The 16th Annual
Women Who Mean Business Summit
Women Who Mean Business Summit
Date and Time
Friday Oct 16, 2026
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Location
Jewish Community Center (JCC)
5403 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23226
PARKING:
Free parking located in the rear of the building.
Fees/Admission
General Admission Members | $129.00
General Admission Non-members | $159.00
Vendor Tables/Exhibitors Available : Vendors
See the vendor registration page for details.
Members: $175 (6 Ft. table, tablecloth, 1 chair, and lunch)
Members: $225 (6 Ft. table, tablecloth, 2 chairs, and lunch)
Non Members: $250 (6 Ft. table, tablecloth, 2 chairs, and lunch)
Tentative Summit Agenda
9:00 A.M. Door Open – Attendee Registration
9:35 A.M. Opening: Welcome
10:00 A.M.- 10:45 A.M. Opening General Session
UNSHAKEN & STILL ON FIRE
Protecting Your Passion, Purpose & Peace Through Every Season
Success doesn’t always look the way we imagined. Careers evolve, businesses change, priorities shift, and even the work we once loved can leave us feeling exhausted or disconnected. Unshaken & Still on Fire is an honest conversation about staying passionate and purposeful without sacrificing your peace.
This session will explore how women can navigate career transitions, recognize the signs of burnout and overwhelm, reset without losing momentum, and reconnect with the purpose that keeps them moving forward. Participants will gain practical strategies for protecting their energy, setting healthy boundaries, reigniting their passion, and creating a definition of success that works for the season they are in.
11: 00 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. 2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions (Select One)
AI: FRIEND, FOE, OR FUTURE?
Harnessing AI Without Losing the Human Touch
Understanding Your Rights, Protecting Your Information & Using AI Responsibly
AI is changing how we work, communicate, market, create, and make decisions—but how much should we rely on it, and where do we draw the line?
This timely and practical session will help participants better understand what happens to our information when we use AI, what rights and protections may apply, and the legal and ethical considerations we should keep in mind. From entering personal or confidential information into AI tools to using AI-generated content in our businesses and workplaces, knowing the risks is just as important as knowing the benefits.
Participants will explore how to use AI as a powerful resource while maintaining privacy, security, human judgment, and accountability.
THE POWER OF CAPTIAL
Know Your Numbers. Know Your Options. Build Your Empire.
Capital can be the difference between having a great idea and having the resources to make it happen–but knowing when to borrow, how much to borrow, and how to position yourself for funding is just as important as knowing where to find it.
The Power of Capital will help entrepreneurs develop the financial confidence to make smarter decisions about money, credit, and growth. This practical session will demystify the funding process and help participants understand what lenders and investors want to see, how financial data tells the story of your business, and how to determine which financing options may be right for you.
Whether you’re launching a business, expanding an existing company, or investing in growth, participants will leave better equipped to think strategically about capital rather than simply chase it.
(Teens) UNSHAKEN: Her Voice. Her Future.
Own Who You Are. Discover Your Power. Create What’s Next.
An honest, energizing conversation created specifically for high school girls about confidence, purpose, leadership, and the possibilities ahead. Young women will hear from inspiring women and relatable role models who will share real stories about finding their voice, navigating challenges, overcoming self-doubt, making difficult choices, and discovering that success doesn’t always follow a straight path.
This panel will encourage girls to think beyond what others expect of them and recognize that their ideas matter, their voices have value, and their future is theirs to shape.
12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. Lunch & Special Awards
REFILL YOUR CUP! WELLNESS MOMENT
Pause. Breathe. Reset. Recharge.
This energizing 15-minute wellness experience is designed to help you reset your mind, restore your energy, and reconnect with the woman behind the work, the responsibilities, and the everyday demands. Sometimes being UNSHAKEN doesn’t mean pushing through. It means knowing when to pause, take a breath, and refill your cup.
Special Awards:
2026 Remarkable Woman of the Year
Women Who Lead Awards
1:30 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. Closing General Session
BUILDING TEAMS THAT BEND, NOT BREAK
Creating Stronger Teams, Stronger Relationships & Stronger Results
Change is inevitable. People change. Businesses change. Careers change. Expectations change. And sometimes, the pressure can test even the strongest teams.
Building Teams That Bend, Not Break is a high-energy closing panel designed for every woman in the room-whether you’re building a business, leading an organization, managing a team, contributing to one, or navigating your next career move.
Our panelists will share real-world experiences and practical strategies for creating relationships and teams that can adapt without falling apart, communicate through challenges, and continue moving forward when circumstances change.
This conversation goes beyond traditional management. We’ll explore what it really takes to build environments where people trust one another, communicate openly, hold each other accountable, embrace different perspectives, and feel empowered to contribute.
2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. Closing Network Reception
