Take some time to treat yourself and join other WBL members for a unique networking opportunity at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans Spa. A select group of WBL Summit attendees will have the spa to themselves in order to meet one another and build relationships in a relaxing setting. Participants will have their choice of two 25-minute spa massage or facial treatments. This session is designed to keep you moving (leisurely, of course) around so that you will meet a variety of women leaders that you might not get a chance to meet elsewhere. This one always sells out, so book early!

First-time attendees participating in the Navigator Program will meet up their navigators prior to the Welcome Reception to say hello and get settled.

Say hello to your fellow WBL Summit attendees as they arrive and kick off the experience of the 2025 WBL Summit! Join us for an evening of networking and delicious food and drinks. Get ready to mingle and make valuable connections.

Join us in making a difference by participating in our "Success is in the Bag" donation drive! We’re collecting new or gently used handbags, totes, and fashionable backpacks filled with essential items to help others thrive. Suggested items to include are hand lotion, sanitizer, wallets, note planners, pens, USB drives, thank you notes, lip balm/gloss, compact mirrors, and gift cards to stores like Walgreens, Walmart, or Target—or even a $20 "treat yourself" gift! Your thoughtful contributions will go a long way in empowering someone in need. Let's give the gift of confidence and care—one bag at a time!

Donations will be accepted at our registration desk at any time during the Summit.

Start your morning right with an energizing networking walk with fellow attendees before the day's programming kicks off.

Start your morning right with a peaceful yoga session with fellow attendees before the day's programming kicks off.

Sponsored by Tivity Health

Join Summit emcee Carole Fisher for the kickoff of the 2025 WBL Summit! During this introductory session, Carole will welcome attendees to New Orleans and walk us through what’s to come over the next few days of programming.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of the Morehouse School of Medicine, is a renowned infertility specialist, researcher, and corporate board member for both public and private companies. But what has it taken for her to achieve these incredible milestones? In this inspiring Summit keynote, Dr. Rice will share powerful leadership lessons on strength, determination, self-awareness, and accountability. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of how to discover your superpowers, create opportunities for all, and overcome obstacles on your own journey.

Join WBL Founder and Board Chair Lynn Shapiro Snyder and WBL CEO Eleanor Rosiak as they welcome attendees to the Summit, provide updates on our organization, and share what they are looking forward to during our time in New Orleans

Becoming the leader of one of the largest healthcare companies doesn’t happen overnight. Join us for an insightful conversation with Karen Lynch, former President and CEO of CVS Health, as she reflects on the career journey that shaped her path to success. Hear about her inspiring climb up the ladder at Aetna, Cigna, and Magellan before becoming the highest-ranking female CEO on the Fortune 500 list. Skillfully moderated by Katie Bell, Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry, this fireside chat will explore topics like courage in leadership, taking risks, and seizing opportunities — while ultimately reminding us of our “why” as leaders in healthcare.

What’s on the minds of payers and providers today? Join us for a forward-looking discussion with the Chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CEO of Dartmouth Health, Dr. Joanne Conroy, alongside the Chair of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). What keeps them up at night? Where do they see risks and opportunities? What trends do they see shaping the future of our industry? In addition to answering these questions, they'll share insights into how their two sectors are collaborating, finding common ground, and addressing shared challenges. You’ll leave with valuable perspectives on today’s top trends and ideas for improving collaboration, coordination, and outcomes across the industry.

WBL's roundtable networking is a great way to meet new people and make valuable connections. During this session, attendees answer questions and respond to prompts related to healthcare, their jobs, and their interests. Each person has the opportunity to introduce themselves and share their experiences, ideas, and insights, leading to meaningful conversation and the chance to dive deeper with peers. If you've come to the Summit seeking new connections and relationships, this part of the program is not to be missed!

Sponsored by Korn Ferry

Women-led companies are shaping the future of our industry — and startups in particular play a key role in driving innovation. This highly anticipated session will revisit past Summit panelists: leaders of trailblazing health care and life sciences startups. Discover how these companies have evolved, the challenges they’ve overcome, the lessons they’ve learned, and the successes they’ve celebrated since they last took the Summit stage.

Join us in making a difference by participating in our "Success is in the Bag" donation drive! We’re collecting new or gently used handbags, totes, and fashionable backpacks filled with essential items to help others thrive. Suggested items to include are hand lotion, sanitizer, wallets, note planners, pens, USB drives, thank you notes, lip balm/gloss, compact mirrors, and gift cards to stores like Walgreens, Walmart, or Target—or even a $20 "treat yourself" gift! Your thoughtful contributions will go a long way in empowering someone in need. Let's give the gift of confidence and care—one bag at a time!

Donations will be accepted at our registration desk at any time during the Summit.

Start your morning right with an energizing networking walk with fellow attendees before the day's programming kicks off.

Start your morning right with a peaceful yoga session with fellow attendees before the day's programming kicks off.

Sponsored by Tivity Health

Amid persistent uncertainty, economic instability, AI acceleration, and global crises, employee burnout has reached unprecedented levels. Symptoms like brain fog—a hallmark of burnout—are derailing both individual performance and organizational success, causing distraction, exhaustion, and self-doubt.

