BRYANT UNIVERSITY TO HOST 17TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S SUMMIT, MARCH 14

SMITHFIELD, RI -- More than 1,000 women are expected to participate in the 17th Annual Bryant University Women’s Summit on Friday, March 14th.  (Registration opens January 22nd.) The Women’s Summit has sold out every year since its inception and has become one of the most highly sought-after conferences in New England. Drawing women from across the region, the Summit promotes professional, personal, and economic empowerment through education. Through innovative ideas, nationally known motivational keynote speakers, and practical success strategies presented in break-out sessions, the day-long educational conference provides women with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to excel and advance in today’s marketplace.

“For 17 years, the Women’s Summit at Bryant University has served as a resource for thousands of women from all walks of life to discover crucial tools, hear motivating messages, and experience networking opportunities to improve both their professional and personal lives,” said Kati Machtley, director.  “The Women’s Summit reflects Bryant’s ongoing commitment to the advancement of women.” 

Women’s Summit 2014 features prominent keynote speakers who are pioneers in creating a new vision of opportunity for women to take charge as CEO of their life--- Viola Davis, two-time Tony Award-winning actress and Oscar nominee; Carley Roney, co-founder, The Knot; and Carey Lohrenz, the first woman F-10 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

Kati Machtley has directed the Women’s Summit throughout its entire 17-year history.  Machtley recognizes that over the years women’s lives have become more complicated.

“With 51 percent of all women in the workforce, the need for such a conference is growing even greater every year,” she said.  “Women continue to strive for balance between work and family, yet an aging population, shrinking workforce, and economic challenges combine to increase the pressures and demands they face.”

The summit also includes a power plenary session by author and neurologist Marie Pasinski, M.D., and more than 20 workshops. The sessions represent leading trends in business, education, communication, entrepreneurship, and wellness, including workshop topics such as: What Leaders Need to Know to Grow Their Business; Partnership as a Success Strategy: Changing the World Through the Arts; Building Your Personal Power and Presence; Today’s Top-level Social Media Strategies; The Politics of Promotion: Get Ahead and Stay Ahead; and Empowering Women Through Sustainable Initiatives.

Throughout its 150-year history, Bryant has had a tradition of educating women and preparing them to achieve success in their careers and personal lives. The Summit is aligned with the University's Vision 2020 strategic plan of anticipating the future in a changing world.

A recent Pew Research Center study shows that 40% of mothers with children under the age of 18 are the primary breadwinner in their household. According to the latest Shriver Report, only 20% of American families have a stay at home woman and a male breadwinner. These compelling statistics make it imperative that both employers and institutions of higher learning provide opportunities for women to advance in the workplace.

The Women’s Summit is a resource for developing skills that women can put to work right away to empower themselves, advance their careers, enhance their quality of life, and better provide for their families. For information, visit http://wsummit.bryant.edu/.

Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education. Founded in 1863, Bryant University has approximately 3,500 graduate and undergraduate students from 35 states and 85 countries. Bryant University is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, and Barron’s.  Visit www.Bryant.edu.