THE POWER CONFERENCE

The Power Conference: Our Start

In 2010, with a spark from Montgomery County Economic Development, Women Business Owners of Montgomery County (WBO-MC) initiated a strategic partnership and reached out to Women Business Owners of Prince George’s County (WBO-PGC), Women Presidents Educational Organization (WPEO-DC), and Women in Business Education Foundation, to create a truly regional women’s business development conference.   The focus of the Power Conference is business, all business, all day. The conference is designed to showcase women-owned businesses and businesswomen, introduce dynamic women speakers, give access to women experts, showcase women's business stories, female CEOs, executives, and professionals, and highlight resources for women.  The Power Conference has attracted hundreds of regional businesswomen from throughout Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, as well as from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Past Keynote speakers have included Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley, Katy Kay, author of The Confidence Code and BBC America news anchor, Monica Kang, Founder of InnovatorsBox, Crystal McCrary, TV Producer of the Gotham Diaries, and Anne Balduzzi, Founder SameGrain.com platform.  

Now in its eleventh year, the Power Conference has expanded from a premier professional event for women in the Washington, DC metro area to a virtual conference with national reach. 

Continuing the Power Conference legacy of Education, Empowerment, and Connection...

Wendy Howard, Co-Chair 

Laura Rhode, Co-Chair 

Naomi Abrams, Co-Chair   

Doris Barber, Co-Chair

Why is the Power Conference Virtual This Year?

Flashback to August 2019 - another successful Power Conference in the books! We began planning our next conference because venues have to be booked a year in advance. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in our plans.
Instead of delaying the conference for another year, we decided to launch an all VIRTUAL Power Conference 2021!

Going virtual allows us to:

• Expand our national and international reach
• Bring in national and international speakers
• Record every session and let attendees watch at their own pace, whenever they like
• Reduce overhead expenses and lower registration fees
• Be more environmentally friendly with a smaller carbon footprint
• Have a safe conference for attendees

We're planning an experience that will be empowering and inspiring, with more than 35 sessions and several ways for attendees to make meaningful connections.