In this powerful and research-driven session, Jennifer Moss—globally recognized workplace strategist and author of The Burnout Epidemic—will explore how leaders can juggle organizational pressures and foster a healthier, purpose-driven workforce. Jennifer will also examine practical ways to navigate change fatigue, combat employee isolation, and build intrinsic motivation to minimize turnover. With a focus on creating inclusive solutions, she will highlight approaches to reduce burnout risks for diverse teams, widen pipelines for women in leadership roles, and leverage generational shifts to strengthen team dynamics.

What does the future hold for healthcare in the next decade? After an intensive year of research, Kristin Apple thinks she's got an idea. Drawing on input from the next generation of physicians and leading industry visionaries, Kristin will unveil the key barriers and drivers shaping innovation over the next ten years. This keynote will explore three critical innovation territories and offer actionable strategies to help leaders and their teams navigate and thrive in the evolving landscape of healthcare.

A popular networking session at WBL’s Summits, peer discussion groups are a way to make connections and participate in valuable, productive conversations with industry experts at the same time. Attendees will meet in small groups to ask questions, share experiences, and offer advice to one another on topics of interest to healthcare leaders today.

Come join us for a group photo in the Grand Ballroom before you head to lunch! 

When a Florida man told Katya Andresen she was “running too loud” during a workout, she was rendered speechless – and not just because she was out of breath.  She was preoccupied with a nagging question: What does it take to stop running to - or from - the expectations of others and start running your own race without apology?  In this keynote, Katya, a seasoned healthcare and technology executive, will explore our innate ability to self-assemble into new versions of ourselves and the power of claiming – and reclaiming – our gift of self-assembly over a lifetime.

Health equity remains one of the biggest challenges for leaders in the healthcare industry today, and Louisiana is one of the most complex–and innovative–U.S. markets. This dynamic panel brings together thought leaders and innovators from across the healthcare landscape to share their experiences in creating and delivering strategies for improving access to care in underserved populations.

Attendees will gain insights into how locally-focused organizations are addressing social determinants of health, leveraging data and technology to close care gaps, and building partnerships that promote equitable health outcomes. Whether you're navigating the complexities of health policy, designing patient-centered solutions, or driving systemic change, this conversation will offer practical takeaways and inspire collaboration across sectors.

Join us for an unforgettable evening with an optional dine-around, sampling the vibrant flavors of New Orleans at a renowned local restaurant. Before dinner, immerse yourself in the city's lively culture with a traditional Second Line Parade, complete with brass bands and spirited dancing through the streets. This unique experience captures the heart and soul of New Orleans' rich culinary and musical heritage, and you'll share it with your fellow WBL Summit attendees.

Sponsored by Trayt Health

Note: this experience requires pre-registration. Non-registrants will enjoy a networking reception and dinner onsite at the Ritz-Carlton.

Start your morning right with a peaceful yoga session with fellow attendees before the day's programming kicks off.

Sponsored by Tivity Health

Two things separate the best leaders and organizations from the rest: how they make decisions and how they solve problems. World-class leaders embrace responsibility for overcoming the barriers that hinder effectiveness and efficiency.

Leaders create culture. It’s one of the greatest contributions you can make. Look around in your organization or your team. Listen to what is said. Pay attention to what is left unsaid.  What are the behaviors that define your culture?

Some behaviors accelerate trust. Some behaviors damage trust.

During this interactive session, Tracy Johnson, CEO of InitiativeOne, will distill lessons from 25 years of research and experience into a pathway forward. You will leave with practical steps to help you build a collaborative, high-trust team that increases results.

This session will be an opportunity to discuss what’s on the minds of current corporate directors and a chance to grow a network of other WBL members who currently serve on corporate boards. The discussion will be member-led and member-driven, and focus on topics which may include succession planning, company culture, departure of a CEO, mergers and acquisitions, and/or meeting and exceeding ESG requirements. Invitations to the session are based on the boards listed in members’ WBL profiles, and are limited to those serving on public company boards and private or non-profit boards of a significant size.

Participants must be currently or recently (within the last 3 years) one of the following:

• A board member of a publicly traded company
• A board member of a privately-owned for-profit company (including young companies with a governance structure beyond an advisory board)
• A board member of a national board of a large non-profit organization (annual budgets of $50M or more)
• An Advisory Board member of an organization with an established governance structure ($5M or more in revenue each year)

Who is eligible to join this track?
This track is available by invitation only. WBL is aware of board service roles that our members share with us on their WBL profile or that can be found through research when possible. If you know of someone who should also receive this invitation, please encourage them to update their WBL profile with their current board roles or complete our application form.

In today’s evolving marketplace, success goes beyond numbers — it’s built on authentic, human connections. Modern buyers and clients seek partners who understand their unique needs and deliver customized value, creating an opportunity for forward-thinking leaders to drive growth through genuine relationships.

During this session, communication and relatability expert Rachel DeAlto will share proven strategies for executives to embrace this shift, focusing on personalized, trust-building interactions, strengthening communication to truly understand customer needs, and fostering long-term, meaningful relationships. Attendees will learn how to cultivate a customer-centric culture that inspires loyalty, fuels growth, and achieves lasting success.