Conference to Empower Women to Advance Careers
Image by Tory Germann
05/07/2018
Contact: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – A top executive with Scholastic Inc. – the multimillion-dollar publisher with rights to the “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” series – and a Boston meteorologist will anchor UMass Lowell’s 2018 Women’s Leadership Conference.
“The Power and Potential of Women” will bring together hundreds of professionals in business, education, government and the nonprofit sector interested in advancing their careers and enhancing their lives. From sessions on how to be and find a mentor to what’s necessary to serve on corporate and charitable boards, the event is a testament to how women are transforming and improving the workplace every day.
The conference will be held on Tuesday, June 19 at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell. Individuals interested in registering to attend should visit www.uml.edu/wlc. Registration is open through Tuesday, June 12.
Danielle Niles, a meteorologist with CBS Boston, will kick off the event with keynote remarks. A familiar face to TV viewers throughout the region, she can be seen on WBZ-TV’s morning and noon news broadcasts and she previously worked for New England Cable News. Before her television career, Niles was a meteorologist with Weather Services International in Andover, where she provided forecasts for private companies. A Weymouth native, she graduated from UMass Lowell in 2006 with a degree in atmospheric science and served as captain of the women’s varsity soccer team.
Linda Gadsby’s presentation will anchor the conference’s afternoon program. She serves as the vice president and deputy general counsel for Scholastic Inc., the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational materials for students in nursery school through 12th grade. Her role includes advising the company’s executive team, handling labor and employment law matters and serving as the lead attorney for the company’s Education, Book Fairs and National Service Organization divisions. For her engagement in a variety of civic and community service initiatives, she has been honored by the Consulate General of Barbados in New York, the Young Barbadian Professionals Society, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, and her alma mater, New York University School of Law, among others.
Welcoming participants to the conference will be UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, who founded the event after she was named to her current post in 2015. A pioneer in higher education, including online learning and in teaching entrepreneurship, Moloney has been recognized as an exceptional leader by organizations including the Online Learning Consortium, which has honored her for outstanding contributions to the field. In addition, UMass Lowell is No. 4 on this year’s Commonwealth Institute/Boston Globe Magazine list of Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts and Moloney received one of the first-ever “Women Who Mean Business” awards from the Boston Business Journal.
A two-time graduate of UMass Lowell who has worked at the university for more than three decades, Moloney is lauded for her ability to inspire and collaborate with others and is a champion of women’s success at work, at home and in the community.
“This event showcases the intellect and energy women bring to the table every day in the workplace, both as proven leaders and rising stars. Its ability to unite so many knowledgeable and dynamic professionals is exciting for participants, as the conference, now in its third year, continues to grow. I can’t wait to join everyone in June,” Moloney said.
Alongside Moloney, Niles and Gadsby, women leaders in career coaching, event planning, financial services, higher education, human resources, marketing and the pharmaceutical industry will headline 12 conference panels. Sessions will be organized by four themes: succeeding in business and entrepreneurship; cultivating career development skills; investing in personal capital; and leading, empowering and inspiring others.
Speakers are scheduled to include Kristen Brown, vice president of global talent acquisition for Kronos Inc.; Michelle Courton Brown, chief executive officer of Quality Interactions, a leading provider of cultural-competency training for the health-care industry; Kande McDonald, vice president of Crystal Clear Consulting; and Patricia Stevens, Enterprise Wealth Services assistant vice president and financial adviser.
Featured during sessions on entrepreneurship, mentoring, management and workplace culture will be faculty members in UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business Elizabeth Altman, Elana Feldman, Beth Humberd and Erica Steckler, co-director of the university’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility. Michelle Haynes-Baratz, a psychology professor and associate in UMass Lowell’s Center for Women and Work will also participate. The day will end with a networking opportunity. The conference’s full schedule can be found at www.uml.edu/wlc.
UMass Lowell is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its more than 18,000 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be ready for work, for life and for all the world offers. www.uml.edu