WWR Staff
Philadelphia
(WWR Summary tl;dr) 10,000 women (yes some men too!) gathered at the Pennsylvania convention center for one of the leading women’s conferences in the country, “The Pennsylvania Conference for Women.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA
During a time of heightened national focus on women and the workplace culture, more than 10,000 women gathered for the 13th annual Massachusetts Conference for Women, headlined by Serena Williams and Amal Clooney.
World-renowned athlete and philanthropist Serena Williams spoke about her career, her family and the philanthropic causes she cares so much about, including child and maternal health and financial abuse against women.
Human rights attorney Amal Clooney spoke about the need for more accountability through our legal systems so that perpetrators of abuse against women know their crimes will not be tolerated and that they will face justice in a court of law.
The nonpartisan, nonprofit conference is part of the largest network of women’s conferences in the country, attracting an estimated 40,000 women a year in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas and California. In recent years, it has become one of the nation’s top forums for women focused on professional and personal development.
“I am honored to speak to the thousands gathered in Philadelphia for the PA Conference for Women, “ Governor Pennsylvania Tom Wolf said. “It is an incredibly important time to amplify the influence of women in the workplace and beyond. Thank you for continuing to make this a nonprofit, nonpartisan event that draws women of all ages, backgrounds, and affiliations.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney also addressed the Conference, saying, “Philadelphia is proud to be the home of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, one of the largest, most dynamic gatherings of women in America. Empowering and inspiring women from across the nation has become a cherished tradition for our city, and we are honored to welcome the conference back for its 15th year.”
Other speakers included Maysoon Zayid, comedian and ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation; Samantha Barry, editor-in-chief of Glamour; Ellen McGirt, award-winning writer on race, culture, and leadership; and Amanda Southworth, a 16-year-old iOS developer, and a mental health and human rights activist.
Themed “The Power of Us: Amplify Your Voice,” the annual nonpartisan, nonprofit Conference, brings together thousands of professionals to connect, renew, and find inspiration in community. Throughout the day, more than 100 experts shared practical skills and strategies related to leadership, personal finance, work-life balance and communication skills.
“We are proud that this event continues to be Pennsylvania’s pre-eminent women’s conference,” said Leslie Stiles, President of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women Board. “It is a privilege to support this dynamic community of women through this annual conference and all our year-round resources. ”
To learn more about the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, visit our website at www.paconferenceforwomen.org.
