When the Prince William Chamber of Commerce first introduced the idea of a Women’s Leadership Conference, Imagine, LLC President Rebecca Vaughan-King and Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes quickly volunteered to serve on the planning committee.
“The women’s conference answered an unmet need here in Prince William,” said Vaughan-King. “It allows women to celebrate one another’s professional successes, while also learning from each other and empowering new generations.”
Now in its seventh year, and taking place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on May 4 at the Regional Center for Workforce Education and Training in Woodbridge, VA, the conference has grown into a signature event for the Chamber. Both “Rebeccas” say that they are looking forward to contributing to the program as presenters this year.
“I have learned a lot in my years as an entrepreneur. Some of it the hard way,” chuckled Barnes, who has also owned a PakMail and a moving company. “It’s rewarding to share what I’ve learned, hopefully making that path a little easier for others.”
At 9:45 am, Vaughan-King’s presentation, “Sales is not a Four-Letter Word” is meant to take the fear out of the selling process by helping people change their perspective. “Sales sometimes has a bad reputation, as people don’t want to seem pushy, or are intimidated by the thought of closing the deal. But I view sales as a way of helping others,” said Vaughan-King. “It’s about listening, understanding needs and connecting people with solutions. I want to demystify the sales process, so women can feel confident in promoting their products and services.”
Barnes will cover “Failure is for Winners: Why Failing Right is the Key to Success,” at 11:00 am. “Failure can be the best learning tool, if you know how to find the lesson and move forward,” explained Barnes. “I speak from my own experience, as well as from stories told to me by fellow entrepreneurs. During the session, we’ll take a look at turning losses into wins, and supporting others when they stumble in business. Lifting each other up is a key to growth.”
Dr. Beth Cabrera, author of Beyond Happy: Women, Work, and Well-Being and a senior scholar at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, is this year’s keynote speaker. During her “Enhancing Your Well-Being to Stress Less & Achieve More” address at noon, Dr. Cabrera will explore the benefits of well-being, dimensions of well-being and how to cultivate well-being.
Tickets are $65 for Chamber members, $80 for non-members, and are available at www.pwwlc.com. The conference agenda is also available online.
