A Next-level Leadership Summit
Our 2025 MI ATHENA Leadership Summit is in the books, and it was a tremendous success! The energy was propulsive at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing Sept. 10. You could really feel it flowing through the building, pushing us to think, engage and collaborate on a deeper level.
We want to thank everyone who attended, presented or otherwise contributed to the Summit. Major events like this feature so many moving parts. That they all fit together smoothly is a testament to the strength of our community and the dedication of internal and external stakeholders.
The Summit once again brought together a tremendous group of dynamic women leaders and sparked substantive conversations about strength, empowerment and growth. Attendees hailed from every rung of the corporate ladder, setting the stage for highly impactful, cross-demographic networking.
- By the numbers: Overall, 26% of attendees were C-suite leadership, 39% were managers, directors and supervisors, 11% were HR and finance professionals, and 24% held other roles.
The packed agenda generated thought-provoking discussions and actionable insights designed to enable attendees to “Lead Boldly by Unlocking the Power of Your Own Voice.”
Session Highlights
Hitting a Key Note: The Summit was full of expert speakers eager to offer thought-provoking ideas about leadership. We especially enjoyed the timely and salient points made by our keynote speaker, Courtney Lynch.
Courtney is the founder of Lead Star, one of the premier leadership development firms in the country and author of the New York Times bestseller “Bet on You: How to Win with Risk.” Filled with anecdotes from her own substantial leadership journey — which includes time spent as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and an attorney at a major national law firm — Courtney’s remarks struck a chord with attendees, many of whom communicated that they found her story deeply inspiring.
Courtney packaged her insights into action-oriented messages focused on “Leading Through Challenge and Change.” One of her main themes was the importance of building the risk tolerance needed for bold action in times of uncertainty.
A dedicated community builder, Courtney stuck around after the conference concluded for an exclusive happy hour networking session with MI ATHENA members.
Breakout Session Bonanza and a Powerful Panel: Summit attendees had the chance to participate in three exciting breakout sessions that offered the opportunity to dig into key topics in smaller groups.
Misty Janks, CEO of the Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities, led a session entitled “Culture by Design: Turning Intentional Strategy into Performance.” It highlighted the indispensable role culture plays in driving organizational success and provided a practical framework for designing culture with intention, thereby elevating engagement and driving performance.
Meanwhile, leadership consultant Jackie Krawczak helped participants move past self-doubt with her session, “You Belong Here: Overcoming Your Imposter Syndrome.” Previously, one of the youngest presidents of a local chamber of commerce in Michigan, Jackie knows what it is like to feel you may be too far out over your skis professionally. Her session explored the roots of imposter syndrome and provided strategies for quieting the self-limiting voices in our heads by cultivating self-compassion
Monica Lloyd, chief people officer of People Forward, led invited attendees to witness “Authenticity in Action.” Her session encouraged participants to embrace and express their true selves. Monica stresses the importance of engaging in thoughtful reflection to identify key areas where we can deepen our authenticity, build stronger connections, achieve greater clarity and step into more empowered versions of ourselves.
Following the breakout sessions, attendees reconvened for a no-holds-barred panel discussion that provided real-life examples of how to provide principled leadership when the chips are down. Together, Melinda Gray (global design outreach & development manager at GM), Trina Scott (vice president of civic and community affairs at ROCK), Tasha Blackmon (president and CEO at Cherry Health) and Tina Kozak (CEO at Franco) shared personal stories, the pivotal moments and the bold moves that shaped their leadership journeys.
Attendee Feedback
We heard from so many attendees who felt inspired by the event and felt it gave them the tools to elevate their leadership journey.
“It exceeded my expectations… Every moment was excellent.”
“[The Summit] was an an all-around excellent event — the best I’ve been to in years.”
2026 Bigger and Better Than Ever
The success of this year’s Summit is fueling our excitement for next year. The 2026 event features a multi-day retreat at the gorgeous Crystal Mountain Resort in Northern Michigan. We’re packing in more of everything — more speakers, more networking and more personal breakthroughs. Don’t forget — members can access it all at a reduced price so join today!
Interest in joining us for 2026? Contact miathena@michamber.com to join the waitlist and receive a notification first-thing when registration opens.
