The night was nothing short of inspiring—a brilliant fusion of minds and a powerful catalyst for future collaborations.
This carefully curated event brought together some of the most dynamic female changemakers across industries, offering an exclusive space to connect, share insights, and uplift each other’s journeys. Ja’Nay Hawkins, Chief Partnerships Officer at MAKERS Women and Dee Poku, CEO of The WIE Suite co-hosted the evening of led the conversation that evening. Ja’Nay gave a rousing welcome speech outlining how MAKERS Women’s goal of accelerating equity for women in the workplace. And, Dee followed with an insightful framing of leadership style and the pressures placed on women in the workplace. The conversations flowed freely, weaving together tales of personal triumphs and leadership epiphanies that have shaped the paths of these remarkable women.
The group discussion on leadership style was a particular highlight of the evening, with contributing gems of wisdom that resonated deeply with all in attendance. "My leadership style is more silent," one attendee reflected. "It’s more actionable behind the scenes. It’s about being thoughtful about what you deliver and how. And it’s listening carefully to what is not said." The room nodded in agreement—a collective affirmation of the understated power of leadership that doesn't demand the spotlight but commands respect through thoughtful action.
Another guest shared a personal revelation: "99% of the time I already knew what to do, but the expectation of female leadership was to be collaborative, so I used to allow myself to be too influenced by others. But that’s changed." Her words struck a chord, echoing the inner transformation many women leaders have experienced in stepping into their own authentic power.
The conversation took on an even more profound tone when one attendee boldly addressed the outdated norms of leadership: "For too long we’ve been advised to follow a white male model of what it is to be a leader. That’s outdated. What we’re seeing right now is that a woman can show up as her full authentic self on a public stage, and people listen." It was a sentiment that carried through the night—the unapologetic embrace of authenticity as the new currency of success.
"The more authentic I’ve been, the more successful I’ve become," another voice chimed in, drawing murmurs of agreement. "It also gives permission to other people to be their authentic selves too."
The evening wasn't just about dialogue, though—it was about action. With the hope of many fruitful collaborations on the horizon, attendees left with not just new connections but the tools to support one another in tangible ways. LinkedIn profiles were exchanged, and promises of future support were made.
Notable attendees included Ayo Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter; Adjoa Asamoah, co-creator of The Crown Act; Alencia Johnson, former National Director for Elizabeth Warren; Dawn Huckelbridge, founder of Paid Leave For All; Deidre Boulware, Head of Talent at Citigroup; India Gary Martin, former JP Morgan COO; Maya Peterson, Head of Strategy at Universal Music Group; and Susan Tynan, founder of Framebridge. Each woman a powerhouse in her own right, contributing to the evening’s spirit of leadership and solidarity.
The dinner was the first in series to be hosted by the two companies exploring a variety of workplace themes across multiple cities.
