Speaker Alumni

SC Perot

Speaker

SC Perot is a storyteller, educator, and bestselling author. A proud Dallas native, she is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Stanford Law School. After practicing law, she made a bold mid-pandemic pivot to pursue her longtime passion for teaching. Today, SC serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Vanderbilt University, where she teaches in the Human and Organizational Development department, helping students navigate the intersections of purpose, leadership, and human connection. Her debut book, Styles of Joy, explores how we can discover and express joy as a practice—not a personality trait. Her signature keynote presentation centers on living intentionally, even in life’s most uncertain moments. Her talks are an invitation—to feel deeply, connect authentically, and reimagine what’s possible when we lead with heart. SC is a sought-after voice on joy, resilience, reinvention, and the art of showing up. When she’s not writing, teaching, or speaking, SC can be found in Nashville, TN, enjoying live music, good food, and time with her four-legged sidekick, Ranger.

Meggan Taylor

Speaker

Meggan Taylor is a Market Analyst at RealPage, where she turns complex multifamily data into clear, actionable insights for the rental housing industry. Her work supports RealPage's economic research and apartment market forecasts and is featured across the company's research products, client presentations, blog posts and webcasts. At the conference, Meggan will present "U.S. Multifamily: Mid-Year State of the Market"; a timely look at current U.S. apartment market conditions. Before joining RealPage, Meggan conducted market research and feasibility analyses for conventional multifamily and mixed-use developments. She also brings experience in business intelligence and data analytics implementations across multiple industries, giving her a distinctive perspective at the intersection of real estate, technology and market intelligence. Meggan holds a bachelor's degree in information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as a Master of Science in Information Technology and Management and an MBA with a concentration in real estate, both from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Sharon Kazan Harris

Workshop Host

Sharon fell in love with wine at 20, while studying abroad in Bordeaux. That journey led her to Château Haut-Brion, to the DUAD wine diploma program, and eventually to founding RARECAT Wines. She is the only American woman vintner producing estate wines in Napa Valley, Champagne, Bordeaux, and Russian River. As Director of Winemaking, Sharon overseas production of all of RARECAT's wines. Before wine, Sharon thrived in tech, leading sales for a search engine company that went public, launching a startup that raised over $3 million, and working as a tech investor and executive. Sharon has used wine to bring together thousands of professionals, particularly women, and was named one of Worth Magazine’s 29 Most Groundbreaking Women Changing the World and Most Innovative Women in Wine.

Before wine, Sharon thrived in tech, leading sales for a search engine company that went public, launching a startup that raised over $3 million, and working as a tech investor and executive. Sharon has used wine to bring together thousands of professionals, particularly women, and was named one of Worth Magazine’s 29 Most Groundbreaking Women Changing the World and Most Innovative Women in Wine.

Leslie Mathis

Speaker

Leslie Mathis is the Founder and Owner of Streamline Multifamily Group, a consulting firm specializing in multifamily asset management and operational strategy. She partners with owners, developers, operators, and supplier partners to optimize performance, increase NOI, maximize asset value, and execute strategic business plans. With more than 25 years of multifamily experience, Leslie's expertise spans lease-ups, acquisitions, redevelopment, senior housing, build-to-rent, capital improvement projects, distressed assets, and construction oversight. She has partnered with leading organizations including Carlyle, Cortland, Greystar, Bell Partners, RangeWater, Woodfield Development, and 68 Ventures. A passionate advocate for women in leadership, Leslie is committed to mentoring and empowering others while helping organizations build stronger teams, smarter operations, and lasting success.

Erin Krueger

Speaker

Erin Krueger is a best-selling author, nationally recognized speaker, and powerhouse entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in real estate and leadership. After rising to become Tennessee’s top REALTOR® and one of the nation’s top-producing agents, Erin built one of the country’s leading real estate teams, recognized by The Wall Street Journal and RealTrends and responsible for more than $2.5 billion in transactions. As the author of Capture the Culture, Erin is passionate about helping leaders build strong teams, create intentional cultures, and lead with purpose. Through her speaking, coaching, and mentorship, she equips entrepreneurs and leaders with practical strategies to overcome challenges, empower their people, and create lasting impact.

