Boston’s Karen Akunowicz knows that true success isn’t about following a set path—it’s about forging your own, driven by passion, hard work, and the determination to rise to every challenge. As a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and television personality, Karen has built her career through bold moves, unshakable confidence, and the belief that every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. That's what she brings to the table.
Her bold approach to leadership and creativity has earned her accolades across national media, including features in The New York Times, Forbes, Food & Wine, and The Wall Street Journal. She’s been profiled on CBS’s Saturday Morning’s The Dish, The Today Show, and Access Hollywood, bringing her energy and culinary expertise to screens nationwide. Named one of Marie Claire’s “21 Badass Women Changing the Food World,” Karen has inspired a movement in her industry—and she’s ready to do the same for you.
In this inspiring session, Karen will share her journey from dreaming big to achieving even bigger. She’ll reveal the mindset that has helped her build a thriving restaurant empire and navigate one of the toughest industries with grace and grit. From her kitchen to the boardroom, Karen’s story is a powerful example of how to turn passion into purpose, and hustle into lasting success.
Whether you’re leading in business, breaking through barriers, or simply searching for your own path to greatness, Karen’s insights will remind you to trust your instincts, find joy in the process, and embrace the power you already possess. Prepare to walk away energized, inspired, and ready to craft your own version of success—one fueled by passion and built on your terms.
Join us for an empowering session as we delve into the art of unlocking your superpower and mastering the boutique experience in the dynamic world of lending. Led by industry expert Irene Amato, CEO of ASAP Lending, this session is tailored to empower financial women to excel in their roles by harnessing their unique strengths and offering personalized service that sets them apart. Discover the secrets to creating memorable client experiences, building lasting relationships, and achieving success while staying true to your authentic self. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this session will provide invaluable insights and practical strategies to help you thrive as a woman in the world of lending. Come unlock your superpower and unleash your full potential!
As if being a professional woman in a male dominated industry isn't hard enough, women are often made to feel as if they are in constant competition with other women for their seat at the table. When confronted by her own bias, LaDonna Lockard, CEO of training academy Maximum Acceleration, knew she needed to reframe her approach to working with women in order to achieve what she always wanted: strong, female leadership. Join her as she challenges the stigmas, hypocrisy, and myths of being a woman in the workplace and the changes needed to inspire future female leaders.
There is nothing like the power of possibility that women bring to an organization. We’re bringing together top executives from several community banks and credit unions to discuss their career experiences and share their wisdom on how to be a leader for change and empowerment at your institution.
Panelists include Diane Arnold, President and CEO of Essex Savings Bank, Michelle Dwyer, President/CEO at Franklin First Federal Credit Union, Judith Corprew, President and CEO of New Haven Bank, and Larissa Thurston, President and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.
Equity expert Sara Sanford offers a certified playbook that helps companies go beyond good intentions, using a data-driven standard to actively counter unconscious bias and foster gender equity -- by changing how workplaces operate, not just how people think. This session will start with Sara’s thought-provoking overview of what’s locking gender bias into companies, but will then move into audience participation with a workshop designed to provide understanding and insight into what you can do at your institution.
Sanford is the founder of Gender Equity Now (GEN) and the architect behind the GEN Certification, the first gold standard for gender equity in US businesses. She is also a guest faculty member at the University of Washington's School of Information, where she teaches a graduate-level course on using research to drive ethical, data-backed decision-making in business.
Sanford's track record of implementing evidence-backed solutions includes leading an initiative around women and wealth in the financial services industry, launching an international nonprofit to support rural education and working with local foundations to foster cultural competence in Washington’s K-12 schools. In all these roles, she saw that systemic problems are difficult to change through individual actions. With a focus on changing mechanics, rather than mindsets, she founded GEN.
The data-driven tools GEN has developed go beyond vanity metrics to identify the cultural levers businesses can adjust to counter the impact of bias. Guided by the maxim, "You get the behavior you measure," Sanford believes we now have the tools for all business to be equity-centered, if they choose to be.
Pattie Ehsaei is a lender, lawyer, financial adviser -- and TikTok star. During Covid she turned to the social media platform to share her candid thoughts on women's empowerment, workplace issues, and financial literacy. Nearly overnight, her videos went viral, and she now reaches nearly a million followers through her Duchess Of Decorum site.
At the age of 7, her family migrated to the US from Iran. She didn’t speak a word of English, her parents struggled financially, but she never let her circumstances define her. She got her first job at the age of 10, and she's been hustling ever since!
She was relentless in her pursuit of success and financial freedom. Through many years of hard work, discipline, and determination, she managed to make carve out a highly successful decades-long career as a lawyer and banker. Now, her mission is to teach -- with no-nonsense clarity -- all the things she wishes she knew at an earlier age, and empower you to be the best version of yourself. She's been featured on Good Morning America, Fox News, Huffington Post, Forbes, MSNBC and many more. With a new book releasing this Spring, she's coming to the New England Women In Banking and Mortgage Conference to rock the house.
If you’re ready to be empowered in your career, relationships, and finances, you’ve come to the right place. Pattie Ehsaei is living proof that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can get back up and keep fighting.
