UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Registration is still open for the 2019 Powerful Women Paving the Way Conference, scheduled for April 11-12 at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State's University Park campus. The event, which is hosted by the Penn State Smeal College of Business and its student-run Women in Business Organization, will commemorate its 11th year with engaging speakers and valuable networking opportunities.
The conference aims to unite successful women in the Penn State community and celebrate their contributions to all aspects of the business world. Alumni, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to learn more about this impactful event and submit registration materials by 11:59 p.m. April 5.
This year, Wanda Bryant Hope, Johnson & Johnson's chief diversity and inclusion officer and a Penn State alumna, will join the conference as the dinner keynote speaker at 6 p.m. April 11. Bryant Hope is responsible for the global advancement of Johnson & Johnson's diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as developing strategies for future success for diversity and inclusion programs. Due to her commitment to innovation, Bryant Hope has received several notable awards and will share her story with the conference attendees.
In addition to Bryant Hope, Maneet Chauhan, executive chef at and co-owner of Chauhan Ale and Masala House, and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, will join the list of dynamic keynote speakers.
Chauhan is the founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group based in Nashville, Tennessee. She also is a permanent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” and sits on the panel of judges for Food Network’s “Wedding Cake Championship.” Chauhan, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has gained international recognition as an influential female in the culinary industry.
Lutoff-Perlo will conclude the conference’s speaker series at noon on April 12. Lutoff-Perlo’s strategic leadership has launched Celebrity Cruises to become the performance leader in the Royal Caribbean Cruises portfolio. As president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, she leads the multibillion-dollar brand with 13 ships sailing to more than 300 global ports worldwide. Her ingenuity has earned her global esteem as a pioneer in the maritime industry. Additionally, Lutoff-Perlo is an avid advocate of STEM education for young women and is devoted to promoting gender equality in the male-dominated realm of business.
The 2019 Powerful Women Paving the Way Conference is sponsored by Celebrity Cruises, Kohl’s, the University Park Allocation Committee, Altria, Geico, KPMG, EY, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte, Dick’s Sporting Goods, TEK Systems, Vanguard, and Duff & Phelps.