Women's Summit

 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Keynote Address: Building Your Personal Brand: Standing Out in a Competitive Industry
With Brooke Liu, Senior Vice President, MarshBerry

In today's fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace, a strong personal brand is no longer optional—it's essential. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or industry professional, your personal brand shapes how others perceive your expertise, leadership, and value. During this session, Brooke Liu, MarshBerry Senior Vice President, explores the key elements of building an authentic and influential personal brand, showcases how to define your unique value proposition, and how to leverage digital platforms to expand your reach.

Key Takeaways:
• Understand what personal brand really means—and what it doesn't.
• Learn how to identify and articulate the values that define your leadership style.
• Establish a powerful personal brand that not only enhances career opportunities but also fosters long-term professional growth and impact.
• Walk away with a framework to refine and activate your personal brand across all aspects of your professional life.

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Panel Discussion: Climbing the Ladder: Leadership Journeys of Women in Insurance
Moderator: Jocelyn Oliveira, First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, BayCoast Insurance
Panelists:
• Mika De Young, New England Area Executive Vice President, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, LLC
• Belma Medeiros, Founder and CEO, BellTrust Insurance
• Susan Cook, Senior Manager, General Liability Product Development, Verisk

This engaging session explores the inspiring career paths of women who have risen to leadership roles within the insurance industry. Through candid conversation and shared experiences, panelists will discuss the challenges they've overcome, the strategies that have fueled their success, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Join us for an empowering conversation on what it truly takes to rise and lead with purpose in insurance.

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
| Coffee & Networking Break

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Session: Speaking Up and Advocating for Yourself in the Workforce
With Laura Henderson, VP of Insurance Portfolio Management, SIAA, Inc.

Finding your voice can feel challenging—but it's essential. This session explores how women can confidently speak up, assert their value, and advocate for themselves while navigating the structure of the workplace environment. Learn practical strategies to communicate effectively, influence with integrity, and build a culture where confident, authentic voices thrive.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
| Lunch

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Fireside Chat: Men as Allies: Partnering for Progress
Moderator: Heather Smith, President, Salem Five Insurance Services, LLC
Allies:
• Luke Bills, President, Independent Agent Distribution, US Retail Markets, Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Wesley Hyatt, Global Chief Client Officer, Global Risk Solutions, Liberty Mutual Insurance

In this candid fireside chat, listen as male leaders share their perspectives on what it means to be effective allies in advancing women's leadership and inclusion. Together with their female ally, we'll explore how collaboration, accountability, and everyday actions can create workplaces where everyone thrives. Join us for an honest conversation about building bridges, breaking barriers, and making progress together.

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Session: Skills Workshop: Real-World Applications & Takeaways
With Karin Martin, Assistant Vice President, Head of Operations, Arbella Insurance Group

Join us for an interactive session designed to help women sharpen essential professional and personal skills for today's dynamic world. Through hands-on activities, expert insights, and collaborative learning, participants will build confidence, enhance communication, strengthen leadership capabilities, and gain practical tools to drive success in their careers and communities.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Technology Spotlight: The Future of Insurance Through One Visionary's Lens
With Kasey Connors, Executive Director of the Agents Council for Technology, IIABA

Get an inside look at how technology is reshaping the insurance industry through the perspective of one of its leading voices. In this Technology Spotlight, our featured speaker explores the transformative impact of AI, data analytics, and emerging tech trends—offering a forward-looking view of how these advancements are redefining the future of insurance. Her insights illuminate where the industry is headed and how organizations can harness technology to stay ahead.

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
| Afternoon Refreshments & Wellness Break

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Roundtable Discussions
Facilitators:
• Tania Blanco, Agency Owner, Blanco Insurance
• Mary Golden, Agency Manager, Number One Insurance Agency
• Maureen Hassett, Senior HR Generalist, Mapfre Insurance
• Mabelyn Lopez, Agency Owner, 4 Insurance, LLC.
• Jocelyn Oliveira, First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, BayCoast Insurance
• Laura Poulin, Director of Curriculum & Technical Affairs, MAIA
• Rhonda Prokos Esq., Deputy General Counsel, Arbella Insurance Group
• Erin Schaaf, Agency Performance Consultant, MAIA
• Tricia Sabulis, Vice President, A.P. Michaud Insurance Agency, Inc.
• Shelley Zicolella, Director of Massachusetts Operations, SmithBrothers

Join dynamic small-group conversations designed to foster authentic dialogue, shared learning, and meaningful connections. These roundtables offer a space for women to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and explore solutions on topics that matter most to their personal and professional growth.

Roundtable Topics Include:
• Mentorship, Sponsorship & Allyship: How to build networks that lift as they climb. Facilitator: Tania Blanco
• Negotiation without Apology: Confidence and tactics for advocating for pay, promotions, and respect. Facilitator: Rhonda Prokos, Esq.
• Life Transitions and Reinvention: Embracing career pivots, motherhood, second acts, and the many changes life brings. Facilitator: Mabelyn Lopez
• Breaking into Leadership: Strategies for women to advance to senior roles. Facilitator: Jocelyn Oliveira
• Boundaries, Burnout, and Balance: Is "having it all" a myth—or can you truly do it? Facilitator: Shelley Zicolella
• Navigating Risk and Failure: Reframing setbacks as strategic learning opportunities. Facilitator: Erin Schaaf
• The Power of Collaboration Over Competition: Building relationships and support that empower women. Facilitator: Tricia Sabulis
• Navigating Different Personalities and Leadership Styles: Managing different approaches and perspectives. Facilitator: Laura Poulin
• Executive Presence Beyond just Appearance: How you show up, speak, and lead – even if you are not an executive. Facilitator: Mary Golden
• Building Authentic Confidence: Overcoming perfectionism, comparison, self-doubt and other internal barriers. Facilitator: Maureen Hassett

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Closing Keynote: Bold Moves: Writing the Next Chapter for Women
With Brooke Liu, Senior Vice President, MarshBerry

As we look to the future and are inspired by the day’s event, we know it’s okay for women to take bold steps, embrace change, and shape what comes next—with confidence and purpose. Through stories of resilience, leadership, and vision, we’ll celebrate progress and ignite the momentum for the next chapter of women’s success.

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
| Networking Reception