Presented by
The 5th Annual ATHENA Leadership Conference & Awards
People, Purpose, Passion: The Power of US
SAS Campus | Cary, North Carolina
Hosted by ATHENA of the Triangle
Every year, hundreds of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers gather for one powerful day that reminds us what happens when women lead boldly, lift others, and live with purpose.
The ATHENA Leadership Conference is an annual movement focused on the ATHENA Leadership Model: Live Authentically, Foster Collaboration, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back, Act Courageously, and Celebrate.
On March 24, 2026, the SAS campus will come alive with energy, insight, and inspiration as ATHENA of the Triangle hosts its 5th Annual Leadership Conference & Awards. You’ll spend the day surrounded by women and our allies who are breaking barriers, building companies, mentoring others, and shaping the future of leadership across the Triangle and beyond.
Come ready to learn, connect, and leave transformed.
Why Attend
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Be Inspired – Hear stories from women who have turned challenges into change and vision into action.
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Grow Your Leadership – Participate in breakout sessions built around the ATHENA Leadership Model: Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back, and Celebrate.
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Expand Your Network – Meet women and allies who will become your next collaborators, mentors, and lifelong friends.
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Celebrate Greatness – Honor this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award recipients, who exemplify strength, integrity, and impact.
Event Flow
KEYNOTE
Nia Harden
Anchor, Traffic
Prior to her time at WRAL, she was at WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan, and KWTX in Waco, Texas.
Nia is a regional Edward R. Murrow Award Winner and AP Award Winner. She’s also been nominated for an Emmy.
Not only is Nia an experienced journalist, but she’s also a military wife and mother of two. Nia is from the Seattle area. She graduated from Virginia Union University. She enjoys fitness, and traveling and teaches indoor cycling.
Awards
Regional Edward R. Murrow Award Winner
AP Award Winner
PRESENTERS
SESSION I
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
SESSION II
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
SESSION III
2:30 PM – 3:20 PM
Brooke Huckabee
Sr. Director, Revenue Enablement at SAS
Brooke Huckabee is the Senior Director of Global Revenue Enablement at SAS, where she leads a global team focused on building scalable programs that empower go-to-market teams, strengthen collaboration, and fuel sustainable revenue outcomes. Her passion lies in equipping customer-facing roles with the resources, tools, and insights they need to deliver exceptional value throughout the customer journey.
Honored as one of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2021, Brooke remains committed to driving positive change and championing excellence, both within SAS as a Brand Champion and across the industry as an advocate for Women in Analytics. Beyond work, she serves as Secretary on the board of the Identity Theft Resource Center, dedicated to empowering and guiding consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. She is also on the board of directors at GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh, a center of excellence for children and teens with Down syndrome in Raleigh, NC, where she also teach monthly ballet classes.
Brooke’s leadership philosophy is shaped by her early training as a ballet dancer at the NC School of the Arts, where discipline, presence, balance, and resilience were foundational. She brings these principles into her work through her signature “Leading with Grace” framework, helping individuals and teams navigate change with clarity while stepping courageously into their next level of growth.
A storyteller at heart, Brooke blends business strategy, creativity, and emotional intelligence to inspire leaders to stay relevant, embrace continuous evolution, and lead with intentionality. She is a frequent speaker on professional growth, change leadership, and the power of curiosity, known for her ability to make complex transformation feel human, accessible, and energizing.
Session Title:
Grace in Motion: A Ballet-Inspired Framework for Professional Growth
Krupa Patel
Sr. Manager, Global Leadership Development at NetApp, Inc.
Krupa Patel is a global talent management and leadership development expert with over 15 years of experience driving organizational effectiveness and cultural transformation. Currently serving as Senior Manager of Global Leadership Development at NetApp, she designs and executes strategies that strengthen leadership capability and align with business goals. Previously, Krupa led enterprise-wide talent, change management, and leadership programs as Senior Director at Abt Global, and held key roles at Align Technology, IBM, and Red Hat, earning recognition such as a Brandon Hall Award and serving on Harvard Business Publishing’s Advisory Board. An ICF-certified coach and PHR professional, Krupa combines data-driven insights with inclusive practices to build high-performing, psychologically safe workplaces.
Session Title:
Trends, Trust, and Team Bravery
Dr. Susan Lovelle
Balanced Performance
Dr. Susan Lovelle, MD, AFMC, is a former award-winning plastic surgeon turned executive performance strategist who helps high-achieving women and their teams lead without sacrificing their well-being. After two decades in the operating room, including Level 1 trauma work in New York, Dr. Susan repeatedly witnessed the same pattern: brilliant, driven women pushing through exhaustion, ignoring symptoms, and being dismissed when they finally asked for help.
Determined to change that reality, she founded Balanced Performance, a leadership and well-being consultancy that blends neuroscience, stress physiology, behavior science, and personalized health data to strengthen leadership capacity. Using her proprietary L3 Method™ (Listen, Let Go, Live) and Balanced Boss Leadership Model™, she guides executives and organizations in creating conditions where leaders can think clearly, communicate powerfully, and perform sustainably.
Dr. Susan has worked with companies such as Cigna, Liberty Mutual, and Vintage, and has been featured on The Doctors, Lifetime TV, Good Morning Washington, and Forbes. Her approach weaves science with practicality, helping women understand the real mechanics behind fatigue, burnout, emotional overload, and decision fatigue—while showing them how to rebuild the clarity and confidence that high-pressure leadership demands.
