MetroWest Conference Speakers and Emcee

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Keynote Speaker

Susan Duffy

Dr. Susan Duffy is the Executive Director of the Babson College Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL), a co-founder of the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab venture accelerator, and an inspired educator and advocate for gender equity as a driver of social and economic growth. Throughout her career Susan has recreated what is possible for the organizations she leads across diverse sectors including construction; food, nutrition and health; and education.  Susan earned her Ph.D. from The George Washington University and in 2016 was inducted into the prestigious Wilford White Fellows of the International Council for Small Business. She has been recognized globally as an award winning entrepreneurial educator, is an investor and advisor to several early stage companies, and serves on the boards of the Tory Burch Foundation, the International Council for Small Business, and the University of Calgary Hunter Hub.

Keynote Speaker

Jen Groover

Jen Groover has been tagged by SUCCESS MAGAZINE as a “One-Woman Brand,” a “ Creativity and Innovation Guru” and a leading “Serial Entrepreneur” by Entrepreneur Magazine and ranked #8 by SAP in the Top 51 Influencers of Human Potential. Jen Groover’s name has become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship, evolution and human potential. She was recently nominated as a UN delegate to the first ever Global Accelerator for the Global Entrepreneurs Council. She also made history at the NYSE, as a member of the first all-female group to ring the opening bell, made Forbes’ list of “50 Founders You Need to Follow on Twitter” and was nominated “TV Personality of The Year Award” in 2013 by Savor the Success.

As a successful serial entrepreneur, author and thought leader in human potential, as well as a retired National Level Fitness Competitor, Jen Groover’s energy and multi-faceted, diverse wisdom and experiences have made her a highly sought after International speaker for over 20 years on topics ranging from: Optimizing Human Potential for increased Success and Happiness, Emotional Intelligence, Empowerment, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Wellness and Energy Management, Branding, Effective Communication Skills, through to Empowered Parenting. She has keynoted to audiences up to 30,000 people in stadiums, to leading intimate workshops for smaller groups, as well as online symposiums. Her clients have ranged anywhere from Fortune 500 Companies to top Universities, Business and Wellness Organizations, Chamber of Commerces, Women’s Groups, High Schools to

She’s Local is honored to have Jen as a keynote speaker for the 2019 MetroWest Conference for Women.

Emcee

Kim Miles

What do you call a successful businesswoman with a vibrant financial-advisory practice, more than 25 years of sales experience, a background in performing, and a serious shoe habit? Kim Miles! Through her company, Miles in Heels Productions, Kim is a highly sought-after emcee, panel moderator, creative collaborator and event strategist who partners with her clients to deliver critical messaging to their key audiences in fresh, unexpected and entertaining ways. From ideation to execution, Miles in Heels Productions is the answer. When you need to think outside of the box and laugh while you’re learning, look no further: if Oprah and Ellen had a love-child, it would be Kim Miles.

Kim’s clients include: The Massachusetts Conference for Women, Babson College, Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference, Wellesley College, Women’s Bar Foundation of Massachusetts, Yankee Dental Congress, Goulston & Storrs Counsellors at Law, College of The Holy Cross, MassChallenge, Women in Technology International, Regis College, Bryant University Women’s Summit, and many more. She’s a proud member of The WIN Lab Coaching Circle at Babson College, the Innovation Women Speakers Bureau, and the Boston Women in Media and Entertainment Speakers Bureau. With over 17 years of experience producing programs for as few as 30 people and as many as 1000, Kim makes every event feel as intimate as hanging with your closest pals over a glass of wine. When she’s not working, Kim has been known to take off her signature heels only to hit the slopes or the golf course…that is when she’s not singing with her band!

She’s Local is honored to have Kim the Emcee for the 2019 MetroWest Conference for Women.

Comedian

Kathe Farris

Kathe Farris is a suburban housewife and mother of two teenagers. She shares her unsolicited advice and wisdom about everyday things from calcium supplements to the political awfulness behind book groups.

Ms. Farris participated in the Boston Comedy Festival 2014 & 2015 semifinalist 2016, Women in Comedy Festival 2015 and the Chicago Funny Festival 2015. She joined the ImprovBoston staff in 2015 teaching Intro to Stand-up. In August 2016 she was Comic in Residence at The Comedy Studio. She performs frequently at Laugh Boston, ImprovBoston, The Comedy Studio, Boston Comedy Chicks and a host of local and private shows including, but not limited to, a hair salon in Malden.

Ms. Farris started performing stand-up nineteen years ago before career, babies and all that comes with it. Kathe returned to the microphone 4 years ago after collecting a minivan full of material and a desire to model to her kids that you should do what you love…

and stay in school and don’t do drugs.

Goddess Award

Lynda Simkins

Again this year, we are proud to announce the recipient of the She’s Local – MetroWest Award, given in recognition of a local woman who embodies the three tenets of our definition of a Goddess. This year’s recipient is Lynda Simkins, retired Director of the Natick Organic Farms.  Lynda personifies the three distinct traits that are reflective of her dedication in creating a stronger local community; she embraces life challenges with optimism and bravery, she tests traditional thinking to initiate change, and she ventures beyond herself to empower and collaborate with others.

Congratulations Lynda, from all of us on the Board of Directors at the MetroWest Conference for Women, powered by She’s Local.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

At the MetroWest Conference for Women, we are committed to highlighting the local women who work, live and thrive in the cities and towns in MetroWest, MA. Each year we reach out to the community to hear from women in our region who are experts, ready to share their passion and hard work with women, close to home.

