Discovering Potential, Igniting Power, Cultivating Excellence:
The 2025 Women's Leadership Summit at Stanford
Stanford, CA – The 2025 Women’s Leadership Summit, hosted by Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) at Stanford University and open to all, was an electrifying and empowering event, celebrating the boundless potential of women in leadership. With the resonant theme—"Discover your potential. Ignite your power. Cultivate your excellence.”—the Summit attracted nearly 300 participants for a day filled with dynamic presentations, thought-provoking panel discussions, and transformative breakout sessions. Leaders, of all genders and at all career stages united to learn, plan, and embrace the full spectrum of leadership, reinforcing the importance of resilience, growth, and shared purpose.
Empowering Welcome
Dr. Shirley Everett, Senior Associate Vice Provost for R&DE, Special Advisor to the Provost, and Summit host, set a commanding tone in her opening remarks, emphasizing the central mission of the Summit: providing attendees with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead effectively and envision thriving, inclusive communities. "We stand on the threshold of endless possibilities, where your unique talents, ideas and aspirations give you the power to shape your future," she said, urging participants to dream beyond boundaries, harness their strengths and challenge their limits. She appealed to the audience to, “Let the sparks ignite a fire within you—a fire that refuses to be dimmed by doubt or fear.”
Stanford’s Provost, Jenny Martinez, further galvanized the gathering by invoking Stanford’s legacy of leadership inspired by Jane Stanford’s vision of co-education. Stressing the collective strength born from Stanford’s diverse community, she highlighted her own journey influenced by mentors and colleagues and reminded attendees that leadership is a collective endeavor. “Leadership isn't a journey to be undertaken alone,” she affirmed.
Cultivating Excellence
The Summit began vibrantly with an electrifying keynote by legendary basketball coach, Tara VanDerveer, the second-winningest head coach in NCAA basketball history. VanDerveer, came to the stage following a powerfully moving video of her spectacular coaching career and accomplishments, and delivered a masterclass in resilience, excellence and leadership. Tracing her journey from a childhood passion for basketball to NCAA championships and Olympic gold, she shared personal anecdotes about overcoming societal limitations for girls in sports and her relentless pursuit of excellence despite challenges.
Dr. Shirley Everett, Senior Associate Vice Provost for R&DE, Special Advisor to the Provost, and Summit host. (Image credit: Karen Spicer/Spicer Studios)
“Let the sparks light a fire within you—a light that refuses to be dimmed by doubt or fear.” (Image credit: Nikolas Liepins/Ethography)
Stanford’s Provost, Jenny Martinez, and Dr. Everett. (Image credit: Keith Uyeda/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Keynote speaker, legendary basketball coach, Tara VanDerveer, wearing a chef's coat gifted to her by R&DE. (Image credit: Ken Hamel/Ken Hamel Photo)
Her mantra—“Wash your doubt down the drain”—resonated deeply, reinforcing the themes of confidence, perseverance, and the power of vision. VanDerveer distilled her career success into five essential principles: passion, strategic planning, team building, purposeful practice, and celebrating joy. These principles were underpinned by her dedicated efforts to maximize her players' strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
"Leadership is not just about winning games; it's about inspiring and elevating those around you. Always remember to visualize your goals, celebrate your achievements, and never doubt your ability to make a profound impact,” she shared.
Inspirational Panels
The spirit of resilience continued in the panel discussion, Ignite Your Power, Lead with Purpose, moderated by Dr. Everett. The session featured Maureen Slocum, CEO and publisher of Zoomba Group, and Karen Stephens-Johnson, founder of the Faith DeAnna Johnson Foundation. The Panel discussed the dynamic leadership landscape, understanding one’s core purpose as both essential and transformative, and explored the personal journeys of these extraordinary leaders, revealing the unimaginable life-changing events that shaped their vision and ignited their leadership power.
