CCI to host Women in Leadership Conference

Florida State University’s College of Communication & Information (CCI) will host “No Limits: Women in Leadership” – a free event for college and high school female students on Feb. 4 at the Turnbull Conference Center.

The conference, co-sponsored by CCI and NetApp, will aim to teach young women about challenges facing female leaders and techniques to overcome those hurdles.

“Florida State’s young women are an inspiration to all of us and they are already doing great things,” CCI Dean Larry Dennis said.  “This conference will enable some of Florida State’s best and brightest students to develop the leadership skills they need and help them achieve their goals and aspirations.”

“At NetApp, we take our responsibility to give back to our communities very seriously,” said Asmishah Best Bell, NetApp’s Manager of Inside Sales Development Team. “The leadership role Florida State University’s College of Communication & Information has demonstrated in the support of STEM and their activities to encourage young women to enter these important fields is an effort NetApp is honored to be a part of and support.  We anticipate our co-sponsored Women in Leadership Conference on Feb. 4 will be another pivotal and eye-opening event in the lives of many young students.  Thank you Florida State for allowing NetApp to participate!”

The event will feature an expert panel of six women leaders from various fields, followed by a networking event with successful women throughout the community.

The expert panel will include:

  • Dr. Garnett Stokes, Florida State University Provost
  • Dr. Laura Osteen, FSU Director of Center for Leadership and Social Change
  • Lesly Baer-Cardec, Randstad US, Sr. Director of PR & Content Marketing
  • Amishah Best, NetApp, Inside Sales Dev Manager
  • Colleen Smith McMillan, Citrix, Sr. Director – WW Services Partner Programs
  • Dr. Kathleen M. Dalton, Senior Engagement Manager, Unisys Corporation

“This event is designed to allow an inside look at what can be expected in today’s business world after graduation,” CCI Associate Dean Ebe Randeree said.  “The expert panel and the business women from our community will provide an opportunity to learn, to be mentored, and to connect.”

In the first session of the conference, panelists will discuss fundamentals of their success and how they navigated their journey to leadership roles in their chosen profession.  A question and answer session will follow.

The second session will enable participants to speak one-on-one with the various panelists and other local women leaders in attendance.  This breakout session will provide 20 tables where women leaders will answer questions and offer advice on how to best position yourself for success in your chosen field.

Doors open at 4 p.m. The program  starts at 4:30 p.m., and concludes at 6:30 p.m.  The full schedule is listed at http://cci.fsu.edu/women-in-leadership/full-program/.  FSU female student groups on campus will also be presented prior to the panel discussion to share information.

Space is limited for the Women in Leadership event, so please RSVP at cci.fsu.edu/women-in-leadership.

The Turnbull Conference Center is located at 555 Pensacola St., Tallahassee, Fla., directly across the street from the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.