This year marked the 7th annual USC Women’s Conference featuring the theme “Be Bold and Thrive”.  This highly anticipated conference brings together women of all backgrounds for a day of empowerment, inspiration, and professional networking.  Although hosted by the USC Alumni Association, all women are invited, though most attendees are alumnae.

The day began with check-in and breakfast in Town & Gown.  Breakfast featured an array of pastries, tea, juice, and fresh fruit.  After a warm welcome by the USC Trojan Marching Band, ladies followed the band to Bovard Auditorium where the program officially began.

Alumna Kait Dunton and her band, TrioKait, along with student Holly Howell performed their version of Wonder by Natalie Merchant.  Keynote speaker and alumna Sarah Reinertsen inspired us all through her story as a triathlete and amputee.

After the morning program, attendees left Bovard and headed to the Tutor Campus Center for workshops featuring experts in health, finance, and careers.  Stacy Geck, USC Marshall professor (and animal rescuer!) presented at the Career Workshop.  The Health Workshop featuring Keck Medicine of USC Doctors and the Financial Strategies Workshop featuring Bank of America wealth managers.  There was also an area in Town and Gown open all day called the Thrive Lounge which featured yoga, massages, one-on-one career counseling and LinkedIn reviews by the USC Career Center, free head shots, lip scrubs, and more.  The career counseling was beyond expectation; the counselor not only discussed tips for job seeking, but also in-depth review of LinkedIn profiles.

A buffet lunch was held in McCarthy Quad featuring bread, salad, iced tea, mashed potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, couscous, and petit fours for dessert.  The menu was almost vegetarian other than the chicken breasts.

Back in Bovard Auditorium, the afternoon program featured alumna, Willow Bay, special correspondent for Bloomberg Television and a senior editor at the Huffington Post. She interviewed a panel of amazing ladies and alumnae: Mayor Aja Brown, Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, and Sara Happ and conducted a one-on-one interview with Lynda Resnick, founder of Pom Wonderful (among other successful brands).

The event closed with a reception back in Town & Gown featuring appetizers, live jazz music, a raffle, and other give away items.