It’s been a little over a year since I joined our wonderful CCWomen team. My first event was CCW Nashville, so I felt highly nostalgic when returning to the wonderfully chaotic Music City. Aside from the hot chicken, biscuits, and grits that may have changed my life in 2023, I looked forward to seeing our community gather again—because when we do, CCWomen’s mission becomes visibly tangible. Discussion after discussion, session after session, women leaders from all stages come together to bring empowerment to fruition.
I’m biased, but saying that CCWomen is special is an understatement. Starting from our pre-event dinner to the actual Summit to even our time spent at the expo hall booth, every moment has taught me a valuable lesson that guides my work and makes it more meaningful.
Let’s quickly get you up to speed.
In between our steak dinner and monstrous chocolate cake, we caught up on our lives both in and out of work. This year, one woman told me she felt compelled to foster deeper belonging in her organization. Another mentioned how she was excited to participate as a panelist. There were lively conversations happening all around us—at one point, it was hard to hear anyone, but it was an excellent problem to have.
Before we ended our night, one of our speakers encouraged the entire room to celebrate Sandy and the community she created. She’d seen a need and, through intrapreneurship, had poured her heart and soul into what CCWomen is today. As the strongest pillar of our platform where so many women found their voices, she deserved the spotlight, too. Make no mistake: there were plenty of tears, hugs, and laughter.
“This year feels very CCWomen. Is it just me?” said Emily, handing out our team-exclusive cowboy hats and bandanas. We unanimously agreed, and not just because of our Nashville-esque swag. (Although, admittedly, they were a huge plus.)
But what does it look like for an event to be very CCWomen? For one, we truly come to life when women build long-lasting organic connections. Our fireside chat, panel sessions, and activities weaved together seamlessly to tackle relevant topics—career resilience, impactful leadership, unapologetic self-compassion—while encouraging attendees to celebrate one another.
My favorite part of the Summit is when our audience members volunteer to share their own experiences. I like to think of them as CCWomen micro-stories that remind us why we do what we do. After each woman rose and spoke into the mic, she was met with thunderous applause and rowdy shouting. Through such loud, public praise that the rest of the hall could definitely hear, our room full of women and allies embodied the truth that drives CCWomen: we’re here, we deserve visibility, and we’re going to be at the forefront of change.
Some of us have employee resource groups, others external networking organizations, and a few are fortunate to have a bit of both. However, plenty also don’t have access to any opportunities to connect.
Professional communities aren’t just there for us to exchange industry insights and accelerate our careers—they’re our safe havens for when we feel lost, undeserving, and uncertain of our path. No one is meant to walk their journey alone, and I’m proud that CCWomen can be one of many spaces where women come as they are, and go out into the world feeling replenished.
Sandy, Emily, and I are working full speed ahead to wrap up the year and deliver another memorable experience for CCW Orlando. Although we have months between each event, time never seems to slow down.
Looking for a more comprehensive CCWomen Nashville Recap? Our Post-Event Report is making its way to you in November, so sit tight! (And register for Orlando while you wait.)