Women’s Leadership Virtual Series
Description
Join us for this annual Women’s Leadership Virtual Series in October over three consecutive Tuesdays at 10:00am CST.
Take this time for you! Hear from experts on gaining confidence to pursue your dreams, how to get more buy-in on your ideas and …… Be a champion for women leaders – all are invited!
Agenda
October 13 | 10:00 am – 11:00 am
10:00am
Welcome and Introductions
10:05am -10:50am
Keynote: Beyond the KPIs: Moving People with Influence, Not Performance
Zovig Garboushian, Boldness Ablaze
You can have the sharpest strategy, the cleanest metrics, and the best-laid plans—but if no one buys in, it all falls apart. Right now we’re facing economic whiplash, AI disruption, and nonstop change which requires something more from leaders, and leaders who focus only on execution are missing the bigger play because strategy means nothing without influence, and leadership doesn’t matter if no one follows. This talk is for leaders who know their role isn’t just about directing work—it’s about moving people. You’ll learn how to translate your expertise into impact by using the deeper mechanics of influence: what you do, how you think, and who you are while leading. Because authority might get you compliance—but influence is what drives real results.
10:50am – 11:00am
Q&A
11:00am
Adjourn
October 20 | 10:00 am – 11:00 am
10:00am
Welcome and Introductions
10:05am -10:50am
Keynote:Emotional Agility: Leading Yourself Through Uncertainty, Growth, and Change
Sarah Noll Wilson, Executive Coach
Women are often asked to navigate competing expectations—be confident but approachable, ambitious but humble, resilient but endlessly accommodating. Over time, these pressures can make it difficult to stay connected to our own values, needs, and voice. In this session, we’ll explore emotional agility as a powerful leadership practice that helps us move beyond autopilot reactions and respond with greater awareness and intention. Participants will learn how to work with emotions rather than against them, challenge unhelpful stories they may be telling themselves, and develop greater flexibility in how they lead, communicate, and grow. This session offers practical tools for strengthening self-leadership while navigating the realities of today’s workplace
10:50am – 11:00am
Q&A
11:00am
Adjourn
October 27 | 10:00 am – 11:00 am
10:00am
Welcome and Introductions
10:05am -10:50am
Keynote: Building Your Wellness Blueprint
Carla Williams, Communications Specialist, UW –Madison Extension
Building Your Wellness Blueprint is an interactive keynote that combines storytelling, reflection, and practical strategies to help participants develop sustainable wellness habits that align with their values, responsibilities, and everyday lives. Through storytelling, honest conversation, and guided reflection, Carla invites participants to explore what it means to care for their wellness while balancing work, family, stress, and everyday responsibilities. Throughout the keynote, she incorporates live polls and questions that encourage attendees to engage with the content rather than simply listen. Participants are challenged to identify what’s draining them, rethink the pressure to “do wellness right,” and leave with one realistic change they can begin making immediately.
The focus of this session will be on the following areas:
- Assess the habits and responsibilities that support or drain attendees’ well-being.
- Explore how boundaries and daily habits contribute to long-term wellness.
- Develop realistic strategies for creating a sustainable wellness routine.
- Commit to one actionable step they can implement immediately
10:50am – 11:00am
Q&A
11:00am
Adjourn
Speakers
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Sarah Noll Wilson
CEO & Founder | Sarah Noll Wilson Group
Sarah Noll Wilson is an Executive Coach, in-demand Keynote Speaker, and bestselling author of Don’t Feed the Elephants! With over 15 years of experience in leadership development, she has worked with more than 500 organizations and thousands of leaders globally to transform workplace cultures, strengthen relationships, and build high-performing teams. A trusted voice in leadership, Sarah is a contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and her expertise has been featured on BBC Radio, in The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New York Post. She also hosts Conversations on Conversations, a podcast with listeners from over 80 countries.
Sarah holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership Development from Drake University and multiple professional certifications in coaching and communication frameworks. Believing that theory is great, but tools are better, she equips leaders with practical, evidence-based strategies to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence.
When she isn’t empowering leaders to create thriving teams, Sarah is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, enjoys playing games with her husband, Nick, baking focaccia bread, and cuddling with their fur baby, Sally.
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Zovig Garboushian
Boldness Ablaze
Zovig Garboushian is the fiery force behind Boldness Ablaze. With over 25 years of experience in marketing, management consulting, organizational change, and leadership development, Zovig’s mission is simple: Help leaders reconnect with themselves as their primary source of truth so they can lead with less stress and more ease. Zovig has worked with leaders and teams at companies like Accenture, CreditKarma, New York Life, Google, Fastly, Microsoft, Planned Parenthood, Bungie Games, Wizards of the Coast, the University of Delaware, University of Washington, and Southern New Hampshire University along with numerous small businesses and startup leaders. She has spoken at organizations such as TriNet, Advancing Women in Tech, Dutchie, CFO Council, Business Networking International (BNI) and KeyBank. And, she’s the host of When Does It Get Good? podcast. Whether she’s on a stage, in a workshop, or in an intimate coaching moment, Zovig is dedicated to helping her clients feel comfortable in their own skin so they can stop worrying about getting it right and go after what matters most.
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Carla Williams
Communications Specialist | UW –Madison Extension
Carla Williams is a Communications Specialist at UW–Madison Extension, leading strategic communications in Dane County. She is the Founder of The View From Here Wellness Collective, a space dedicated to empowering women on their wellness journeys. A Certified Peer Support Specialist, Carla is trained to help individuals identify their strengths, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges.
Recognized for her community impact, Carla was named a Brava Women to Watch 2026 and has received the Collaborator of the Year Award (Black Women’s Leadership Conference, 2018) and the Invest Award (Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals, 2024). As a speaker, she shares insights on mental health, workplace wellness, self-care, and community building, drawing from her personal journey and professional expertise. Carla is passionate about fostering growth, amplifying authentic voices, and inspiring transformative change.
