Women's Leadership Summit 2025 IN PERSON
8.0 Credits
Member Price $419.00
Non-Member Price $519.00
Overview
The Women’s Leadership Summit is a transformative event that inspires leaders at all stages of their journey. Sessions will focus on building meaningful communities, expanding networks, leading with purpose, and prioritizing self-care, giving you the tools to lead yourself, others, and your business with confidence. Join us for a day of empowerment and growth as we create stronger, more inclusive leadership.
Lead with purpose, connect with strength, and thrive together! 
Highlights
• Learn how prioritizing well-being, avoiding burnout, and building resilience are key to excelling as a leader in the CPA profession.
• Explore wealth-building strategies, market trends, and smart investing to create financial independence and unlock the flexibility to pursue your dreams and passions at any stage of life.
• Discover how to navigate change with confidence, decode stress, and create sustainable success by aligning your decisions with your deeper values for a more fulfilling, energized life.
• Learn how to apply strengths-based leadership, develop your unique leadership style, and gain insights from industry leaders to drive career growth and firm success in today’s evolving workforce.
• Uncover how intentional actions and words can create meaningful change, uplift others, and unlock the power to transform and shape the future.
• Understand how to create "third places" that build genuine relationships, foster innovation, and combat modern loneliness by cultivating spaces where connection thrives beyond home and work.
• Gain actionable strategies to shake self-doubt, elevate your leadership, and cultivate stronger relationships by showing up with authenticity and purpose.
Prerequisites
None.
Designed For
Women working in the accounting profession, as well as those who work with, supervise, or support them.
Objectives
Unlock your leadership potential and gain the tools you need to lead with confidence, purpose, and strength.
Preparation
None.
Notice
Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Networking Sponsor
Thursday, May 22
General Session
- Registration, Sign-in, and Breakfast
General Session
- Welcome and Announcements
General Session
- Invest in Yourself to Invest in Others: Sustainable Success for Women in Leadership
Adelaide NessAdelaide Ness
Adelaide Ness has been speaking to professional service firms around the world for nearly 20 years, helping them grow, strengthen their cultures, and build more client-centric organizations. As the Director of Client-Centric Advisory at Moss Adams, she leads initiatives that enhance client relationships, develop talent, and drive sustainable growth. Prior to joining Moss Adams, Adelaide served as the Chief Learning Officer of The Rainmaker Companies, a management consulting and training organization dedicated to helping professional service firms succeed. Her expertise lies in leadership, business development, and cultural transformation, equipping professionals at all levels with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an evolving marketplace. Passionate about holistic development, she is a dedicated yogi who emphasizes the importance of work-life integration in building strong firm cultures. She has developed and led women’s leadership programs at many of the Top 100 accounting firms across the country, helping to advance and retain top female talent. Adelaide is also an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University, where she teaches in the Human and Organizational Development department at Peabody College. A dynamic and engaging speaker, Adelaide brings a global perspective to her work, drawing on her experience as a bilingual and bicultural citizen of the United States and France. She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. from the American University of Paris, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Learning and Leadership in Organizations at Vanderbilt University.
To lead effectively—whether in your career, your team, or your business—you must first lead yourself. This engaging keynote and workshop will explore how investing in your own well-being is essential to long-term success and sustaining women in the CPA profession. We’ll dive into strategies for avoiding burnout, fostering work-life integration, and building resilience in high-demand roles. Through real-world insights, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose and actionable steps to prioritize your well-being while excelling as an influential leader.
General Session
- Break
Breakout Session
- Concurrent Session A01 | Beyond Retirement: Investing in Your Dreams and Financial Goals
Eden Baca, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (Bellevue)Eden Baca
Eden Baca is an associate wealth advisor within CLA’s Western Washington and Oregon Private Client Service (PCS) team. Her career with CLA started in 2022 serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients by providing income, gift, estate, and trust tax compliance and planning services. Eden continues to serve these clients through wealth and investment management, estate planning, and tax efficient strategizing.
Abby Butz
Abby is a Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC. She provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. Abby is passionate about building relationships with her clients in order to align their goals with an appropriate long-term investment strategy.