Natalie Sherman

Speaker

Natalie Sherman is the Head of Wealth Planning at & Wealth, the premier financial advisory firm for women managing major life transitions and their own, new-found finances for the first time. Natalie joined &Wealth after 25 years as an estates and trusts lawyer at nationally and regionally recognized firms. Over the years Natalie has counseled a wide range of individuals and families – including entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners, and multiple generations of wealthy families. She has dedicated her career to helping clients plan for the futures they want for themselves and their loved ones. Along the way, Natalie has learned that women in particular have strong instincts and a deep knowledge of their and their families’ goals and values which, if tapped into, lead to thoughtful, lasting plans. Natalie is an honors graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Law School, and when not in the office, can be found hiking with her adventure buddies, watching virtually any sporting event, or taking in a Broadway show.

Victoria Alvarez

Panelist

Victoria Alvarez is a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke, where she represents clients in high-stakes real estate disputes, complex commercial litigation, and international arbitration. With a practice that spans both U.S. courtrooms and international tribunals, Victoria brings a trial lawyer's instincts to every matter — whether litigating real estate and development disputes involving multifamily properties, commercial developments, joint ventures, and construction projects in state and federal court, or navigating cross-border conflicts before arbitral institutions including the International Chamber of Commerce and International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Victoria is a recognized leader in the international arbitration community, serving on the boards of the Chicago International Arbitration Council (ChIAC) and the Atlanta International Arbitration Society (AtlAS), and as incoming Co-Chair of the ABA International Law Section's International Arbitration Committee. Equally committed to advancing women in the profession, Victoria is a former Commissioner of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession and a Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business award winner. She is passionate about mentorship, sponsorship, and creating pathways for the next generation of women leaders.

Holly Duckworth

Workshop Host

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, is a professional speaker, author, and human leadership architect who helps women lead with greater confidence, clarity, and consciousness in the age of AI. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, facilitation, wellbeing, and organizational development, Holly brings a practical and human-centered approach to the future of work. Her work helps leaders explore new technology without losing the relationships, intuition, and sense of purpose that make leadership matter. As a TEDxFranklin speaker and the creator of Future Ready Female™, Holly equips women with tools to navigate change, strengthen their confidence, and make thoughtful decisions about how they lead, work, and live. She is known for creating interactive learning experiences that invite participation, reflection, and real-world application. During her EmpowHER workshop, Holly will guide attendees through a fresh conversation about what it means to be future-ready. Participants will leave with practical strategies to embrace AI, trust their own leadership, and move forward with greater intention—without losing the human touch.

Kristina Watts | Speaker and Life Coach

Get ready to look within, find your worthiness, and RUN TO WIN

Kristina is a Military Wife and hot mess mom of three. She's an owner of a multi-million dollar life insurance agency and currently focused on helping others become their best version of themselves through speaking and coaching. She stands for empowering women to become the best versions of themselves and create the life of their dreams.

Heather Adams

Speaker

Heather Adams is the founder and CEO of Choice Media and Communications. As a communications expert and a storyteller, she has one goal: to make her clients KNOWN. Heather has launched more than 100 authors onto the New York Times bestseller list and serves marquee tastemakers, agents of change, and creators to discern, craft, and spread their unique message using results-driven communication and brand strategies. She is a champion for women, leading an all-female agency and mentoring collegiate women. She is also a successful podcast host, covering communications, relationships, entrepreneurship, and empowering women + leadership, talking with some of the biggest names in lifestyle, communications, and media. She graduated from the University of Georgia and serves on the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Society Alumni Board, and was honored as a Bulldog 100 Honoree 2021, which spotlighted Choice as one of the 100 fastest -growing businesses owned by UGA alumni.

