Our quarterly Women of Inspiration Summit Experience (WISE) brings together nearly 100 attendees each time for an uplifting and inspirational opportunity to connect and grow while hearing from outstanding speakers and thought leaders. Features include light breakfast & coffee, spectacular speakers, compelling workshops, inspirational interviews, meditation sessions, and a whole lot more.
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, our summit theme will be WELLNESS! Join us from 8:30am - 12 pm at Wild Goose Creative in Franklinton.
A summit pass is $20 per person (or $10 for premium members) and includes light breakfast from Freedom a la Cart, coffee throughout the event, a WISE journal, full access to all sessions & speakers, giveaways, and plenty of networking connections for all! Our full agenda and speaker bios are updated below as they are added.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Discover Financial, Wild Goose Creative, Wright-Patt Credit Union, IGS Energy, The Women’s Place at OSU, and The Confident Woman!
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 from 8:30am-12pm @ Wild Goose Creative
8:30am: Arrival, check-in, and networking with coffee & light breakfast, sponsored by Wright-Patt Credit Union
9am: Opening Remarks
9:05-9:20am: Inspiration Chat: Natalie Donnally, Vice President of the African American Male Wellness Agency
9:25-9:40am: Inspiration Chat: Kelsey Lensman, Athlete, Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Owner of EmpowHER Fitness.
9:40-10am: Interview with both Inspiration Chat speakers, moderated by Sarah Barr, Executive Director at Wild Goose Creative
10-10:30am: Coffee Break: Attendee Networking & Giveaways (in the lounge)
10:30-11:30am: Panel Discussion on Financial Literacy & Wellness (in the main room)
Katrina Geyer, Business Development Representative at Wright-Patt Credit Union
Kiera Moore, Community Resource Partner at KEMBA Financial Credit Union
Monique Underdown, VP Branch Manager at Adelphi Bank
Rachel White, Director of the Customer Solution Center at Huntington National Bank
Shirley Ellis, Lead Problem Management Specialist - Project Manager at Discover Financial Services
Moderated by Siana Talley, Women of Inspiration Summit Co-Chair
10:30-11:30am: Small-group Session with My Period Bag* (in the lounge)
An educational workshop and service project to pack kits to be distributed. *For this small-group session, we have limited seating for 10-15 attendees.
11:30am: WISE host committee takeaways
11:45am: Closing Announcements and Raffle Prizes
12pm: Dismissal
*Speakers and sessions are subject to change. If you have any questions about this event, please contact us.
📅 SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, October 24 • Women of Inspiration Summit Experience: “Influence”
Summit Speaker Bios & Session Descriptions
-
Natalie Donnally is an accomplished & innovative servant leader in healthcare, research, and community development specifically in minority communities locally, nationally, and globally. She currently serves as the Vice President for the African American Male Wellness Agency which is the health and wellness arm of the National Center for Urban Solutions. She has been guided by a spiritual belief that she has a purpose and capacity to serve others. Natalie utilizes and implements
all the talents that God has given her & will continue to participate in all aspects of her life with energy, purpose and gratitude.
She began her career after receiving Certificate training in Hyperbaric Medicine from Texas Health Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society in 1996. She is a graduate of Kettering College of Medical Arts with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Natalie also completed her Master of Healthcare Administration from Ohio University Dublin. Most of her career has been in tissue procurement and organ perfusion for transplant and advancing health equity in community engagement, clinic to community practice and research. Natalie plans to finalize her education and career pathway with a Ph. D in Epigenetics and paving the pathway to equitable policy and advocacy changes at county, state, and federal levels.
Natalie harbors an unwavering passion to serve others through her works as a faith based and healthcare missionary. Over the years she has served in board chair & steering committee capacities for In Christy’s Shoes, James Walter Mitchell Community Development Corporation, Morehouse School of Religion Development Board, Tomorrow Come Foundation, Operation Smile, Johnson & Johnson, Exact Sciences, and many more.
