ONE DAY. TWO EVENTS.
MAY 19, 2026 | CROWNE PLAZA BATON ROUGE
The Power of Transformation:
Shaping What's Next.
Transformation isn't a buzzword—it's the reality shaping careers, organizations and communities. This symposium explores how change is unfolding at every level, and why understanding transformation is essential, not optional.
2026 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
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Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now.
OUR SPONSORS
We are grateful to the generous organizations that made this experience possible.
© Copyright 2026 Baton Rouge Business Report
All rights reserved.
Rewriting the Rules You Inherited: Why adaptability now matters more than mastery
SPEAKER
Danielle Brown, Global Head of
Influencer Marketing at Google | YouTube
Leading People Through Transformation, Ready
or Not
SPEAKERS
Adrian Owen Jones + Melissa Thompson
Partners, Success Labs
SESSION 2 | 8:45-9:10 a.m.
SESSION 3 | 9:20-10:05 a.m.
Transforming How Work
Happens: Meet the executives
who are quietly reshaping
organizations through AI
PANELISTS
Community Coffee SVP/CCO Kristi Crump
Woman’s Hospital EVP/CFO Nina Dusang
LSU Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin
BREAK | 9:10-9:20 a.m.
SESSION 4 | 10:05-10:45 a.m.
Transforming Place: Leadership that reshapes economies, communities and opportunity
PANELISTS
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois
Ascension Economic Development President & CEO Kate MacArthur
LSU Foundation EVP Krista Raney
Transforming Mindset:
How perspective drives clarity when certainty is gone
SPEAKER
Health care executive
& author Laurinda Calongne
NETWORKING & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST | 7:30-8:15 a.m.
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS | 8:15-8:25 a.m.
11:15 a.m. INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON NETWORKING BEGINS
- Honorees -
MEREDITH EICHER
Founder & Owner,
Meredith Eicher & Associates
REBECCA EVANS MOUK
Owner/President, Ascension Roofing & Fabrication and JRE Industrial
TERRI HICKS
President & CEO,
The Spine Hospital of Louisiana
JILL KIDDER
President & CEO,
Visit Baton Rouge
DANIELLE MACK
Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
ADONICA PELICHET DUGGAN
CEO, Baton Rouge Alliance
for Students
DR. GUNJAN RAINA
MDVIP / Baton Rouge General, Family Medicine
MELISSA THOMPSON
Partner,
Success Labs
LESLEY TILLEY
Executive Vice President & COO, Woman's Hospital
2026 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS CELEBRATION
SESSION 5 | 10:45-11:10 a.m.
SESSION 1 | 8:25-8:45 a.m.
The Power of Transformation:
Shaping What's Next.
Transformation isn't a buzzword—it's the reality shaping careers, organizations and communities. This symposium explores how change is unfolding at every level, and why understanding transformation is essential,
not optional.
BREAK | 9:10-9:20 a.m.
NETWORKING & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST | 7:30-8:15 a.m.
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS | 8:15-8:25 a.m.
Rewriting the Rules
You Inherited: Why adaptability now matters more than mastery
SPEAKER
Danielle Brown,
Global Head of Influencer Marketing at Google | YouTube
SESSION 1 | 8:25-8:45 a.m.
Leading People Through Transformation,
Ready or Not
SPEAKERS
Succes Labs Partners
Adrian Owen Jones
+ Melissa Thompson
SESSION 2 | 8:45-9:10 a.m.
Transforming How Work
Happens: Meet the executives who are quietly reshaping organizations through AI
PANELISTS
Community Coffee SVP/CCO Kristi Crump
Woman’s Hospital EVP/CFO Nina Dusang
LSU Engineering Dean
Vicki Colvin
SESSION 3 | 9:20-10:05 a.m.
BREAK | 9:10-9:20 a.m.
SESSION 4 | 10:05-10:45 a.m.
Transforming Place: Leadership that reshapes economies, communities and opportunity
PANELISTS
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois
Ascension Economic Development President & CEO Kate MacArthur
LSU Foundation EVP Krista Raney
Transforming Mindset:
How perspective drives clarity when certainty is gone
SPEAKER: Health care executive
& author Laurinda Calongne
SESSION 5 | 10:45-11:10 a.m.
NETWORKING & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST | 7:30-8:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON NETWORKING BEGINS
BREAK | 9:10-9:20 a.m.
NETWORKING & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST | 7:30-8:15 a.m.
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS | 8:15-8:25 a.m.
11:15 a.m. INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON NETWORKING BEGINS
- Honorees -
MEREDITH EICHER
Founder/Owner,
Meredith Eicher & Associates
2026 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS CELEBRATION
REBECCA EVANS MOUK
Owner/President,
Ascension Roofing & Fabrication and JRE Industrial
TERRI HICKS
President & CEO,
The Spine Hospital of Louisiana
JILL KIDDER
President & CEO,
Visit Baton Rouge
DANIELLE MACK
Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
ADONICA PELICHET DUGGAN
CEO, Baton Rouge Alliance
for Students
DR. GUNJAN RAINA
MDVIP / Baton Rouge General, Family Medicine
MELISSA THOMPSON
Partner,
Success Labs
LESLEY TILLEY
Executive Vice President
& COO, Woman's Hospital
OUR SPONSORS
We are grateful to the generous organizations that made this experience possible.