Ignite Your Power, Lead with Purpose. (l – r, Dr. Everett, Karen Stephens-Johnson, Maureen Slocum) (Image credit: Keith Uyeda/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Slocum highlighted her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing servant leadership and the essentiality of intuition. "Innovation happens when you see an unmet need and take action. Sometimes, all it takes is asking the right question: 'How can I help?'" she said. Adding, "Success is rarely given—it’s built, one step, one risk, and one bold move at a time."
Stephens-Johnson shared the deeply-moving story of how the tragic loss of her only child, 26-year-old daughter Faith, galvanized her and her husband to advocate fiercely for ovarian cancer awareness to help other women, ultimately leading to the passage of the Faith Deanna Johnson Act in Delaware. “We are more powerful than we think,” she affirmed, showcasing the transformative power of purpose-driven action. The panel concluded to an enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience.
An Inclusive Leadership panel brought together notable trailblazers—Lori Mackenzie, co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, Sara Brooks, assistant director for IDEAL Advancement, and Leslie “Tru” Fleming, associate director for Responsible Purchasing. Each leader discussed their approach to fostering inclusivity: Mackenzie highlighted the strategic business advantages of diverse teams, Brooks shared community-building strategies, and Fleming elaborated on engaging diverse suppliers for operational excellence and innovation. The panel underscored that, to reap the benefits of inclusive leadership (superior business outcomes, recruiting and retaining staff) requires continuous effort, strategic collaborations, and a commitment to supporting all voices at every level of the organization.
The Inclusive Leadership panel with, l-r, Leslie “Tru” Fleming, Jocelyn Breeland, Lori Mackenzie, and Sara Brooks. (Image credit: Ken Hamel/Ken Hamel Photo)
Design in Thinking
Milan Drake, Community Design Lead at the Stanford d.School, delivered a high-energy, engaging, and transformative session titled, Employing Principles of Design Thinking - Infusing Design Thinking into Your Leadership. Blending interactive exercises, personal anecdotes, and music, Drake emphasized the importance of reflection, creativity, and collaboration in leadership.
Through a series of activities, including writing manifestos for future leadership goals and envisioning the impact they wish to achieve, Drake guided participants to align their core values with their actions. Pairing attendees to share their manifestos and create metaphorical "mixtapes" underscored the power of feedback and support in development. Emphasizing the removal of traditional constraints and embracing imperfection, Drake empowered attendees to innovate and explore new leadership possibilities, leaving them inspired and equipped with practical design thinking tools.
Milan Drake, Community Design Lead at the Stanford d.School. (Image credit: Nikolas Liepins/Ethography)
Participants working together on their “mixtapes” as part of the interactive presentation Employing Principles of Design Thinking - Infusing Design Thinking into Your Leadership. (Image credit: Nikolas Liepins/Ethography)
Empowering and Informative Breakout Sessions
Following a vibrant networking lunch, the Summit featured breakout sessions providing practical tools, knowledge, and inspiration to empower leaders with diverse professional development needs. These sessions equipped attendees with actionable insights to enhance their leadership journeys, emphasizing financial readiness, effective mentorship, resilience, inclusive leadership, growth perspectives, and neurodiversity.
Women's Leadership Development Program (WLDP) co-chairs Amanda Gotthold and Cyndi McCollister encouraged participants with their session, “Living Above the Line: How Shifting Perspective Opens a World of Possibilities.”
Stanford Federal Credit Union's Adeline Bellot offered guidance for leaders to create financial security in her session, "Empowering the Investor: Creating a Long-Term Plan and Using Practical Ideas in an Impractical World of Investing."
Dr. Giselle Flores Martin, director of finance and operations in the department of mechanical engineering, inspired with her presentation, “Women in Senior Leadership Roles: The Transformational Leader!”
Career and leadership coach Dr. Sonia Ashok’s session, “Advocating for Community Across Career Stages," was an opportunity for leaders in all career stages to share and support each other.
Mia Love, neurodiversity educator and district director for Stanford Land, Buildings and Real Estate, led an engaging breakout session, “Embracing Neurodiversity: Unpacking Privilege, Unlocking Potential,” offered education and support for neurodiverse individuals and allies.
