Get ready to be inspired at the Women’s Leadership Symposium and Influential Women in Business luncheon

Mark your calendar, grab your coffee, and get ready to be inspired.

Business Report’s third annual Women’s Leadership Symposium is coming up on May 20, and it’s bringing together a powerhouse lineup of women from across the Capital Region who know what it takes to lead, grow, and shake things up in their industries.

Things get rolling bright and early at 7:30 a.m. with networking and a light breakfast, followed by a packed morning of meaningful conversations starting at 8:15. Ten impressive speakers—C-suite execs, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and coaches—will share their personal stories, real-world advice, and lessons learned from the front lines of leadership.

Headlining the event is Julie Laperouse, founder of Screaming Peacock and a past Business Report Influential Women in Business honoree. She’s known for her high-energy keynotes and her refreshingly honest take on what it means to lead (and live) with purpose. Whether she’s coaching executives or training teams, she brings humor, insight, and practical tools to help people level up.

The symposium also features two engaging panels. First up is Strategic Leadership Presence: Developing Your Distinctive Leadership Voice, which dives into how successful leaders shape their personal leadership styles while staying true to themselves. Panelists include:

Anita Byrne, partner, SSA Consultants; Karen Breaux, HR director, EisnerAmper;
Krista Raney, EVP of development, LSU Foundation; and Regina Davis, refinery complex manager, ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery.

Then there’s Why or Why Not? The Power of Purposeful Decision-Making—a conversation about those big life and career decisions: when to say yes, when to walk away, and how to trust your gut while keeping your goals in sight. This panel features:

Tyler Litt, founder and senior advisor, HireLitt; Sinella Aghasi, executive director, Louisiana’s Old Governor’s Mansion; Monica Vela-Vick, complex litigation attorney, The Dugan Law Firm; and Taylor Jacobs, associate athletic director of NIL & Strategic Initiatives at LSU.

After the symposium, the spotlight turns to this year’s Influential Women in Business honorees—nine standout leaders being recognized for their impact, vision, and commitment to moving Baton Rouge forward. The luncheon includes a panel with the honorees, giving attendees a chance to hear their stories firsthand.

Meet the 2024 honorees:

• Paige Carter, Chief Business Development Officer, Louisiana Economic Development
• Regina Davis, Refinery Complex Manager, ExxonMobil
• Kodi Guillory, President, Sustainable Design Solutions
• Michelle Hardy, Vice President, Turner Industries
• Meghan Parrish, VP of Marketing & Communications, Baton Rouge General
• Amy Province, Market Executive/SVP, Commercial Banking, Regions Bank
• Kristi Richard, Member; Co-Chair, Uplift Women’s Initiative, McGlinchey Stafford
• Laura Vinsant, Executive Director, Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge
• Keli Zinn, Executive Deputy Athletics Director / COO, LSU Athletics

Sponsors for both events are Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, b1BANK, Kean Miller, Window World, and Woman’s.

Get all the details and purchase tickets to both events.