Financial planning isn’t just about retirement—it’s about creating the freedom to pursue the life you want, on your terms. Whether you dream of taking a sabbatical, traveling the world, funding a passion project, or giving back through a named scholarship, financial independence is the key to unlocking those opportunities. Let’s go beyond traditional financial planning and explore wealth-building strategies, market trends, and smart investing approaches that provide flexibility at any stage of life. Learn how to design a financial plan that supports your ambitions, balances security with opportunity, and empowers you to invest in the experiences and causes that matter most. Whether you’re early in your career, mid-way through, or considering a transition, you will learn actionable insights to help you turn financial stability into the ultimate asset: choice.
- Concurrent Session A02 | AI Application for Professionals: Harnessing Generative AI in Tax
Chad DaltonChad Dalton
Chad is a Managing Director of Tax Technology at KPMG Ignition of the U.S. member firm (KPMG LLP), with 15 years of experience as an operations and technology executive. Chad has valuable experience working in tax technology, tax transformation, venture capital and venture backed startups. Chad has extensive experience building and leading teams that provide digital transformation and technology solutions for the accounting and healthcare industries. In his work, Chad uses data driven startup methodologies to identify inefficiencies, build disruptive technologies and create new business products. Prior to his role at KPMG LLP, Chad led operations and product for 3 startups with successful exits totaling over 500 MM in returns. Chad Joined KPMG LLP in 2018 through the Bookly.co acquisition and subsequently joined the KPMG Ignition team of the U.S. firm in 2019 to help support KPMG Mexico and other KPMG LATAM member firms on technology and innovation.
Taylor Veranth
Taylor is a Manager at KPMG Ignition with experience in utilizing AI and automation to transform and automate processes within the indirect tax function. Taylor’s focus around Generative AI in Tax has allowed for her to provide recommendations and improvements around clients’ broader data strategy, with a specific focus on leveraging Generative AI to enhance efficiencies and insights using tax data.
Taylor specializes in working with large clients and complex indirect tax functions, specifically in Technology, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Oil & Gas, and Utilities
Unlock the power of Generative AI to elevate your tax function. Learn how AI can streamline your data strategy, sharpen insights, and transform tax analysis. Explore how integrating GenAI into your organization can drive innovation, strengthen team collaboration, and position you to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Embrace the tools that will help you lead with confidence and stay ahead in the evolving world of tax.
General Session
- Break
General Session
- Unlock the Power of Your Body's Intelligence
Lamiaa Daif
Lamiaa Daif
Lamiaa is the Worldwide Growth Strategy Leader for Mac and iPad at Apple, an Executive and Business coach, and an award-winning keynote speaker. She created the Inside-Out Model® to help organizations and individuals achieve transformations starting from within. She serves as Treasurer and Board Member for Resonate Workshops, empowering women and girls in Africa. With over a decade as a Director at Europe’s largest Private Equity Fund, Lamiaa now supports mission-driven founders as an angel investor and advisor. A Stanford GSB alumna and Robert Joss Scholar, she is also a TEDx speaker and frequent guest at global conferences on leadership, women empowerment and innovation. In 2024, Lamiaa was named to Morocco’s 40 Under 40 list, the Arab America Foundation’s 40 Under 40 list, and received the Speaker of the year 2024 award by Women in Tech Network.
What happens when external success no longer aligns with your inner truth? Lamiaa Daif, former Private Equity Director turned Apple strategy leader and TEDx speaker, faced this challenge when an autoimmune disease forced her to rethink her approach to success. During this high-impact session, you’ll discover why high achievers often feel unfulfilled despite outward success, how to tap into your body’s intelligence for clearer, more aligned decisions, and how to create a powerful framework for navigating change with confidence and ease. Leave with actionable tools to decode stress, recognize triggers, and align your decisions with your deeper values, creating sustainable success that feels energizing and truly fulfilling.
General Session
- Lunch Break
General Session
- Maximizing Leadership Impact: Leveraging Strengths for Success
Angela Oakley, Clark Nuber PSAngela Oakley
Angela Oakley is a Talent Advisor Director at Clark Nuber PS. She is a Gallup-Certified StrengthsFinder coach, with over 20 years in organizational development, training, performance management, and coaching expertise.
