EVENTS

This keynote is a celebration and a challenge in equal measure.

It opens by honoring the women who came before us — the ones who were the first, the only, and the exception in rooms that weren’t built for them. Their presence changed something. And because of them, the landscape looks different today.

But different isn’t done.

The heart of the talk explores the arc from exception to expectation — what it actually takes to move from a world where a woman in a leadership role is surprising, to one where it is simply assumed. That shift doesn’t happen on its own. It happens because of deliberate choices women make every day: to stay visible, to speak up, to mentor the woman behind them, and to refuse to shrink to fit spaces that weren’t designed with them in mind. 

Drawing on personal stories from navigating a corporate career — including years working in male-dominated environments, leading teams through uncertainty, and showing up fully even when it cost something — this talk weaves lived experience with the broader story of women in the workforce. We’ll look at how far we’ve come, name honestly what still needs to change, and ask the most important question of all:

Now that we’re in the room — what are we building?

The audience will leave with:

• A renewed sense of progress that is real and worth celebrating
• Honest language for the barriers that still exist — without apology or bitterness
• A personal challenge to be the bridge between the women who paved the way and the women still finding theirs
• The conviction that the most powerful thing a woman can do is refuse to be the last one

About our Keynote Speaker: Laura Lemons Director, Administrative Services Center, Eli Lilly and Company

From her start as an administrative assistant to leading a global team of 34 professionals, Laura Lemons has spent three decades proving that leadership is defined by deliberate choices and human-centered values. As a cancer survivor and patient advocate, she brings a powerful perspective on building bridges for the women who follow.

[Read Laura’s full story here]

Agenda

Registration is now open! Thanks to our generous sponsors, breakfast is included with conference or expo hall registration. Pre-registration is required.

Register Here

Please note: This networking breakfast is for women-identifying members of the WCVC Networking Group.

Mark your calendar, Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Google – .ics

Thank you for joining us in Kansas City!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made our 3rd annual WCVC Networking Breakfast such a success. From the buffet breakfast to Stephanie Roberts’ inspiring keynote, “The First, but Not the Last,” it was a morning filled with connection, energy, and shared purpose.