Before entering medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons, Dr. Susan spent 14 years as a professional ballet dancer performing around the world. This rare blend of artistry, discipline, and medical expertise shapes her unique approach to performance, resilience, and executive well-being.
Today, she partners with leadership teams, ERGs, and organizations across tech, healthcare, finance, and education to build cultures where well-being and performance reinforce each other—creating leaders who thrive in every sense of the word.
Short Intro
Please welcome Dr. Susan Lovelle, an award-winning plastic surgeon turned executive performance strategist and founder of Balanced Performance. She blends neuroscience, stress physiology, and practical leadership tools to help high-achieving women lead with clarity, confidence, and sustainable energy.
Featured on The Doctors, Lifetime TV, Good Morning Washington, and Forbes, Dr. Susan brings a fresh, science-backed perspective to the modern leadership conversation. Today, she’s here to show us why you can’t outperform an overloaded nervous system—and how to train yours to lead with power and ease.
Session Title:
You Can’t Outperform an Overloaded Nervous System
Megan Oteri
Founder & CEO Brick Scholars
Megan Oteri, the visionary founder of Brick Scholars, has dedicated over 15 years to transforming education through her innovative approach to STEM learning. As a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Megan spearheads transformative workshops and events for businesses, schools, and organizations. With a passion for fostering collaboration and creativity, Megan’s mobile innovation lab, Brick Scholars, provides tailor-made programs to elevate teams and promote innovation.
With a background in Special and Elementary Education, Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College. Complementing her teaching expertise, she earned a Master’s degree in English, specializing in Creative Writing, from East Carolina University. Megan’s educational journey extends beyond traditional classrooms; she is a certified North Carolina Educator in Special Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), and Language Arts (6-9).
Megan serves as the ambassador for the Agency for Cultural Diplomacy’s “Let’s Brick” platform in Vienna, Austria. Through her work, she connects creativity, communication, and cultural diplomacy. Megan has successfully facilitated programs in the United States that leverage creativity as a powerful means of communication.
Session Title:
Build Your Leadership Wonder Twin: Activating Superpowers in the Workforce
Lauren Ansley
Founder & CEO, Ansley Corporate Entertainment
Lauren Ansley is passionate about connecting ideas and audiences, helping individuals and organizations strengthen their communication, leadership, and professional skills.
Lauren is the founder of Ansley Corporate Entertainment, a corporate entertainment company specializing in audience engagement, connection, humor, and presentation skills development. Her professional career spans roles in marketing and sales, event
management, and workforce development across a range of industries.
She is committed to making training fun, interactive and memorable. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Winthrop University and has called Charlotte home for more than 15 years.
Session Title:
Show Up. Speak Up. Follow Up: Creating Real Connection in Conferences & Work.
Michelle Holmes
Flourish & Thriving Solutions
Michelle Holmes is a transformative operational leader, founder, and executive strategist who helps founders and leaders turn vision into execution. With over 20 years of experience in customer experience, operations, and executive leadership, including a decade at the executive table, Michelle is known for her ability to bring clarity to complexity and alignment to growing organizations.
As the Founder and CEO of Flourish & Thriving Solutions, Michelle partners with founders and leadership teams to strengthen operations, elevate collaboration, and build systems that support both people and performance. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, operations, and customer experience, ensuring organizations scale without sacrificing culture or customer trust.
Michelle leads with a servant-leadership mindset and a strong belief that sustainable growth happens when leaders live authentically, build meaningful relationships, foster collaboration, and advocate fiercely for their people and customers. She is passionate about helping leaders stop building alone and start building what lasts.
Session Title:
From Vision to Velocity: Leadership That Builds What Lasts
Dr. Maria Rosa Rangel
President of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals
Dr. MariaRosa Rangel is a distinguished education leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education and family and community engagement. As Director of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program at Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS), she leads initiatives that strengthen school-family partnerships and support student success.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Bilingual/Bicultural and Elementary Education from Northeastern University and both a master’s and doctorate in School Administration and Education from NC State University. Over the course of her career, Dr. Rangel has served as an elementary teacher, bilingual teacher, ESL and Spanish teacher, GED instructor, assistant principal, and district-level leader in multilingual education and Latino outreach.
In her current role at WCPSS, Dr. Rangel provides coaching and professional development on effective strategies for engaging families. She oversees the Family Academy Program, which offers free multilingual workshops to caregivers, and directs the Saturday Family Academy School, which provides ESL classes, reading tutoring for elementary students focused on the Science of Reading, and parent workshops to support learning at home.
Dr. Rangel also serves as a part-time adjunct professor at Peace University and is a sought-after speaker on effective teaching and family engagement practices. Beyond her district work, she holds leadership positions in several organizations, including the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals, Wake PTA Council, NC Education Corps, and NCREADS. From 2017 to 2023, she chaired the NC Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.
Her contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards, including the Ohtli Award, Latino Diamante Award, Hispanic Woman of the Year, and the LIFT Innovator Award. In 2023, she was also nominated by the Lieutenant Governor for her leadership in expanding the Family Academy Program to serve families in eight languages.
Dr. Rangel remains dedicated to advancing programs and strategies that bring schools, families, and communities together to ensure student success across North Carolina.
