Womentum is thrilled to announce its 8th annual Leadership Summit the evening of Thursday, November 7 and all day Friday, November 8, 2024 at The Center for the Arts.
“Our annual summit immediately follows the culmination of an unprecedented election season; we view the event as the perfect opportunity for our community to reconnect, grow, and be inspired. Our theme highlights the powerful stories, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that will provide attendees with new skills, inspiration, and a renewed sense of purpose,” said Kristen Fox, Womentum’s executive director.
The extraordinary lineup of speakers – from both the U.S. and abroad – includes record-breaking Chilean mountaineer Patty Soto, entrepreneur and business coach Zeahlot Lopez, and author and storytelling expert Carrie Klewin Lawrence.
The summit kicks-off Thursday evening with Keynote Speaker Patty Soto who is based in Santiago, Chile. Soto is the first South American woman to climb Everest and the first South American person to complete the 7 Summits. She will give her remarks in Spanish, which will be translated to English by local interpreter Patti Fontanini through headsets provided by Womentum. She will tell her story of firsts, including how after decades of climbing in a culture shrouded with machismo, she honored her own style of mountaineering. As a NOLS guide for more than 15 years and a professor of Expedition Management and Ecotourism Engineering in Chile, Soto loves working with youth to whom she tries to impart the pride of going after your dreams in your own way.
Friday’s line-up begins with a pre-recorded video message from Keynote Speaker Colorado Senator Julie Gonzales who is running for Colorado State Senate President and if elected will be the first Latina in the role. Sentaor Gonzales is known for her work in social justice and community activism, having allocated millions of dollars towards affordable housing and strengthened protections for immigrant communities from ICE in her first term in office. Senator Gonzales’ political ambitions were shaped by an organization dedicated to inclusive democracy, New American Leaders (NAL). Today, Senator Gonzales leads NAL trainings to prepare first and second generation Americans to run for government seats, win, and lead.
In her book, Origin Story: Power of the Inciting Incident, author Carrie Klewin Lawrence teaches the reader to craft, discover, and connect with their unique ‘origin story.’ As a stage director, acting coach, and storytelling expert she has helped business executives, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between spin their story into a secret weapon for success. Klewin Lawrence believes that “by celebrating our individuality we create community and forward momentum.”
Zeahlot Lopez is a visionary international speaker, mentor, author, and retired psychotherapist dedicated to women’s development. With over a decade of experience, she has established multiple businesses and mentored hundreds of women globally. A first-generation Mexican American, she holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and advanced leadership studies from USC. Blending academic rigor with real-world experience, she delivers powerful messages on leadership, business, and mental health. As CEO of Business and Pleasure Inc., Zeahlot has transformed countless lives, particularly for culturally diverse and first-generation women.
The summit will conclude in the afternoon with a panel discussion featuring all four speakers, including a Q&A session.
Womentum is delighted to announce our first-ever Platinum-level sponsor, Singleton Peery Financial! We are also grateful to Bank of Jackson Hole for their Diamond-level sponsorship again this year.
The summit will be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. Tickets can be purchased for the full summit or individually for Thursday or Friday alone. As with all Womentum programming, scholarships are available.
Womentum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Jackson Hole, dedicated to inspiring and connecting women to thrive as leaders. We do this through Womentoring, our signature 9-month structured mentoring program, community events, educational programs, and our annual Womentum Leadership Summit.
