Featured Speaker(s)

E. L. Betsy Smith
Betsy’s life purpose is to help people acknowledge their greatness. Her dream is for women to acknowledge their innate ability to be extraordinary leaders. Betsy’s passion is to inspire women to realize their full potential. Engaging her futuristic and maximizer strengths, she positively emboldens women to strategically create their ideal future and to get what they want, need and deserve - at the highest level. A certified executive coach and owner of E. L. Smith Consulting, Betsy works with executive and professional women who are frustrated because their ideas are not being heard in their organization or their business is not growing. She coaches these women to embrace their strengths, identify their values and create an action plan to achieve their dreams. See more

Sonja Neiger
Sonja Neiger’s life work is to substantially increase the proportion of women in leadership roles by removing internal and external obstacles that women face in the workplace. As Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute for the Impact Center, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C., Sonja leads an annual women’s leadership development program for accomplished women across sectors. Using her extensive knowledge of employee engagement, retention, and career development, she also consults with organizations, facilitates team development, and provides executive coaching. Sonja’s primary strengths are creating innovative talent programs, managing large-scale projects, and creating educational content. She is a skilled facilitator and polished presenter who builds strong relationships with leaders at all levels. See more

Gale McKoy Wilkins
Gale has deep leadership experience directing non-profit organizations and working as a professional advocate for a variety of interests and groups. Prior to her appointment as the Executive Director of the NC Council for Women, Gale directed multiple projects for the Family Education Initiative in Raleigh, including working to increase high school graduation rates for African-American males and to reduce teen dating violence. Gale has served as a mentor for the NC Center for Women in Public Service, and the Executive Director of Family First, where she worked directly with residents and community organizations at Granville County’s first faith-based social services program for families and low-income women. See more

Amber Rupinta
Amber Rupinta starts each weekday at 4:30 a.m. on Eyewitness News This Morning. She also reports on various stories throughout the Triangle, including the popular Money Saver series. Amber joined ABC11 in February 2004 spending the next 5 years as the weekend morning co-anchor.
Prior to WTVD, Amber worked for WCAU, the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia, and WHAG in Hagerstown, MD. She began her career behind the scenes at WJZ in Baltimore before becoming a reporter on the Baltimore Sun High School Sports Show. See more

Lisa Gabriel
Lisa’s passion is to inspire women to take charge of their life. She offers wisdom, a fresh perspective and encourages education and self-confidence. Lisa believes that it is important for women to “lean on” as well as “lean in.”

As President and CEO of Pinafore Wealth Counsel Inc., Lisa serves as a role model for women to manage their human capital as well as their financial capital. She encourages women to establish a healthy relationship with money. See more