Session Title:
The Power of Us: Giving Back and Advocating Fiercely for Our Communities
Angela Martin
Advisory UX Designer at Lenovo, Co-Founder of Design Storming
Angela Martin is an Advisory User Experience Designer and certified Humane
Technologist at Lenovo, where she leads enterprise software, innovation workstreams, and inclusive product design impacting millions of users worldwide. She chairs Lenovo’s ABLE disability advocacy ERG, advancing accessible design, disability inclusion, and culture change with strong executive sponsorship. Angela is the co-founder of Design Storming, a UX education and design strategy consultancy focused on mentoring emerging creatives, and the author of This Is Not A Dream: From Daydream to Day Job. Recognized as a Future CX Leader by Reuters and a recipient of multiple awards for professional and volunteer leadership, she is a mentor, speaker, and writer dedicated to advancing inclusive, ethical technology.
Session Title:
When Empathy Isn’t Enough: Turning Values Into Actionable Leadership
J.Dwayne Garnett
Value-Based Educator and Love Advocate, Love Is A Parable
Dwayne Garnett is a nationally sought Reflective Thinking Facilitator, speaker, and Love Advocate whose work bridges leadership, values, and human connection. As Founder and CEO of Love Is A Parable, he brings more than twenty years of experience guiding organizations and communities through complexity using value based education and intentional dialogue.
Garnett holds degrees in Therapeutic Recreation and Health Services Administration and has been recognized with the Parrish “Ham” Womble Distinguished Service Award, the Accelerating Men Golden Man of the Year honor, and finalist recognition for the ATHENA of the Triangle Male Champion Award. His work has reached audiences at Wake County Health and Human Services, the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Series, Benedict College, Voorhees University, and beyond, with features in Main & Broad Magazine and PBS North Carolina’s Black Issues Forum.
A best selling author, Garnett has written four books: Random Thoughts, Ampersands and Commas: Love Is Communicating, Ephpahate: Love Is A Parable Reflection Manual, and Can I Just Write. His latest release, Can I Just Write, achieved Top 100 rankings across all formats, including audiobook, affirming the resonance of his voice and message. The collection explores misandry, abuse, fatherhood, grief, healing, and the unspoken realities many men carry.
Known for delivering the right words at the right time, Garnett challenges leaders to align values with action across culture, communication, and decision making. His speaking and training focus includes value based leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizational culture, career readiness, conflict navigation, and strategic communication.
Session Title:
Synergic Leadership: An Interconnected and Transformative Touch
Erica Rooney
CEO & Founder – HER Collective
Erica Anderson Rooney is a C-suite executive, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and unapologetic ceiling-shatterer. With over 15 years of HR and leadership experience—including her role as Chief People Officer—Erica has built her career helping organizations transform cultures and helping women claim their rightful seat at the table.
She’s the founder of HER Collective, a thriving digital community designed to help women advance their careers, amplify their voices, and unlock their full potential—without sacrificing authenticity or well-being. Erica also hosts the top-rated Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors podcast and is the author of the bestselling book Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors: Shattering Limiting Beliefs and Toxic Behaviors to Uncover Infinite Possibilities. Her upcoming book, The AI Gap: Women, AI, and the Next Great Leap Forward, is highly anticipated and expected in May of 2026.
Her work has been featured in Forbes, SUCCESS Magazine, and CBS News, and she’s taken the stage at SXSW, SHRM, and CHIEF. Recognized with multiple leadership awards, Erica is known for her dynamic storytelling, tactical takeaways, and ability to ignite change.
Whether in the boardroom, on stage, or behind the mic, Erica is on a mission to empower women everywhere to rise above the sticky floors, break through the glass ceiling, and lead with limitless possibility.
Session Title:
The AI Gap: Women, AI and the Next Great Leap Forward
Michelle Reister
Founder, CEO, Confidence GTM
Fractional CMO | GTM Strategist | ATHENA Board Member & Certified Leadership Facilitator
Michele Reister is a seasoned Fractional CMO and go-to-market advisor with more than 25 years of experience leading marketing transformation for high-growth, high-tech organizations—including B2B SaaS companies in the AI, cybersecurity, data, and health tech sectors. As the Founder & CEO of Confidence GTM, Michele helps emerging and scaling companies build clear, efficient, and human-centered go-to-market engines that accelerate revenue and strengthen customer connection.
She is a GTM Partners consultant, certified on the GTM Operating SystemTM, a graduate of the CMOx Accelerator, and a trusted advisor known for bringing clarity, alignment, and confidence to fast-moving executive teams.
Michele serves on the Board of Directors for ATHENA International and is a Certified ATHENA Leadership Institute Facilitator, where she teaches and amplifies the eight core ATHENA leadership principles. Her work sits at the intersection of AI innovation and human leadership, helping leaders embrace technological change without losing the irreplaceable human traits—empathy, authenticity, courage, and connection—that define extraordinary leadership.
Michele holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Apex, North Carolina, with her two teenagers and their goldendoodle.
Session Title:
The Human Edge: Skills AI Will Never Replace in Leaders
Donald Thompson
Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options
Donald Thompson is an award-winning CEO and multi-exit entrepreneur, honored as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®, named to Forbes Next 1000, and a 3x Inc. 5000 Chief Executive.
Currently the Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options, Thompson is a sought-after speaker on innovation, culture and growth.
His books include Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth; and The Employee Engagement Handbook, coming in January 2026.
He hosts the globally recognized podcast “High Octane Leadership,” and has published widely on leadership and the executive mindset.
