SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional BusinessWomen of California (PBWC) will host over 5,500 businesswomen at its sold-out 27th annual conference. The premiere conference for women in business empowers attendees to reach their full potential as leaders and catalyze change at work and in their communities.
The Conference attracts a diverse cross-section of individuals and businesses to discuss the most relevant issues and pressing challenges facing women in business today. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from 50+ powerful speakers, choose among 25+ interactive learning and tactical training sessions, and engage in purposeful networking opportunities. More than 20 book signings will take place over the course of the conference, and nearly 50 businesses and nonprofit organizations will fill the PBWC Expo Marketplace.
Keynote speakers include tennis champion Venus Williams; girl's rights activist Memory Banda; Judy Smith, Internationally Renowned Crisis Management Expert and Co-Executive Producer and inspiration for the hit show 'Scandal'; Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder, 23andMe; and Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who is the United States Representative for the 14th District of California and PBWC's founder. In addition, Kim S. Stevenson, Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Intel, Pat Wadors, CHRO- Senior Vice President Global Talent Organization, LinkedIn, and other prominent executives will lead panel discussions.
"I have deep respect for Rep. Jackie Speier and all that she has done to open doors for women everywhere," said Anne Wojcicki, Co-Founder and CEO of 23andMe. "Through the founding of PBWC and numerous other initiatives, she has been a role model for women on mentoring and empowering one another. I am privileged to be invited and share my experiences with other women about my passion for science and genetics education."
The theme for this year's conference is "Changing the Game." PBWC is inviting all attendees to make new connections, acquire new skills, and change the game to achieve gender equity in the workplace. Workshop sessions will cover a wide range of subjects including career advancement, masterful communications, entrepreneurship, financial power and innovation/ideation. Topics were chosen in direct response to feedback from previous years attendees.
"The Conference is a powerful individual and collective experience," said Nicole Soluri, PBWC President and Board Chair, and Chief Counsel for the California State Lottery. "For most attendees, this event is a unique opportunity to spend the day surrounded by 5,000 like-minded women who have shared similar experiences. This is our day to move the needle and make headway on the gender equity challenge."
"For Diversity and Inclusion, the conversation has to change," said Pat Wadors, CHRO- Senior Vice President Global Talent Organization, LinkedIn. "It's about belonging, it's about creating a culture where people want to be a part. Teaching companies and leaders how to create those magical moments for others will create the diverse workforce you're looking for."
PBWC is hosting its second annual Senior Leadership Summit the day before the conference. This event will bring together 60 multicultural, C-Suite and senior executives from Bay Area organizations and the PBWC Board of Directors in an intimate, closed-door conversation about the issues facing women and how to advance gender equity.
The Professional BusinessWomen of California was founded in 1989 by U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and exists to promote career momentum and open access to a large network of leading business professionals in California and beyond.
WHO: Professional BusinessWomen of California
WHAT: 27th Annual Conference, "Changing the Game"
WHERE: Moscone Center West, San Francisco, CA
WHEN: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
WEBSITE: www.pbwc.org/conference
SOURCE Professional BusinessWomen of California