Agenda June 16-18, 2025
Monday, June 16 2025 (In-Person Only)
1:00-2:30 Registration Hyatt Centric Arlington
Register and grab your name badge in the Hotel Centric Lobby.
2:30-5:00 Optional Visit to Amazon HQ2
FULL – Waitlist Only
Join us on a tour and visit to the Amazon second hadquarters building. Pre-approval security clearance required.
5:30-7:00 Welcome Reception, Sponsored by Bloomberg Academic Subscriptions
Join us at Upside on Moore to enjoy a festive Welcome Reception with WIBE Network.
Tuesday, June 17 2025 (In-Person & Virtual)
8:30-9:00 Registration & Coffee
Come grab your name badge, agenda and coffee meet & greet.
9:00-9:30 Opening Welcome
Join Lisa Leander, Founder & CEO to officially open the Boldly You Summit
9:30-10:30 Beyond Smart and Capable, What Bold Leadership Demands Now
Speaker: Margaret Andrews, Managing Director, MYLO Center
In this session, Margaret Andrews draws on decades of experience developing senior leaders across sectors to explore what truly sets bold leaders apart and how you can cultivate those traits in yourself and your organization.
Expect a lively conversation filled with real-world examples, actionable frameworks, and unexpected insights that challenge conventional leadership models. Whether you’re leading through crisis, navigating complexity, or stepping into bigger roles, this session will spark new thinking about what it means to lead now and lead well.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-12:00 Focus on What Matters: Redefining Success, Style, and Showing Up
Speaker: Sarah LaFleur, Founder & CEO M.M.LaFleur
Moderator: Liesl Riddle, Dean of Professional Studies, George Washington University
In a world overflowing with distractions, expectations, and burnout, what does it really mean to focus on what matters most?
Join Sarah LaFleur, the powerhouse behind M.M.LaFleur, a brand built on the belief that getting dressed should be the easiest part of your day, for an inspiring conversation on clarity, leadership, and bold choices.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:15-2:00 Becoming Who You Need to Be (Before You’re Ready)
Lisa Leander, CEO & Founder, WIBE Network (Where Imagination Builds Excellence)
In times of volatility and rapid change, reinvention is not just bold, it’s necessary.
But with reinvention comes risk. The risk of failure, the risk of letting go of what once worked, and the risk of becoming something new before the world is ready for it. In this powerful and personal keynote, Lisa Leander shares the story behind WIBE’s transformation. And her own.
2:00-3:00 Pivot or Die with Gary Shapiro
Pivot or Die – How Leaders Thrive When Everything Changes
Gary Shapiro, President & CEO of the Consumer Technology Association and Author of Pivot or Die
Moderated by: Bertie Greer, Dean, UMASS Lowell
In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, leaders can no longer rely on stability—they must learn to adapt, innovate, and act boldly in the face of uncertainty. In this keynote conversation, Gary Shapiro shares the lessons behind his book Pivot or Die, drawing from decades of experience leading one of the world’s most influential technology associations and producing CES, the global stage for innovation.
3:00-3:30 Coffee Break/Book Signing
3:30-4:00 Team Activity - How will you Pivot?
4:00-5:00 Courage to Create: Designing a Future That Dares to Be Different
Shannan Herbert, CEO, Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif)
Moderated by: Ruben Adorno, Bloomberg Academic Subscriptions
What does it take to break the mold and reimagine what leadership, systems, and opportunity can look like?
In this intimate fireside chat, Shannan Herbert shares the personal and professional moments that required bold vision, and even bolder courage. From redesigning financial systems to building tables that didn’t exist, we’ll explore how creativity isn’t just an artistic skill, but a leadership stance.
Wednesday, June 18 2025 (In-Person & Virtual)
9:00-12:00 Telling Your Story Half Day Workshop - Speak Boldly
Workshop: Telling Your Story – Speak Boldly
Facilitated by Lesley Lopez, George Washington University
Everyone has a story, but not everyone knows how to tell it.
In this interactive workshop, Lesley Lopez of George Washington University will help you uncover and shape the story only you can tell. Whether you’re stepping into a new leadership role, navigating change, or building a personal brand, your story is one of your most powerful tools.
Through reflection, small group discussion, and storytelling exercises, you’ll explore:
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How to find your story and the courage to share it
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Ways to turn moments of challenge into messages of strength
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How authentic storytelling builds trust, connection, and clarity
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Tips to bring your voice forward in your writing, speaking, and leadership
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
FULL – Waitlist Only
Join us on a tour and visit to the Amazon second hadquarters building. Pre-approval security clearance required.
1:30 Depart for Site Visit to M.M.LaFluer
2:00-4:00 Site Visit "Behind the Brand" M.M.LaFleur
Meet Our Sponsors
Registration
Member Rate In-Person (Arlington)
$625
WIBE Membership required.
Join us in-person for 3 amazing days in Arlington.
Virtual Ticket Join us Online!
$625
BUY ONE VIRTUAL TICKET, GET ONE FREE
All Virtual Tickets can bring a buddy for free!