Session Title:
Leading with Courage in an Era of Constant Change
KEYNOTE
Nia Harden
Anchor, Traffic
Prior to her time at WRAL, she was at WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan, and KWTX in Waco, Texas.
Nia is a regional Edward R. Murrow Award Winner and AP Award Winner. She’s also been nominated for an Emmy.
Not only is Nia an experienced journalist, but she’s also a military wife and mother of two. Nia is from the Seattle area. She graduated from Virginia Union University. She enjoys fitness, and traveling and teaches indoor cycling.
Awards
Regional Edward R. Murrow Award Winner
AP Award Winner
PRESENTERS
SESSION I
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Brooke Huckabee
Sr. Director, Revenue Enablement at SAS
Brooke Huckabee is the Senior Director of Global Revenue Enablement at SAS, where she leads a global team focused on building scalable programs that empower go-to-market teams, strengthen collaboration, and fuel sustainable revenue outcomes. Her passion lies in equipping customer-facing roles with the resources, tools, and insights they need to deliver exceptional value throughout the customer journey.
Honored as one of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2021, Brooke remains committed to driving positive change and championing excellence, both within SAS as a Brand Champion and across the industry as an advocate for Women in Analytics. Beyond work, she serves as Secretary on the board of the Identity Theft Resource Center, dedicated to empowering and guiding consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. She is also on the board of directors at GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh, a center of excellence for children and teens with Down syndrome in Raleigh, NC, where she also teach monthly ballet classes.
Brooke’s leadership philosophy is shaped by her early training as a ballet dancer at the NC School of the Arts, where discipline, presence, balance, and resilience were foundational. She brings these principles into her work through her signature “Leading with Grace” framework, helping individuals and teams navigate change with clarity while stepping courageously into their next level of growth.
A storyteller at heart, Brooke blends business strategy, creativity, and emotional intelligence to inspire leaders to stay relevant, embrace continuous evolution, and lead with intentionality. She is a frequent speaker on professional growth, change leadership, and the power of curiosity, known for her ability to make complex transformation feel human, accessible, and energizing.
Session Title:
Grace in Motion: A Ballet-Inspired Framework for Professional Growth
Megan Oteri
Founder & CEO Brick Scholars
Megan Oteri, the visionary founder of Brick Scholars, has dedicated over 15 years to transforming education through her innovative approach to STEM learning. As a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Megan spearheads transformative workshops and events for businesses, schools, and organizations. With a passion for fostering collaboration and creativity, Megan’s mobile innovation lab, Brick Scholars, provides tailor-made programs to elevate teams and promote innovation.
With a background in Special and Elementary Education, Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College. Complementing her teaching expertise, she earned a Master’s degree in English, specializing in Creative Writing, from East Carolina University. Megan’s educational journey extends beyond traditional classrooms; she is a certified North Carolina Educator in Special Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), and Language Arts (6-9).
Megan serves as the ambassador for the Agency for Cultural Diplomacy’s “Let’s Brick” platform in Vienna, Austria. Through her work, she connects creativity, communication, and cultural diplomacy. Megan has successfully facilitated programs in the United States that leverage creativity as a powerful means of communication.
Session Title:
Build Your Leadership Wonder Twin: Activating Superpowers in the Workforce
Dr. Maria Rosa Rangel
President of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals
Dr. MariaRosa Rangel is a distinguished education leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education and family and community engagement. As Director of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program at Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS), she leads initiatives that strengthen school-family partnerships and support student success.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Bilingual/Bicultural and Elementary Education from Northeastern University and both a master’s and doctorate in School Administration and Education from NC State University. Over the course of her career, Dr. Rangel has served as an elementary teacher, bilingual teacher, ESL and Spanish teacher, GED instructor, assistant principal, and district-level leader in multilingual education and Latino outreach.
In her current role at WCPSS, Dr. Rangel provides coaching and professional development on effective strategies for engaging families. She oversees the Family Academy Program, which offers free multilingual workshops to caregivers, and directs the Saturday Family Academy School, which provides ESL classes, reading tutoring for elementary students focused on the Science of Reading, and parent workshops to support learning at home.
Dr. Rangel also serves as a part-time adjunct professor at Peace University and is a sought-after speaker on effective teaching and family engagement practices. Beyond her district work, she holds leadership positions in several organizations, including the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals, Wake PTA Council, NC Education Corps, and NCREADS. From 2017 to 2023, she chaired the NC Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.
Her contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards, including the Ohtli Award, Latino Diamante Award, Hispanic Woman of the Year, and the LIFT Innovator Award. In 2023, she was also nominated by the Lieutenant Governor for her leadership in expanding the Family Academy Program to serve families in eight languages.
Dr. Rangel remains dedicated to advancing programs and strategies that bring schools, families, and communities together to ensure student success across North Carolina.
Session Title:
The Power of Us: Giving Back and Advocating Fiercely for Our Communities
Erica Rooney
CEO & Founder – HER Collective
Erica Anderson Rooney is a C-suite executive, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and unapologetic ceiling-shatterer. With over 15 years of HR and leadership experience—including her role as Chief People Officer—Erica has built her career helping organizations transform cultures and helping women claim their rightful seat at the table.