Erin Hatzikostas

Meet Erin Hatzikostas—former Corporate CEO turned Professional Pot-Stirrer and authenticity powerhouse! Often referred to as “The Mel Robbins for business,” Erin Hatzikostas is an internationally recognized leader on the impact of authenticity in the workplace. Erin is a global keynote speaker, the author of two books--You Do You(ish) and The 50% Rule--, a Differentiation Consultant, and the co-host of the podcast, Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck. Her TEDx Talk was one of the Top 20 globally most viewed TEDx Talks released in 2021. Her talks have reached hundreds of thousands of people, and her thought leadership has been featured on ABC, CBS and published in Business Insider, Fast Company, Well+Good, among several others. Her company also conducted a first-of-its-kind national study on the impact of authenticity in the workplace.

Diljeet Dosanjh Taylor

BYU Head Women's Cross Country Coach and Associate Director of Track and Field. Head coach for Nike's Swoosh TC Club in Utah. Member of the first coaches cohort of Nike's Athlete Think Tank. Motivational Speaker and Mom to two boys (14 & 16). As a coach at BYU she has 2 Women's XC National Championships, 1 individual XC Champion, 2 XC National Runner-up team finishes, 7 Top-10 team finishes, 2 time USTFCCCA Women's XC Coach of the Year, USTFCCCA Program of the Year, 2 time Big 12 Coach of Year, 3 time Women's XC Mountain Region Coach of Year, 5 time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women's Indoor Assistance Coach of the Year, and Utah Governor's State of Sport Coach of Year. She has coached 7 individual/event National Champions on the indoor/outdoor track, has 7 individual Conference Champions, coached 102 All-Americans, and coached 12 new school records. She coached two professional Olympians in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Thru Shivakumar

Panelist

As CEO, Thru is responsible for leading Cohesion to align and execute its strategic vision as well as deliver shareholder value. Thru has 15+ years of experience in private, public, and civic sectors of the economy holding positions across real estate and corporate finance, business strategy, M&A, entrepreneurship and business development. Prior to Cohesion, Thru held roles at Hyatt, GE Real Estate, Green Courte Partners, Newport Capital Partners, World Business Chicago, and GCM Grosvenor. Additionally, Thru is a passionate entrepreneur and is the founding board member of Current, a water technology accelerator focused on advanced research and market-driven innovations. Thru holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in Finance from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thru is also passionate about staying active, traveling, and cooking.

Artesha Moore

Panelist

Artesha “Tesha” Moore, FASAE, CAE, is President and CEO of Association Forum and a nationally recognized association strategist, futurist, and change leader. Since joining the organization, she has led its financial and organizational turnaround while repositioning Association Forum as a learning company and career acceleration platform for the association workforce. Tesha’s work sits at the intersection of leadership, technology, community, and the future of work. She challenges organizations to move beyond legacy models, embrace AI and emerging technology, and build the skills, cultures, and relationships people need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Throughout her career, Tesha has built high -performing teams, launched award -winning programs, and created opportunities for professionals and emerging leaders to grow their influence and impact. A sought -after speaker, advisor, and mentor, she is known for blending bold ideas, practical strategy, engaging storytelling, and an unmistakable sense of humor.

Alycia Anderson | CEO, International Speaker & Disability Advocate

Alycia Anderson is an international TEDx keynote speaker, disability advocate, adaptive product consultant, and corporate inclusion strategist. She is the founder and CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company, LLC and host of the Pushing Forward with Alycia podcast. With a background as Vice President in multifamily SaaS technology companies, Alycia brings valuable industry insight to her work helping organizations embrace inclusion and accessibility. A wheelchair user since birth, Alycia holds a European Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Activity. She is also a cyclist, tennis player, and proud identical twin. Her combination of lived experience and executive leadership enables her to effectively bridge business goals with inclusive practices. In 2024, Alycia was appointed to California’s Insurance Diversity Task Force. She has partnered with leading brands including Netflix, Microsoft, Humana, Etsy, and Victoria’s Secret and even graced the runway at NYC Fashion Week last year. Her work has been featured in commercials for AT&T and Planet Fitness, and highlighted in the Los Angeles Times, CNBC, PBS, Chicago Tribune, and more. Alycia’s authenticity and charisma foster genuine connections. She inspires, mentors, and empowers others while reframing everyday obstacles into pathways of unlimited possibility. “And that’s how she rolls!”

