Agenda – Investing in Womxn Conference

Fuqua Students – Register on FuquaConnect.

Non-Fuqua Affiliated Attendees – Register Here.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Check-in

Location: Kirby Reading Room

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Keynote with Dr. Sarah Glova

Dr. Sarah Glova transforms “what ifs” into action. After a career as a business reporter and podcast host, she turned her experience interviewing successful people into insights about the art and science of achievement. A business owner herself, her journey from entrepreneur to a sought-after speaker has taken her from California to Qatar, from the TEDx stage to events with Panasonic, Microsoft, and more — and in 2024, she was inducted into the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame. She teaches technical writing, business communication, and storytelling at NC State and Duke University, and she loves taking the stage to help others focus on achieving really big goals.

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm
Shaping the Future of Women’s Health

Moderated by Melati Devi, MBA Candidate

This panel will focus on advancements in femtech and women’s health, featuring insights into emerging trends, industry challenges, and areas of opportunity. Panelists will explore how targeted innovations and investments are addressing unmet needs in women’s health and shaping the future of healthcare.

Brittany Barreto, PhD
Founder, FemHealth Insights
Author, ‘Unlocking Women’s Health’

Rahima Benhabbour, PhD
Founder & Director, AnelleO

Nimmi Ramanujam, PhD
Director of Duke Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies
Founder, Calla Health Foundation

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm: Lunch

Provided by Women-Owned Boricua Soul

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Building Transformative Systems to Change Systemic Inequities

Moderated by Meghana Madala, MBA Candidate

This panel explores innovative strategies and partnerships that address root causes of systemic inequities. Experts discuss leveraging data, policy, and community-driven solutions to design impactful systems that foster inclusivity, equity, and long-term change across industries and sectors.

Kelemwork Cook
General Manager, McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility

Judy Ledlee MS ’15, PhD ’17
Executive Director, Duke Design Climate

Shari Hubert, MBA
Associate Dean for Admissions, Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business

3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Women in Frontier Industries

Moderated by Marissa Klee, MBA Candidate

This panel will feature visionary leaders who are shaping the future of frontier industries such as space exploration, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. They will share their leadership journeys, highlighting the challenges and breakthroughs of working in traditionally male-dominated fields, and discussing how their innovations are driving progress and redefining possibilities in these transformative sectors.

Rachel Draelos, MS ’19, PhD ’21, MD ’22
CEO & Founder, Cydoc

Gia DeHart, MBA
Director, Maxar Technologies

Colleen Hanlon, PhD ’05
VP of Global Medical Affairs, BrainsWay

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Happy Hour at J.B. Duke

Walk across the bridge to the J.B. Duke hotel, where we engage in happy hour and networking opportunities.