In her downtime, she loves to travel while having had the opportunity to visit every continent, scuba dive, kayak, ride her horse, cook, and spend time outdoors. She is a proud mother of two young adults and Nana to two grandchildren.
-
Kelsey Lensman is a certified nutrition and sports medicine specialist, entrepreneur, and highly sought-after speaker with a passion for women's fitness. She owns EmpowHER Fitness that coaches women all around the country in their nutrition, fitness, and mindset. She also runs EmpowHER Events, which are all-women’s international strength events that challenge women to step out of their comfort zone and show themselves they're stronger than they think. Her unique approach to fitness has helped hundreds of women get results, grow their mindset, and become strong, confident versions of themselves. She's a 5x bodybuilding competitor, 3x powerlifting competitor, and loves pushing her own boundaries. She's currently pursuing Mission48, where she will complete 48 fitness competitions in 48 states in 48 days to raise money for ROX, Ruling Our Experiences, a 501c(3) that develops confident girls who control their own relationships, experiences, decisions, and futures. Her goal is to inspire women to do hard things, push their limits and build true self-confidence.
-
Kiera Moore is the Community Resource Partner at KEMBA Financial Credit Union here in Central Ohio. Her journey began with studying education at Bowling Green State University and graduating in 2013 with a BS in Education, Individualized Studies. Being raised in a close-knit community, Kiera has always had a passion for helping others, and through her membership with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and various organizations on and off campus, Kiera was able to partner with larger entities such as the United Way of Wood County and Goodwill for outreach initiatives that would help to bridge the gap between the university and the community.
Kiera began her career with KEMBA in 2019 as a Member Service Representative (Personal Banker) and stepped into this role in March of 2022. Since becoming the CRP, Kiera has organized and coordinated over 350 events that have allowed KEMBA to serve its communities by offering financial education and other resources through philanthropic initiatives throughout the Columbus Metropolitan area. She has also established partnerships through other companies and organizations allowing the credit union to continue its mission of empowering people to become financially self-sufficient and helping to improve their overall well-being. Kiera’s deep-rooted passion for helping people comes from her upbringing in Warren, OH, an area that is no stranger to economic hardship. Today Kiera continues to put people first by seeking out opportunities that will allow KEMBA to partner with local organizations and continue to provide these services in the communities the company serves.
When not in the office or conducting financial literacy opportunities for Columbus SEGs, Trina enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and staying active in her community.
-
Monique Underdown is VP Branch Manager at Adelphi Bank
-
Rachel White is a motivator, strategist, and self-described credit union kid who grew up in the Gem City of Dayton, Ohio. Rachel earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics from The Ohio State University. In 2021, Rachel graduated from the Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School and from Capital University with an MBA in May 2023.
Rachel began her journey with Huntington in 2013 and now serves as the Director of the Customer Solution Center. Before joining Huntington Rachel’s career journey included JP Morgan Chase, Discover and Victoria’s Secret Catalogue.
Rachel’s passion, and gift, is her ability to see emerging talent that others may traditionally miss. Rachel believes that intentionally shaping a positive culture determines one’s success and longevity much more than strategy ever will.
-
Shirley Ellis is an accomplished leader and visionary in finance, with over 9 years of experience at Discover Financial Services. Throughout her career, Shirley has excelled in roles such as leading the frontline collections department, where she implemented tailored solutions to enhance financial literacy. Currently, as a Project Manager for Discover Student Loans, Shirley focuses on optimizing processes, mitigating risks, and enhancing the customer experience, by exceeding expectations and delivering exceptional results.
