On behalf of the team at Female Strong and YEA! Chicago, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for making this year’s CEO Roundtable lively, fun, and unforgettable. The panel discussion underscored the value of communication, empathy, and trust as critical elements of the future of work. A special thank you goes to Christy, Suzet, Desiree, and Caralynn for their thoughtful conversation and to our generous sponsors at Sweet Briar College, JSI, & LevelReps for making this event possible!
Connect With the Speakers!
Christy Hiler - Moderator
Moderator Christy Hiler is the President & Owner of Cornett, an independent, full-service advertising agency proudly based in Lexington, KY, with clients such as Busch Light and Legoland.
Christy stressed the importance of empathy and understanding in communication – “Start with the heart, especially during hard conversations.”
Suzet McKinney
Suzet McKinney is the Principal & Director of Life Sciences at Sterling Bay, a Chicago real estate firm that develops award-winning urban headquarters for some of the world’s largest companies, including McDonald’s, Dyson, and BCG.
Suzet highlighted the influence of young professionals in shaping new workplace norms – “Young people have the power to ask for what they want.”
Desiree Vargas Wrigley
Desiree Vargas Wrigley is the Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of TechRise by P33 Chicago, a multi-stakeholder initiative to support historically underrepresented tech founders from Chicago. She is also the Serial Founder of GiveForward, Pearachute, & The Josephine Collective.
Desiree left us with a great statement on the critical importance of in-person connection – “Opportunities are built on relationships.”
Caralynn Nowinski Collens
Caralynn Nowinski Collens is the Co-Founder & CEO of Dimension Inx, a Chicago Biotechnology Research firm that designs and develops therapeutic products to restore tissue and organ function.
Caralynn emphasized the importance of creating healthy environments that fulfill employee needs – “It’s all about culture-building.”
Join Us at the Investor Panel!
If you enjoyed the CEO Roundtable, we invite you to join us at the Investor Panel on March 20th, where the YEA! students will pitch their businesses for real seed funding. This is a fantastic opportunity to support and be inspired by the next generation of entrepreneurs. We also encourage you to nominate a middle or high school girl for our next YEA! Chicago cohort here. To discuss guest speaker, field trip host, and business mentor opportunities, reach out to Program Manager Sarah Sleevi at Sarah@femalestrong.org
