org to sponsor this program.

Program Instructors

Program Dates

CLICK HERE TO PROGRAM BROCHURE

SHRM Professional Development Credits

WELD is recognized by SHRM to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP professional development credits (PDCs). This program is valid for 18.0 PDC. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit shrmcertification.org.

SHRM Bock Alignment:  Communication, Global & Cultural Effectiveness, Relationship Management

Accountancy Board of Ohio CPE Credits

In accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 4.8 CPE credits will be granted for each session based on a 50-minute hour.  The total amount for all six sessions will be 28.8 See the events section of www.weldusa.org for complete details.

Registration Summary 

Field of Study:  Personal Development

Prerequisites:  None

Who Should Attend:  All are welcome (Registration open to Individual, Business Level, and Corporate Members)

Advanced Preparation:  None

Program Level:  Intermediate

Delivery Method: Group Live

Refund and Cancellations:  No refunds or credits will be granted for this program. Be sure to review the rules for substitutions.  For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation notice, please contact our offices at (614) 890-2586.

Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) is registered with the Accountancy Board of Ohio as a CPE Sponsor.

*** Corporate members please reach out to Deepa Kellar to get an invoice. ***

CLICK HERE TO PROGRAM BROCHURE

Stepping into the boardroom while maintaining a demanding executive role is a powerful career accelerator.

This intensive one-hour webinar provides a practical roadmap to help you secure and succeed in your first outside board seat without dropping the ball on your day job.  It requires careful balancing, strategic networking, and a deep understanding of what governance committees actually look like in candidates. WELD is excited to share that Laurie Tucker, Independent Director, will share her insights in a content-rich session moderated by Joy Gallo, Vice President of Consumer Materials for Synthomer Inc.

What You Will Learn

• The Dual-Track Journey: How to position yourself for board roles while fully employed.
• The Balancing Act: Practical frameworks to manage time and avoid conflicts of interest between your executive job and director duties.
• The Connection Catalyst: Strategies to leverage your current professional network to uncover unadvertised board openings.
• Inside the Nom/Gov Committee: What Nominating and Governance committees prioritize when screening executive-level candidates.
• The Board Interview: A breakdown of the unique interview process, the questions to expect, and how to articulate your specific governance value proposition.

Who Should Attend

• C-Suite Executives and Senior Vice Presidents looking to transition into board governance.
• High-performing corporate leaders aiming to add a directorship to their professional portfolio.
• Legal, compliance, and HR executives advising internal leadership on outside board commitments.

Click here for the event flyer.

Registration Fee:

Regular Member - $50

E-chapter Member - $60

No refunds after 8/31/2026. Registration closes 8/31/2026. Late fees apply after registration closes. Contact Stefany Wendeln at swendeln@weldoh.org with any questions.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Deepa Kellar at dkellar@weldoh.org.

 Master the Boardroom Transition: Your Strategic Roadmap

Navigate the complex corporate board landscape with actionable strategies for every career stage. This masterclass in the board journey will reveal how to position yourself for governance roles, decode the Nominating and Governance process, master executive interviews, and build the targeted portfolio you need to secure your seat at the table.  Whether you are early in your career and see board opportunities in the distant future or are ready for your first corporate board now, this session has something for you.  Our esteemed panelists, with moderator Danita Harris, 3News Anchor, WKYC, will shower attendees with actionable takeaways to ignite success in their corporate board journeys. 

Key discussion pillars include:

• Creating your actionable board journey blueprint aligned with your time horizon
• Refining your boardroom brand & digital presence
• Decoding the nominating & governance (nom/gov) process
• Understanding the executive role vs. corporate board seat: the interview disconnect
• Making the leap from executive to director:  the power of your network

Event Host Committee:  Yuvette Bozman, LaTessa Gray, Annette Hazapis, Deepa Kellar, Stephanie Puehler, Renee Richard, Lauryn Robinson, Sarah Robinson Enaharo, Chris Ronayne, Barb Smoot, Danielle Sydnor, Karen Trumbo, Sonali Wilson

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT: Join WELD by 9/10/2026 and save $25!

Click here to view event flyer. 

CLICK HERE to sponsor the Launch Event!

Registration:

• $30
  

No refunds after September 4, 2026.  Registration closes on September 7, 2026.

*50% of individual event registration revenue to be donated to the YWCA Greater Cleveland

CLICK HERE to Register!

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Deepa Kellar – dkellar@weldoh.org