Use code BRINGABUDDY for your free ticket.
Non-Member Rate In-Person (Arlington)
$925
Must be a current business school dean, associate dean or faculty.
Vendors and exhibitors must register as sponsors.
Meet our Speakers
“Courage is Clarity”-Margaret Andrews, Managing Director, MYLO Center
Margaret Andrews is on a mission to improve the craft of leadership. Her course, Managing Yourself and Leading Others, is among the most popular classes and executive programs at Harvard and the foundation for much of her speaking and writing.
Margaret has over 30 years of business and academic leadership experience. On the business side, she started her career as a CPA in San Francisco, and has also been a marketing executive and a long-time strategy consultant. She now leads The MYLO Center, a private leadership development firm.
On the academic side, Margaret ran the MBA program at the MIT Sloan School of Management before becoming Associate Dean for Management Programs at Harvard University. She currently teaches courses and executive programs at Harvard, which also includes Creativity and Innovation, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and Understanding and Evolving Organizational Culture. She is also Co-Faculty Director for a new executive program through Harvard Medical School, the Pharmaceutical Executive Program in Leadership.
Margaret earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her graduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is currently writing a book for talented, ambitious leaders, based on her popular Managing Yourself and Leading Others course.
“Focus on What’s Important” -Sarah LaFleur, Founder & CEO, M.M.LaFleur
Sarah founded M.M.LaFleur in 2013 with a mission to help women take the work out of getting dressed, so they can focus on the work that matters to them. Prior to founding M.M.LaFleur, she worked at Bain & Co. in New York and TechnoServe in South Africa. Sarah sits on the Advisory Council of the New York Federal Reserve and is a board member of the Downtown Alliance of New York City. Most recently, she is a Henry Crown Fellow within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute. She graduated from Harvard University. M.M.LaFleur is named after her mother, whom she calls her biggest inspiration.
Hear From Leaders
in Industry & Academia
Stay Tuned for more updates on our panels, speakers and workshops.
Registration
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Site Visit: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes:
Georgetown M.M. LaFleur Experience
(IN-PERSON ONLY)
Get ready to be inspired by M.M. LaFleur’s CEO, Sarah LaFleur, as she shares her fearless journey of building a successful fashion brand at our Summit. WiBE members are then invited to a special, private event at the M.M. LaFleur shop in Georgetown. After a short presentation where we’ll learn more about the brand’s story, products, and unique styling offerings.
A Message From Our Founder
It’s time to go big. Time to be bold.
Do you have the courage to make difficult decisions, embrace innovation, and confidently guide your team through uncertainty and change?
Bold leadership involves taking calculated risks, inspiring others to think creatively, and maintaining a clear vision even in the face of uncertainty.
But remember, everything
you need is already within you.
I know that you already have what it takes to be a bold leader. We need to tap into who you truly are and the strength that has brought you this far.
Join us for three days to bring your story to life, to unleash your boldness, and to bring your inner energy into outward action.
Come be inspired, shout, laugh, and connect with our amazing community.
I invite you to join us at the Boldly You Leadership Summit. –Lisa Leander, Founder & CEO
What Our Members Say
The energy and inspiration I get from WIBE has been so uplifting and incredible.
WIBE is a wonderful support system for all business academics. The professional development, upskilling, and networking opportunities are phenomenal.
Wonderful summit! There were so many ideas shared and connections made that I can’t wait until the next one
Academia can be lonely and isolating, WIBE provides a great platform to build connections to other academics around the world.
FAQ
All Your Questions Answered
What makes the Boldly You Leadership Summit unique?
Ask any of our members who have attended previous conferences; our summit is anything but boring!
We focus on building connections and community, featuring incredible speakers, engaging sessions, and plenty of fun. This year’s summit stands out by combining the principles of courageous leadership with the art of storytelling.
It’s not just about learning leadership skills; it’s about changing how you lead by embracing courageous, bold and powerful narratives.
It’s a celebration of how great YOU are, exactly as you are.
Who can attend the Boldly You Leadership Summit?
This summit is exclusively for Deans, Associate Deans, Administrators, and Faculty in business education.
We encourage men and women to register and attend.
WIBE Membership is open to both men and women at business schools! Learn more at www.wibenetwork.com/membership
Not at a university? We have 10 sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities available. Please email membership@wibenetwork.com for more information
I can no longer attend, can I get a refund?
You can get a full refund for for in-person prior to March 1, 2025.
After March 1, 2025 your reigstration fees may be used towards a future WiBE event.
You may also transfer the ticket to another individual at anytime before the event.
What should I expect from the storytelling sessions?
Heads up: We’re diving deep.
Our storytelling sessions are crafted to help you create and deliver narratives that truly inspire and engage. You’ll learn techniques to clearly and passionately articulate your vision, making your goals and strategies relatable and impactful. Expect small group discussions, practical exercises, and inspiring talks to elevate your storytelling skills.
But remember, the most powerful stories are also the most vulnerable and difficult to tell.
Because it’s when we share our weaknesses and failures that we connect on the deepest level and create the most profound impact.