Women's Leadership Conference

Mentoring, Inspiring, Networking, and Educating...
The MSU Women's Leadership Conference's mission is to enhance and enrich the lives of our women alumnae, associates and friends by opening doors for mentoring and networking while creating educating and inspiring opportunities for women by women. 

**Interested in presenting next year for 2026? Submit your Proposal!**

May 13th, 2025 | In-Person Conference | Strand Union Building, MSU Campus

Tentative Conference Schedule:

8:30-9:00 am: Event check-in and breakfast
9:00 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:05 am: Morning Keynote: Karen McNenny
10:15 am: Breakout Session I
11:15 am: Breakout Session II
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: Workshop
2:00 pm: Panel
3:00 pm: Keynote Speaker- Amanda McPherson
4:00 pm: Networking Social and Silent Auction

Early-Bird Conference Registration ($125): Be sure to get your tickets before February 14! For organizations with 6 or more registrants, please email Kayla for corporate pricing.

Morning Keynote Speaker: Karen McNenny

Karen McNennyspent the early years of her business career working as a trainer, facilitator and coach for Providence Services, the largest healthcare system in the Northwest. During those six years, she cut my teeth in the areas of workplace culture, employee engagement and leadership excellence. All the invisible stuff in a workplace that ultimately impacts visible outcomes. In short, the touchy feely relationship stuff.  Well guess what?  It’s all relationship stuff.

Keynote Speaker: Amanda McPherson

Amanda McPherson, once a risk-avoidant “scaredy cat,” is now an award-winning coach, speaker, and published writer dedicated to empowering women. Her passion lies in helping women cultivate deeply rooted confidence to reach their highest potential. Through her online platform, Girl, Get Your Roots Done, Amanda shares relatable insights and actionable advice to help women navigate life's ups and downs while remaining rooted in their values and sense of worth.

Click here to view other conference speakers.

Interested in sponsoring, or donating? Email kayla.lee2@montana.edu.

Thank You to our Generous 2025 Conference Sponsors:

Keynote Sponsor:

Panel Sponsor:

Your proceeds provide scholarships for Jabs students: Click here to view past scholarship recipients.

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Brief History

The MSU Jabs Women’s Circle of Excellence (the Circle) was created in the fall of 2006 based on the vision of Jackie Sather and Micki Munro.  A group of alumnae and administrative employees of Jabs were brought together to form the Core Committee of the Circle. In the spring of 2007, the Core Committee hosted the Circle’s first event, a graduation celebration for the graduating seniors and MPAc women, where they were congratulated on this significant achievement by local Jabs alumnae. 

The Core Committee brought the first annual Women’s Circle of Excellence conference, a two-day event held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman, Montana on April 17th and 18th, 2008. This also coincided with the 115th anniversary of the College of Business. The theme of the conference was “Links of a Lifetime," which promoted the existing bonds between alumnae and friends and fostered opportunities to establish new ones.

This conference featured national and local speakers who presented inspirational and educational sessions and events, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities.  These two days featured presentations capturing the true meaning of being a woman in today’s busy world, while sharing the pride that comes from being linked by the common thread of graduating from the same institute in business.