2026 Women's Leadership Conference
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(Check-In 8:45am)
American University Wash Coll. of Law Claudio Grossman Hall
4300 Nebraska Ave., NW
Washington, DC
20016
5.00 Credits
Member Price $400.00
Non-Member Price $500.00
Overview
Connected Leadership: Power in Community.
Join GWSCPA for an empowering one-day Women’s Leadership Conference designed for women across industries who are ready to grow, connect, and lead with confidence.
This dynamic conference brings together inspiring speakers and meaningful networking experiences focused on strengthening leadership skills, fostering authentic connections, and supporting career advancement. Attendees will gain practical insights, engage with trailblazing women leaders, and leave energized to inspire change and thrive—professionally and personally.
The Women's Leadership Section of the GWSCPA is a large and diverse group of members coming together with common goals: to advance the standing of all women in the profession, to empower each other to be our professional best, to motivate each other in our leadership goals and to support each other through personal and professional transformations. This community continues to grow and help today's women leaders and future leaders to thrive. .
Groups of 3 or more, take 10% off (promo code GROUP3)
Groups of 5 or more, take 15% off (promo code GROUP5)
Interested in sponsoring this conference? Contact Kari Bedell, kbedell@gwscpa.org for more information.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor(s)
Silver Sponsor(s)
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Optional Session
- Registration/Breakfast/Networking
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Introduction
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- The Power of Generational Diversity: Turning Differences into a Strategic Advantage
Marcie Bomberg Montoya, Partner, WipfliMarcie Bomberg Montoya
Marcie Bomberg-Montoya. is a partner in the Business Solutions and Organization Performance practice. She leads the future planning practice for the firm and specializes in using a futurist lens in solving complex problems to empower leaders and organizations to reach their highest potential. Prior to joining Wipfli, Marcie’s curiosity drove her to leadership roles in community development organizations/non-for-profits, financial services, and technology industries for 25 years. Marcie has been intimately involved and led multiple capital raise campaigns that have resulted in creating long-term sustainable organizations. Marcie is a sought-after advisor, speaker, author, and educator on topics such as innovation culture, future and capital planning, executive and board development, as well as the intersection of talent, technology, and transformative leadership.
Specializations
- Turning strategy into action – advisory, facilitation, plan development, guidance, funding, and implementation
- Driving engagement and performance through quantifying culture and climate while measuring the impact of leaders and managers
- Executive and Board development
- Organizational development, management, and operational assessments
- Organizational transformation in a digital age – talent, technology integration and implementation strategies
Today’s workplaces bring together multiple generations—each shaped by different experiences, technologies, and expectations. This engaging workshop invites attendees to explore generational differences through a positive, practical, and non divisive lens. Participants will gain a clear understanding of what tends to matter most to each generation and why, while avoiding stereotypes and assumptions. Through relatable case studies, interactive discussion, and proven tools, attendees will learn how to navigate communication gaps, lead through change, and turn generational diversity into a strategic advantage. Walk away with practical frameworks, conversation guides, and team tools you can immediately apply to strengthen collaboration, trust, and performance across generations in your organization.
Credits: 1.5 - Personal Development
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Networking Break
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Better Together: Implied Improv for Connection, Communication and Collaboration
John WindmuellerJohn Windmueller
John Windmueller serves as the Director of WIT@Work, the applied improv and corporatetraining branch of Washington Improv Theater. John has over two decades of experience designing, delivering, and overseeing professional training and graduate education focused on communication, collaboration, and creativity. In addition to his education and training background, he holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and has extensive experience working as a facilitator and mediator, helping groups and communities have constructive conversation across differences.
This session will draw on improv principles and exercises to:
• Build meaningful connections between participants through applied improv exercises
and games that spark play and collaboration, supporting the conference's goal of
professional networking,
• Learn and rehearse evidence-based approaches to effective communication,
collaboration, and creative problem-solving that participants can apply in their
professional roles,
• Develop listening and communication skills to enhance understanding and
responsiveness in high-stakes professional conversations,
• Practice the principles of "Yes, And" to build on ideas and encourage innovation, and
• Provide a genuinely joyful and memorable experience that brings together and
amplifies themes from the broader conference in an interactive, hands-on format.
Credits: 1.5 - Personal Development
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Lunch/Networking Time
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Reframing the Networking Narrative: From Obligation to Opportunity
Laura KoepsellLaura Koepsell
Laura Koepsell is the founder of Koepsell Career Counseling LLC and a Certifi ed Career Counselor, Global Career Development Facilitator, and PRINCE2 Project Manager. She holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and Student Aff airs from Clemson University and has nearly a decade of experience supporting mid-level to executive professionals. She specializes in career counseling and workshop facilitation, with recognized expertise in modern networking and relationship-building for busy professionals in the DC area. Laura has partnered with federal agencies like the GSA and FDIC to design and deliver strategic professional development initiatives, impacting thousands of employees nationwide. With expertise in content design, group facilitation, and program evaluation, she empowers professionals to build authentic connections and advance their careers with confi dence. 2
For many professionals—especially busy leaders balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities, and full schedules—networking can feel like just one more obligation. But what if networking was reframed as one of the most powerful tools for career growth and leadership development?
In this engaging session, participants will explore why strong professional relationships are a common thread among successful leaders and how building connections early can compound over time—particularly within the uniquely connected professional community in the DC region.
Through real-world insights and personal stories, attendees will learn practical strategies for building meaningful connections despite competing demands like remote work, time constraints, and family responsibilities. The session will also highlight the importance of intentional visibility and strategic in-person engagement.
Participants will leave with a fresh perspective on networking—not as an added burden, but as a leadership competency and a strategic investment in their future.
Credits: 1 - Personal Development
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Session Transition
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Leading Beyond the Uniform
We often assume leadership is visible signaled by titles, rank, or credentials. Yet the most impactful leadership is rarely defined by what we wear or what follows our name.
Speaking in her personal capacity, a senior military leader and educator shares her journey of learning to lead as a woman in environments where she was often at times the quietest or the most underestimated. Her story reveals how leadership is forged internally long before it is recognized externally.
Through personal experience and practical insight, attendees will explore how credibility is built, influence is earned, and leadership is exercised long before a title is given. This session invites professionals to reflect on how they show up, how they lead beyond appearances, and how to lead with confidence, clarity, and character especially when no one is “saluting.”
Credits: 1 - Personal Development
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Wrap-up/Awards Presentation
This session is available to registrants only.
Optional Session
- Reception
This session is available to registrants only.
Non-Member Price $500.00
Member Price $400.00