7th Women and Leadership Conference
Embrace and Elevate
Systems of Change
Transformative Thinking on Women and Leadership
11-13 June 2025 | Claremont, CA, USA
About the Conference
Registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks each conference day.
Women lead in many ways and in many contexts around the world. Scholars have established myriad challenges and barriers that women face as research on women and leadership grew rapidly over the last 50 years. Even with more women having achieved success as leaders, many of the same challenges and barriers that were identified decades ago still persist. Furthermore, we must expand leadership research and practice to include individuals who are gender-minoritized (e.g., non-binary, femmes, and trans-women) to fully move toward leadership equity. How can we look beyond individual women to consider holistic and systemic perspectives of change to advance equity?
The 7th ILA Women and Leadership Conference theme, Embrace and Elevate Systems of Change: Transformative Thinking on Women and Leadership, provides a critical platform to convene top scholars, thought leaders, change-makers, practitioners, and students to engage in insightful discussions, share best practices, and co-create solutions that drive meaningful progress toward leadership equity. The conference is dedicated to embracing and elevating systems of change that will transform leadership and expand opportunities for women and individuals who are gender-minoritized.
Session Guide
Streams
- Transformative Thinking on Women and Leadership
- Elevate Leadership Development and Education
- Elevate Girls and Young Women
- Elevate Women in Leadership
- Systems of Change
Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more about our sponsorship packages and opportunities below.
Conference Goals
Spark Innovation
To stimulate innovative thinking and creative solutions for establishing new systems and structures that address the persistent challenges and barriers to women’s leadership that can drive transformative change.
Transform Thinking
To share and create novel perspectives and cutting-edge research on women and leadership that highlight new approaches and successful interventions that reset current directions.
Inspire Action
To inspire collaboration and research that reshapes the narrative around women and leadership to catalyze systemic shifts that foster gender equity and inclusion.
Important Dates
Call for Proposals
5 February 2025, 11:59 PM EDT
Call for Presentations Portal Closes
10 March 2025
Acceptance Notifications Emailed
Peer Reviewers
9 December 2024
Call for Peer Reviewers Form Opens
5 February 2025
Peer Review Recruitment Closes
7–28 February 2025
Peer Review Period
Presenter Deadlines
5 April 2025
Presenter Registration and Edits Deadline
Call for Reviewers
Call for Reviewers Is Now Open
Registration
Registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks each conference day.
Need approval from your supervisor to attend this conference? Download this customizable justification letter to make your case.
| Registration Period | ILA Member* | ILA Student Member** | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Early-Bird (ends 31 March) |
$500 |
$380 |
$650 |
|
Regular (ends 31 May) |
$575 |
$435 |
$749 |
|
Late (after 31 May) |
$660 |
$505 |
$860 |
*Membership must be valid through the end of the conference
**Must be a full-time student and ILA member who is not employed full time
Request an Official Letter of Invitation
If you need an official Letter of Invitation /to support your visa application, please visit here for more details.
Group Invoicing
Streamline your team’s registration with our convenient group invoicing option. Perfect for organizations bringing 5 or more attendees, this option consolidates your payments into one easy transaction.
Complete Request Form: For groups of five or more attendees, complete the Group Invoicing Request Form
Receive Your Invoice: We’ll send you one comprehensive invoice for your group, eliminating the hassle of multiple payments.
Apply Group Code: Upon payment, we’ll provide a group code linked to your invoice. Your attendees can then use this code to register seamlessly, bypassing the payment step.
Conference Policies
Substitutions
If the person who registered cannot attend and you wish to make a substitution, please email conferences@ilaglobalnetwork.org by 27 May 2025. Depending on the complexity of the request, the ILA reserves the right to assess a $30 change fee.
Cancellations
1. Cancellations must be emailed to conferences@ilaglobalnetwork.org by 11 May 2025. Cancellations received after 11 May 2025 are not refundable.
2. Registration cancellations received before the deadline are refundable, less a fee of 100 USD.
3. Refunds will be processed using the same method used for payment. Refunds are processed once per month.
1. By completing this registration form you grant the ILA permission to photograph or record yourself at events throughout the event and to use your name in connection with photographs/recordings of you. You grant ILA the right to use, reuse, publish, republish, and alter such photographs/recordings in whole or in part in any and all media now or hereafter known, including the internet, and for any purpose whatsoever, including illustration and promotion.
