2025 Women in Business®

The Women in Business®  event includes a trade fair, educational sessions, and an evening program featuring the Women of Excellence Awards and inspiring keynote speakers. Past speakers include Erin Brockovich, Jane Seymour, Mary Lou Retton, Lisa Ling, Betty Ann Waters, Elizabeth Smart, Hilary Farr and many others.

One of the greatest accomplishments for women in the organization was the election of the first female president, Karen Dunham, in 1987. Her leadership and expertise paved the way for women, not only in the organization, but also in the business world of the eighties.

The Women in Business Event is the one of the region’s largest professional, educational, development, and celebratory events highlighting women.

Evening Program | Awards, Dinner, and Keynote

ABOUT ANN KIM, KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Ann Kim is the Chef/Owner of Pizzeria Lola, Hello Pizza and Young Joni, all located in Minneapolis. As a Korean immigrant raised in Apple Valley, Minnesota, Ann attributes her culinary palate and love of cooking to her mother and grandmother, from whom she learned to make traditional Korean staples such as doenjang, gochujang and kimchi.

In 2010 Ann opened Pizzeria Lola, a wood-fire pizzeria that has been lauded both locally and nationally. Her second restaurant, Hello Pizza, was inspired by her college days in New York City, where sustenance came in the form of a daily slice.

Young Joni, which debuted in 2016, is known for its eclectic, genre-bending menu of signature pizzas and other wood-fired dishes. In 2017, the Minneapolis Star Tribune named Young Joni as Restaurant of the Year, and it has since topped numerous “best of” lists, including GQ’s Best New Restaurants in America and Esquire’s Best Bars in America. In 2019, Ann became the first woman and person of color from Minneapolis to receive the prestigious James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest,” which celebrated her vision and cookery at Young Joni.

In September 2022, Chef Ann was featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Pizza (season 7, episode 3). The episode explores Ann’s story, from immigrating to the United States in the late 1970s to leaving her acting career and opening restaurants to winning the James Beard Award in 2019. The episode is now streaming on Netflix.

In addition to her role as Chef/Owner of three distinctive Minneapolis-based restaurants, Ann drives the culinary vision for Kyndred Hearth, the flagship restaurant at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, a partnership between Omni Hotels and the Minnesota Vikings.

Chef Kim’s work has been widely featured in news outlets such as The New York Times, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, Forbes, Food & Wine, Wall Street Journal, Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” CBS Saturday’s “The Dish” and “The Splendid Table.”

 

Doors Open at 11:00am

Experience Rooms | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Drop in at your convenience to engage in interactive, hands-on experiences:

  • Vision Boards – Design a visual roadmap for your aspirations and goals.
  • Networking 101 – Learn practical tips to build meaningful professional connections.
  • Speed Coaching – Rotate through quick, impactful coaching sessions with a variety of experienced mentors.


Trade Fair | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Explore over 75 vendors showcasing products, services, and opportunities to connect with inspiring women in business.

Afternoon Speaker Sessions (see event schedule for rooms + time)

  • Lisa Parry | When Stories Become Strategies: A Business Woman’s Lesson Plan
    Discover how storytelling shapes professional growth, fosters connection, and empowers women to overcome challenges.
  • Alicia Schumacher | Reinvention + Leadership
    Through personal stories—including her ADHD diagnosis—Alicia will share how challenges can lead to transformation, empowering women to embrace their strengths and inspire the next generation.
  • Vicki Stewart | Fostering Diversity + Leadership
    Gain insights on promoting inclusion, leading with impact, and driving meaningful change in your career and workplace.
  • Dr. Jennifer Redmond, CNP, MSCP | Taking Charge of Your Health
    Learn how hormonal health impacts overall well-being and gain practical strategies to balance hormones and prevent chronic conditions.
  • Liz Carlson | Unleashing the Leader in You
    Discover strategies to communicate with purpose, lead with confidence, and step into your authentic power.
  • Women in Male-Dominated Industries Panel Discussion
    A panel discussion to help address both the generational differences and common challenges women face in the workplace, while fostering a deeper conversation about how women can support each other across career stages.
  • Celebrating 45 Years: A Multi-Generational Leadership Panel
    Featuring Kiley Pals (Berkshire Hathaway), Marcella Prokop (Southeast Technical College), and Teri Schmidt (Experience Sioux Falls). Moderated by Alana Snyder and Vaney Hariri, this discussion explores leadership, growth, and opportunity across generations.