Women\u2019s Leadership Connection to hold May conference in Jacksonville<\/p>\n
Published 12:36 pm Friday, March 13, 2026<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s Leadership Connection will hold its 13th annual conference at a new venue this year.<\/p>\n
The conference will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Bigham Knoll\u2019s seven-acre campus, 525 Bigham Knoll Drive, in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve not only changed our venue this year, but our format as well. Rather than offering concurrent breakout sessions with attendees in different rooms, we\u2019re hosting everyone in the ballroom for the entirety of the conference,\u201d said Conference Director Sandra Colley in a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re also introducing our new \u2018Lightning Talks\u2019 \u2014 WLC\u2019s version of TED Talks \u2014 which are brief, focused presentations on topics of interest to our audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conference and keynote speaker lineup is as follows:<\/p>\n
Meocha Williams, keynote: \u201cLift as You Climb, Without Becoming the Ladder\u201d
\nJan Spence, keynote: \u201cIt\u2019s Game Time! Cheer Leadership to Lift as You Climb\u201d
\nElissa Denton: \u201cYou\u2019re Not a Brand: Reclaiming the Heart of Networking\u201d
\nNatasha Ickes: \u201cLeadership That Builds People and Not Burnout\u201d
\nSarah Stevens: \u201cCreating the Conditions for Growth\u201d
\nMelanie Bonk: \u201cRegulated to Rise: Nervous System Attunement as a Leadership Skill\u201d
\nDr. Keyan Botsford, owner of Botsford Orthodontics
\nAnnie Jenkins, executive coach and consultant
\nLibby Gill, leadership expert, international speaker and bestselling author
\nEve Benton, associate college counselor<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s theme, \u201cLift as You Climb,\u201d aligns with WLC\u2019s core mission of helping women connect and advance.<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n