International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium

International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium

IWES 2020: Creating Value out of Chaos
March 9-10, 2020
University of Nevada, Reno
Joe Crowley Student Union

Register to attend

About the symposium

Hosted by the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship and The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium was created in 2018 in order to encourage open communication, education, collaboration and support amongst female founders and their supporters.

This year’s Symposium on March 9-10 at the Joe Crowley Student Union at the University of Nevada, Reno brings us world-class keynote speakers, more than 25 amazing panelists, and seven breakout session panels focused on Entrepreneurship in various industries. These panel topics include:

  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Climate & Environment
  • Male-dominated Industries
  • Doing Business Globally
  • Health & Wellness
  • Entrepreneurship in the Arts
  • Food & Beverage

IWES 2020: Creating Value out of Chaos

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  • Agenda
    Time Topic
    Monday, March 9, 2020
    12:30-1:15pm Registration & Networking
    1:15-1:30pm Welcoming Remarks
    1:30-2:15pm Keynote Speaker – Creating Value out of Chaos
    2:15-3:00pm Marketing Workshop - Driving Growth in a New Business
    3:00-3:30pm Networking & Break
    3:30-4:30pm Advancing Gender Equality in Venture Capital with Siri Chilazi, Harvard Research Fellow
    4:30-5:15pm Funding Chaos - Best Practices in Fundraising
    5:15-5:45pm Day 1 Closing Keynote - Keeping Spirits Up
    5:45-6:30pm Opening Reception
    6:30-9:00pm Dine Around Dinners
    Tuesday, March 10, 2020
    8:30-9:00am Registration & Networking
    9:00-9:45am

    Breakout Sessions

    • Social Entrepreneurship:
      • Amy Berr, CEO Tahoe Fund
      • Caren McNamara, Founder & CEO, Conscious Container
      • Kelly Northridge, Founder, Audacity Fund
      • Kristy Muir, CEO & Founder FuzePlay.io
      • Moderated by Doug Erwin, SVP, Entrpreneurial Development EDAWN
    • Food & Beverage:
      • Carlotta Mast, New Hope Network,
      • Christy Ross, Founder & CEO, Planted Places
      • Molly Troupe, Master Distiller, Freeland Spirits
      • Moderated by Shila Morris, President & Owner, Squeeze In Restaurant Group
    • Health & Wellness:
      • Deepa Prasad, Managing Director, West River Group
      • Camie Cragg Lyman, Founder Camie Cragg Fitness
      • Moderated by Julie Ardito, APR, Senior Director of Advancement and Engagement, UNR School of Medicine
    • Entrepreneurship in the Arts:
      • Myrton Runningwolf, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
      • Kris Vagner, Editor & Publisher, Double Scoop
      • Beth Macmillan, Executive Director, Artown
      • Moderated by Debra Moddelmog, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, UNR
    • Doing Business Globally:
      • Abi Weeds, CEO & Founder, Odylique
      • Relina Shirley, Co-Founder, HIDEIt Mounts
      • Danell Wilson-Perlman, Owner, Reno Tahoe Limo, CEO African Skies
    • Male-dominated Industries:
      • Karen Schlichting, Founder & Owner, Tri-Sage
      • Megan Lovelace, Founder & President, Facilicorp
      • Shari Pheasant, Founder & CEO, Horsepower Strategies
      • Karen Purcell, President, PK Electric
    • Climate & the Environment:
      • Eileen Christensen, President & Principal Scientist, BEC Environmental
    10:00-11:30pm Leadership of Note: An Orchestral Metaphor with Laura Jackson, Conductor of the Reno Phil
    11:30am-12:00pm Networking & Break
    12:00-1:30pm Luncheon with Carolyne Ekyarisiima, Apps & Girls
    1:30-1:45pm Networking & Break
    1:45-2:15pm Ensuring Both You and Your People Thrive in Chaos
    2:15-3:00pm Closing Keynote with Kara Goldin, CEO & Founder, Hint, Inc.
    3:00-3:30pm Closing Remarks
  • What to Expect

    The 2nd Annual International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium brings together participants in the global women's entrepreneurship ecosystem to discuss and explore the topic of Creating Value out of Chaos.

    Start-up founders and business owners can expect to:

    • Be supported in their journey to create value in their company
    • Learn ways to manage the chaos of the start-up life
    • Learn how to value themselves and their company
    • Learn how others have managed chaos and created value in their companies
    • Network with experts in creating value, investors, entrepreneurs, community support agents, and researchers

    Attendees supporting founders either through investment, support, or research can expect to:

    • Learn how their messages and support are received by female entrepreneurs
    • Learn ways in which to better support female entrepreneurs through the chaos of start-up creation
    • Understand ways in which their services, support, financial support or research are valued by female entrepreneurs
    • Understand how to better bring value to female entrepreneurs
    • Network with entrepreneurs, and others supporting the female entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Sponsorship

    The International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium attracts 250+ professionals from around the world from universities, non-profit and for-profit businesses, government agencies, and foundations and NGOs. The Symposium provides an ideal venue for exposure to top-level practitioners from around the world focused on supporting and growing companies founded by women. Sponsors, supporters, and exhibitors are critical to the success of the International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium. A variety of sponsorship levels and event activity sponsorships are available that offer high-profile attention and recognition to each sponsor organization. We welcome and appreciate your support of this event!

    Sponsorship Levels Introduce the Event or Speaker Booth at Symposium Logo & Name on Symposium Materials Promotional Materials in Registration Bag
    Keynote Speaker - $10,000 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
    Diamond - $5,000 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
    Platinum - $3,500 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
    Gold - $2,500 ✔ ✔ ✔
    Silver - $1,000 ✔ ✔
    Bronze - $500 ✔

    * A limited number of event tickets will be made available to all sponsors commensurate with sponsorship level.

    For more information and details about sponsorship opportunities please email our event staff at WES@unr.edu.

  • Group Hotel Rates

    The Renaissance Hotel- Marriot in downtown Reno will be hosting rooms for our speakers, panelists and attendees who are coming from out of the area. The Renaissance is only 1.5 miles from The University of Nevada, Reno and is conveniently located near the beautiful Truckee River, and many local downtown eateries and shops.

    Book your group rate today.

Register to Attend

Join us March 9 and 10, 2020 at the University of Nevada, Reno in Reno, Nevada, USA. Discounted tickets are available for students, start-up founders and academic/government agencies. A limited number of scholarships are available for students, please email WES@unr.edu for more information.

Register for the Symposium