Women’s Leadership Connection to hold May conference in Jacksonville

Published 12:36 pm Friday, March 13, 2026

The Women’s Leadership Connection will hold its 13th annual conference at a new venue this year.

The conference will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Bigham Knoll’s seven-acre campus, 525 Bigham Knoll Drive, in Jacksonville.

This year’s format features two keynotes, a guided networking session, lightning talks, a luncheon panel and a midday movement break. Coffee, light breakfast and lunch are included with registration.

“We’ve not only changed our venue this year, but our format as well. Rather than offering concurrent breakout sessions with attendees in different rooms, we’re hosting everyone in the ballroom for the entirety of the conference,” said Conference Director Sandra Colley in a news release.

“We’re also introducing our new ‘Lightning Talks’ — WLC’s version of TED Talks — which are brief, focused presentations on topics of interest to our audience.”

The conference and keynote speaker lineup is as follows:

Meocha Williams, keynote: “Lift as You Climb, Without Becoming the Ladder”
Jan Spence, keynote: “It’s Game Time! Cheer Leadership to Lift as You Climb”
Elissa Denton: “You’re Not a Brand: Reclaiming the Heart of Networking”
Natasha Ickes: “Leadership That Builds People and Not Burnout”
Sarah Stevens: “Creating the Conditions for Growth”
Melanie Bonk: “Regulated to Rise: Nervous System Attunement as a Leadership Skill”
Dr. Keyan Botsford, owner of Botsford Orthodontics
Annie Jenkins, executive coach and consultant
Libby Gill, leadership expert, international speaker and bestselling author
Eve Benton, associate college counselor

This year’s theme, “Lift as You Climb,” aligns with WLC’s core mission of helping women connect and advance.

The Women’s Leadership Conference was founded in 2010. It is committed to offering women leadership and career development opportunities to advance their careers and enhance their personal lives through the conferences, workshops, the WLC Mentorship Program, sponsorships, scholarships and more.

Detailed information, registration and pricing information, see womensleadership.co/conferences.