Boston’s Karen Akunowicz knows that true success isn’t about following a set path—it’s about forging your own, driven by passion, hard work, and the determination to rise to every challenge. As a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and television personality, Karen has built her career through bold moves, unshakable confidence, and the belief that every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. That's what she brings to the table.
Her bold approach to leadership and creativity has earned her accolades across national media, including features in The New York Times, Forbes, Food & Wine, and The Wall Street Journal. She’s been profiled on CBS’s Saturday Morning’s The Dish, The Today Show, and Access Hollywood, bringing her energy and culinary expertise to screens nationwide. Named one of Marie Claire’s “21 Badass Women Changing the Food World,” Karen has inspired a movement in her industry—and she’s ready to do the same for you.
In this inspiring session, Karen will share her journey from dreaming big to achieving even bigger. She’ll reveal the mindset that has helped her build a thriving restaurant empire and navigate one of the toughest industries with grace and grit. From her kitchen to the boardroom, Karen’s story is a powerful example of how to turn passion into purpose, and hustle into lasting success.
Whether you’re leading in business, breaking through barriers, or simply searching for your own path to greatness, Karen’s insights will remind you to trust your instincts, find joy in the process, and embrace the power you already possess. Prepare to walk away energized, inspired, and ready to craft your own version of success—one fueled by passion and built on your terms.
Join us for an empowering session as we delve into the art of unlocking your superpower and mastering the boutique experience in the dynamic world of lending. Led by industry expert Irene Amato, CEO of ASAP Lending, this session is tailored to empower financial women to excel in their roles by harnessing their unique strengths and offering personalized service that sets them apart. Discover the secrets to creating memorable client experiences, building lasting relationships, and achieving success while staying true to your authentic self. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this session will provide invaluable insights and practical strategies to help you thrive as a woman in the world of lending. Come unlock your superpower and unleash your full potential!
As if being a professional woman in a male dominated industry isn't hard enough, women are often made to feel as if they are in constant competition with other women for their seat at the table. When confronted by her own bias, LaDonna Lockard, CEO of training academy Maximum Acceleration, knew she needed to reframe her approach to working with women in order to achieve what she always wanted: strong, female leadership. Join her as she challenges the stigmas, hypocrisy, and myths of being a woman in the workplace and the changes needed to inspire future female leaders.
There is nothing like the power of possibility that women bring to an organization. We’re bringing together top executives from several community banks and credit unions to discuss their career experiences and share their wisdom on how to be a leader for change and empowerment at your institution.
Panelists include Diane Arnold, President and CEO of Essex Savings Bank, Michelle Dwyer, President/CEO at Franklin First Federal Credit Union, Judith Corprew, President and CEO of New Haven Bank, and Larissa Thurston, President and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.
Equity expert Sara Sanford offers a certified playbook that helps companies go beyond good intentions, using a data-driven standard to actively counter unconscious bias and foster gender equity -- by changing how workplaces operate, not just how people think. This session will start with Sara’s thought-provoking overview of what’s locking gender bias into companies, but will then move into audience participation with a workshop designed to provide understanding and insight into what you can do at your institution.
Sanford is the founder of Gender Equity Now (GEN) and the architect behind the GEN Certification, the first gold standard for gender equity in US businesses. She is also a guest faculty member at the University of Washington's School of Information, where she teaches a graduate-level course on using research to drive ethical, data-backed decision-making in business.
Sanford's track record of implementing evidence-backed solutions includes leading an initiative around women and wealth in the financial services industry, launching an international nonprofit to support rural education and working with local foundations to foster cultural competence in Washington’s K-12 schools. In all these roles, she saw that systemic problems are difficult to change through individual actions. With a focus on changing mechanics, rather than mindsets, she founded GEN.
The data-driven tools GEN has developed go beyond vanity metrics to identify the cultural levers businesses can adjust to counter the impact of bias. Guided by the maxim, "You get the behavior you measure," Sanford believes we now have the tools for all business to be equity-centered, if they choose to be.
Pattie Ehsaei is a lender, lawyer, financial adviser -- and TikTok star. During Covid she turned to the social media platform to share her candid thoughts on women's empowerment, workplace issues, and financial literacy. Nearly overnight, her videos went viral, and she now reaches nearly a million followers through her Duchess Of Decorum site.
At the age of 7, her family migrated to the US from Iran. She didn’t speak a word of English, her parents struggled financially, but she never let her circumstances define her. She got her first job at the age of 10, and she's been hustling ever since!
She was relentless in her pursuit of success and financial freedom. Through many years of hard work, discipline, and determination, she managed to make carve out a highly successful decades-long career as a lawyer and banker. Now, her mission is to teach -- with no-nonsense clarity -- all the things she wishes she knew at an earlier age, and empower you to be the best version of yourself. She's been featured on Good Morning America, Fox News, Huffington Post, Forbes, MSNBC and many more. With a new book releasing this Spring, she's coming to the New England Women In Banking and Mortgage Conference to rock the house.
If you’re ready to be empowered in your career, relationships, and finances, you’ve come to the right place. Pattie Ehsaei is living proof that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can get back up and keep fighting.
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