Emerging and experienced leaders: find out how to harness your unique talents for professional growth and firm success during this dynamic 75-minutes session. In today’s rapidly evolving workforce, leadership is shifting from a traditional model to a more strengths-based, inclusive, and adaptable approach. This session will begin with an insightful presentation on the four domains of leadership—Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking—providing real-world examples of how leaders excel in each domain and offering practical steps to help you develop your own leadership style. Then, enjoy an engaging panel discussion with industry leaders who have successfully applied the CliftonStrengths framework to navigate challenges, advance their careers, and drive firm success. Panelists will share best practices, offer actionable advice, and provide valuable insights into applying strengths-based leadership in various professional scenarios. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills, improve retention strategies within your firm, or unlock your full potential, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to thrive in today’s accounting landscape.
General Session
- Break
General Session
- Empowerment in Action and Words
Kymberly Messersmith, KPMG
Join us for an inspiring session on empowerment—not as something granted, but as something achieved through intentional actions and words. Our speaker will break down the concept of empowerment into two key categories: empowerment through action and empowerment through words, providing practical insights on how to create meaningful change. Together, let’s step beyond limitations, uplift others, and shape the future we envision. The power to transform is within us—let’s unlock it.
General Session
- Break
General Session
- The Third Spaces Project: Cultivating Connection and Community
Renee YaseenRenee Yaseen
Renee Yaseen is a former Washington Post writer and creator of The Third SPaces Project. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2022 with a BA in economics. In college, she founded her first tech startup while at home in Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, she worked as a senior research associate at the University of Notre Dame’s Building Inclusive Growth Lab, focusing on global poverty and development research.
In a world where loneliness is on the rise and workplace interactions often feel transactional, how can leaders foster genuine connection and belonging? Renee Yaseen, former Washington Post writer and creator of the Third Spaces Project, has spent time exploring this question to uncover the magic of third places: those vital gathering spots beyond home and work where relationships thrive, ideas flourish, and community is built. Look forward to her insights into why third places matter, how they can foster leadership and innovation, and what steps you can take to create them in your life.
General Session
- Break
General Session
- Leading from Within: Confidence, Connection and The Power of Self Leadership
Jen Mueller, Talk Sporty To MeJen Mueller
Jen Mueller pursued a career in sports broadcasting after repeated comments of “talks too much” from teachers and family members.
A 22-year sports broadcasting veteran, Jen currently serves as the Seattle Seahawks sideline radio reporter. She is also an Emmy-award winning producer and part of the Seattle Mariners and television broadcast team on ROOT Sports.
In addition to her work on the sidelines, Jen launched Talk Sporty to Me in 2009. She provides a unique twist on business communication based on her time in locker rooms and expertise in 1-on-1 conversations. Jen is the author of three books and an on-demand video series “Asking Better Questions.”
Jen graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2000 with degrees in Broadcasting Journalism and Public Policy.
Great leadership starts within, and some days that’s the biggest challenge. Your skillset and credentials are no match for the insecurities every leader encounters.
Veteran sports broadcaster Jen Mueller can help you overcome those insecurities and empower you to show up with authenticity and purpose. She’ll share insights based on 25 years in high pressure, fast-paced environments that help you shake feelings of self-doubt so you can better connect, inspire and create opportunities for others.
Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, or your own career, this session will give you actionable strategies to elevate your leadership, cultivate stronger relationships and believe in yourself.
General Session
- Adjourn
General Session
- Networking Reception
Leader(s):
Leader Bios
Abby Butz, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (Spokane)
Abby is a Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC. She provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. Abby is passionate about building relationships with her clients in order to align their goals with an appropriate long-term investment strategy.
Adelaide Ness
Adelaide Ness has been speaking to professional service firms around the world for nearly 20 years, helping them grow, strengthen their cultures, and build more client-centric organizations. As the Director of Client-Centric Advisory at Moss Adams, she leads initiatives that enhance client relationships, develop talent, and drive sustainable growth. Prior to joining Moss Adams, Adelaide served as the Chief Learning Officer of The Rainmaker Companies, a management consulting and training organization dedicated to helping professional service firms succeed. Her expertise lies in leadership, business development, and cultural transformation, equipping professionals at all levels with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an evolving marketplace. Passionate about holistic development, she is a dedicated yogi who emphasizes the importance of work-life integration in building strong firm cultures. She has developed and led women’s leadership programs at many of the Top 100 accounting firms across the country, helping to advance and retain top female talent. Adelaide is also an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University, where she teaches in the Human and Organizational Development department at Peabody College. A dynamic and engaging speaker, Adelaide brings a global perspective to her work, drawing on her experience as a bilingual and bicultural citizen of the United States and France. She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. from the American University of Paris, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Learning and Leadership in Organizations at Vanderbilt University.
