9 a.m. – Doors, registration open

• Breakfast presented by Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Frost Marketplace
• Activations in the Saloon
• Erika N. Salter, P.C. – Immigration & Criminal Law Group Lounge

9:15-9:55 a.m.

• AI Office Hours at WBC powered by Improving (in Brazos)
• Table Talks powered by CMP (in Music Hall)

10 a.m. – Session 1

• Alex Snodgrass
• YPL ATHENA Award, presented by KPMG

11:30 a.m. – Break

• AI Office Hours at WBC powered by Improving (in Brazos)
• Table Talks powered by CMP (in Music Hall)
• Frost Marketplace
• Activations in the Saloon
• Erika N. Salter, P.C. – Immigration & Criminal Law Group Lounge

12:30 p.m. – Session 2

• Lunch
• Laysha Ward
• ATHENA Award, presented by Wells Fargo

2-3 p.m.

• Frost Marketplace
• Activations in the Saloon
• Erika N. Salter, P.C. – Immigration & Criminal Law Group Lounge

LAYSHA WARD
Author, C-Suite Leader
Laysha Ward is an accomplished C-suite executive with a demonstrated ability to lead through rapid change, solve problems, build innovative community programs, and collaborate with key stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives. The stories and lessons in her book, Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose From the C-Suite, inspire readers to embrace their purpose, make intentional choices, nurture relationships, and champion and sustain themselves and others.

Laysha held numerous roles during nearly 33 years at Target Corporation, a Fortune 50 company with $100+ billion in annual revenue.

In 2008, President Bush nominated and the U.S. Senate confirmed Laysha as a member of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grantmaker for volunteering and service. Under the Obama Administration, she served as board chair.

ALEX SNODGRASS
New York Times Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur
Alex Snodgrass is a recipe developer, health enthusiast, and founder of the popular blog and social media outlet The Defined Dish. Her first three books, The Defined Dish, The Comfortable Kitchen, and Dinner Tonight, were instant New York Times bestsellers. Her recipes use better-for-you ingredients and are known for being simple, easy, and full of flavor. In 2018, she was recognized as a finalist in the prestigious Saveur magazine Blog Awards in the category of “Most Inspired Weeknight Meals.” In 2022, Alex launched her multipurpose dressing line, SideDish, to further make mealtime easier and more delicious; it’s now available nationwide at Whole Foods Market. She lives in Dallas with her husband and two young daughters.

Explore how AI can make work smarter and life simpler at AI Office Hours powered by Improving. In these interactive discussions, you’ll learn practical ways to boost productivity, improve decision-making, and uncover new opportunities to innovate and grow.

See a DRC staff member to sign up. This year’s topics are:

Smarter Living with AI

• AI isn’t just for work—it can make everyday life easier, too. Learn how to use AI tools to manage schedules, plan meals and trips, track budgets, and streamline daily routines so you can focus on what matters most.

Building an AI-Ready Knowledge Base

• Discover how AI-powered knowledge bases turn scattered documents and policies into secure, searchable company intelligence. Explore the business impact, leadership’s role in driving adoption, and safeguards that keep answers accurate and compliant.

AI 101: Your Business Playbook

• Get a fast, nontechnical introduction to prompting, safe usage, and simple workflows that save hours each week. Learn to measure ROI using easy templates and scorecards that quantify time saved, reduced errors, and cost efficiency.

Finding and Growing Customers with AI

• See how AI can help sales teams map markets, identify ideal buyers, and uncover untapped opportunities. Learn practical ways to rank leads, spot trends, and create new demand with data-driven precision.

Smarter Hiring with AI—For HR and Job Seekers

• Explore how AI can make hiring faster and more human—from posting jobs and sorting applicants to onboarding new hires. You’ll also see how candidates can use AI to tailor resumes, prepare for interviews, and find better-fit roles.

Hands-On Lab: Build Your First AI Workflow

• Roll up your sleeves to build a working GPT-powered workflow tailored to your own needs. Define the task, add grounding content, and test outputs to leave with a reusable “starter kit” for your team.

Make your conference experience even bolder! Sign up for Table Talks powered by CMP—small-group conversations rooted in real insights from CMP’s Women in Leadership Pulse Check. Choose your topic, connect with peers, and leave with your own bold personal commitment to what’s next.

See a DRC staff member to sign up. This year’s topics are:

Bold Confidence – Owning Your Power
24% of women frequently experience imposter syndrome; 63% believe “failure is not an option.”

Bold Resilience – Protecting Your Energy
Burnout and overwork remain a leading barrier for women’s advancement.

Bold Self-Perception – Defining Success on Your Terms
62% of women tie their self-worth to both performance and peer perception.

Bold Advocacy – Asking with Courage
70% of women feel comfortable asking for training, but only 41% for promotions and 40% for raises.

Bold Influence – Sponsorship & Power Networks
34% of women cite lack of mentorship/sponsorship as a barrier to advancement.

Bold Futures – Navigating Career Pivots with Purpose
67% of women leaders report their boldest career move involved pivoting industries or roles, and 76% say showing confidence in new capabilities is the key to advancing their careers.

Complimentary parking is available in the lot behind Gilley’s. All event guests will enter through the front parking lot off Botham Jean Blvd. (with the Gilley’s marquee), then be directed by parking attendants to available spots. Additionally, metered street parking is available in the surrounding areas.

Enter through the main door, where a DRC staff member will greet you.