Dr. Joyce Sackey, Stanford Medicine associate dean and chief community engagement officer, delivered a powerful and timely presentation on “Cultivating Resiliency and Staying Mission - Focused in Changing Times.”
Left: Amanda Gotthold (l) and Cyndi McCollister (r). Right: Adeline Bellot. (Image credit: Diane McClamroch/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Dr. Giselle Flores Martin (l) and Dr. Sonia Ashok (r). (Image credit: Diane McClamroch/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Mia Love’s (l) and Dr. Joyce Sackey (r). (Image credit: Diane McClamroch/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Leadership in Uncertain Times
Former Assistant Vice Provost Jan Barker Alexander and Jeanette Smith-Laws, director of Operations and Student Unions, were joined by Professor Adam Banks, faculty director of the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and the Institute for Diversity in the Arts, to continue a dialogue initiated at previous Summits. The panel session Leading in Uncertain Times – Part 2 was an opportunity to deliberate on the complexities of leadership for women and people of color. Topics explored included maintaining authenticity in professional settings, the importance of allyship, and fostering inclusive environments. Professor Banks accentuated, “As leaders, we carry the story of our organizations and must ensure it’s communicated authentically, fostering connections and inspiring change.”
Adam Banks (left), Jan Barker Alexander (center) and Jeanette Smith-Laws (right). (Image credit: Keith Uyeda/Residential & Dining Enterprises)
Breaking Barriers in the Wine Industry
The day concluded with a fascinating panel conversation moderated by Dr. Rosalind Conerly, associate dean and Karr Family Director of the Black Community Services Center. It featured three pioneering women vintners and a wine industry researcher—Maryam Ahmed, Terah Bajjalieh, Dr. Chris Wachira, and Dr. Monique Bell.
The panelists shared their experiences and successes in the wine industry. Ahmed emphasized inclusivity, recounting her journey influenced by her multicultural background and founding Maryam + Company. Bajjalieh discussed her challenging transition from finance to winemaking, underscored by her commitment to sustainable practices at Terah Wine Co. Dr. Bell provided an academic perspective through her research on Black wine entrepreneurs, aiming to increase visibility and support for Black-owned wine businesses. Dr. Wachira shared her inspiring journey from Kenya to becoming a successful winemaker in the U.S. and her efforts to support women and minority-owned brands through her distribution company. The panel explored themes of sustainability, mentorship, and community building, emphasizing the importance of support networks for upcoming women winemakers and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Everett poses with the “Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women Redefining Wine Culture” panel, Shown, l – r: Dr. Everett; Dr. Monique Bell, California State University, Fresno; Dr. Chris Wachira, The Wachira Group; Maryam Ahmed, Maryam + Company; Terah Bajjalieh, Terah Wine Co.; Dr. Rosalind Conerly, moderator. (Image credit: Karen Spicer/Spicer Studios)
Celebrating a Day of Connection and Inspiration
In her closing remarks, Dr. Everett celebrated the courage, ambition, and resilience of the speakers and presenters. She reinforced the essential message of the Summit: leadership thrives on collaboration, inclusivity, and the willingness to lift others. “Your journey matters. Your voice matters,” she affirmed, leaving attendees with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
The 2025 Women’s Leadership Summit culminated with a lively reception, where participants continued to network and discuss the day’s insights over tastings from the featured winemakers. They left with expanded networks, renewed purpose, and actionable strategies to drive change. The Summit undeniably strengthened that power, setting the stage for lasting legacies of leadership and excellence. As participants departed, they carried forward the momentum of the Summit—poised to transform inspiration into action, undoubtedly continuing on a path brimming with possibility and promise.
Dr. Everett with members of the Women’s Leadership Development Program council and advocate board. (Image credit: Karen Spicer/Spicer Studios)
2025 Women's Leadership Summit
Discover the insights, strategies, and inspiration shared throughout the 2025 Summit. Access full video recordings of the keynote address, welcome remarks, thought-provoking panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions—curated to support ongoing leadership growth and development for individuals across all fields.