As a dynamic motivational speaker, Shirley specializes in women's empowerment, personal and professional development, and corporate career success. With a robust background in leadership, resilience, and creating inclusive environments, Shirley inspires audiences with practical insights and empowering messages.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Shirley actively engages in community initiatives such as the Columbus Urban League's Professional and Personal Development Committee, where she fosters networking skills among young professionals. As a dedicated mentor in the Columbus Young Professionals Elevate and Excel Program, Shirley encourages others to pursue their aspirations, embrace resilience, and define success on their own terms. She co-leads the events committee for Discover Card's employee resource group, PWIR, organizing developmental and community engagement events that empower women and promote career acceleration.
Whether through mentorship, coaching, or her own example, Shirley equips those around her with the knowledge and tools needed to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and reach their full potential. Her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering optimism serve as inspirations to all who have the privilege of working with her.
Outside of her professional life, Shirley enjoys music, concerts, podcasts, shopping, and connecting with new people. Known for her sense of humor and belief that "Life is too short to be serious all the time," Shirley brings joy and laughter to every endeavor she undertakes.
-
Katrina Geyer prides herself in how to build strong relationships with who she is serving. Whether that be corporate partners or non-profit partners. Her hope is that together they grow and elevate the Columbus community.
She works closely with a diverse population in order to help community members take thoughtful and educationally informed steps to create a better life through financial education and literacy.When not in the office or conducting financial literacy opportunities for Columbus SEGs, Trina enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and staying active in her community.
-
WISE Host Committee, Co-chair
Rachel Will has experience teaching and performing various genres such as classical, musical theatre, jazz, swing, and contemporary church music. She is a music director as well as a creative arts director, overseeing arts marketing, creative design, production, and vocal/instrumental performance. She is passionate about helping individuals discover and explore their own voice through music and the arts. Rachel is a champion for others, passionately empowering women to find their creative purpose. In addition, she has extensive knowledge in career guidance, leadership development, and strategically fosters community and organizational partnerships to further support inclusivity through community connection.
Freelance Vocalist + Performer | Music + Creative Arts Director at Legacy Church | Private Studio Coach for Voice + Piano | Music Educator Multi Age PK-12 | HS Stage Director | Director of Advancement + Cooper-Bing Associate Producer at Opera Columbus | Leadership Development | Master of Arts in Performing Arts Administration | Bachelor of Arts in Music Education + Vocal Performance | Women's Leadership and Empowerment Conference Chair + Communications Director
-
WISE Host Committee, Co-chair
Siana Talley is an enthusiastic operations leader at Discover Financial Services, holding eleven years of experience in strategic planning, project management, and business operations. She fearlessly leads the Employee Resource Groups Professional Women Impacting Results (PWIR) and Black Organized Leaders of Discover (BOLD) with a mission focused on empowering members to pursue their ambitions at each stage of their careers by harnessing the power of diversity and awareness to drive business results. In complement to her day-to-day leadership responsibilities, she engages in development opportunities with the National Black MBA Conference, PayTech Women, and McKinsey Management Accelerator, among others.
Ms. Talleys' most significant project to date is engaging with her leadership team to successfully incorporate a corporate social enterprise model to drive the development of a community-based contact center within the vibrant community of Whitehall. Siana will concentrate on building wrap-around services that provide access to resources for employees to come to work as their whole selves while earning sustainable income. She is responsible for establishing and cultivating relationships with community-based organizations, such as Passport 2 Fashion, Columbus Young Professionals, Dress for Success Columbus, Women Just Like Me, and many others.
Outside of her professional life, Siana appreciates positively impacting the community by using her interpersonal skills and life experiences to mentor those she leads and connects with. Siana believes in the power of small actions and lives by the motto, "Do something that makes you happy every day - big or small!" She acknowledges life as a precious gift and believes that while here on earth, everyone must do better for themselves and the communities they embrace. When not empowering the community she serves, Siana's most essential and rewarding life's work is mothering her 11-year-old son, Channing.
Overall, Siana is a driven and compassionate individual who brings her expertise and passion to her professional and personal life—at the same time, displaying her dedication to making a positive impact in her community and empowering others to pursue their dreams.
Her Purpose: "Si Connects + Community"