More than 700 women gather on Friday, October 3, for the NJ Conference for Women, organized by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Alliance, at the Hyatt Regency Princeton in Carnegie Center.
The day-long event is one of the largest gatherings of professional women in the state and features keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking, and more. Cost: $150. For more information or to register, visit njconferenceforwomen.com.
The conference’s opening keynote, titled “Dare to Access Your Untapped Potential,” will be delivered by Melanie Curtis, an investment banker turned stuntwoman and record-setting skydiver. She now works as speaker, life coach, and author of such books as “How to Fly: Life Lessons From a Professional Skydiver.” Her interactive session encourages unconventional thinking about success and finding ways to harness your motivation toward achieving your goals.
The closing keynote, “Just Be Nice,” is delivered by Adriana Carrig, the founder of Little Words Project, a jewelry brand with the goal of inspiring a kinder world. Carrig launched the company in 2013 to spread positivity through jewelry marked with “Little Words” of affirmation in response to years of being bullied by classmates.
In between the featured speakers will be time for networking and lunch as well as two 50-minute breakout sessions. Attendees have a choice of eight breakout topics and speakers for each session. They are:
“Funny Bone, Strong Spine: Laughs & Lessons for Unbreakable Resilience” by Vernita Bostick, who combines her backgrounds in school counseling and stand-up comedy to offer a framework for building resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
“Network With Intent: The Career You Want Starts with the Network You Build” by J. Kelly Hoey, a lawyer-turned speaker/strategist whose forthcoming book, “Build Your Dream Network,” helps women forge intentional relationship to build influence and visibility.
“Unlock Your Calm: Break The Stress Cycle & Reclaim Your Energy” by Katie Cooper, a occupational therapist and health and wellness coach who offers science-backed tips for overcoming stress.
“Fearless Self-Promotion For Women: Own Your Impact, Elevate Your Career” by Andrea McLean, a coach, speaker, author and founder of ACM Coaching Group, who offers tips for women to make themselves seen and get the promotions they deserve.
“How to Advocate For Your Career Growth: Strategies that Work For Women” by Jamie Lee, an executive coach whose session aims to leave women with a “negotiation playbook” to help advance their careers without having to play office politics.
“Leverage Generative AI to Boost Your Confidence & Impact” by Jennifer Willey, a coach, consultant, and founder of Wet Cement who teaches women ways to harness generative AI for career advancement.
“Embracing Change: How to Step Boldly Into Your Second Act” by vJacqueline Robinson, an executive coach who has leveraged her own experience of being downsized to help women transition successfully to their “second acts.”
“Invest Like A Woman: Growing Wealth and Confidence” by Debra Morrison, founder of the We Can Do It Women Movement and chief navigational officer of Women Navigating Finances LLC, simplifies complicated financial concepts and helps women tap into their innate common sense to improve their relationship with money.
New to this year’s event, the NJCFW has partnered with Guidebook to launch a branded app, creating new opportunities for attendees to connect with each other, build their network, and maximize their Conference experience.
Using the app, available to be downloaded for both iPhone and Android, attendees can create custom profiles that will let them connect with other attendees and share contact information in real time. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their brand and capture leads by creating virtual exhibitor booths to complement their physical tables, and more information about Breakout Presenters will be right in the palm of attendees’ hands.
“The Women in Business Alliance works hard year-round to ensure the NJ Conference for Women remains the premier women’s conference in the State of New Jersey,” says Gretchen DiMarco, vice president of operations for the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber and Managing Director of the NJ Conference for Women. “We are looking forward to another sold-out day of networking, learning, and inspiration!”
