On November 7, Bank of America celebrated women business leaders at the 21st annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia, alongside renowned speakers to discuss the issues that matter most to women entrepreneurs. Bank of America served as the “Champions for Women” sponsor for the event, where programming served to educate, engage and empower women business owners. Topics ranged from personal finance, executive leadership and entrepreneurship to work-life balance, branding and social media marketing.
Bank of America champions the 21st annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women
March 1, 2025 | 4 minute read
For more than two decades, the Pennsylvania Conference for Women has championed working women through this professional and personal development event. Connecting more than 10,000 attendees this year alone, The Conferences for Women organization brings together influential women leaders across diverse fields and attendees gain invaluable knowledge through inspiring workshops, personalized career coaching and unparalleled networking opportunities.
To kick off the day, Bank of America’s Greater Philadelphia Market President Jim Dever welcomed guests to the Market President Breakfast and introduced to Robyn L. Garrett, CEO of Beamably. Garrett presented on modern leadership, advising women on how to be true to themselves and lead with integrity. This was followed by a fireside chat with Carol Lee Mitchell, Bank of America’s Head of Business Banking Diverse Growth Segments, and Bank of America Institute Economist Taylor Bowley, who discussed the state of the U.S. economy and health of small businesses.
The event continued with an interactive Founders Hall, where Bank of America promoted women-owned small businesses by sponsoring booths for business banking clients: streetwear company The Good Days Brand and haircare company NaturAll. The Founders Hall also featured a session presented by Bank of America’s Business Community Officer, Jonathan Sklar, on access to capital and how to break down barriers for women seeking funding. In addition to the Founders Hall, the event featured several breakout sessions throughout the day, including ‘Becoming Unstuck: How to Get Where You Want to Be’ hosted by Yolanda Lindsay, a member of Bank of America’s global diversity and inclusion team.
Tamala Edwards, co-anchor of 6abc’s Action News Mornings and Inside Story, officially began the Keynote Program with opening remarks and introduced the Pennsylvania Conference for Women’s Board President Leslie Stiles to begin speaker introductions.
This year’s keynote lineup included star businesswoman Barbara Corcoran, award-winning educator Joyce M Abbott, Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Sheryl Lee Ralph, VP of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor at Pelton Robin Arzón, University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Head Coach Dawn Stanley, and world champion athlete and author Diana Nyad.
Jim Dever introduced lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart to provide her keynote address, in conversation with Design Observer Editor-in-Chief Ellen McGirt, to complete the Keynote Program portion of this year’s conference.
Following the day’s main programming, Bank of America co-hosted an event with the African American Chamber of Commerce, featuring insights from the organization’s Director of Advancement, Tashyra Ayers. This event offered attendees the ability to build new business relationships and learn more about the resources available to help them start and grow a business.
Women entrepreneurs are the driving force behind thriving economies and vibrant communities, and Bank of America is deeply committed to their success. We’re proud to support initiatives such as the Pennsylvania Conference for Women and empower women business owners to reach their full potential. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, we're here to help you every step of the way, providing the resources you need to build and sustain a thriving business.
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