2. The ILA will seek further permission from presenters before using video recordings of presentations.
Plenary Speakers
Renee Washington, Founder CEO of Resilience Wins Executive Coaching & Consulting LLC
Renee Washington is the Founder CEO of Resilience Wins Executive Coaching & Consulting LLC. She helps executives and media professionals at all levels tackle career, leadership, and life challenges she once faced like Imposter Syndrome, a lack of self-confidence, communication struggles, and change management.
With 25 years in the media industry, including senior roles at NBCUniversal and Disney (ABC) television stations, Renee has a strong track record of turning challenges into opportunities. She led large teams in creating and distributing news content across platforms—linear, streaming, digital, and podcasts—during both tragedy and triumph, locally, nationally, and globally.
In Renee’s previous role as Vice President of News at NBC4 Los Angeles, she collaborated with an executive coach. Experiencing the life-changing impact of coaching firsthand is why she chose to become a professional coach.
As an ICF-certified executive coach, Renee combines real-life insights from her professional journey and specialized coaching strategies to help her clients thrive, whether they’re looking to advance in their career or enhance their leadership skills.
Her clients come from diverse industries, including organizations like NBCUniversal, CNN, TEGNA, Nexstar, SoundCloud, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Ohio State University. Renee is passionate about helping professionals from all backgrounds and experience levels achieve their goals.
Renee holds a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications from Ball State University in her home state of Indiana and is based in Los Angeles.
Agenda-At-A-Glance
Wednesday 11 June 2025
Explore the Detailed Agenda
Click below to preview the detailed agenda complete with session descriptions!
| Wednesday, 11 June 2025 | |||
| 07:15 – 17:00 | ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 08:00 – 08:50 | Continental Breakfast & Networking Activity | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 09:00 – 10:20 | Keynote: Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO, Geena Davis Institute | McKenna Auditorium | |
| 10:25 – 10:45 | Coffee & Tea Break | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 10:50 – 11:50 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 12:00 – 13:30 | Networking Luncheon | McKenna Auditorium | |
| 13:40 – 15:00 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 15:00 – 15:20 | Coffee & Tea Break | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 15:30 – 16:50 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 17:00 – 18:00 | Welcome Reception & Poster Session | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| Thursday, 12 June 2025 | |||
| 07:15 – 17:00 | ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 08:00 – 08:50 | Continental Breakfast & Networking Activity | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 09:00 – 10:20 | Keynote: Darcy J. Totten, Executive Director, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls | McKenna Auditorium | |
| 10:25 – 10:45 | Coffee & Tea Break | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 10:50 – 11:50 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 12:00 – 13:30 | Networking Luncheon With Special Guest Speakers: Danya Bacchus, CBS News Correspondent, & Renee Washington, Founder & CEO of Resilience Wins Executive Coaching & Consulting LLC | McKenna Auditorium | |
| 13:40 – 15:00 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 15:00 – 15:20 | Coffee & Tea Break | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 15:30 – 16:50 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| Friday, 13 June 2025 | |||
| 07:15 – 17:00 | ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 08:00 – 08:50 | Continental Breakfast & Networking Activity | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 09:00 – 10:20 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 10:25 – 10:45 | Coffee & Tea Break | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
| 10:50 – 11:50 | Concurrent Sessions | Various | |
| |||
| 12 :00 – 13 :30 | Awards Luncheon | McKenna Auditorium Foyer | |
Hotel & Travel
Hotel Options
Budget-Friendly Lodging – $65/Night
Please note:
- These are basic, no-frills accommodations managed by Claremont McKenna College.
- Linens (sheets, blanket, and pillow) are included, but towels are not provided, so please plan to bring your own.
- Rooms do include a mini-fridge!
- Rooms feature shared bathrooms, located on the same floor and separated by gender.
- This is not comparable to a hotel stay — there are no additional amenities such as daily housekeeping, toiletries, or in-room services.
This option is ideal for attendees seeking a simple, budget-conscious place to stay during the conference.
DoubleTree by Hilton - Claremont
Rate: $189.00 + taxes
Travel
Event Location: Claremont McKenna College, 888 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711.
Airports
- Ontario International Airport (ONT): Approximately 10 miles from campus, about a 15-minute drive.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Around 50 miles away, typically a 1 to 1.5-hour drive.
- John Wayne Airport (SNA): Approximately 35 miles away, about a 45-minute drive.
