As I’m walking into work today my cell phone goes off. It’s a new text message from Nicole (my co-editor here at Philly Happening) and it reads “there are a lot of badass bitches up in here”. I immediately felt a surge of jealousy slither down my spine as I remembered where she was going today. And no, it was not out to interview Jordan Knight or Nick Carter – that was earlier this week.
She was off rubbing elbows with Academy Award winner Diane Keaton, Good Morning Americas Robin Roberts, and 7,000 other kick-ass ladies at the 11th Annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women.
The Pennsylvania Conference for Women – which takes place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philly – is a non-profit, non-partisan, one-day professional and personal development event for women that features dozens of renowned speakers sharing inspirational stories and leading seminars on the issues that matter most to us women. The conference, which sold out this year, first opened its doors in 2004.
Last year I was fortunate enough to go to the conference with Nicole. We not only got to hear Linda Cliatt-Wayman – the principal of Strawberry Mansion High School – give an inspiring speech that brought tears to our eyes, but we also saw Hillary Rodham Clinton address the crowd.
From what I’ve heard this year was just as good, if not better. In addition to Diane and Robin – yes I like to pretend we’re on a first name basis – there were dozens of other outstanding and inspiring women in attendance. Just a few examples: Jill Abramson a journalist who spent the last 17 years in the most senior editorial positions at The New York Times; Jane Pauley, who served as co-host of “Today” from 1976 to 1989 and anchored “Dateline NBC” for 11 years; Monica Malpass, co-anchor of 6ABC’s “Action News” at 5pm; and our very own Nicole Michalik / Q102’s “Nik the Web, a true pop culture junkie.
For some people its concerts and celebrities that give them the chills. For me, it’s events like these. I’ve already marked my calendar for next year’s conference on November 19, 2015!
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