How did they advance personally and professionally in all stages of their careers?
Is there a secret to clearing workplace hurdles with grace and ease?
Are there ideas and beliefs that they were told that they're found aren't true for success?
Join us Friday, Oct. 14, for our Northeast WI WIT@work breakfast series panel event Lessons from Female Leaders. Together, let's educate, enable and empower ourselves to become strong leaders!
- 7 am - Doors open, breakfast available, and networking
- 7:30-9:30 am - Panelist program, thank yous
College students enjoy free admission and are urged to attend to begin building their networks with some of the region's most influential community members.
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Lessons from Female Leaders Panel:
Kristy DeLeeuw - An advocate for women leaders in manufacturing, Kristy DeLeeuw has held various IT leadership and program management roles in her 25 year career primarily in the paper manufacturing environment. She currently serves as the IT Business Partner for Ahlstrom, a global fiber-based manufacturing business with 40+ plants around the world. As the IT Business Partner, Kristy serves as a strategic IT voice to enhance technology-forward thinking and collaboration with business initiatives.
As part of working in the manufacturing and IT sectors, both historically male-dominated industries, Kristy has learned how to navigate her environments successfully to become a strong female leader and mentor, without compromising her nature and passion. Kristy has previously served on the WIT Executive Committee, and continues her advocacy and personal development in the areas of gender equality and DEI initiatives.
As a mom of two teen boys, Kristy also volunteers her time to several youth sporting organizations and can be found on the sidelines of a football field, basketball court, or baseball diamond.
Megan Mulholland, APR - Director of Marketing and Communications for the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
While growing up in Marshfield, Wis., the youngest child of four and only girl, I learned about perseverance, compassion, athletics, nature and creativity from my family, friends, and neighbors.
After graduating from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a double major in English and mass communications, I worked in radio news and newspaper journalism for seven years. Then, for more than 16 years, I managed all external communications for ThedaCare, leading all public relations, media relations, crisis communications, social media and the web for the healthcare system. Four years ago, I became the director of marketing and communications for the Community Foundation, leading all strategic communications and marketing for the nonprofit organization and its five geographic affiliates.
I earned my Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation in 2009 and was named communicator of the year in 2015 by the Public Relations Society of America-Northeast Wisconsin Chapter.
I am a single parent, raising my son, Brandon, who is studying welding at Fox Valley Technical College and my daughter Madison, a sophomore at Appleton North. We have two dogs and two cats, and I volunteer with Saving Paws Animal Rescue and with the recently created The Monthlies Project.
This November I will meet my goal of visiting all 50 states by age 50. The next challenge: all seven continents. In addition, I love reading, writing, exploring the outdoors, and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings.
Katie Labedz is the President of Learning to Lean, a continuous improvement consulting firm. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Management Professional. She has been practicing Lean, Six Sigma and Project Management concepts for over 20 years in a variety of industries.
Katie has also authored a book, "How to Improve Absolutely Anything-Continuous Improvement in Your Home, Office and Family Life." You can reach Katie on LinkedIn, via her website www.learningtolean.training or via email info@learningtolean.training.