She’s the founder of HER Collective, a thriving digital community designed to help women advance their careers, amplify their voices, and unlock their full potential—without sacrificing authenticity or well-being. Erica also hosts the top-rated Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors podcast and is the author of the bestselling book Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors: Shattering Limiting Beliefs and Toxic Behaviors to Uncover Infinite Possibilities. Her upcoming book, The AI Gap: Women, AI, and the Next Great Leap Forward, is highly anticipated and expected in May of 2026.
Her work has been featured in Forbes, SUCCESS Magazine, and CBS News, and she’s taken the stage at SXSW, SHRM, and CHIEF. Recognized with multiple leadership awards, Erica is known for her dynamic storytelling, tactical takeaways, and ability to ignite change.
Whether in the boardroom, on stage, or behind the mic, Erica is on a mission to empower women everywhere to rise above the sticky floors, break through the glass ceiling, and lead with limitless possibility.
Session Title:
The AI Gap: Women, AI and the Next Great Leap Forward
SESSION II
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Krupa Patel
Sr. Manager, Global Leadership Development at NetApp, Inc.
Session Title:
Trends, Trust, and Team Bravery
Lauren Ansley
Founder & CEO, Ansley Corporate Entertainment
Lauren Ansley is passionate about connecting ideas and audiences, helping individuals and organizations strengthen their communication, leadership, and professional skills.
Lauren is the founder of Ansley Corporate Entertainment, a corporate entertainment company specializing in audience engagement, connection, humor, and presentation skills development. Her professional career spans roles in marketing and sales, event
management, and workforce development across a range of industries.
She is committed to making training fun, interactive and memorable. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Winthrop University and has called Charlotte home for more than 15 years.
Session Title:
Show Up. Speak Up. Follow Up: Creating Real Connection in Conferences & Work.
Angela Martin
Advisory UX Designer at Lenovo, Co-Founder of Design Storming
Angela Martin is an Advisory User Experience Designer and certified Humane
Technologist at Lenovo, where she leads enterprise software, innovation workstreams, and inclusive product design impacting millions of users worldwide. She chairs Lenovo’s ABLE disability advocacy ERG, advancing accessible design, disability inclusion, and culture change with strong executive sponsorship. Angela is the co-founder of Design Storming, a UX education and design strategy consultancy focused on mentoring emerging creatives, and the author of This Is Not A Dream: From Daydream to Day Job. Recognized as a Future CX Leader by Reuters and a recipient of multiple awards for professional and volunteer leadership, she is a mentor, speaker, and writer dedicated to advancing inclusive, ethical technology.
Session Title:
When Empathy Isn’t Enough: Turning Values Into Actionable Leadership
Michelle Reister
Founder, CEO, Confidence GTM
Fractional CMO | GTM Strategist | ATHENA Board Member & Certified Leadership Facilitator
Michele Reister is a seasoned Fractional CMO and go-to-market advisor with more than 25 years of experience leading marketing transformation for high-growth, high-tech organizations—including B2B SaaS companies in the AI, cybersecurity, data, and health tech sectors. As the Founder & CEO of Confidence GTM, Michele helps emerging and scaling companies build clear, efficient, and human-centered go-to-market engines that accelerate revenue and strengthen customer connection.
She is a GTM Partners consultant, certified on the GTM Operating SystemTM, a graduate of the CMOx Accelerator, and a trusted advisor known for bringing clarity, alignment, and confidence to fast-moving executive teams.
Michele serves on the Board of Directors for ATHENA International and is a Certified ATHENA Leadership Institute Facilitator, where she teaches and amplifies the eight core ATHENA leadership principles. Her work sits at the intersection of AI innovation and human leadership, helping leaders embrace technological change without losing the irreplaceable human traits—empathy, authenticity, courage, and connection—that define extraordinary leadership.
Michele holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Apex, North Carolina, with her two teenagers and their goldendoodle.
Session Title:
The Human Edge: Skills AI Will Never Replace in Leaders
SESSION III
2:30 AM – 3:20 AM
Dr. Susan Lovelle
Balanced Performance
Dr. Susan Lovelle, MD, AFMC, is a former award-winning plastic surgeon turned executive performance strategist who helps high-achieving women and their teams lead without sacrificing their well-being. After two decades in the operating room, including Level 1 trauma work in New York, Dr. Susan repeatedly witnessed the same pattern: brilliant, driven women pushing through exhaustion, ignoring symptoms, and being dismissed when they finally asked for help.
Determined to change that reality, she founded Balanced Performance, a leadership and well-being consultancy that blends neuroscience, stress physiology, behavior science, and personalized health data to strengthen leadership capacity. Using her proprietary L3 Method™ (Listen, Let Go, Live) and Balanced Boss Leadership Model™, she guides executives and organizations in creating conditions where leaders can think clearly, communicate powerfully, and perform sustainably.
Dr. Susan has worked with companies such as Cigna, Liberty Mutual, and Vintage, and has been featured on The Doctors, Lifetime TV, Good Morning Washington, and Forbes. Her approach weaves science with practicality, helping women understand the real mechanics behind fatigue, burnout, emotional overload, and decision fatigue—while showing them how to rebuild the clarity and confidence that high-pressure leadership demands.
Before entering medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons, Dr. Susan spent 14 years as a professional ballet dancer performing around the world. This rare blend of artistry, discipline, and medical expertise shapes her unique approach to performance, resilience, and executive well-being.
Today, she partners with leadership teams, ERGs, and organizations across tech, healthcare, finance, and education to build cultures where well-being and performance reinforce each other—creating leaders who thrive in every sense of the word.
