1. Earlier this month, NH Business Review held its fifth annual Powered by Women event at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, bringing together women business leaders to share the stories and inspirations behind their success. The panel discussion featured, from left, Elaine Hamel, founder, executive director and program leader at Girls at Work; Elissa Margolin, director of Housing Action NH; Emily Schwerin-Whyte, co-collaborative executive officer and second-generation family owner at W.S. Badger Company; and Latonya Wallace, business lender at NH Community Loan Fund.
2. Over 120 people gathered together on a brisk morning to hear inspiring stories from the panelists, which included personal topics such as empowerment through building with young girls at Girls at Work, how to find your inner peace and your power, advocating to help advance public policy and learning from past leaders, and how to navigate the challenges and rewards that business brings in the future. The audience was engaged and were able to network during breakfast to continue conversations with powerful women (and men) in New Hampshire’s workforce.
3. Caitlin McCormick, vice president of sales and account management at United Healthcare, addressed the audience at the start of the event on behalf of her organization, the presenting sponsor of this year’s event. NH Business Review appreciates their gracious support, along with the other sponsors’, including BankProv, Connection, Service Credit Union, Lovering Auto Group, and the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire.
4. Each of the panelists gave a short talk on topics that were important to them regarding their journeys as women in the workforce. Emily Schwerin-Whyte was joined on stage by her sister, Rebecca Hamilton, who also works as a co-collaborative executive officer at W.S. Badger. Together, they shared how they started working for their family-run company in high school packing boxes, to today, where they lead a team of driven people to formulate and manufacture natural, healing skin products.
5. Audience members were encouraged to share their questions or comments during the panel discussion in order to dig deep into challenges women face in the workplace and beyond. Some thought-provoking questions included how can we teach younger generations to eradicate toxic masculinity and how can we prevent imposter syndrome in the workplace — a question asked by Rebecca Sanborn, seen here, the owner and LGBTQ diversity and inclusion trainer at Sanborn Diversity Training Solutions, LLC.
6. Latonya Wallace (right) took to the stage to relay the challenges she’s faced as a woman of color and how she inspires others to find their identity circle. Her daughter, Janaya Springer (center), accompanied her at the event, and is shown here networking with others in attendance. The mother-daughter duo opened their hearts to share their struggles and how they persevered through adversity, thereby opening our eyes to new inspirations.
