YEAR FOUR
Women's Leadership Summit
July 22–24, 2026 · Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach · Dana Point, CA
120 senior women in marketing leadership. Three days of conversations that change how you lead, how you connect, and how you see yourself.
Our story
It started with a question.
Four years ago, we hosted our first Women’s Summit with a simple idea: what happens when you give accomplished women real space — not a stage, not a panel, just space — to be honest with each other?
What happened surprised us. Women who came as strangers left as something closer to family. Conversations that started over dinner turned into career pivots, business partnerships, and friendships that people say changed the trajectory of their lives.
Every year this community gets deeper. The walls come down faster. The conversations get more personal, more real, more life-altering. Year four is coming.
What to expect
Three days. No pretense.
substance
Marketing, parenting, caregiving, relationships, and advancing careers while holding everything else together.
conversation
Small groups, honest dialogue. Every session is a discussion — you won’t hear from experts, you’ll be surrounded by them.
Friendship
Lasting bonds that go beyond the summit. The women who attend want and nurture this network year after year.
renewal
Yoga, wine tastings, ocean air. The topics are serious but the setting reminds you to breathe.
the conversations
Previous topics covered
Workshops are designed and led by fellow participants — people who’ve been in your seat. Last year’s conversations included:
Mastering Your New Role: The Make-or-Break 90 Days
The critical first 90 days in a senior role — how to identify early wins, navigate C-suite politics, and establish the momentum that sets you up for long-term success.
How We Make It Better for Everyone Coming Next
Practical ways to support other women, collaborate to create real change, and build the kind of mutual support that benefits everyone — today and tomorrow.
Moving Beyond Self-Promotion to Thought Leadership
How to build meaningful influence by staying true to what you actually care about — why authenticity beats polish every time.
From Frantic to Focused: Choosing an Intentional Life
Practical strategies for saying no without guilt, aligning your time with your values, and restructuring your days around what you want to be present for.
Navigating the Generational Divide
Communication strategies, team structures, and management approaches that turn generational differences into real advantages.
Building Marketing Teams for the AI Era
Beyond the scary headlines — what marketing organizations actually need to look like in an AI-driven world.
Staying Cool When You're Literally Not
Managing menopause in the corner office — the experience that affects all women yet is rarely discussed. The frank support system we all deserve.
Designing Your Financial Architecture
How to shift from autopilot to architecture in your financial life — the hidden complexity of women’s mid-career wealth.
The setting
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach
Dana Point, California. Perched above the Pacific on the Southern California coast. The kind of setting that makes people exhale before the first session even starts.
We chose this property because the best conversations don’t happen in conference rooms — they happen at sunset, on a walk along the bluffs, over a glass of wine with the ocean in the background.
The experience
Agenda
Registration
Marketer Only Meeting
Welcome Networking Activity
Welcome Reception & Dinner
Late-Night Spot (Optional)
Morning Sweatworking
Breakfast
General Session
Lunch
Workshops Round 1
Transition Break
Workshops Round 2
Networking Activity
Dinner
Late-Night Spot (Optional)
At attendee's discretion.
Morning Sweatworking
Breakfast
Shipping Desk
Workshops Round 3
Networking Break
Workshops Round 4
Lunch & Town Hall
The Women
Last Year's Discussion Leaders
Alicia Lisowski
Old World Industries
Allison Clarke
VIZIO Ads
Amanda Kramer
Albertsons Media Collective
Ami Sirlin
Response Media
Andrea Javor
Starcom
Ariel Barlow
Target
Ashley Hart
Stanley 1913
Beth Hoff
National CineMedia
Beth Mach
The Room
Bianca Da Silva
Suntory Global Spirits
Carly Turim Irizarry
Ritual
Carolyn Henry
Intel
Carrie Daly
Volta
Cathy Collette
PadSquad
Cerisse Velasco
Zynga
Charlotte Hansen
MobileFuse
Christina Nevoso
Bayer
Deva Bronson
dentsu Media
Diya Basu
American Dairy Association
Emily Schmitt
Aristocrat Gaming
Heather Stuckey
Mars
Jamie Byrdak
billups
Jenni Finch
Luxottica
Jennifer Huber
AmeriSave Mortgage
Jenny Porter
PMG
Johanna Bauman
PubMatic
Julie Berger
JBM Consulting Group
Kate Rush Sheehy
GSD&M
Kelsey Ragsdale
Gucci
Lauren Busch
BlackRock
Lauri Baker
KERV.ai
Lisa Collings
Mindshare
Liz Reeves
Crate and Barrel
Lori Adler
Blis
Marion Hargett
MiQ
Marla Newman
Raptive
Maureen Falvey
Strong Training & Coaching
Meghan Reynolds
OURA
Michelle Chester
General Mills
Nicole Healy
The Room
Summit Sponsors
The companies making this year possible
For underwriter inquiries, please reach out to partnerships@theroom.vip
Get involved
Two ways into the room.
Whether you’re a marketing leader or a company that wants to reach them — there’s a seat for you.
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I'm a marketer
Participation is complimentary for qualified senior executives — women in brand or agency leadership at the Director level and above. Every participant is personally vetted and invited.
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I'm want to reach this audience
Sponsorship is the only path into this room. The intimacy of the setting creates conversations that never happen at a conference — three days embedded in a community of decision-makers.