Short Intro
Please welcome Dr. Susan Lovelle, an award-winning plastic surgeon turned executive performance strategist and founder of Balanced Performance. She blends neuroscience, stress physiology, and practical leadership tools to help high-achieving women lead with clarity, confidence, and sustainable energy.
Featured on The Doctors, Lifetime TV, Good Morning Washington, and Forbes, Dr. Susan brings a fresh, science-backed perspective to the modern leadership conversation. Today, she’s here to show us why you can’t outperform an overloaded nervous system—and how to train yours to lead with power and ease.
Session Title:
You Can’t Outperform an Overloaded Nervous System
Michelle Homes
Flourish & Thriving Solutions
Michelle Holmes is a transformative operational leader, founder, and executive strategist who helps founders and leaders turn vision into execution. With over 20 years of experience in customer experience, operations, and executive leadership, including a decade at the executive table, Michelle is known for her ability to bring clarity to complexity and alignment to growing organizations.
As the Founder and CEO of Flourish & Thriving Solutions, Michelle partners with founders and leadership teams to strengthen operations, elevate collaboration, and build systems that support both people and performance. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, operations, and customer experience, ensuring organizations scale without sacrificing culture or customer trust.
Michelle leads with a servant-leadership mindset and a strong belief that sustainable growth happens when leaders live authentically, build meaningful relationships, foster collaboration, and advocate fiercely for their people and customers. She is passionate about helping leaders stop building alone and start building what lasts.
Session Title:
From Vision to Velocity: Leadership That Builds What Lasts
J.Dwayne Garnett
Value-Based Educator and Love Advocate, Love Is A Parable
Dwayne Garnett is a nationally sought Reflective Thinking Facilitator, speaker, and Love Advocate whose work bridges leadership, values, and human connection. As Founder and CEO of Love Is A Parable, he brings more than twenty years of experience guiding organizations and communities through complexity using value based education and intentional dialogue.
Garnett holds degrees in Therapeutic Recreation and Health Services Administration and has been recognized with the Parrish “Ham” Womble Distinguished Service Award, the Accelerating Men Golden Man of the Year honor, and finalist recognition for the ATHENA of the Triangle Male Champion Award. His work has reached audiences at Wake County Health and Human Services, the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Series, Benedict College, Voorhees University, and beyond, with features in Main & Broad Magazine and PBS North Carolina’s Black Issues Forum.
A best selling author, Garnett has written four books: Random Thoughts, Ampersands and Commas: Love Is Communicating, Ephpahate: Love Is A Parable Reflection Manual, and Can I Just Write. His latest release, Can I Just Write, achieved Top 100 rankings across all formats, including audiobook, affirming the resonance of his voice and message. The collection explores misandry, abuse, fatherhood, grief, healing, and the unspoken realities many men carry.
Known for delivering the right words at the right time, Garnett challenges leaders to align values with action across culture, communication, and decision making. His speaking and training focus includes value based leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizational culture, career readiness, conflict navigation, and strategic communication.
Session Title:
Synergic Leadership: An Interconnected and Transformative Touch
Donald Thompson
Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options
Donald Thompson is an award-winning CEO and multi-exit entrepreneur, honored as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®, named to Forbes Next 1000, and a 3x Inc. 5000 Chief Executive.
Currently the Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options, Thompson is a sought-after speaker on innovation, culture and growth.
His books include Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth; and The Employee Engagement Handbook, coming in January 2026.
He hosts the globally recognized podcast “High Octane Leadership,” and has published widely on leadership and the executive mindset.
Session Title:
Leading with Courage in an Era of Constant Change
AWARDS FINALISTS
ATHENA of the Triangle is proud to announce the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award finalists, an inspiring group of local women who exemplify professional excellence, community leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing women in leadership.
These finalists demonstrated outstanding achievement in their field, meaningful service to the community, and a proven dedication to actively supporting women in their pursuit of professional growth and leadership development.
The 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award winners will be announced live during a special session at the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Conference, where we will gather to celebrate leadership, impact, and the power of collective progress.
This moment is a cornerstone of the conference and an opportunity to honor individuals whose leadership creates lasting change across our community.
2026 ATHENA Leadership Award Finalists
Reema Bhattacharya
Analytical Solutions Manager at UNC Health
As an Analytical Solution Manager (ASM) for Analytics Community & Training, I am passionate about empowering teams through data literacy, innovative learning, and strategic solutions that meet the dynamic needs of today’s workforce. With 15 years of experience in educational technology and a solid track record in coordinating complex projects, I bring a results-driven approach to leading flagship support initiatives and delivering forward-thinking solutions for The Analytics Community.
Throughout my career, I have collaborated closely with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to create engaging, high-impact programs that elevate data and analytics understanding across organizations. At UNC Health, I work cross-functionally to design engaging content and host events that foster continuous development in analytics, enabling employees to thrive in a data-centric world. This role allows me to develop my own brand and network as a connector and influencer, while staying at the forefront of educational technology and data innovation.
I’m passionate about weaving networks of ideas, talents, and perspectives—bringing people together to spark collaboration, innovation, and meaningful connections. Whether it’s bridging gaps between data and decision-making or fostering communities of shared knowledge, I thrive on creating synergy that amplifies collective success.
I’m always interested in connecting with other professionals who share a commitment to data-driven decision-making, continuous learning, and impactful educational solutions.
Disclaimer: The comments and viewpoints expressed on my LinkedIn posts reflect my own opinions and perspectives and are not in any way sponsored, endorsed, or authorized by UNC Health.
Dr. Kimberly Strickland, PMP
Director, PMO | US Professional Services
A North Carolina-based PMO Director, leading an elite team of managers and project managers supporting U.S. government, education, and commercial healthcare clients. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, an MBA, and a Master of Science in Project Management, and is PMP-certified. With experience managing multimillion-dollar projects, Kim specializes in aligning strategic goals with business needs and building strong stakeholder partnerships. She’s also adjunct faculty at a private university, where she teaches project management courses and mentors the next generation of professionals. Passionate about improving project delivery and organizational efficiency, Kim contributes to leadership and innovation as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Board. She is a trusted advisor, mentor, and community advocate who also volunteers with the Project Management Institute and is scheduled to present at the 2025 PMI Global Summit.
Dr. Mary Hemphill
CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader
Dr. Mary Hemphill is a leadership expert, development coach, K-16 educator, administrator, author, and motivational speaker. With an extensive 20-year career spanning roles as a teacher, administrator, state director, and adjunct professor, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. Holding a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, Mary has directly influenced and coached educational and corporate leaders worldwide, focusing on empowered wellness, innovative strategy, and leadership development.
As the proud CEO and Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, Mary leads an organization dedicated to helping individuals unleash their leadership potential, enabling them to better serve their communities, companies, and personal careers through coaching, consulting, workshops, and keynotes tailored for corporate and educational leaders and organizations.
Throughout her tenure as North Carolina’s first state director of Computer Science, Director of Academics, and Chief Academic Officer, Mary has been instrumental in driving strategic initiatives and programs and guiding leaders through change management. Her outstanding contributions were recognized when she was named Regional Principal of the Year for the Sandhills Region of North Carolina in 2017 and received the Model Schools Award for her transformative work in school turnaround and reform.
Mary’s expertise was further acknowledged when she was selected as a 2021 School Ambassador Fellowship panelist by the US Department of Education, adding her voice and insights to the selection process for ambassadors under the Department’s current administration.
In recognition of her impact in leadership in transforming the way leaders approach 21st-century challenges, Mary was honored as one of EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Influencers for 2023-2024 and is a 2024 EdTech Digest Finalist for Leadership as an edtech author/speaker or podcaster, standing alongside industry leaders who are making significant contributions across K-12, higher education, and workforce learning.
Most recently, Mary has been chosen as one of the new Senior Fellows at The Center for Model Schools, where she will engage as an expert and thought leader, providing invaluable counsel on leadership development and contributing to the growth of education leaders and the Center as a whole. She will deliver engaging keynote speeches, extend the Center’s outreach to the education community, and offer guidance and support in strategic planning, leadership coaching, organizational culture, equity, and policy development, aligning her expertise with the Center’s mission.
Mary is the author of ‘The One-Minute Meeting: Creating Student Stakeholders in Schools,’ a compelling resource designed to inspire school and district leaders to fully engage with and empower their students. This book serves as an invaluable asset for courses in school leadership and administration.
As a self-proclaimed edupreneur, Dr. Mary Hemphill seamlessly integrates her wealth of experience in education and entrepreneurship. Her unique fusion of these realms equips leaders across industries with innovative strategies and transformative leadership development.
Beyond her impactful work with schools, districts, and organizations nationwide, Mary also shares her expertise as a contributor to Forbes where she pins a monthly column on leadership strategy. Her pioneering efforts in leveraging technology to drive educational transformation underscore her professional presence and credibility in the edtech space. Driven by a philosophy centered on breaking through limiting beliefs to unleash one’s authentic and powerful self, she fosters transformational leadership. Mary firmly believes that nurturing young adults, learning communities, and organizations to lead the movement is paramount in creating positive global shifts.
2026 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award Finalists
Samantha Harding
Loan Officer at Success Lending and Real Estate Advisor at Exp Realty
I’m Samantha Harding – your go-to Loan Officer and Real Estate Advisor. With a solid background in financial aid, banking, and rocking the customer service scene, I’m all about making things happen. I’m not just about business; I’m a passionate advocate for community growth. You’ll often find me diving into cultural events, fueling that knowledge fire and lifting the community spirit. I’m all about connecting with diverse folks, hooking them up with the perfect resources tailored to their needs. Let’s level up together – I’m here to make things happen.
Alexandra is a Senior Automation Engineer at Merck, with almost five years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing automation. Starting as an Associate Automation Engineer with no prior automation background, she advanced over the years to become an Subject Matter Expert within Automation and now leads a team of Automation Engineers across two different areas. Her commitment to leadership extends beyond her technical role. She is heavily involved in university recruiting efforts at Merck’s Durham site, including being the Hiring Manager for Full Time University Recruit positions, allowing for her to connect with college students to build our future talent pipeline at local university. She also spearheads STEM outreach initiatives at the Durham Site, partnering with schools and community organizations to inspire over 1,000 students to explore STEM careers. Her mission and focus continues to be to reach students that may not get the opportunity to learn about STEM careers. Additionally, she leads the Culture Team for her Project, fostering an inclusive and engaging workplace environment. In addition to holding firm leadership positions throughout Merck, Alexandra still is involved in employee business resource groups, acting on boards focusing on K-12 outreach and talent and professional development. Outside of Work, Alexandra is working on her Masters in Engineering Management with a focus in Systems Controls from Johns Hopkins University, balancing professional growth with personal commitments including being a caregiver for the past 10 years to her grandmother.
