Women Supporting Women: 2024 Converse’s Women’s Leadership Conference

Written by Amanda Mathis

The 2024 Women’s Leadership Conference began in Converse’s Montgomery Student Center with a heartwarming reunion of old friends. Brittany Wright, product manager for iD Tech, and Dori Burgess, executive director for Healthy Smiles, had met at the previous year’s event, and the two came together once again in a shared journey of growth and learning, along with over one hundred other professionals in the room. 

“As soon as I received the Leadership Conference email, I forwarded it to Dori to see if she wanted to attend,” said Wright. “And here we are, hanging out together again.”

The event focused on communication and women supporting women as Dr. Chandra Hopkins, Dean of the Converse College for Women and First Lady of Converse, and Dr. Tori Good, Assistant Dean of Career Development, opened the day for the attendees.

“We’re gathered here today because we connect to the common goal of women’s empowerment,” said Dr. Hopkins. “We know that women can sustain and uplift their lives when they succeed. When women succeed, they uplift the lives of their families. When women succeed, they uplift their communities. When women succeed, they can take on the world’s most pressing challenges, and when they succeed, we all succeed.” 

South Carolina’s Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, the opening keynote speaker, shared her inspiring journey as a business owner, a mother, and now a caregiver for an aging parent. Her words served as a powerful reminder that women can overcome challenges and inspired the audience to strive for their goals.

“As women, we always find a way to make things happen,” declared Evette, her speech focusing on the trailblazing women in South Carolina politics who have ‘traveled the road less traveled,’ much like her mentor, South Carolina Dept. of Education board member and former SC Representative Rita Allison. Evette’s empowering message, which instilled confidence in the audience’s abilities, resonated with the group. 

“We were built as a nation on diverse ideas.”

Lt. Governor Pamela Evette

“We were built as a nation on diverse ideas. We thought enough of each other that we put grace back in our lives,” said Everett. “If there is no we, there is no me.”

The Lt. Governor ended her talk by discussing her efforts to increase soft skills among South Carolina’s youth to prepare the state’s future workforce. Her program, Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders, provides tools for parents to help prepare their children for their first job, including resume-building tips, interview skills, and pointers on how to dress for success.

As conference attendees learned from a panel on “Women in Historically Male-Dominated Fields,” the day continued as a beacon of empowerment and opportunity. The panel featured Rita Allison (SC Dept. of Ed. Board; former SC Representative), Hope Blackley (Hope Consulting; former Spartanburg Clerk of Court), Erica Brown (St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic; Spartanburg City Council), and Molly Moyer ’06 (Morgan Corp.), and moderated by Converse Student Government President Abeeha Sajid ’25. Panelists shared their experiences and insights on breaking into and thriving within male-dominated fields. 

“If women don’t have a seat at the table, they don’t have a voice about the future.”

Rita Allison

Rita Allison emphasized, “If women don’t have a seat at the table, they don’t have a voice about the future.” This powerful statement underscored the importance of women’s participation in decision-making, empowering the audience to take charge of their futures. 

When discussing work and life balance, Councilwoman Erica Brown stressed the importance of humility and “knowing where you come from and your values” when entering the workforce. “There might be days when you must put yourself first,” said Brown. “And it’s okay because you can lean on the people in your inner circle.”

“Career Change & Transitions” was the next session’s topic and included a panel on women becoming the most robust version of themselves personally and professionally. Moderated by OneSpartanburg, Inc.’s Louise Connell, attendees heard from Sarah Butler (Wofford College), Sarah Keim (OTO Development/ AC Spartanburg), Simone Mack-Orr (Smack Fitness), Dr. Erin Smith (OneSpartanburg, Inc.), and Kathryn Harvey (Neue South Collective).

Sarah Keim stressed the importance of not “limiting yourself on what is on your resume” as employers “will recognize your talent and allow you to grow.” She added, “Never think you’re too insufficient.”

When discussing changing careers, Dr. Erin Smith provided the following advice: “I wasn’t productive [and that’s] when I realized it was time to make a career change. I did not want to stay in a negative environment because I could. I always believed that another opportunity would come along – and it did. How you feel matters because it shows up in your work.”

Simone Mack-Orr explained that “you have to pivot when it comes to business. You are not disappointing anyone but yourself,” she said, as she discussed the process of opening her own small business, Smack Fitness, in Spartanburg.

The day was full of networking opportunities and breakout sessions, including “Knowing Your Value: Salary Negotiation & Career Management,” hosted by The Honorable Stinson Woodward Ferguson, “LinkedIn: Maximizing Your Network,” led by Dr. Tori Good, “Women and Wealth Management,” by Converse Assistant Professor of Accounting Tanya Greenlee, and “Leading Your Life: Aligning Your Values to a Career Path,” hosted by Converse Professor Emerita Dr. Melissa Walker. These sessions provided a platform for attendees to connect with other women, share experiences, and gain valuable insights.

After providing fresh perspectives, building new skills, and connecting with other women, the day concluded with wine and cheese at a reception in the Montgomery Building, where new and old friends reconnected and shared their takeaways. 

Will We See You At The 2025 Converse University Women’s Leadership Conference?

The Annual Women’s Leadership Conference is more than just an event – it’s a supportive community that allows emerging and established women leaders across the Upstate to share their knowledge, success stories, and strategies for advancement. The Converse University Women’s Leadership Conference was established in 2018 and promotes women in leadership at the early and middle career stages. Since then, the conference annually provides opportunities for professional women to learn practical strategies for enhancing leadership effectiveness at the workplace and within the community.

We look forward to continuing this supportive environment at the 2025 Conference on Thursday, July 24. Please check our conference website for updates and announcements regarding the 2025 conference.