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About the 2025 Conference

The fourth annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference took place on Friday, March 28, at Saint Louis University. For the past four years, the Emerson Leadership Institute’s Be Heard Conference has brought together hundreds of distinguished academics, business professionals, and next-generation leaders from St. Louis and beyond.

A woman speaks to a crowd during the Women in Leadership Panel at the Be Heard Women in Leadership Conference.

Kristin Johnson, chief transformation officer at Edward Jones, speaks on the Women in Leadership Panel at the 2025 Be Heard Women in Leadership Conference.

The theme for this year’s conference, “Fostering Dignity and Belonging,” aligned with the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Program launched at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. At the fourth annual Be Heard Conference, attendees explored the profound role dignity plays in organizational culture and individual well-being, the behaviors that lead to dignity violations, and practical strategies for leaders to cultivate workplace environments where dignity is prioritized and belonging is fostered.

Program

7:30 to 8 a.m.: Check in and Continental Breakfast 

The program will kick off at 7:30 a.m. at SLU's Il Monastero Banquet Center. The program will be emceed by Michelle Li, NBC St. Louis morning anchor.

8 to 9:30 a.m.: Leadership Development Workshop

Leadership Development Workshop Conducted by:

  • David Pickersgill, Barry-Wehmiller
  • Stanley Thomas, Barry-Wehmiller
  • Steve Gund, The Gund Company

Workshop Panel

  • Rhonda Spencer, chief people officer, Barry-Wehmiller
  • Connie Deulley, culture coach, The Gund Company
  • Sheila Burkett: chief executive office and co-founder, Spry Digital
9:30 to 9:45 a.m.: Coffee Break
 
9:45 to 10:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks
  • Jintong Tang, director, Emerson Leadership Institute, SLU
  • Michael Medart, president, Medart, Inc. and president, Dean’s Executive Board 
  • Michael Lewis, provost, SLU
  • Rochelle Smith, vice president for diversity and innovative community engagement, SLU
  • Jackson Nickerson, Edwards Jones Dean, Chaifetz School of Business, SLU
10:15 to 11:45 a.m.: Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion

  • Delaney Clement: chief operating officer, Archdiocese of St. Louis
  • Kristin Johnson: chief transformation officer, Edward Jones
  • Tina Sappington: president, Integrated Solutions Worldwide; vice president and director of Purpose and Impact, QNDX

Moderator

  • Paige Hulsey: KMOV News 4 reporter
11:45 a.m. to noon: Coffee Break

 

Noon to 12:40 p.m.: Keystone Presentation

Keynote Presentation

  • Marilyn Bush, president, Bank of America St. Louis
12:40 to 1:30 p.m.: Lunch and networking

 

Sponsors

  • Mike Medart Women in Leadership Grant
  • Saint Louis University School of Medicine
  • Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship