Be Bold: Women leaders chart a path forward at 2025 Women's Business Conference

By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

Average reading time: 4.5 minutes

On Thursday, Oct. 23, hundreds of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers gathered at Gilley’s Dallas for the Dallas Regional Chamber’s 27th Women’s Business Conference (WBC), presented by JPMorganChase and Baylor Scott & White Health. Under the rallying theme of “Be Bold,” attendees explored what it truly means to lead with courage and create opportunities for the next generation of women in business.

“When we think about being bold, we have to think about courage,” said DRC Senior Vice President of Opportunity & Impact and WBC’s emcee Latosha Herron Bruff. “Even within that framework, boldness can look different in many things. Today, we want each of you to discover what boldness means to you and spark ideas and inspiration about what your next bold move will be.”

Focus on your audience, not your critics

In the first keynote of the day, New York Times bestselling author Alex Snodgrass captivated the audience with her journey from a one-woman operation to building a thriving business empire, offering practical wisdom for women at every stage of their career.

*Alex Snodgrass in conversation with Amber Williams.*

The founder of Defined Dish and SideDish emphasized the importance of staying focused on your audience rather than worrying about critics in your inner circle.

“The thing about taking that leap of faith and starting your own business is to not think about your inner circle and what they think, but really think about who I am trying to reach, who I am trying to share this with, and who I am trying to communicate to,” Snodgrass shared.

As Snodgrass’ success grew, so did the challenge of discernment. Snodgrass encouraged women to trust their instincts when evaluating opportunities.

“Does it feel authentic for me to talk about? Is it adding value to my community? Is it keeping their trust in me?” she asked. “I think women have a superpower of having this gut instinct that we can either listen to or ignore.”

Her advice for women pursuing bold careers was clear: be willing to make mistakes, shift gears when needed, and remember to prioritize self-care.

“Remembering to prioritize yourself, take care of yourself, and take mental health breaks amongst all the hustle is, I think, the most important thing for us humans to always remember.”

In addition to Snodgrass’ journey through entrepreneurship, women-owned businesses shined in the Frost Marketplace. The largest-ever WBC marketplace invited attendees to discover and shop with nearly 30 vendors.

Leading with purpose and integrity

*Laysha Ward in conversation with Roslyn Dawson.*

Keynote speaker Laysha Ward, acclaimed author of “Lead Like You Mean It,” challenged attendees to think deeply about their personal purpose and how it aligns with their professional lives.

“Leading with meaning is about operating with integrity, with intention, and with humanity,” Ward explained. “It’s really being focused on your personal purpose, like your why, your reason for being. What do you feel called to do at work and in the world?”

Ward encouraged women to be declarative about their personal purposes to create purpose congruence with the organizations where they spend their time.

“Your personal purpose really becomes a lantern that guides your way, but it’s also a measuring stick that helps you stay accountable to making progress,” she said.

Importantly, Ward reminded attendees that boldness looks different for everyone.

“You have to define what bold looks like for you. We’re all at different starting points, so don’t let folks judge what they think is bold versus what you think is bold.”

Building confidence through action

In complement to the insights from Snodgrass and Ward, Herron Bruff shared data-driven insights into the experience of women in leadership from CMP’s 2025 Women’s Leadership Pulse Check Report.

CMP’s data shows nearly one in four women still frequently experience imposter syndrome, but fewer women today say they experience it occasionally, and more report they rarely or never feel it.

“Confidence isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s not a personality trait. It’s a practice,” Herron Bruff explained. “It’s the act of showing up, even when you’re unsure. Bold doesn’t mean never feeling doubt…it means moving forward despite it.”

*Emcee and DRC Senior Vice President of Opportunity & Impact Latosha Herron Bruff welcomed attendees from the WBC stage.*

The data revealed another important truth: 62% of women said their self-perception at work is tied equally to their own performance and how others perceive them. This tension between internal confidence and external validation is something many women recognize, even as they advance. Nearly three in four women identified showing confidence and owning their success as the biggest drivers of career advancement.

“Boldness begins when we stop waiting for validation and start defining success in our own terms,” Herron Bruff said, emphasizing that bold advocacy isn’t arrogance. It’s leadership.

To encourage knowledge sharing, WBC also hosted AI Office Hours, powered by Improving, and Table Talks, powered by CMP. These experiences encouraged attendees to learn about a variety of topics, including AI, self-advocacy, career planning, and more. Nearly 300 attendees attended a total of 12 sessions between AI Office Hours and Table Talks.

The ATHENA® legacy continues

The conference also celebrated the DRC’s longstanding commitment to recognizing women’s leadership. The YPL ATHENA® Award, sponsored by KPMG, and the ATHENA® Award, sponsored by Wells Fargo, recognized women who excel in their careers, contribute to their communities, and develop women leaders.

Erika Leigh Nobles, Lease Administration Manager at Colliers International and YPL ATHENA® Award recipient, shared her framework for purposeful decision-making: gathering information, approaching with humility, seeing things from different perspectives, and then planning.

“It is important to know that nothing happens by chance, but rather there is a purpose for all of us,” she said.

Caren Lock, Managing Director and Government Relations Officer at TIAA and ATHENA® Award recipient, emphasized that boldness extends beyond individual action.

*Attendees shopping in the Frost Marketplace.*

“Being bold isn’t about just taking risks. It’s about having the courage to challenge convention. To ask ‘why not’ instead of ‘why’,” Lock said. “Boldness is rarely a solo act because it’s built on collaboration, trust, and the willingness to lift others up.”

Looking ahead

As the conference concluded, one message resonated clearly: the work of building bold, confident, and purpose-driven women leaders continues.

“Leadership isn’t just about climbing higher. It’s about strengthening the ladder and holding it steady for others,” said Herron Bruff. “The next generation should not have to rebuild the same rungs we’ve all climbed. We should all be lifting as we climb.”

With women leading with courage and confidence more than ever before, the future of business in the Dallas Region—and beyond—is undeniably bold.