Michelle’s humorous, refreshing, and inspiring speaking style has been captivating audiences across the globe. With authentic storytelling, engaging visuals, and her 100 Days Without Fear experience, Michelle will show you how to challenge your comfort zone to tap into your full potential.
In this fun and energizing session, you will learn about:

• Dealing with the unknown
• Seeking growth over safety
• Embracing authenticity
• Daring to fail
• Leading with accountability
• Redefining fear – from obstacle to opportunity

Speaker

Michelle Poler
Social Entrepreneur and Branding Strategist

In 2017, Deanna Byrne, CPA, became the first female managing partner in PwC’s Philadelphia office. Her experience ascending to the top of the firm provides a wealth of real-life examples of seizing opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and working hard to achieve success. Deanna will share her experience and practical insight from her career, including:

• Succeeding in public accounting and beyond
• Tips for finding and taking on new leadership roles
• Cultivating relationships with mentors and sponsors
• Applying tools to improve inclusion for women in leadership

Speaker

Deanna Byrne, CPA
Managing Partner
PwC

A panel of women will define the importance of volunteering and the impact women can have by serving on not-for-profit boards. Join these panelist in discussion and learn how they have committed their time, effort, and energy to great causes they believe in.

• Hear about the panelists' personal experience with board involvement
• Learn how to discover and seize opportunities to lead
• Pick up practical tips for incorporating volunteering in your life
• Get answers to your questions on how CPA's can make the biggest impact with their investment of time and expertise

Moderator

Frances A. Aitken, CPA
Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations
Berks County Community Foundation | Treasurer, PICPA

Panelists:

Elizabeth Ireland, CPA
Partner, Audit Services, Not-for-Profit and Higher Education Industry
Grant Thornton LLP

Sandy Pfeffer, CPA
Managing Director
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Saniah M. Johnson, CPA
Head of US Corporate Development
Macquarie Investment Management

Janea Jordon
Executive Vice President - Office of Audit and Compliance
Philadelphia Housing Authority

Join Terry Grafenstine, the first female Inspector General of the US House of Representatives and the second female in 50 years to be the Global Chair of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), as she reflects on her career, the lessons she learned along the way, and how becoming a CPA helped set the foundation for becoming a leader in cybersecurity. Receive practical tips on using your CPA “superpowers” on emerging technologies, like Robotics Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence.

Speaker

Theresa Grafenstine, CPA, CISA, CISSP
Managing Director, Cyber Security & Business Continuity
Citi

Discuss why the accounting profession needs more gender balance in its leadership ranks and the paths to achieving it, and why the preparation for the next generation of female accounting leaders should begin today. Explore the challenges and opportunities young women entering the profession will encounter.

• Get practical advice on how to build a career path to the C-suite. 
• Understanding the stumbling blocks that continue to hold back women in the workplace.
• Gain insight into the immediate and practical steps women can take to spur change.
• Identify actions young women entering the profession can make to become successful leaders of the profession in the future.

Speaker

Terri Polley
Past President and CEO
Financial Accounting Foundation

Moderator

Jennifer Cryder, CPA
COO & Executive Vice President
Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs

• Successful transitions from public accounting to corporate finance to entrepreneurship
• Leading a company from inside and outside – management as an executive and a board member
• How to get started with turning an idea into a business
• Monetizing your business and intellectual property
• The unique challenges that women face when starting, running, and selling a company

Speaker

Joy Taylor 
Go-to-Market Leader

Grant Thornton LLP

• Mind over matter
• Who's embracing diversity's dissonance
• Authenticity calls compromise & when not to
• The power of personality

Speaker

Jen Montague
Managing Director
Modern Wealth Management Concepts, MWC Executive Services