Transportation Options
- Ride-sharing services: Available from all airports.
- Public Transit: The Claremont Metrolink station connects to Los Angeles’ transit network and is near the campus.
For more detailed travel information, please visit the Claremont McKenna College Travel Guide.
Conference Program Team
Conference Co-Chairs
Dr. Sherylle Tan, Director of Internship and KLI Research, Claremont McKenna College
Program Co-Chairs
Dr. Natasha T. Turman, Director for the Women in Science and Engineering Residence Program, University of Michigan
Stream Co-Chairs
Transformative Thinking on Women and Leadership
Joanne Barnes, Ed.D.
Elevate Leadership Development and Education
Sakina T.S. Dixon
Martinella Dryburgh, Ph.D.
Elevate Girls and Young Women
Rebecca Burns
Marilyn Pierce
Elevate Women in Leadership
Lori Peters, Ed.D.
Joanna Sztandur, Ed.D.
Systems of Change
Chrys Egan, Ph.D.
Christine Haskell, Ph.D.
Activities Team
- Yolanda Caldwell
- Dorine Lawrence-Hughes, Ed.D.
Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals Is Now Closed
Sponsor
- Recognized as the conference platinum sponsor from main stage
- Opportunity for representative of the organization to welcome conference attendees
- Opportunity to collaborate with ILA on a webinar or work with ILA’s podcast partner on a podcast production
- ILA Organizational Membership for Two Years
- Eight complimentary conference registrations
- Logo placed prominently on all marketing material
- Logo and a link to your website on conference sponsor webpage
- Opportunity to work with ILA staff to plan a session or special event at the conference which your organization will be recognized as sponsoring
- Opportunity to host unlimited Pop-Up Stands whenever your team is available: multiple networking breaks and three group luncheons will take place over the three-day conference
- First page of full color conference PDF session guide reserved for your organization
- Logo displayed prominently on conference APP
- Two messages of your choosing sent during the conference via the conference APP
- Attendee list three weeks in advance for three-time honor system use
- Logo displayed prominently on on-site sponsor thank you banner
- Logo on screensaver in breakout rooms and general session
- Recognized as a sponsor of one of the five breakout rooms, the poster session, or the Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session
- Invited to have a collateral piece you provide placed on every seat at one of the three luncheons
- Provide ILA with a header banner advertisement and we will include it on the ILA Interface Newsletter three times in a calendar year
- Create an html message and ILA will send it to the entire ILA database once within a calendar year (exposure to over 20,000 leadership professionals worldwide)
- Recognized as a conference supporter sponsor from main stage
- ILA Organizational Membership for One Year
- Four complimentary conference registrations
- Logo placed prominently on all marketing material
- Logo and a link to your website on conference sponsor webpage
- Opportunity to work with ILA staff to plan a session or special event at the conference which your organization will be recognized as sponsoring
- Opportunity to host unlimited Pop-Up Stands whenever your team is available: multiple networking breaks and three group luncheons will take place over the three-day conference
- Full page ad in full color conference PDF session guide reserved for your organization
- Logo displayed on conference APP
- One message of your choosing sent during the conference via the conference APP
- Attendee list three weeks in advance for two-time honor system use
- Logo displayed on on-site sponsor thank you banner
- Logo on screensaver in breakout rooms and general session
- Recognized as a sponsor of one of the five breakout rooms, the poster session, or the Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session
- Provide ILA with a header banner advertisement and we will include it on the ILA Interface Newsletter once in a calendar year
- Create an html message and ILA will send it to the entire ILA database once within a calendar year (exposure to over 20,000 leadership professionals worldwide)
- Two complimentary conference registrations
- Logo on all marketing material
- Logo and a link to your website on conference sponsor webpage
- Opportunity to host six Pop-Up Stands: multiple networking breaks and three group luncheons will take place over the three-day conference
- Half page ad in full color conference PDF session guide reserved for your organization
- Logo displayed on conference APP with link to your website
- Attendee list three weeks in advance for one-time honor system use
- Logo displayed on on-site sponsor thank you banner
- Logo on screensaver in breakout rooms and general session
- Recognized as a sponsor of one of the five breakout rooms
- One complimentary conference registration
- Opportunity to host three Pop-Up Stands: multiple networking breaks and three group luncheons will take place over the three-day conference
- Organization’s name on all marketing material
- Organization’s name and a link to your website on conference sponsor webpage
- Organization’s name on conference APP