Our conference follows 5 tracks (topic areas):

  • Personal Prosperity
  • Professional Success
  • Entrepreneurship/Leadership
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Family

 

Building a Business: Going from inspired to launched 

Inspiration can come from anywhere; it all depends on what you do with it once you’ve found it. Setting yourself apart in the marketplace, overcoming obstacles and continuing to persevere is all part of the journey in going from being inspired to being in business. This panel will help you learn from women who have started their own successful businesses from an idea, conversation or moment of inspiration.

Key Takeaways:  

  • Embrace inspiration and turn it into a successful business opportunity. 
  • Learn how to say, “screw perfection”, and get started. 
  • Be inspired to push through obstacles and roadblocks.
  • Create specific benchmarks for continued momentum.

Ditch the Doubt: How to Communicate with Confidence

Effective communication is vital for every part of our lives – from job interviews to client presentations to online branding and our personal relationships. For many, there is one thing that hinders their ability to communicate their thoughts, ideas, feelings and opinions effectively: fear of judgment. This panel will explore communication across various platforms and mediums, discussing how we can boost our confidence to allow us to communicate more fully and effectively in our work and everyday lives. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Reduce the fear of judgment, the first and one of the highest barriers to any form of communication. 
  • Enhance confidence and gain effective tools, techniques and strategies that will help to overcome fear of judgment.  
  • Adjust focus away from the potential for judgment and toward your own messaging.

Empowering strategies for building resilience in challenging times

Life can be challenging and disruptive. From everyday stressors to the bigger traumas that rock our core, it’s important to find ways to positively deal with challenges. Navigating stress and change is essential to surviving and thriving in life. This panel will explore traditional and creative approaches, strategies and hands-on resources to help build resilience. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Learn strategies to deal with challenging times and trauma.
  • Discover how to access resilience and your inner resources. 
  • Understand how to move forward with a fulfilling life.

Finding Food Freedom: Eating Freely & Safely

Our relationship with food can be complicated. We all should strive for optimal health, but often struggle with conflicting or unhealthy food advice. In addition, more and more people are struggling with gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies and sensitivities, which can lead to more confusion about where and how to start. Working to find the root cause of symptoms or disorders and educating why supporting your immune system is important is where this panel excels. They will introduce you to how to manage health obstacles, help bring awareness and education on where to start through food, nutrition and Integrative techniques.

Key Takeaways:

  • Introduce the importance our immune system and gut health is for overall health. How food/nutrition and techniques can play a role.
  • Learn practical tips everyone can use
  • Helping the audience exam obstacles and give tips for striving to support and overcome them.
  • Get our panelists top tips for healthy eating, food allergies, help to reduce stress and controlling your mindset.

 

Wise Women Plan Ahead; Financial and Legal Decision Making

Understanding your finances is empowering. It’s critical to determine your financial goals, learn the facets of building wealth and plan for your future as well as your family’s future. This panel will help you with real financial planning strategies and the legal decisions that go along with them to create security and peace of mind.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn the information for parents and families about the importance of protecting their children and their hard-earned assets in the event of disability or death.
  • Determine the behaviors and habits that are the most important factors in reaching your financial goals.
  • Discover sustainable wealth building through real estate acquisition and investing.

Getting a Seat at the Table: The How and Hidden Whys of Community Involvement

Your voice is important and participating in the community at any level is invaluable. If you want to see things change for the better and are considering volunteering, joining a town committee, or running for a seat in your local government, this interactive panel will help you get started. Learn from personal, first-hand experiences that will help you a uncover the right role for you and the strategies you need to be successful.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Identify the type of involvement that aligns with your passions and supports your life & profession.
  • Build the courage to raise your hand, submit your name, and have your voice included. 
  • Create a strategy to get started and connect with supportive resources.

Mindful Mindset: Change the Story to Calm the Internal Chaos

Life can be chaotic. Recognizing our emotions and their triggers can help us to develop strategies and habits that develop a positive mindset. We also can identify stored emotions and their impact on the mind-body connection. This panel will allow you to identify the chaos in your life, its patterns and tools you can utilize the shift away from negative self-talk.

Key Takeaways:  

  • Discover the power self-awareness and how to identify emotional triggers.
  • Explore how we experience emotions and the mind-body connection.
  • Learn strategies to change the negative stories and thoughts we tell ourselves.

Setting Authentic Personal Goals

Setting and achieving goals that are truly authentic to you requires deep self-awareness. Understanding your motivators, values, skills, gaps to overcome and potential triggers to give up, are all key in successfully pursuing your dreams. Starting with a larger vision and determining your “why” allows you to carve out a direction with clear, specific steps. This panel will help you to identify what goals are truly meaningful to you and provide actionable strategies to realize your big, inspiring dreams.

Key Takeaways:  

  • Give yourself permission to be honest about yours goals.
  • Learn how to determine and define what you really want.
  • Discover how to take a big dream and break it down into realistic, achievable steps.
  • Get actionable strategies for planning the roadmap to your goals and how to stay authentic in your journey.

So, you want to be an entrepreneur?

Taking the entrepreneurial leap is big and exciting step. Perhaps you’ve got a potential idea for a business. Maybe you’re excited (or anxious) to jump in and get started. This panel will help you determine the best place to start on the entrepreneurial journey. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Examine what is your “why” and your driving force. 
  • Determine why others will need or want your product/service.
  • Recognize your differentiation from the competition. 

Empowering strategies for building resilience in challenging times

Life can be challenging and disruptive. From everyday stressors to the bigger traumas that rock our core, it’s important to find ways to positively deal with challenges. Navigating stress and change is essential to surviving and thriving in life. This panel will explore traditional and creative approaches, strategies and hands-on resources to help build resilience. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Learn strategies to deal with challenging times and trauma.
  • Discover how to access resilience and your inner resources. 
  • Understand how to move forward with a fulfilling life.