Young Women’s Program

Attendees from the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA, participated in the 2017 Young Women’s Program

In partnership with our sponsors, the Pennsylvania Conference for Women is proud to once again bring the Young Women’s Program to the 2018 Conference. This program provides high school junior and senior girls with the opportunity to attend the Conference and participate in a seminar track designed especially for them.

This unique opportunity exposes our next generation of leaders to dynamic speakers, and encourages them to exchange ideas. 

2018 Young Women’s Program Agenda

All sessions take place in meeting room 122 unless otherwise noted.

Session I: 10:00 – 11:00 am | Overcoming Bias in School & Beyond (POE)
We all have blind spots or biases about people from other cultures, religions, and genders. These hidden biases influence the friends we choose, the organizations we join—and can influence our careers. Recognizing and braving our own blind-spots is challenging enough, but how do we ensure others are assessing us in a fair and accurate way? Whether negative or positive, these stereotypes influence others’ behavior towards us.  Join this panel of leaders to learn how they overcame broad generalizations about who they were to accomplish their lofty goals.

Thought Leader: Tiffany Jana, author, Overcoming Bias

Panelists:
⚬ Alexa Curtis, CEO, Life Unfiltered with Alexa @alexa_curtis
⚬ Zaniya Lewis, Founder and Executive Director of YesSheCanCampaign
⚬ Dani Rylan, founder, National Women’s Hockey League and Fast Company “Most Creative People in Business 2016”

11:00 am – 11:15 am | Stop the Bull (Mini Session)
We have all felt bullied at one time and although each instance is different, it can often last longer than we had hoped. How do you protect yourself until it stops? From confronting the bully head-on to walking away, there is no one right way to deal with bullying, as what may feel right for one person or situation may not for another. This mini-session will lay out your options so that you can choose how to react the next time it happens and also learn what not to do in a bullying situation so you don’t get distracted away from what makes you happy in life.

Speaker: Heather F. Russell, Ph.D., pediatric psychologist, Shriners Hospitals for Children

Session II: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | The Importance of Speaking Up (Interactive Workshop)
History has proven that nothing gets accomplished unless someone speaks up. But being the person who speaks up can be hard. In this session, Swarthmore College president Valerie Smith will provide real-world examples from her own experience of speaking up, and offer an arsenal of strategies for effective communication on topics of high importance today.  She will then be joined by the founders of “Ladies OUT LOUD” who will share the tips and tools to help you speak up. You will leave the session with the skillset to start a career of “getting loud” so that nothing stands in your way.

Speakers:  
⚬ Valerie Smith, president, Swarthmore College
⚬ Dena Blizzard, comedian and founder, Ladies OUT LOUD

Emcee: Sharrie Williams, 6abc Action News

12:40 pm – 1:00 pm | Shine Bright: Set Yourself Apart
(LOCATED IN HALLS C/D, Drexel LeBow Career Pavilion)
This interactive session will help you navigate your school life and your professional life with insights on how to distinguish yourself from other candidates when applying to college, jobs, and even volunteer opportunities. Learn tips and techniques that will help you shine bright like a diamond and stand out from the crowd. This session will cover: • Identifying what makes you uniquely qualified • Building your confidence and taking the big leap • Developing your brand

Speakers:
⚬Noor Jemy, program manager, graduate student services, Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business
⚬Lori Miceli, assistant director, graduate student services, Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business

 To request tickets for the 2019 conference, please return to this page in April 2019 to find a new form.

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