16 Inclusive Empowerment Conferences To Add To Your Calendar

Flickr/Sebastiaan ter Burg

Is there really anything better than spending a day with like-minded people who also want to thrive in their career and life? We’re all about self-improvement and inspiration, so when empowerment conferences pop up on our calendars, we’re there in a heartbeat.

Whether it’s leadership, career development, business or female empowerment, conferences are a great way to network, learn and ultimately improve yourself. Even better, conferences are focusing on niche and minority groups more than ever before, which means finding one that’ll make you feel at right at home is easier than you might have thought.

This year, make it a point to invest in yourself by adding one or more of these 16 inclusive empowerment conferences to your calendar.

1. Women In Leadership Symposium

Originally a local event, the Women in Leadership Symposium is now a national series of conferences that bring women together to discuss relevant topics that challenge women today. Attendees will be inspired to learn, grow, educate and thrive in their careers and industries. Companies represented in the past include Care.com, CBS, Nestle, Starbucks and more.

2. Harvard LGBTQ Conference

Organized by student groups at Harvard University, the LGBTQ Conference brings together leaders, activists and advocates from an array of industries to discuss ways that society can continue improving how it includes the LGBTQ community. Everyone is welcome at the conference, with workshops, seminars, networking happy hours and more to enjoy. Past speakers represented the Washington Supreme Court, IBM, Teach for America, Pearson and more.

3. Black Women’s Expo

With more than 20 years of bringing black women together, the Black Women’s Expo is an event that knows how to empower and inspire brands and consumers. Between engaging seminars and workshops, celebrity meet and greets, makeovers, massages, fashion shows, musical performances and more, the Black Women’s Expo aims to bring the African American community and companies together so that the two can engage and work with one another in ways that create a more inclusive environment for all. Past speakers represented organizations like ABC7, OWN, Bravo and more.

4. League Of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Women’s Conference

With a focus on the political and social challenges that women face, the LULAC National Women’s Conference is a place for current and future leaders to gather and feel empowered. Panels, workshops and seminars highlight Latinas’ accomplishments, personal stories of overcoming adversity and more. Past speakers represented organizations like Planned Parenthood, Pfizer, National Association of Hispanic Nurses and more.

5. Out Women In Business

Originally called Queer Women In Business, this annual conference began in 2015 and has since risen to include hundreds of women every year from top industries like banking, technology, media, health care and more. Attendees are empowered to network, negotiate, build brands, be themselves in the workplace and more. Past keynote speakers have included people like transgender model and activist Geena Rocero, and director Nneka Onuorah.

6. Girls In Tech Catalyst Conference

Flickr/COD Newsroom

With the goal to bring together women of all ages in the tech industry, this Catalyst Conference serves to inspire women with advice and lessons that will help create a long-lasting community among those in tech. Past speakers represented organizations like Birchbox, Coffee Meets Bagel, SpaceX, Adobe and more. Between panels and workshops, the Catalyst Conference also features yoga, networking, cocktail parties and more.

7. Latina Empowerment And Development (LEAD) Conference

Hosted at Harvard University every year, the LEAD conference brings hundreds of student and professional Latinas together to discuss the role that Latinas play in society. Panels focus on specific industries like media and communications, business, law and public policy, STEM and more. In 2018, the first female governor of Sonora, Mexico keynoted alongside a former White House aide to the Obama Administration, while other past speakers included women from Hillary for America, PBS, New York City Mayor’s Office and more.

8. AnitaB.org’s Grace Hopper Celebration

Highlighting the contributions of women in computing, the Grace Hopper Celebration is an annual conference that women in tech, and those who support them, won’t want to miss. Panels and workshops offer opportunities for women to collaborate, network, mentor and more. Past speakers have included Priscilla Chan, co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Anita Hill, Bloomberg’s Emily Change and more.

9. The Unleashed Woman: Women’s Empowerment Conference

Attendees will gain insight and confidence into achieving their goals at The Unleashed Woman empowerment conference. Between encouraging panels and inspiration speakers, the conference aims to help women walk away with a plan to really achieve a passionate and purposeful life. Past speakers have included female entrepreneurs, authors, motivational speakers, consultants and more from top organizations around the U.S.

10. WINConference

The Women’s International Networking (WIN) Conference aims to bring women together to expand diversity and inclusion in a “feminine, authentic and global way.” Attendees will learn about emerging trends, ways to develop their professional skills and more. Past speakers have come from The International New York Times, UN World Food Program, World Health Organization, Reuters, PepsiCo and more.

11. Women’s Leadership And Empowerment Conference

With study sessions, paper presentations and open discussions across three days, the Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Conference focuses on helping people gain leadership skills, knowledge and the confidence to feel empowered every day. Every year, the conference includes over 20 speakers, all of whom have done in-depth research on the topics at hand. The conference targets people working in government, large organizations, students, scholars and anyone interested in advancing the inclusion of minority groups around the world.

12. S.H.E. Summit

Wikimedia Commons/Queenfrimps

This two-day leadership conference works to celebrate and accelerate equality and inclusivity. Panels bring women from all walks of life together to connect, educate and activate their talents and skills in the global workplace. Past speakers have included Donna Karan, founder of DKNY and Urban Zen, Women’s March On Washington national organizer and artistic director Paola Mendoza, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani and more.

13. Women Of Color Leadership And Empowerment Conference

Sponsored by Color Magazine, the Women of Color Leadership and Empowerment Conference focuses on engaging, connecting and empowering influential and diverse women from around the U.S. Through interactive sessions and presentations, women will be inspired to truly make changes in their industries so that diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of success. Past speakers have included people from top companies and in academia.

14. Women Empower Expo

With more than 50 speakers, thousands of attendees, hundreds of exhibitors and more, the Women Empower Expo is all about creating a collaborative, fun and positive environment. Attendees will learn what it takes to build and grow successful businesses so that they can continue making an impact in the world of business. Companies represented at the event include Cheddar, Entrepreneur CBS, NBC and more.

15. Women In The World Summit

One of the biggest conferences in the U.S., the Women in the World Summit brings together leaders, luminaries and experts from a variety of industries to discuss the most pressing international issues. Through a series of panels and fireside chats, attendees will be inspired to make a difference in the world so that women can truly be included and overcome challenges. Past speakers have included Laura Bush, Misty Copeland, Hillary Clinton, Viola Davis and more.

16. Wonder Women Tech National Conference

Be inspired to expand the diversity and inclusion in the tech industry at the Women Women Tech National Conference. With speakers from tech giants like Google, Intel, Gitlab, LinkedIn, Adobe and more, attendees will be empowered to create change in the tech industry. This conference is all about women supporting women, while also learning from one another to develop skills, innovate, create and transform the industry and more.

Whether you’re looking to learn new skills, meet new people or just feel inspired and empowered for a day, these conferences can help you move forward in your career and life. Thrive alongside other women and make diversity and inclusion a priority with whatever you do because it’ll make a difference in the future.

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