Nirjary Desai | CEO and Founder of KIS (cubed) Events

Make Way for Her Success: Ambition, Love & Life, Leadership, and the Importance of Transparent Relationships

Regarded as one of the top Southeast Asian event producers. Chief Experience Officer and Founder of KIS (cubed) Events. Offers comprehensive training and educational programs that equip teams with the knowledge and skills they need to create inclusive events that resonate with diverse audiences. This includes culinary education, cultural etiquette and customs, and vocabulary. Public speaker specializing in multicultural events/customs, business, hospitality, women empowerment, and DE&I

Angela Gargano | 6x American Ninja Warrior | Former Biochemist | Miss Fitness America 3x Cover Girl | International Keynote Speaker

RIGHT™ Framework & Be the First Mentality | Navigate Uncertainty, Embrace Resilience, and ask: What if it All Goes Right?

Angela Gargano is a 6x American Ninja Warrior, former biochemist, Miss Fitness America 3x Cover Girl, and internationally recognized keynote speaker helping leaders redefine what’s possible. After tearing her ACL live on national television, she rebuilt her body—and her identity—transforming setbacks into a launchpad for bold action and breakthrough leadership. Now the founder of a six-figure coaching business that’s helped thousands of women conquer their first pull-up, Angela speaks on stages across the globe to empower teams and high-performers to stop playing small, lead with confidence, and take powerful, aligned action. Blending science, strategy, and storytelling, she equips audiences with the RIGHT™ Framework & Be the First Mentality that is a proven system to navigate uncertainty, embrace resilience, and ask: What if it all goes right?

Melissa D. White, MBA | International Keynote & TEDx Speaker | Author | Executive Leadership & Life Coach

Empower Yourself! Activate Your Voice to Speak What You Need

After 20 years of multifamily experience in leasing, operations, and training, she is now the CEO & Principal Coach of Activation Coaching International™ powered by The Activation Hour® with the mission to give a voice to the unseen and unheard at work and in the world through coaching, speaking, and media. Her notable career highlights include commanding audiences of over 500,000 people in one live setting, and coaching hundreds of leaders and speakers to find their voice and command the stage. Melissa’s Multifamily career is vast, specializing in lease ups, learning, and development. Melissa is the author of The Entrepreneurial Prophet: Obeying & Partnering with God in Entrepreneurship and The Spirit Led Leader Devotional. As an influential voice and thought leader, she is a media contributor featured in HuffPost, Thrive Global, and she is the Host of The Activation Hour.

Jasmine C. Williams | Adversity & Resilience Speaker

Learn to thrive through life's challenges

After an unexpected loss her freshman year of college, Jasmine Williams hit rock bottom. Now, as an Adversity and Resilience Speaker, she teaches audiences how failure and adversity can help us grow. Using her firsthand experiences, Jasmine helps others learn to navigate the plot twists of their lives and careers. Her work as a public speaking coach also helps others learn to deliver a polished message with confidence. She graduated from High Point University with her B.A. in Communication and a minor in Psychology.

Page Rene White | Executive Coach of Paige Rene Coaching

The Best Way to Predict Your Future is to Create It

Paige Rene is an Executive Coach who helps high-achieving women navigate corporate dynamics with confidence. A former Division I athlete and leadership coach, she brings a direct, no-BS approach to professional growth—using the Enneagram as her go-to tool for deep, lasting transformation. She will be leading the Enneagram workshop on Monday, October 7th at 1:00 p.m.!