2025 Women's Leadership Council Conference

Attendees will be divided into small groups to enjoy dinner within walking distance of the hotel on Wharf. Connect with friends and get to know new peers across the industry!

Have your headshots taken by a professional photographer! More information and signup to be shared with registered attendees.

Speakers: 

• Mary O’Brien, Lieutenant General, United States Air Force, Retired  

• Lori Reynolds, Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps, Retired  

Join us as we hear from retired 3-Star Generals, Lt Gen Mary O’Brien (USAF) and LtGen Lori Reynolds (USMC) as they lead an amazing conversation around leadership in times of adversity, the importance of grounding your place at the table, team building, managing complexity, risk, talent management and organizational change. Throughout their careers, they were often the only woman in the room for their respective services. They were sought after to speak on issues affecting female service members and were trusted voices within their branches, navigating and commanding diverse teams, complex organizations and implementing developmental programs is paramount to their success all while driving decisions across national security and economic policy conflicts. LtGen Reynolds and Lt Gen O’Brien exemplify a commitment to breaking barriers and redefining what is possible for women in uniform. LtGen Reynolds was the first Marine Corps female battalion commander in combat, her leadership philosophy is anchored in the belief that trust is the cornerstone of any successful team.  Lt Gen O’Brien pioneered advancements in the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles, networked weapons, and advanced intelligence sensors, significantly enhancing military operational capabilities. She led the USAF Women’s Initiative Teams to remove policy and culture barriers to women's military service.   

Speaker: 

• Eric Schmidt, Director, SipSource
• Michael Bilello, Executive Vice President, Strategic Communications and Marketing, WSWA
• Jessica Partington, Senior Vice President, Spirits, Winebow

Pull up a chair and join us for a relaxed, insightful fireside chat with Jessica Partington of Winebow, alongside Eric Schmidt and Michael Bilello from the WSWA SipSource team. Together, they’ll unpack the latest shifts in the wine and spirits landscape, blending real-time data with market-savvy insight.

Whether you're building a smarter portfolio or simply want to stay ahead of the trends, this session will give you the tools to turn data into action — all in a casual, conversational format.

Speaker: Swathi Young: CTO and AI/ML Strategy Architect, Fractional CTO for Startups and Smbs, Forbes Contributor, Georgetown MBA, and Genai Thought Leader 

Join AI innovator Swathi Young as she demystifies how artificial intelligence is already transforming industries through real-world applications in distribution, logistics, customer insights, and brand growth. Drawing from her experience re-engineering critical systems at Amtrak and leading GenAI initiatives across federal and private sectors, Swathi will share how scalable and ethical AI strategies can drive measurable business outcomes. Attendees will explore practical use cases—from demand forecasting and route optimization to personalized marketing—and walk away with actionable steps to reduce waste, boost profitability, and begin leveraging AI within their own organizations.

Speaker: Edyta Satchell, Corporate Wellness Expert, Keynote Speaker, Founder & CEO, Satchelle Global Wellness & Finelle 

Emotional wellness is one of the most overlooked—yet profoundly essential—dimensions of well-being in the workplace. In this powerful and transformational session, we  will be guided through an inspiring journey that goes far beyond theory - a shared experience designed to uplift, empower, and ignite lasting change.