More than 500 women gathered at Hilton Granite Park to share bold stories on leadership, resilience and purpose
What do you get when you mix 500 of North Texas’ most dynamic women, coffee, champagne and a stage full of fearless voices? At Local Profile’s 24th Annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America, the answer was clear: a high-energy day overflowing with inspiration, empowerment and the kind of bold ideas that change lives.
Held Sept. 12 at Hilton Granite Park, the summit was more than a conference. It was a gathering where women pushed each other to think bigger, lead differently and carve out paths defined not by titles or checklists but by intention, grit and joy. The conversations were candid, the lessons practical and the connections unforgettable.
Photo: Tracy Autem & Lightly Photo | Local Profile
Owning Your Path
The first panel kicked off with stories of resilience and reinvention, setting the tone for the day. Jennifer Luney Bejtović of Bank of Texas, social impact leader Gabrielle Madison, Mpowered Journey founder Ann Sheu and Spring AI Studio founder Jabeen Ali Zaidi each spoke about how intentional choices and self-belief can shape not only careers but entire lives.
“I live by the idea of living by design, not by default,” Sheu said, reminding the audience that intentionality shouldn’t stop at work. “A lot of times, we’re deliberate about projects, building businesses and building teams — but it’s just as important to apply that same level of intentionality to your personal life.”
Luney Bejtović added that success rarely follows a straight path. For some, it might mean starting a business; for others, building a family or advancing within a company. What matters, she said, is determination, support and the right community. Gesturing toward the hundreds of women in the room, she noted that gatherings like this summit prove how powerful it can be when people come together to uplift one another.
Photo: Tracy Autem & Lightly Photo | Local Profile
From Bankruptcy To Breakthrough
Keynote speaker Suzy Batiz, the magnetic founder of Poo-Pourri, drew the audience in with her raw honesty and sharp humor. Her journey — from surviving abuse and bankruptcy to building a global brand — revolved around one radical practice: trusting herself.
Batiz explained her philosophy of “resonance,” the deep alignment that happens when you say yes to what energizes you and no to what drains you. For her, the key has been building systems that handle the tasks she doesn’t love, so she has the freedom to lean into her creativity. “I don’t have to worry about the storm, because the system I put around me helped me be the creative,” she said. “Otherwise, I’d be stuck back in dissonance, doing things I don’t want to do while my life force energy drains.”
She reminded the audience of how powerful words can be. When someone says, “this job is killing me” or “this relationship is killing me,” she noted, there’s truth behind it. “What they’re really saying is, my life force energy is being reduced,” Batiz said. Her advice? Pay attention to that language, confront dissonance directly and make the bold changes that allow you to thrive.
Photo: Tracy Autem & Lightly Photo | Local Profile
Bold Journeys, Big Impact
The second panel, featuring Vanessa Ogle of Higher Hill Capital, Bank of America veteran Emily Ledet and Ezra Coffee founder Jessica Taylor, kept the momentum alive with stories of bold decisions and transformative leadership.
Ledet, reflecting on 25 years at Bank of America, spoke about the balance of intuition and data, and the unwavering role of loyalty and integrity in her career. “I’ve done so many different things, and in every role, I lead with my personal values — loyalty, integrity and transparency — and I bring those into my work,” she said.
Ogle spoke about the power of saying no, stressing that not every opportunity is the right fit. Drawing from her own business experiences, she explained how discernment, guided by a trusted board of directors and team members, has been critical in making sound decisions. Whether it meant walking away from certain technologies or parting ways with team members, those difficult nos ultimately kept her business focused, resilient and on course.
Taylor’s grounding affirmation — “show me how good it can get” — captured the spirit of the panel perfectly.
Energy In Motion
By day’s end, Hilton Granite Park felt transformed. The Women in Business Summit wasn’t just a day of panels and keynotes; it was a living reminder that when women gather with courage and candor, they spark something bigger than themselves.
Attendees left not only with new contacts and fresh ideas but with the fire to say no when it matters, to trust their instincts and to lead with integrity. And yes, there was plenty of champagne. But the real bubbles came from the collective energy of 500 unstoppable women, ready to shape what comes next.
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This article was originally published in Local Profile magazine — read more here.
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