Ethical leaders share power and put the needs of others first. They are committed to helping all people develop and perform as highly as possible. 

Women commonly experience unique workplace challenges due to covert competition, microaggressions, lack of sponsors and mentors, balancing authenticity and assimilation, gaining and retaining power, being heard, increased scrutiny, etc. 

However, women’s success is not just a woman’s issue. Without the avid support of men, often the most influential stakeholders in many large corporations, significant progress toward ending gender disparities are unlikely. 

During this talk, Melissa of Melissa Majors Consulting examines research, scenarios, and best practices for leveraging ethical leadership to mitigate barriers to women’s success. This discussion is relevant for both men and women in manager and non-manager roles. 

A Body-Based Approach to Communication, Boundaries, and Influence

You can master every technical skill in the profession — but without a regulated nervous system, confidence and clarity can disappear in an instant.

In this session, Felina Danalis, M.A., S.E.P. introduces a powerful somatic approach to emotional intelligence tailored for financial professionals navigating high-stakes conversations. She shows how stress, cultural patterns, and unconscious body responses shape communication styles, boundaries, and leadership presence. Participants will learn to recognize the somatic cues behind people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, or over-functioning — and how to shift into grounded authority in real time.

Attendees will leave with practical tools to improve client communication, hold boundaries with ease, and lead with a centered presence that builds trust.

Career advancement doesn’t happen by chance—it requires clear self-advocacy, strategic timing, and the confidence to ask for what’s next. Yet many professionals struggle with when and how to initiate conversations about promotions, raises, or new opportunities. 

This session demystifies the art of self-advocacy in today’s workplace. Participants will learn how to assess readiness, position their value, and prepare for high-stakes career conversations with intention. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, attendees will gain tools to confidently raise their hand, articulate their goals, and navigate pivotal career moments with clarity and professionalism. 

As careers evolve, many professionals reach inflection points that call for bold change—launching a firm, shifting departments, moving from consulting into an internal leadership role, or transitioning from public accounting to industry. These moments of transformation require more than technical skill; they demand clarity around strengths, priorities, and where one can create the greatest impact. 

This session explores how leaders can intentionally align their work with their highest-value contributions while navigating significant career pivots. Through real-world transition examples—such as starting an independent practice, moving into a startup CFO role, or stepping into a new firm, department, or industry—participants will examine how to let go of work that no longer fits, delegate effectively, and step into roles that better reflect their capabilities and ambitions. 

Attendees will leave with a practical framework for identifying where they do their best work, managing change with confidence, and creating space for strategic leadership—whether they are redefining their current role or preparing for a bold next chapter.