Women encouraged to become leaders
Inaugural Women Willpower Summit held at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center
WEST CHESTER >> In an effort to inspire and support women in the community to become strong business leaders, the inaugural Women Willpower Summit was held Saturday at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center. The all-day event featured a panel of women business owners from many different backgrounds who spoke to the all-female audience.
Empowerment was the focus of the event, which included 11 women speakers who are in a variety of leadership roles. Dianne Herrin, who recently won the Democratic Primary for mayor of West Chester, was among the day’s speakers.
Event organizer Angeline May, a marketing strategist, was also a speaker. May developed the organization Women Willpower as a way to foster support among women in the business world. The summit enabled women to have an open discussion on leadership positions and building businesses in the community.
“What was really phenomenal about today is that we were able to create a space that fostered really intimate conversation where we dived into business challenges and leadership challenges. Also, how and where we use our drive to surmount obstacles,” May said.
“One of the things that happened that I didn’t expect was an immediate camaraderie and an amazing sharing of similar challenges. To talk through some of the business challenges that you
face and essentially, in a unanimous way, recognize that you are far more talented and far more powerful than you may think you are,” May added.
Juliana Mosely, a higher education consultant, was also among the panelists. Mosely noted the event was a way for women to find support that would help them thrive.
“At a time when our country is so divided, it is very important that we find pockets of unity. I think this forum was an opportunity for women to not only support one another, but to check and evaluate their own growth. The diversity of the panelists was extremely important because we represented all facets of entrepreneurship and businesses, and even some areas that we would typically not see women be in leadership,” said Mosely.
Sandra Gilpatrick, a wealth consultant, flew in from Boston to attend the summit. Gilpatrick wanted to assist women in understanding the financial side of having a business.
“I’m a business owner myself and my passion is to financially empower women. I know the importance of having confidence in yourself. We have to organize better as women and support each other better, and we can accomplish anything,” Gilpatrick added.
Local business owner Kim Wolf who co-owns Optimal Massage in West Chester, was another of the speakers who wanted to take part in the summit.
“Our business is made up of mostly women. It’s a very female-driven career. I feel like I had a responsibility to my team, to people in the community and to my daughter to be a woman who is empowered. This was an amazing group to be a part of,” Wolf remarked.
May said the event was a launching pad for an organization she plans to form based on peer-to-peer problem solving that will involve women from all areas of expertise to focus on a problem and find a variety of solutions.