Women's Leadership Conference
Mentoring, Inspiring, Networking, and Educating...
The MSU Women's Leadership Conference's mission is to enhance and enrich the lives
of our women alumnae, associates and friends by opening doors for mentoring and networking while creating educating and inspiring
opportunities for women by women.
**Interested in presenting next year for 2026? Submit your Proposal!**
May 13th, 2025 | In-Person Conference | Strand Union Building, MSU Campus
Conference Schedule:
8:30-9:00 am: Event check-in and breakfast
9:00 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:05 am: Morning Keynote: Karen McNenny, Lead from where YOU stand
10:15 am: Breakout Session I
- Lean Out: Lazy Success
- Shattering Ceilings: Cultivating Authentic Leadership Through Self-Discovery
- Lead from where YOU stand (Part II)
- Harnessing the Power of Moods and Emotions for Personal and Professional Growth
- Lead Like You Give a ****: The Responsible Leaders Workshop
11:15 am: Breakout Session II
- Fuel Your Success: Prioritizing Self-Care for Unstoppable Leadership
- The Art of Personal Branding
- Child Wellbeing: We Know What Hurts, But What Helps?
- 4 Foundations of Leadership
- Ethics and AI: How To Humanize the Machine
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:45 pm: Women in Business Club presentation
1:00 pm: Workshop - Cathy Mobley, Breaking Down the Feedback Wall - Intention and Dialogue
2:00 pm: Panel - Your Mental Health Matters, Well Being While Being Well
3:00 pm: Keynote - Amanda McPherson, Girl Get Your Roots Done-Cultivating Unshakeable Confidence from Within
4:00 pm: Networking Social and Silent Auction
General Admission Sold Out! Sponsorship Options Still Open!
Morning Keynote Speaker: Karen McNenny
Karen McNenny A dynamic speaker with over two decades of experience commanding stages across the
country, Karen brings both authenticity and authority to conversations about workplace
culture, effective leadership and employee engagement. She has moved audiences from
intimate workshops to packed conference halls, translating complex relationship dynamics
into compelling human stories. She has become a leading voice and trusted advisor
to small and large businesses, nonprofits and government agencies across the country.
She spent her early career as the Assistant Camp Director of Camp Mak-A-Dream and
then became a master trainer for Providence Services, the largest healthcare system
in the Northwest.
Karen is a Missoula girl who made her way to Bozeman, where she received her BFA in Media and Theater Arts. During her time in Bozeman she enjoyed two tours with MT Shakespeare in the Parks and had her moment of fame on the TEDx stage. Karen went on to complete her graduate studies as a Rotary International Scholar at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. After running a successful consulting business for 18 years, Karen decided to add Divorce Consulting to her list of services. Through her signature Good Divorce Experience™, Karen guides couples through a less destructive and more productive divorce experience.
Keynote Speaker: Amanda McPherson
Amanda McPherson, once a risk-avoidant “scaredy cat,” is now an award-winning coach, speaker, and
published writer dedicated to empowering women. Her passion lies in helping women
cultivate deeply rooted confidence to reach their highest potential. Through her online
platform, Girl, Get Your Roots Done, Amanda shares relatable insights and actionable advice to help women navigate life's
ups and downs while remaining rooted in their values and sense of worth.
Click here to view other conference speakers.
Interested in sponsoring, or donating? Email [email protected].
Thank You to our Generous 2025 Conference Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor:
Keynote Sponsor:
Panel Sponsor:
Women in Business Chapter Events Sponsor:
Scholarship Sponsor:
Networking Sponsors:
Your proceeds provide scholarships for Jabs students: Click here to view past scholarship recipients.
We are on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook!
Brief History
The MSU Jabs Women’s Circle of Excellence (the Circle) was created in the fall of 2006 based on the vision of Jackie Sather and Micki Munro. A group of alumnae and administrative employees of Jabs were brought together to form the Core Committee of the Circle. In the spring of 2007, the Core Committee hosted the Circle’s first event, a graduation celebration for the graduating seniors and MPAc women, where they were congratulated on this significant achievement by local Jabs alumnae.
The Core Committee brought the first annual Women’s Circle of Excellence conference, a two-day event held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman, Montana on April 17th and 18th, 2008. This also coincided with the 115th anniversary of the College of Business. The theme of the conference was “Links of a Lifetime," which promoted the existing bonds between alumnae and friends and fostered opportunities to establish new ones.
This conference featured national and local speakers who presented inspirational and educational sessions and events, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities. These two days featured presentations capturing the true meaning of being a woman in today’s busy world, while sharing the pride that comes from being linked by the common thread of graduating from the same institute in business.