Angela Oakley, Clark Nuber PS
Angela Oakley is a Talent Advisor Director at Clark Nuber PS. She is a Gallup-Certified StrengthsFinder coach, with over 20 years in organizational development, training, performance management, and coaching expertise.
Chad Dalton
Chad is a Managing Director of Tax Technology at KPMG Ignition of the U.S. member firm (KPMG LLP), with 15 years of experience as an operations and technology executive. Chad has valuable experience working in tax technology, tax transformation, venture capital and venture backed startups. Chad has extensive experience building and leading teams that provide digital transformation and technology solutions for the accounting and healthcare industries. In his work, Chad uses data driven startup methodologies to identify inefficiencies, build disruptive technologies and create new business products. Prior to his role at KPMG LLP, Chad led operations and product for 3 startups with successful exits totaling over 500 MM in returns. Chad Joined KPMG LLP in 2018 through the Bookly.co acquisition and subsequently joined the KPMG Ignition team of the U.S. firm in 2019 to help support KPMG Mexico and other KPMG LATAM member firms on technology and innovation.
Eden Baca, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (Bellevue)
Eden Baca is an associate wealth advisor within CLA’s Western Washington and Oregon Private Client Service (PCS) team. Her career with CLA started in 2022 serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients by providing income, gift, estate, and trust tax compliance and planning services. Eden continues to serve these clients through wealth and investment management, estate planning, and tax efficient strategizing.
Jen Mueller, Talk Sporty To Me
Jen Mueller pursued a career in sports broadcasting after repeated comments of “talks too much” from teachers and family members.
A 22-year sports broadcasting veteran, Jen currently serves as the Seattle Seahawks sideline radio reporter. She is also an Emmy-award winning producer and part of the Seattle Mariners and television broadcast team on ROOT Sports.
In addition to her work on the sidelines, Jen launched Talk Sporty to Me in 2009. She provides a unique twist on business communication based on her time in locker rooms and expertise in 1-on-1 conversations. Jen is the author of three books and an on-demand video series “Asking Better Questions.”
Jen graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2000 with degrees in Broadcasting Journalism and Public Policy.
Lamiaa Daif
Lamiaa is the Worldwide Growth Strategy Leader for Mac and iPad at Apple, an Executive and Business coach, and an award-winning keynote speaker. She created the Inside-Out Model® to help organizations and individuals achieve transformations starting from within. She serves as Treasurer and Board Member for Resonate Workshops, empowering women and girls in Africa. With over a decade as a Director at Europe’s largest Private Equity Fund, Lamiaa now supports mission-driven founders as an angel investor and advisor. A Stanford GSB alumna and Robert Joss Scholar, she is also a TEDx speaker and frequent guest at global conferences on leadership, women empowerment and innovation. In 2024, Lamiaa was named to Morocco’s 40 Under 40 list, the Arab America Foundation’s 40 Under 40 list, and received the Speaker of the year 2024 award by Women in Tech Network.
Renee Yaseen
Renee Yaseen is a former Washington Post writer and creator of The Third SPaces Project. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2022 with a BA in economics. In college, she founded her first tech startup while at home in Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, she worked as a senior research associate at the University of Notre Dame’s Building Inclusive Growth Lab, focusing on global poverty and development research.
Taylor Veranth
Taylor is a Manager at KPMG Ignition with experience in utilizing AI and automation to transform and automate processes within the indirect tax function. Taylor’s focus around Generative AI in Tax has allowed for her to provide recommendations and improvements around clients’ broader data strategy, with a specific focus on leveraging Generative AI to enhance efficiencies and insights using tax data.
Taylor specializes in working with large clients and complex indirect tax functions, specifically in Technology, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Oil & Gas, and Utilities
Non-Member Price $519.00
Member Price $419.00