I had the pleasure of joining a group of resilient, driven women at the Be the CEO of Your Career event, held at the vibrant CT State Gateway Campus. The title was the theme of CEDF's annual Women Business Success Event. The conversations were dynamic, the atmosphere was electric, and the learnings were invaluable. This event was a celebration of entrepreneurship and self-empowerment, and I left feeling inspired, recharged, and ready to take on the next challenge.
It was fabulous to share UNTAPPED POTENTIAL's services for advancing business and reigniting careers with Growth Directors: Meg McCrudden of Hartford and Christine Maffia of Fairfield. The Emcee was Dawn Reshen-Doty of Benay Enterprises Inc. a longtime Mentor for UNTAPPED POTENTIAL in the Finance Industry.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamara Smith: Setting Your Vision
A highlight of the day was hearing from our keynote speaker, Dr. Tamara Smith. We were fortunate to have Dr. Smith to kick-off our Untapped Potential “Reignite your Professional Self” event in 2024.
In her keynote, Dr. Tammy shared her personal story from McDonald's management trainee to managing nearly $50M in project value in the male dominated field of transportation. She reminded us that success doesn’t just happen—it’s seized with hard work, resilience and a little help. Dr. Smith encouraged us know yourself and to visualize where we want to be, but also to map out actionable steps to get there. Whether you’re at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or you're a seasoned business owner, revisiting your values, while adapting to new scenarios and applying a dose of continuous learning will keep you in the game.
Honored to Share the Stage with Inspiring Panelists
It was an honor to share the stage with incredible fellow panelists, each of whom has carved out a unique path to success.
Tamara Ketchian, Owner of wildwoodgranola.com
Alisa Bowens-Mercado, Founder, Rhythm Brewing
Ting Luo, Founder, The Green Teahouse
Mercy Quaye, Founder & CEO The Narrative Project
I was particularly impressed by how these women leaders are pushing boundaries in growth industries—demonstrating innovation, resilience, and boldness at every turn.
We delved into the fundamentals of entrepreneurship—discussing everything from setting goals and reinforcing your brand to embracing co-opetition when feasible. It reminded me of the importance of staying grounded in your original goals while also being flexible enough to pivot when necessary.
I am brainstorming how our community of strong talent can support the panelists' growing ventures.
Diverse Perspectives, Valuable Learnings
The panel showcased the beauty of diversity in entrepreneurship. Each speaker brought their own unique experience, sharing gems of wisdom that captivated our audience. As I listened to these amazing women, I was re-inspired to refocus on the basics—reaffirming the power of vision, planning, and execution in any venture. Whether in cottage food manufacture, retail, consumer packaged goods, career or marketing services, there were common struggles and successes in navigating the entrepreneurial journey.
The focus of the theme "Be the CEO of YOUR Career" shared value not only for those in entrepreneurship but for those seeking success in their business career or their #returntowork journeys. It aligns well with the thought process in our MAP4U Service which leverages the entrepreneurial framework of the Business Model Canvas that steams from the popular Lean Launch process but is applied to YOU, your skills and services, and bringing to “market” for today’s #workforce.
It was particularly fulfilling to hear feedback from the audience. One attendee, Camille Jones, shared: “Such a well-orchestrated event of resilient women, at different stages along their entrepreneurship journey—all choosing to believe, to be brave, and to be bold.”
Hearing such reflections reaffirms why these gatherings are so crucial for women returning to work or starting fresh in their careers.
A Moment of Reflection
I also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Fred Welk from the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) for inviting me to be part of this Women’s Business Success event. A lot has changed for Untapped Potential since I first participated as a keynote speaker in 2018, and I'm proud of the growth we’ve experienced. But one thing remains constant—our commitment to empowering women to take control of their careers.
Let’s continue this journey of entrepreneurship with courage, confidence, and conviction. Together, we are building not only our businesses but also a future where women lead with boldness and brilliance.