March 15, 2025

Join us in Chicago for an incredible lineup of powerhouse experts, an extraordinary group of women — from trailblazing thought leaders, celebrated creatives, and an acclaimed journalist. This summit unites some of the most influential voices in their fields, and we’re excited for the powerful impact their collective insights will have.

See You There

March 15, 2025

Summit Program

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Summit Program 〰️

2025 SPEAKERS

2025 SPEAKERS

Keynote | Framework the Mind

  • Lola Wright is a visionary speaker, executive coach, and community leader dedicated to guiding individuals toward personal and collective transformation. With a unique blend of spiritual insight, leadership acumen, and practical wisdom, she is known for making the profound practical, empowering high achievers, creatives, and change-makers to break free from limiting patterns and step into a life of purpose, power, and impact.

    Lola’s work is built on these fundamental truths:

    • Practical Application – Change happens when action occurs; concepts must become real.

    • Suffering Is Optional – Life doesn’t have to be as hard and painful as we make it. There is always another way.

    • Honor The Dissonance – Tension is a great informant. We learn through discomfort, and it can always serve our evolution.

    • We Are Connected – Relationships, human connection, and community are necessary for growth. We do not evolve and expand in isolation.

    • Everything Is In Order – Though there is mystery, chaos, and heartbreak throughout our lives, something greater is always at work. We can trust that.

    • All Of You Is Needed – We invite the most unconscious parts of the human experience—it’s how we get honest. We welcome the “unenlightened.”

    A dynamic voice in the realm of personal development and transformational leadership, Lola has worked with C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and creatives to cultivate clarity, alignment, and resilience. Her work is rooted in the belief that suffering is not necessary—there is a new way of being on this planet, one that integrates intelligence, emotional depth, and embodied awareness.

Host | Storytelling Your Brand

  • Ji Suk Yi is an acclaimed journalist and the daily talk show co-host of Spotlight Chicago on WGN-TV. With a remarkable gift for storytelling, she has a rare ability to connect, uncover, and illuminate the narratives that truly matter—making every conversation and story impactful and unforgettable. A true cultural force, she uses her voice to inspire, elevate, and shape the world around her.

    Ji's two decades of media experience include work in television, print and radio, including ABC7's Windy City LIVE for seven seasons, the Chicago Sun-Times series “The Grid,” and contributing to the launch of cable news network NewsNation.  

    A native of western North Carolina, Ji is a first-generation immigrant and life-long food enthusiast, who enjoys living in one of the best food cities in the world, Chicago. 

Entrepreneurship & Preventing Burnout

  • Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald is a Board Certified Obstetrician Gynecologist based in downtown Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Xavier University and her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. With over 15 years of experience in women's health, Dr. McDonald specializes in providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. She is the founder, author, and Editor-In-Chief of The Gyneco-bLogic, a platform dedicated to delivering valuable health information for women.

    In addition to her medical practice, she created Dr. Every Woman to further educate and empower women by offering resources, articles, and expert insights on health, wellness, and lifestyle. Dr. McDonald is passionate about advocating for women's rights and improving access to healthcare.

    Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Dr. Ed McDonald IV, and their three children.

Fireside Chat

  • Tereasa Surratt is the Founder and Creative Director of Camp Wandawega, a National Register boutique hotel & lifestyle brand recognized by Fodor’s “Best Hotel in the USA” & Travel & Leisure “Greatest Hotels in the World.” Host to creatives like Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement, Audrina Patridge, Michael Cera, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sophia Bush, Nate Berkus, & more.

    As former SVP & Global Group Creative Director at advertising agency Ogilvy, Tereasa is an expert at crafting stories for global brands. She’s created immersive entertainment experiences & museum installations from Chicago to NYC to London.

    She now consults directly with her own select roster of clients, helping them to amplify the power of their brands. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Magnolia Network, MTV, NBC, & beyond - Tereasa guides hospitality entrepreneurs in how to grow awareness.

    Tereasa is the author of three books by Penguin, Random House, & Hearst, and she counsels aspiring authors on process - from idea to pitch to published. With over 20 licensing deals, products, and partnerships with brands like Crate & Barrel, GANT, Anthropologie, Hamm's Beer, and TopDrawer - Tereasa advises on how to pitch, partner, & promote.

“Your Business is Your Playground”

  • Laura Sullivan is a builder of bold ideas and beautiful experiences. From founding an award-winning photography studio to co-creating a brand design agency with her husband, Tim, she has spent her career at the intersection of creativity and reinvention. Fueled by a passion for travel and transformation, she has hosted retreats across four continents—all while raising two young children and embracing each new chapter with fearless adaptability.

    Now, she’s launching a bespoke travel consultancy, crafting custom itineraries for curious explorers and proving that bravery isn’t just a trait—it’s a muscle that, when exercised, shapes a truly fulfilling life. Because when your business is your playground, you can design (and redesign) a life that lights you up, over and over again.

    Staying on a single track has never been her style. She’s traveled to over 40 countries, moved across the U.S. while raising a family, and built a career (or three) by following one guiding principle: is it interesting to me now?

Art & Finance

  • Viviana Langhoff is a visionary creative and the celebrated owner of Adornment & Theory, a fine jewelry store at the forefront of the boutique experience in Chicago. A fine jewelry designer with over 16 years of experience, she believes in the power of jewelry as heirloom—objects that hold personal histories and tell timeless stories. With training in conceptual design at SAIC and metalsmithing at Columbia College, Viviana blends her expertise in both fine and contemporary art jewelry, creating meaningful, custom pieces that resonate with her clients.

    Her work extends to interior design and decorative objects, each reflecting her signature artistic vision. She believes that history is not just passed down but can be intimately traced through objects that hold personal narratives. For Viviana, jewelry embodies this notion impeccably; it serves as a timeless conduit for stories, a sentiment she translates into every piece she designs. Her passion for crafting beautiful, meaningful jewelry that resonates with people on a daily basis has been a driving force throughout her career.

Scale Your Business

  • Hsing Chen is the Co-Founder of Eat Well Hospitality with popular neighborhood restaurants in Chicago; Andros Taverna, Asador Bastian and Mano a Mano.

    Chen is an esteemed pastry chef and an Emmy-award winning journalist with a background in communications. She has led the pastry programs at prestigious fine-dining establishments, catering companies and luxury hotels across the country. During her time in NYC she was listed as one of the top cake/dessert stylists in New York Magazine.

    With her experience in broadcast journalism, including Dateline NBC, work as an associate producer for several documentaries, and creating innovative content for technology startups like TiVo, Chen has a knack for marrying soundbites with images to tell impactful stories. With her creative eye for detail, food photography and media know-how she supports mission-driven hospitality related projects by creating content and communication strategies for Eat Well Hospitality.

Fuel Your Business by Fueling Yourself

  • Jena Burton is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach dedicated to helping people feel their most radiant, vibrant selves. After struggling with chronic gut issues and anxiety and uncovering the deep connection between them, she became passionate about a holistic, root-cause approach to wellness. With a background in functional health, she supports clients in optimizing their nutrition, movement, sleep, and mental well-being through sustainable, personalized strategies. Whether guiding individuals with chronic conditions or those simply looking to prioritize their health, she meets them where they are with empathy and expertise. Her mission is to empower others to take their health into their own hands, making wellness feel effortless and accessible.