Women’s Leadership Conference Turns 20

The Carlson School celebrated 20 years of empowering women in business at the latest Women’s Leadership Conference. A sold-out crowd of 450 participants packed McNamara Alumni Center on Friday for a day of discussion, learning, and reflection.

The event opened with Kathy Schmidlkofer, CEO and president of the University of Minnesota Foundation, leading a fireside chat with University of Minnesota President Dr. Rebecca Cunningham. Cunningham shared insights about her journey from emergency medicine doctor to University president—a role she says she didn't envision herself in when she started her career.

“You have to see the opportunities in front of you, and be open to those opportunities that present themselves, then make decisions about your path based on the impact you think you can have,” said Cunningham.

During the conference, participants had the opportunity to attend three breakout sessions, with 12 options to choose from. Topics included navigating the entrepreneurial journey, empowering postpartum mothers reentering the workforce, charting a path to the C-Suite, incorporating inclusive leadership, using AI effectively, and more. A combination of Twin Cities business leaders, Carlson School alumni, and faculty led the breakout sessions.

To close the conference, General Mills Chief Human Resources Officer Jacqueline Williams-Roll, '95 MHRIR, sat down in conversation with Linh Peters, ’05 MBA, a former C-suite executive at Walgreens and other companies, during the Inside the Boardroom discussion. Williams-Roll shared leadership principles that can be applied at any point in a career, such as “ask questions and stay curious” and “adapt and stay relevant or get left behind.”

Williams-Roll and Peters also tackled an audience question about imposter syndrome with similar sentiments. “Remember that someone saw something in you and there is a reason you are where you are,” said Peters. To combat these feelings, “surround yourself with folks who are champions of all that you do and all that you can be,” added Williams-Roll.  

All business leaders, early career professionals, and everyone committed to collective allyship across all identities are invited to save the date for next year’s Women’s Leadership Conference: March 6, 2026.

The Carlson School thanks the below sponsors of the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference:

Presenting Sponsor: Tennant Company
Maroon Sponsor: RBC Wealth Management
Silver Sponsors: Ecolab, SPS Commerce
Community Sponsors: Bank of America, Best Buy, Land O’Lakes, Travelers Insurance
Friends Sponsors: Berghuis & Hunt, Savills
Non-Profit Sponsors: Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities