“Vision of the Modern Renaissance Woman” is the theme of Withit’s annual conference to be held August 12 – 14 in Raleigh, NC, and its four female speakers couldn’t be better suited to the subject. The conference aims to provide inspiration, renewed energy, and networking opportunities to women in the home furnishings industry.

The first speaker, Mary Lou Quinlan, is a marketer, speaker, women’s advocate and author of a New York Times bestseller, The God Box: Sharing My Mother’s Gift of Faith, Love and Letting Go. Her talk, “Building a Life that’s Brand YOU,” will explore the factors that compel us to work so hard and examine how we can take back control and discover our very best selves.

Another speaker, Emily Bennington, author of Who Says It’s a Man’s World: The Girls’ Guide to Corporate Domination, and founder of AWAKE EXEC mindful leadership coaching for women, will speak on “What the Most Remarkable Women Do Right.” Bennington has led training programs for numerous Fortune 500 companies and will draw on her research of more than 750 professionals nationwide to present what, specifically, the most accomplished executives do differently. 

Arlene Blum, Phd, biophysical chemist, world renown mountaineer and author of Annapurna: A Woman’s Place and her award-winning memoir, Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life, will present “Leadership: One Mountain, One Molecule at a Time.” Blum’s efforts to research and publicize the health impacts of flame retardant chemicals have dramatically altered their use in several industries over the last 30 years, including home furnishings and children’s pajamas. She will share dramatic stories and stunning visuals for unforgettable lessons in leadership to help conference attendees achieve their personal and professional goals.

Mary Knackstedt, author of The Interior Design Business Handbook, speaker and sought-after design consultant, will close the two-day conference with a “Salute to the Modern Renaissance Woman.” Knackstedt’s business acumen and communications savvy enabled her to distill the keys to success for interior design professionals, and she will use these same skills to summarize our program and reemphasize the key take-aways for all attendees.

Along with speakers, workshops and opportunities for one-on-one mentoring will be available during the conference. Registration fees are $250 for members and $475 for non-members.