NH Business Review proudly presents our eighth annual Powered by Women conference, an inspiring event that will showcase the drive, conviction and persistence of women leaders in the Granite State. Powered by Women serves to connect female leaders through these stories that will leave them feeling empowered and informed to succeed in their endeavors. The event will feature successful women leaders from different career backgrounds and perspectives, who will give 10-minute talks about their personal and professional growth followed by a 45-minute panel discussion.
NH Business Review proudly presents our eighth annual Powered by Women conference, an inspiring event that will showcase the drive, conviction and persistence of women leaders in the Granite State. Powered by Women serves to connect female leaders through these stories that will leave them feeling empowered and informed to succeed in their endeavors.
The event will feature successful women leaders from different career backgrounds and perspectives, who will give 10-minute talks about their personal and professional growth followed by a 45-minute panel discussion.
PLEASE JOIN US!
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 8–11:30 a.m. Manchester Country Club, Bedford
Kristi Baxter
Associate Executive Coach Sojourn Partners
Kristi Baxter has over 30 years of experience in the fields of leadership development, talent management, executive coaching, executive recruiting and brand management. She brings a blend of practical operational experience from organizations such as Disney and Coca-Cola and coaching excellence to clients, helping improve individual, team and organizational effectiveness by developing leadership capabilities from the inside out.
Baxter’s inside-out coach approach combines her practical experience with a deep appreciation for the complexities of humanity, helping clients make tiny shifts that lead to significant and long-lasting results. Her focus on awareness, mindset and self-mastery empowers clients to achieve better performance, relationships and impact. With a “lead thyself” mentality, she expertly guides clients through change, helping them meet challenges head-on to up-level their individual and team performance.
Dr. Stephanie Ihezie
Neurosurgery Medical Resident Dartmouth Health
Born in New York to Nigerian parents in a devout Christian home, Dr. Stephanie Ihezie was raised to value faith and hard work. She graduated top of her class in high school, earned her Bachelors of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT, and obtained her M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston in the world’s largest medical center. While in medical school, she volunteered with the American Red Cross during Hurricane Harvey to care for victims displaced by the disaster. She was honored with the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship through which she partnered with hospital systems, health insurance companies and Meals on Wheels to evaluate ways of optimizing post-discharge recovery following patients’ hospital admissions. She also became a “big sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters providing focused, long-term youth mentorship. In addition to obtaining her M.D., she graduated medical school with a scholarly concentration in medical humanities and was elected into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Ihezie then matriculated into neurosurgery residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, becoming the first Black woman to do so. Through her training, she continues to practice service, patient care and mentorship.
Advocate for Women’s Empowerment Award
NH Business Review’s Advocate for Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Award honors an individual or organization that has made a lasting impact on empowering women and girls in the Granite State. The award serves to recognize those who have made additional efforts to ensure future generations of women succeed.
2025 recipient: NH Women’s Foundation
The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation invests in opportunity and equality for women and girls in the Granite State through research, education, advocacy and grantmaking.
In 2017 the Women’s Foundation launched Women Run, the Granite State’s only nonpartisan program empowering and training women to run for state and local office.
Regardless of party, when women serve, they are more likely to support policies that benefit women and girls and are more likely to work across the aisle to reach consensus. However, women represent only 36% of the New Hampshire Legislature. In addition, 38% of New Hampshire towns do not have a single woman on their Select Board. And there is only one woman mayor in New Hampshire.
When women run for office, they are just as likely to win as men, however women are less likely to run unless they are encouraged by others.
Donna Daneke
Director of Human Resources Summit Packaging Systems Inc.
Donna Daneke has been the human resources director at Summit Packaging Systems for just shy of eight years. Prior to accepting this role, she litigated workers’ compensation claims for 19 years, working the majority of time as an insurance defense attorney. She also worked as legal counsel to the New Hampshire Department of Labor for two years. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal, waitress, bartender, food service technician and landscaper — experiences that shaped her well for her current role. In her spare time, she enjoys music, martinis and her dog, Gulliver.
Mackenzie Fraser
Senior Vice President EVR Advertising
Mackenzie Fraser is senior vice president and owner of EVR Advertising, a full-service marketing agency in Manchester, NH. She is a dedicated mentor and marketing expert, helping EVR team members grow professionally, while advocating passionately for her clients. Aside from running and growing the business, Fraser works closely with the account team on the strategy, development and implementation of marketing plans by channeling her organizational skills and creative problem-solving to deliver impactful results. She embodies the philosophy, “She believed she could, so she did,” leading with vision, resilience and a commitment to driving success for those she serves.
Geri Eisenman Pell
Co-founder Rise Private Wealth Management
Geri Eisenman Pell has been a financial advisor since 1986. Among numerous national recognitions, she has appeared on CNBC, CNN, NBC Nightly News and Fox Business News. She has also been quoted in and written articles for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Financial Planning, Financial Advisor and Registered Rep Magazines. Eisenman Pell is a Barron’s Hall of Fame Advisor and has had the distinct honor of being recognized by Barron’s Magazine as one of their Top 100 Women Financial Advisors, Top 1,200 Financial Advisors and Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors in the country. She has also been named a Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor and, most recently, a Crain’s New York Business Notable Leader in Finance for 2025.