Alexandra Bryant-Boose
Senior Automation Engineer at Merck
Alexandra is a Senior Automation Engineer at Merck, with almost five years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing automation. Starting as an Associate Automation Engineer with no prior automation background, she advanced over the years to become an Subject Matter Expert within Automation and now leads a team of Automation Engineers across two different areas. Her commitment to leadership extends beyond her technical role. She is heavily involved in university recruiting efforts at Merck’s Durham site, including being the Hiring Manager for Full Time University Recruit positions, allowing for her to connect with college students to build our future talent pipeline at local university. She also spearheads STEM outreach initiatives at the Durham Site, partnering with schools and community organizations to inspire over 1,000 students to explore STEM careers. Her mission and focus continues to be to reach students that may not get the opportunity to learn about STEM careers. Additionally, she leads the Culture Team for her Project, fostering an inclusive and engaging workplace environment. In addition to holding firm leadership positions throughout Merck, Alexandra still is involved in employee business resource groups, acting on boards focusing on K-12 outreach and talent and professional development. Outside of Work, Alexandra is working on her Masters in Engineering Management with a focus in Systems Controls from Johns Hopkins University, balancing professional growth with personal commitments including being a caregiver for the past 10 years to her grandmother.
2026 ATHENA Servant Leader Award Finalists
Adair Salgado
Financial Advisor at Edward Jones
Changing Lives is My “WHY”
I genuinely care about helping others and believe what I do will change the outcome of their lives. As a personal financial advisor:
- I take the time together to develop what’s most important to you and build a solid relationship of trust and integrity.
- We work time together to develop customized strategies to help you reach your personal relationship and financial goals.
- Over time as your priorities and other factors change, our partnership will continue throughout your life to help ensure you stay on track.
Since 1992 Edward Jones has been serving the needs of investors with a time-tested 3-prong philosophy:
- Diversification and Balance
- Goal-Oriented professional Strategy
Our partnership, along with Edward Jones’ investment resources, and Goal-Oriented professionals brings a breadth and depth of experience, knowledge and collaboration support unmatched in the industry. We are all working as a team to support you and what’s in your best interest.
Would You Like Some Help?
I serve clients of all ages and stages, and all walks of life:
- Worked 2009 Nationwide as a marketing representative
- Life Event Support, or in-Transition
- Multi-Generational Support
- Divorced, Blended Families, Widowed
- Minority children they reach
- LGBTQIA-plus communities
- Entrepreneurs
- Business Owners
Let’s have a conversation!
- Anything ‘Retirement’
- Debt Management, Savings (Insurance), Budgeting
- Protecting Your Assets, Budgeting
- Estate and Legacy Considerations
- Tax-Advantaged Saving Strategies
- Education Considerations
- Healthcare Relevant to you
- Other Topics to You
There is no cost to chat or meet, and the value of a few minutes may be life-changing to you or someone you care about!
Personal Background:
- Born and raised in California, but lived in Cary, NC, since
- Graduated from UC Davis with a degree in electrical engineering
- Worked as project manager and in marketing
- Since 2009, served/educated Medicare Classical beneficiaries Dancer as a trustworthy advocate for seniors and their
- 2nd greatest Karate Black Belt, three Japanese children Dancer (Professional), four Eagle Scouts I’m in the family
I’m a daily gym rat, sports enthusiast and music lover, and I enjoy spending time with friends!
Crystal Hamm
Founder of Go 2 Girls
Crystal, Founder and President of Go 2 Girls.Prior to launching Go 2 Girls, Crystal spent 10 years in banking and 8 years assisting her husband manage Hissteel Manufacturing Company.As a busy working wife and mother, she truly understands what it is like to try and do it all. Crystal started Go 2 Girls in 2015 to follow her passion –tomake a positive difference in the lives of others!
In just under three years, Go 2 Girls has positioned themselves to be one of the fastest growing residential cleaning companies in Wake County. They attribute the extraordinary growth to screening and training the best staff and treating them like VIP’s. In doing so, the employees that work for Go 2 Girls are thrilled to wake up every day and serve their clients.
Go 2 Girls offers services from a one-time clean to recurring cleanings. They even do in-home laundry.
Crystal’s mission is to make a positive difference for her employees and believesthis leads to exceptional service for her clients and community. Go 2 Girls serves the community by providing free cleanings to women with cancer through non-profit Cleaning For a Reason and also works with local non-profit, The Helene Foundation.
VENDORS
The Heart Behind It All
Founded in 2014, ATHENA of the Triangle is a licensee of programs developed by ATHENA International, a global non-profit organization founded in 1982 on the deeply held belief that women can achieve a worldwide balance of leadership when they are recognized, cultivated, and encouraged as leaders. Over the past decade, ATHENA of the Triangle has connected and empowered women across industries through mentorship, leadership development, and authentic community.
This year’s conference marks five years of growth, connection, and unstoppable momentum and you’re invited to be part of it.
Who Should Attend
Women professionals, entrepreneurs, allies, and advocates who believe in leadership with heart. Whether you’re climbing the ladder, building your own company, or mentoring the next generation, this is your space to refuel and rise.
SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
Seats are limited, and this event WILL sell out. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this empowering experience.
Become an ATHENA Leadership Conference Sponsor
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