When Women Lead: Purpose Meets Power 

ABOUT THIS EVENT

Author, advocate, and public health expert Chelsea Clinton is the featured speaker for CBIA’s 2026 When Women Lead conference, where we celebrate the power and potential of women in business. 

As vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, she works alongside the foundation’s leadership and partners to improve lives and inspire emerging leaders across the U.S. and around the world. 

Clinton provides vision and expertise for flagship programs like the Clinton Global Initiative, a model for public-private partnerships addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges. 

She is also vice chair of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which has helped over 21 million people in more than 70 countries access critical HIV/AIDS medications and works to build and strengthen sustainable health systems around the world. 

Join us March 24 for a dynamic morning of discussions, idea sharing, and networking with a community that’s growing, evolving, and leading—together.  

Agenda

7:30 am | Check-In & Networking Breakfast 

8:30 am | Opening Remarks 

  • Christina Oneglia Rossi, VP, Business Development, O&G Industries  

8:45 am | Leadership Prescription: Women in Healthcare 

  • Moderator: Jennifer Morgan, Co-Chair, Business Litigation Practice Group, Harris Beach Murtha 
  • Grace CavalloPresident & CEO, Community Mental Health Affiliates  
  • Camelia Lawrence, MD, Director of Breast Surgery, Hospital of Central Connecticut & Midstate Medical Center, Hartford HealthCare   

9:30 am | Breaking the Good Girl Code 

  • Jessica Smith, SVP, Strategy & Innovation, The Connection 

10 am | Networking Break  

10:20 am | The Power of Now: Seizing Opportunities with Confidence  

  • Moderator: Fran Pastore, Founder & CEO, Women’s Business Development Council   
  • Claire Burns, Chief Marketing & Customer Officer, The Hartford  
  • Erin Choquette, CEO, Connecticut Paid Leave Authority  
  • Elicia Pegues Spearman, CEO, Girl Scouts of Connecticut  

11:05 am | A Candid Conversation with Chelsea Clinton  

  • Chelsea Clinton talks with The Connecticut Forum’s Mana Zarinejad

12 pm | Adjourn 

DATE

Tue, Mar 24, 2026
8:30am – 12:00pm

LOCATION

Connecticut Convention Center

100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 060103

COST

$155-$235

OUR SPONSORS

When Women Lead is produced by CBIA in collaboration with the Women's Business Development Council and made possible through the generous support of KeyBank, with additional support from Littler, Delta Dental, Community Mental Health Affiliates, McCarter & English LLP, and The Connecticut Forum.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact CBIA's Stacey Vendetta (860.244.1930).

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