Women’s Leadership Forum WLF 2025

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

The TRACK at new balance

ONward

Thank you to all who attended this year’s event!

Speakers

Femita Ayanbeku

Paralympian
Graceann Bennett

Co-Founder, HOLY ✵ WATER by Alta Gracia Founder, Playbook Studio
Amina Bulman

Moderator

Chief Revenue Officer, Boston NWSL
Kathryn Condon

Head of Retail Marketing, Fidelity Investments
Samantha Critchell

VP, Corporate Communications, e.l.f. Beauty
Deborah Riley Draper

Filmmaker and Founder/CEO, Coffee Bluff Pictures
Nicole Estebanell

CEO, Mediahub
Katie Johnston

Moderator

Business Reporter & Editor of Top Places to Work, Boston Globe
EJ Kim

Founder, NNABI
Suzanne McKenzie

Founder and CCO, Able Made
Maggie Milnamow

Moderator

Chief Revenue Officer, Business Insider
Jill Nelson

CMO, Dunkin’
Jacqueline Reilly

Naturopathic Medical Student (NMS-3), Survivor, and Activist
Leela Srinivasan

CEO, Parity
Ashley Tyrner-Dolce

CEO, FarmboxRX
Taylor Wolfe

Author, founder, professional funny person behind The Daily Tay
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Recap Video

Speaker Videos

Agenda

- 10:00am
  
  Doors open
- 10:00 - 6:00
  Wellness Lounge
  
  Sponsored by Outside Interactive Media
  
  Connect with other attendees and discover tools and tips from our partners and sponsors offering all kinds of wellness. Some of what you will find includes:
  • Special giveaways from Outside & MapMyFitness
  • BCBS of MA and their partners, CLEO, Maven Clinic and Wellness Concepts have Wellness Coaching and share the Power of Positivity
  • Branding expert, Deb Maltzman who will help you Find Your Super Truth and The Power of the Pivot
  • Find your best colors and photo booth brought to you by Later
  • Chair massages from Sweet Rickey
  • IVs and B12 shots provided by Westwood IV Therapy
  - Charitable Partner: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
    
    Visit the booth for our charitable partner and meet the team from BHCHP and learn about the many opportunities to get involved. Or donate to their good work while you drop off your new pair of women’s socks to help someone in need.
- 10:30am
  Pre-Event
  - John Hancock Walk & Talk Session - Main Track
    
    *Requires pre-registration. Max of 60 people will be able to participate.
    A past attendee-favorite, the John Hancock Walk & Talk is a mix of peers and senior-level business leaders ready to listen and discuss questions on career growth or real life obstacles or issues. Bonus: you get your daily step count in!
  - Shiny Objects Podcast recording - Sponsored by MassMutual
    
    Host Cristin Barth, Head of GYK with Kristin Lane, Head of Brand Strategy, Marketing & Customer Engagement at MassMutual
    
    **Does not require pre-registration however due to the nature of recording sound, doors will close promptly at 10:35 AM.
    Alongside trailblazing athletes across basketball, tennis and soccer, MassMutual is unveiling its newest campaign, “Stay Ready,” focused on closing the confidence gap in financial security for women. In collaboration with Giant Spoon and Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, the campaign taps into the cultural momentum of NCAA March Madness—not only celebrating women’s sports but also empowering female athletes and fans to take control of their financial futures.
- 12:00pm
  
  Lunch
- 12:30pm
  
  Welcome Remarks
  
  Barb Reilly | President & CEO, The Ad Club
- 12:40pm
  
  Deborah Riley Draper - CEO, CoffeeBluff Pictures
  
  Author, Director, Writer, Producer
  
  A Career of Creativity: how the seeds of becoming a Creative Entrepreneur and a champion for telling diverse and untold stories were planted while working at some of the best ad agencies in the world.
- 1:00pm
  
  Ashley Tyrner-Dolce - CEO, FarmboxRX
  
  Lessons from a founder and activist
- 1:22pm
  
  Journey to the Top Panel
  
  Moderator: Maggie Milnamow | Chief Revenue Officer, Business Insider
  Kathryn Condon | Head of Retail Marketing, Fidelity Investments
  Nicole Estebanell | CEO, Mediahub
  Jill Nelson | CMO, Dunkin’
  
  Reaching the top is a huge accomplishment. Getting there and staying there can be an interesting journey with wins, yes, but it can also have unexpected bumps, pivots and turns. Hear from three women at the top at three different global companies about their experiences navigating their journeys.
- 1:52pm
  
  BREAK
- 2:10pm
  
  Jacqueline Reilly
  
  Designing a Life of Purpose
- 2:30pm
  
  Investing in Women’s Sports to Drive Equity Panel
  
  Moderator: Amina Bulman | Chief Revenue Officer, Boston’s NWSL team
  Leela Srinivasan| CEO, Parity (paritynow.co)
  Femita Ayanbeku | Paralympian
  Samantha Critchell | VP, Corporate Communications, e.l.f. Beauty
  
  Women’s sports is finally in the spotlight, but it took a long time to get here. As it moves into the mainstream, the impact women’s sports is having is far beyond TV ratings. Learn from three different journeys how women’s sports is driving cultural change and equity.
- 3:00pm
  
  Taylor Wolfe … and Sandy Wolfe! - @thedailytay
  
  Marissa Kelley, EVP, Head of Strategy at Arnold will have a fun and informative chat with rising social influencer, author and all around funny lady Taylor Wolfe about life, work, motherhood and putting it all out to the world. Taylor’s mother, Sandy, who is frequently part of her comedy, will also discuss motherhood today and the ever evolving dynamics of the mother daughter relationship.
- 3:20pm
  
  BREAK
- 3:45pm
  
  Building Your Own Ladder to Climb Panel
  
  Suzanne McKenzie | Founder, CEO/CCO, Able Made
  EJ Kim | Founder, NNABI
  Graceann Bennett | Founder, Holy*Water
  
  For many of us, things happen that throw us off the course we envisioned for ourselves. For some, this detour becomes our new life mission. Meet three founders who will share their journeys from more traditional career routes to founding their own business.
- 4:15PM
  
  Women We Admire Awards Presentation
  
  The winners of the 2025 Women We Admire Awards will be announced live!
- 4:45pm
  
  Closing Remarks
  
  Barb Reilly, President & CEO | The Ad Club
- 4:50pm
  
  Cocktail and Networking Reception
- 6:00pm
  
  Event Concludes

Women We Admire Awards

Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the Women We Admire Awards!

Our charitable partner

Boston Health Care for the Homeless

Founded in 1985, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) has provided and assured access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston, serving more than 11,000 patients each year. With over 30 shelter- and hospital-based clinic sites, BHCHP delivers health care to people experiencing homelessness wherever they may be—within shelters, on park benches, and other unconventional settings.
Despite experiencing heightened threats to their health and safety, women face especially high barriers to accessing the health care and resources they need to survive and be well. BHCHP has created innovative and empowering pathways to trauma-informed care for women, providing a trusted source of health care and supportive services to over 3,500 women each year.

Would you like to make a direct donation? Click here