By Beth Brennan
The theme of the 2025 SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Women’s Leadership Forum was "Unlocking Potential," which brought together women leaders from diverse backgrounds for a transformative experience focused on leadership, innovation, and personal growth.
With an inspiring lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, attendees left equipped with practical tools and insights to become more empowered leaders. Here’s a recap of the impactful days:
Day 1: Building Connections and Kickstarting the Journey
The event kicked off on Tuesday afternoon with an engaging check-in session where participants enjoyed tea, cookies, and decorated a beach bag as an icebreaker activity that set the tone for the days ahead. The speed networking session enabled attendees to make meaningful connections early, sparking collaboration and camaraderie.
At the welcome reception, attendees shared their goals for the event while forging connections with colleagues. The evening was followed by a casual dinner with new connections—an ideal setting to continue the conversations and begin forming lasting relationships.
Day 2: Unleashing Potential and Growing as Leaders
The first keynote session, “Unleash Your Potential: Empowering Your Team to Take Risks and Innovate,” led by Sheri Jacobs, founder and CEO of Avenue M Group, set the stage for the event’s focus on innovation and risk-taking as essential leadership qualities.
Following the keynote, attendees gathered for a coffee break and networking session before diving into the “Leadership Excellence Forum” with Tina Woodard, founder and CEO of Capstone Performance Solutions Inc., who shared valuable insights on leadership practices that can help shape better teams and organizations.
Lunch was followed by two powerful sets of breakout sessions, where attendees could choose their focus area. Option one offered a deep dive into transformation and agility with Jacobs and Woodard, while option two emphasized emotional intelligence and people performance, led by James Lawrence and Megan Cook, both from Happy Companies. Both options provided actionable takeaways to help women leaders adapt and thrive in today’s fast-changing environments.
The day concluded with a wrap-up session on application and action planning with Tiffany Martin, CEO of TKMartin Consulting LLC, who helped attendees develop personalized plans to implement their learning. The day ended with a vibrant "Sun-sational Soiree" celebrating the spirit of empowerment under the Orlando sky.
Day 3: Personal Growth and Strategic Leadership
The morning keynote session, “From Doing to Achieving: Strategies for Optimizing Personal Success” by Martin, gave women practical strategies to optimize their personal and professional success with a focus on how to turn intentions into concrete actions.
Following another networking break, the event continued with keynotes that covered topics crucial to modern leadership and timely across all business categories: "Unlocking Competitive Advantage with Generative AI" by Sharon Gai, speaker and author, and “Leadership Liftoff: Building Skills that Transform the Employee Experience” by Candice Gottlieb-Clark, founder and CEO of Dynamic Team Solutions. Both sessions underscored the importance of adapting to new technologies and fostering a people-centered approach to leadership.
In the afternoon, attendees participated in two dynamic breakout options. Option one, “Manage Conflict Like Ted-Lasso: New Skills for Dealing with Workplace Challenges,” led by Gottlieb-Clark was a fan favorite, as it focused on conflict resolution with humor and emotional intelligence. Meanwhile, Option two, “Crafting Culture: Unlock the Secret to Organizational Success,” led by Tiffany Martin, dove deep into creating positive organizational cultures that empower teams.
The day wrapped up with a final session of reflection and action planning, leaving attendees inspired and ready to take on new leadership challenges with the tools and insights they had gained.
Closing Thoughts
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The SBN Women’s Leadership Forum was an invaluable experience for all who attended. It not only provided a space for personal growth and empowerment but also fostered a sense of community among women leaders who are now better equipped to innovate, lead with empathy, and drive change in their organizations. Attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose, armed with leadership tools that will help them unlock their fullest potential and make a lasting impact.
The 2026 Women’s Leadership Forum will be held on the west coast in California where many of SEMA’s member companies are based. Stay tuned to SEMA News for more information and dates for 2026.
Thank You Sponsors
SBN thanks the following sponsors for their generous support in making this event possible.
Title sponsor: PPG
Platinum sponsors: Hemmings and PC Bennett Solutions
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