HOW Women Lead 2024

I attended the HOW Women Lead conference in Denver this past September and HOW Design Live. It was my first conference ever.

I loved the whole experience, from the community to making business friends to the inspiration and learning new things.

But there was something special about the first day, learning and working in the community with other women that makes you feel seen and heard and like you’re not alone in your journey, whether it’s personal or professional.

The speakers motivated and inspired me. For those who couldn’t attend, here are a few takeaways, especially for those of us trying to carve our own paths while balancing family, work, and everything in between.

Rewriting the Rules

Rewrite the Rules: How to Question What You’ve Been Told by Terri Trespicio, a TED Talk speaker and author, asked us to rethink and challenge the “why” behind what we do.

It’s like that moment when you wonder why you’ve always used Cool Whip in a grandma’s family recipe for Buckland Salad. “Why not use real whipped cream?” you ask yourself.

The same goes for habits at work and play—why are we sticking to old patterns and ways of doing things that no longer serve us? This session validated my somewhat annoying habit of asking why and was a good reminder that questioning the status quo can open doors to opportunities.

The Practice & Politics of Feedback

Feedback is more than just a conversation; it’s an art. This panel discussion featured Kim Vandrilla (Clorox), Teagan Harcourt (Maslansky & Partners), and Rachel Zeolla (NBC Universal) and dug into how to give feedback that is kind and constructive but also helps that person grow.

Tailoring your approach for different team members is key to the conversation; not everyone reacts to the same piece of feedback the same way, and if you’re doing isn’t working, try a different tactic.

On the flip side, sometimes, you need to clear the air to move forward and say, “Does this feel awkward? It does to me. Let’s talk.”

Other times, it’s about discovering what makes that person tick and what goals they are trying to achieve and showing how feedback ties back to their goals.

 Building Your Own Narrative: Thought Leadership with Lynya Floyd

This session answered the questions—why does thought leadership matter, and how can you develop your thought leadership as a creative?

Lynya Floyd, an award-winning journalist, points out that thought leadership builds credibility and attracts new opportunities, customers, clients, and more. Like the old Roman philosopher Seneca says, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Think about what you’re already known for.  You know, those moments where people ask you for advice or your expertise, or the things you feel like you’re already 2–3 steps ahead of the pack on. Once you’ve nailed that down, you can develop your story based on your experience, culture, family, and all the things that make you uniquely you.

She also had a few actionable nuggests on how to build your thought leadership, too—

1. Break down a complicated problem or topic and make it simple enough for an industry outsider to understand.
2. Share case studies, “When we worked with client X, this is what worked or didn’t…
3. Talk about ethical practices in your industry, such as your AI policy.

It’s about sharing your story and what you already know in a human and helpful way because someone out there is asking the questions to which you already have the answers to.

The Future of Marketing

Lynya Floyd and Angelia McFarland closed the day with a session on marketing in a digital world where AI and digital products are shaking things up.

Their advice? Stay ahead by continuously learning and testing new tools, but also remember that the human element—relationships and community—remains at the heart of any successful marketing strategy.

One of my favorite lines from the day came from this talk and Angelia McFarland—“The people who know how to use AI will take the jobs, not AI.” 

Wrapping Up the Day…

Looking back a few weeks later, I loved connecting with other women and hearing their stories of how their values, community, culture, voice, goals, and family shaped their stories and who they are. My main takeaway from the day is that we need to share more of our unique voices, and you have a story to share so speak up, ladies.

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