Worcester Chamber Annual Event Promotes Women's Leadership & Growth Perspective

• Women’s Leadership Summit showcases innovative perspectives on organizational dynamics hosted by Worcester Chamber on June 12
• The conference highlighted women’s advancement across sectors but noted ongoing leadership and recognition gaps
• Experts examined the role of AI and digital tools to remove barriers for women in leadership

The annual Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by the Worcester Chamber on June 12 served as a platform for professional growth, collaboration, and candid conversations on pressing business issues. Panelists explored how advancements in AI and digital tools may either serve as strategic assets for female leaders or risk reinforcing entrenched patterns of exclusion.

Bringing together leaders across sectors, the conference convened women from finance, healthcare, public service, and educations, supported by a diverse lineup of speakers, workshops, and exhibitors from academia, community organizations, and the entrepreneurial space. For meaningful progress, leadership events for women should transcend traditional tropes.

"Since 2009, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has hosted the annual Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference, aimed at equipping women with the tools, connections, and inspiration needed to pursue new opportunities, support one another, and build a strong network of forward-thinking professionals," said Caitlin Lubelczyk, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in an email.

"Recognizing the challenges that women continue to face in the workplace, the conference offers a space to share stories, celebrate achievements, and foster meaningful dialogue among accomplished and emerging leaders."

Keynote speaker Erica Dhawan emphasized that while technology creates new opportunities, entrenched gender biases remain, such as differing perceptions of email tone based on gender. Erica emphasized that digital channels can level the playing field, shifting the focus to performance and output rather than subjective judgements based on voice, looks, or physical experience.