‘Embrace Every Era’: DRC hosts 26th annual Women’s Business Conference

By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

*Aminta Price and Neena Newberry in conversation.*

Hundreds of professional women from the Dallas Region celebrated the journey of women in business through every stage of their careers and lives at the Dallas Regional Chamber’s (DRC) 26th Women’s Business Conference (WBC) Thursday, Oct. 24, at Gilley’s Dallas.

The half-day conference, presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and McKesson, encouraged attendees to “Embrace Every Era” through three engaging keynote sessions, two special guest speakers, a vibrant marketplace of 18 women-owned businesses presented by Frost, three hands-on activations, and two Table Talks sessions powered by BGSF.

Read on for highlights from the action-packed event.

Celebrating the power of diverse perspectives

A keynote conversation featuring Aminta Price, PepsiCo’s Vice President for Costco Global, and moderated by Neena Newberry, CEO of Newberry Solutions, set the tone for the day. Price emphasized the value of diverse voices, especially those of women of color, in the workplace, and she spoke to the unique strength women bring to leadership.

“We bring a diversity of thought,” Price shared. “I learned early on that [when] you bring a different perspective to the table, you inspire others to do the same, and it allows us to have a much better outcome.”

Embracing risk and growth

*Sonal Shah and Sarah Jackson fist bump after their conversation.*

In a second keynote conversation, Sonal Shah, CEO of The Texas Tribune, encouraged women to face challenges boldly and trust their ability to thrive in new opportunities.

“Take risks and don’t always worry about being able to know everything that’s going to happen at the other end,” Shah told the packed house through her conversation with her friend Sarah Jackson, Central Division Government Relations Director for HNTB Corporation. “You will work hard, and you will figure it out. I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit. We always figure it out.”

Embracing growth can sometimes mean appreciating the end of something, said Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and 2024 DRC Board Chair, in a TED Talk-style special guest appearance and reflection on her recently announced plan to retire from the helm of the Mavs.

“I am truly appreciating the ending of this era, but I’m starting the era cycle all over,” Marshall said. “Expect the changing of [your] era. Things will change. You won’t be in your 20s forever.”

Owning our strength in every era

Though not every era seems a positive one on its face, Bree Iman Clarke, Founder and Creative Grower of The Plant Project, reminded attendees their power persists in times of adversity in the third and final keynote of the day moderated by Tashara Parker, Founder of Loud Women Lead.

*Bree Iman Clarke and Tashara Parker discuss perseverance through difficult eras.*

From the WBC stage, Iman Clarke shared her personal journey through challenges including jail time and homelessness, and how those experiences shaped her mission to support and uplift others.

“I feel like [women] forget our tenacity, we forget our resilience. We see it on TV, we see it on Instagram, we see it on Facebook, but sometimes we don’t see it in ourselves,” Iman Clarke said. “I wish women could really see the strength they have, the power that’s within them—the power [to create] a space that’s not only safe for you but your coworkers, your friends, your sister, your parents.”

Embracing the work still to be done

The celebrations at WBC were parlayed into calls to action for audience members to continue work to narrow opportunity gaps women and other under-championed groups still face despite progress in diversity and inclusion.

Latosha Herron Bruff, DRC’s Senior Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and the event’s emcee, shared compelling statistics from the Texas Women’s Foundation. For instance, over the past 10 years, 101 million women have joined the Texas workforce. Even still, women represent only 28% of executive roles in Texas.

*Tosha Herron Bruff shares statistics from the Texas Women’s Foundation.*

“We need to use our voice, our empathy, our influence, our power, our expertise to provide opportunities for women,” said Herron Bruff. “We can’t hand this off to anybody but us. One of the ways you can do that is by supporting women, advocating for women, championing women, and helping our women small business owners. We need your help.”

DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey shared Herron Bruff’s charge—but aimed it at the men of the business community.

“The growth and rise of women in the workforce doesn’t happen without the genuine support of men,” said Petroskey. “Women have fought for decades for their place in the workforce and society. But it shouldn’t have to be a fight. Men should be able to bring it to the table and then invite them to have a seat alongside them. And I’m glad to see some men have joined us today to learn from the women around us, how they’re inspired, and how they’re challenged.”

Annette Addo-Yobo, the reigning Miss Texas and former DRC employee, zeroed in on asking attendees to champion women and others in the workforce with disabilities, a population that faces an unemployment rate two times that of people without disabilities.

*Annette Addo-Yobo discusses disability inclusion in the workplace.*

“There is a group of women who are not only underrepresented in our workplace, but also under championed and underserved,” said Addo-Yobo. “I encourage you today to think about ways that you can be more inclusive in your workspace for individuals with disabilities, whether they’re women or men, but to also think about ways that you can be an ally.”

Honoring excellent women

As part of the WBC program, two exceptional women were recognized for their efforts to contribute to their communities and develop women leaders.

Raquel Alvarenga, Partner and Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, was presented with the YPL ATHENA® Award, presented by KPMG. Merrilee Kick, Founder and CEO of BuzzBallz/Southern Champion, received the ATHENA® Award, presented by Wells Fargo.

Completing the WBC experience

Throughout the day at Table Talks powered by BGSF, attendees built peer connections and engaged in compelling conversations designed to help them embrace their current era while planning for their next one. Topics spanned change and innovation, mentorship and career development, financial empowerment, and technology and the future of work.

Between keynote sessions and during the happy hour presented by Fifth Third Bank, attendees explored the missions and products showcased in the community marketplace presented by Frost. Explore the 18 women-owned businesses of the Frost Marketplace here. And for the first time ever, WBC boasted three hands-on activations for attendees to explore.

Did you miss out on WBC? Check out other upcoming DRC events to stay in the know for 2025.