Meet Our Past Speakers

Eighth Annual Breakfast: Authenticity Empowers! (Fall 2024)

  • Keynote, Robin McBride. Co-Founder McBride Sisters Wine Collection
  • Madeline Fetterly. Founder and CEO, Be the Brand Collective
  • Moh Sharma. Director of Member Services for Democratic Leader Jeffries (D-NY)
  • Ret. Col. Yvonne Spencer. Retired US Air Force Colonel. CEO/Founder Fast Chix
  • Moderator: Sheyla Acensios (moderating in her personal capacity). Director of Public Affairs for the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Award Recipients
    • Mary Harriman Community Leader Award: Danita Johnson. President of Business Operations, D.C. United
    • JLW Terry Algire Rising Community Leader Award: Natasha Dupee. Executive Director of the DC Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives

Seventh Annual Breakfast: Grow. Elevate. Thrive. (Fall 2023)

  • Keynote, Dominique Dawes. Gold Medal Olympic Gymnast
  • Captain Simone Askew. US Army. US National Security Advisor
  • Dr. Ingird Bynum. Mrs. Virginia America 2023
  • Isabella Chism. Chair, American Farm Bureau, Women’s Leadership Committee
  • Moderators
    • Annie Foegal. Political Journalist
    • Chelsey Rodgers. Owner and CEO of Brains & Beauties Productions
  • Award Recipients
    • Mary Harriman Community Leader Award: Rosie Allen Herring. President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the National Capital Area
    • JLW Terry Algire Rising Community Leader Award: Daniella Senior Alvarez. CEO and Founder of Colada Shop and Serenata, and Co-Founder of Bresca.

Sixth Annual Breakfast: Leading from Within (Fall 2022)

  • Keynote, Sirisha Bandla. Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic
  • Nardos King, Ed.D. President, National Alliance of Black School Educators; Interim Chief Equity Officer, Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Lauren Bealore. Associate Director of State and Local Policy, Prosperity Now; Co-Founder, Y.A.B.
  • Moderator, Mikayla Bouchard Hensler. Managing Editor, CNN Politics
  • Award Recipients
    • Mary Harriman Award: Amy Javaid. President and CEO, A Wider Circle
    • JLW Rising Leader Award: Yasmine Arrington. Founder and Executive Director, ScholarCHIPS

Fifth Annual Breakfast: Learn. Lead. Legacy (March 2022)

  • Deborah Rutter. ​​President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Colonel Kayle M. Stevens. Air Force Commander of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing
  • Cordelia Cranshaw. Founder, Acts of Random Kindness; Miss District of Columbia USA 2019
  • Kate Andersen Brower. Author of multiple books including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Residence
  • Moderator: Kristen Soltis Anderson, pollster, speaker, commentator, author of The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America (And How Republicans Can Keep Up)
  • Award Recipients
    • Mary Harriman Award: Ann B. Friedman. Founder and CEO, Planet Word
    • JLW Luminary Award: Cordelia Cranshaw. Founder, Acts of Random Kindness; Miss District of Columbia USA 2019
  • Speaker Series
    • Daniela Moreira. Executive chef and part-owner, Timber Pizza Co. and Call Your Mother.
    • Pia Carusone. Co-Founder, Republic Restoratives Distillery

Fourth Annual Breakfast: Lead Confidently (March 2021)

  • Susan Goldberg. Former Editor-in-Chief, National Geographic. 
  • Carla Hayden, PhD. 14th Librarian of Congress 
  • Gina Shaefer. Owner and Operator of 13 ACE Hardware stores
  • Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts. Professor of Practice, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
  • Moderator: Lesli Foster. Anchor, WUSA9
  • Speaker Series
    • Sara and Marilyn Polon. Co-founders, Soupergirl
    • Alicia Sokol. Owner, Barre3 14th Street
    • Julie Kent. Artistic Director, The Washington Ballet

Third Annual Breakfast: Personalizing Your Leadership Style (March 2020)

  • Carly Fiorina. Businesswoman and politician; first female CEO of a Fortune 50 company
  • Tammy Haddad. Media innovator; President and CEO, Haddad Media; 
  • Michelle Rice. President, TV One and CLEO TV
  • Rajshree Agarwal. Rudolph P. Lamone Chair and Professor in Entrepreneurship, University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.  

Second Annual Breakfast (March 2019)

  • Moina Banerjee. Executive Vice President and Head of Capital Markets, JBG SMITH.
  • Danielle Vogel. Owner and Founder, Glen’s Garden Market
  • Alisha Ramos. Founder, Girls Night In
  • Amy Brandwein. Chef and Owner, Centrolina; James Beard finalist

Inaugural Breakfast (March 2018)

  • Susan A. Davis. Chairman, Susan Davis International; Board Chair Emeritus, Vital Voices
  • Clare Bresnahan. Executive Director, She Should Run
  • Wanda Steptoe. Executive Director, New Endeavors by Women
  • Moderator: Abby Livingston. Washington Bureau Chief, Texas Tribune