On behalf of the Female Strong and YEA! Chicago team, we extend our heartfelt thanks for making this year’s CEO Roundtable an engaging, inspiring, and unforgettable experience. This year’s panel centered on Women in Finance, exploring themes of resilience, self-advocacy, and leadership while highlighting the evolving role of women and their growing influence on innovation and decision-making in the industry. Powerful takeaways included believing in yourself when others do and leaning into opportunities, seeking game-changing mentors, and advocating for yourself even when results take time. Attendees were reminded to know their value, always make the ask, and lead with delegation, vulnerability, and accountability. Perhaps most importantly, they were encouraged to accept that an unfinished to-do list is part of the journey—and that’s okay.
We are especially grateful to Dawn, Melissa, Brittany, and Brenda for sharing their invaluable insights and to our generous sponsors—BMO, JSI, and LevelReps—for making this impactful event possible!
Connect With the Speakers!
Dawn Lauderdale - Moderator
Our moderator, Dawn Lauderdale, is the Director of Diversified Industries at BMO Commercial Bank. Dawn is a relationship manager with over 20 years of commercial banking experience, specializing in supporting women-owned and led businesses. She serves on BMO’s Commercial Women’s Collaborative, is Vice Chair of Women in Manufacturing, and has contributed to multiple non-profit boards.
Melissa Clark
Panelist Melissa Clark is Senior Vice President & CFO at Primera Engineers. Melissa oversees the financial health of Primera Engineers and has 28 years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. A passionate advocate for empowering young women, she serves as Treasurer for several organizations, including the Primera Foundation and Green City Market, and was recognized as a 2022 Notable Executive of Color in Finance.
Brittany Chibe
Panelist Brittany Chibe is the Co-Founder and CEO of AQUA Cultured Foods, where she leads growth through sales, marketing, and operations. A serial entrepreneur with a passion for sustainability, Brittany previously founded a successful grain-free snack company and holds an MBA from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Brenda Dehart
Panelist Brenda Dehart is the Senior Vice President & CFO at Foremost Farms USA, overseeing financial strategy, IT, and legal functions with over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. She enjoys giving back to her Southern Illinois community and has previously served on the Female Strong board of directors.
Join Us at the Investor Panel!
If you enjoyed last night’s event, we invite you to join us at the Investor Panel on March 19th at the Allsteel Showroom. YEA! students will pitch their businesses to local executives for real seed funding. This is an incredible opportunity to support young female entrepreneurs and one of our most exciting events of the year.
We also encourage you to nominate a middle or high school girl for our next YEA! Chicago cohort here. To explore opportunities as a guest speaker, field trip host, or business mentor, please reach out to Program Manager Sarah Sleevi at Sarah@femalestrong.org.
