Yelp’s First-Ever Virtual Women in Business Summit

DATE: March 24, 2021

TIME: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

COST: free

VENUE: Virtual

ADDRESS:

Yelp’s first-ever Women in Business Summit is taking place on March 24-25 and will bring together women in all industries to share insights and learn from each other.

This two-day event will include panels, presentations, and fireside chats connecting and celebrating female business leaders across the U.S. in multiple industries—restaurants, beauty, home, finance, and more. The summit promises inspiration, while also providing tactical lessons and takeaways that can be applied to any industry or business.

Here’s a look at the full two-day schedule and lineup.

11 AM – 11:15 AM ET 
Yelp’s Women in Business Summit: Welcome

11:15 AM – 11:55 AM ET
In Conversation with Rebecca Minkoff
For over 15 years, Rebecca Minkoff has made luxury fashion accessible with her edgy and feminine designs, and more recently, she co-founded Female Founder Collective, a community dedicated to empowering female-owned and led companies. Yelp Trend Expert Tara Lewis will join Rebecca to talk all things career and entrepreneurship. 

Speaker: Rebecca Minkoff, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Rebecca Minkoff, Co-Founder of Female Founder Collective
Moderator: Tara Lewis, Yelp Trend Expert

12 PM – 12:45 PM ET
Racial and Gender Inequality in the Business World 
Major companies are showing commitment to diversity and inclusion. How can small business owners maintain and accelerate that progress? This discussion will tackle how Black business owners can navigate the increased attention and support for the Black community. The speakers will also share actionable takeaways for small business owners who may not have access to the resources of larger companies.

Speakers:

• Yolanda White, CEO of Dayo
• Beatrice Dixon, CEO & Founder of The Honey Pot Company
• Dr. Erinn Tucker, Co-Founder of DMV Black Restaurant Week

Moderator: Michelle Billingy, Yelp Local Sales Manager

12:50 PM – 1 PM ET
Break with Hey Mama
Enjoy some time with Hey Mama, an online community for working mothers. In this virtual break, you’ll get a chance to learn more about how they are building a community to support women in their careers and families.

1 PM – 1:40 PM ET
From Building a Practice to Building a Movement
Hear from Sarah Larson Levey, Co-Founder and CEO of Y7 Studio, a bicoastal fitness business that reinvented the yoga experience with hip-hop beats and candlelight. This Yoga mogul will speak about how building her own practice helped her break through and set herself apart in the fitness industry.

Speaker: Sarah Larson Levey, CEO & Founder, Y7 Studio
Moderator: Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Media

1:45 PM – 2:25 PM ET
Behind the Scenes of Behind the Review 
It’s no secret that business owners want to receive positive reviews. In this intimate roundtable conversation, you’ll hear from recent Behind the Review podcast guests as they discuss reputation management, their biggest challenges, and the best ways to handle customer reviews.

Speakers:

• Angela Shen, Owner of Savor Seattle
• Misty Akers, CEO & Co-Founder of The Candle Pour
• Alex Bradberry, Founder of The Sparkle Bar

Moderator: Emily Washcovick, Yelp Small Business Expert

2:30 PM – 3:10 PM ET
The Conscious Consumer: Ways to Engage with Values-Driven Customers
Recent Yelp data shows that support is rising for businesses that align with consumers’ values. Whether looking for a female-led business, a business that promotes inclusivity, or one that supports sustainability, consumers care about the values of the businesses they spend their money with. The panel will explore how business owners can find meaningful ways to interact and engage with values-driven consumers.

Speakers:

• Cate Luzio, CEO & Founder of Luminary
• Alexis Schulze, Co-Founder of Nekter Juice Bar
• Calla Rongerude, Director at Open to All

Moderator: Erica Maurer, Co-Founder of EMRG Media

3:15 PM – 3:55 PM ET
Hey Mama Panel 
Details to come

3:55 PM – 4 PM ET
Closing Remarks

11 AM – 11:05 AM ET
Yelp’s Women in Business Summit: Welcome Back

11:05 AM – 11:15 AM ET
Risk Taking with Cate Luzio: A Breakdown of Adapting vs. Pivoting 
Cate Luzio is CEO and founder of Luminary, a membership-based career and personal growth platform with a mission to uplift, upskill, and propel women forward through all phases of their professional journey. She will share advice on how she has survived and thrived both before and during COVID.

11:15 AM – 11:55 AM ET
Fireside Chat | Taking Your Business Online
Ali Kreigsman, Co-Founder and COO of Bulletin, a venture-backed retail technology startup, has spent her career democratizing access to physical retail space for digitally native brands. In this intimate discussion, she’ll share how businesses can scale their business to maximize their digital footprint footprint. 

Speaker: Ali Kriegsman, Co-Founder of Bulletin and Author of How to Build a Goddamn Empire
Moderator: Lindsay Stein, CEO of Today I’m Brave

12 PM – 12:45 PM ET
Learning to Grow: Think Big, Act Local
Are you a franchisee owner? Hoping to expand your business to a franchisee model? Hear from a panel of experts on how multi-location businesses can create strategies to remain authentic to their local communities.

Speakers: 

• Jami Stigliano, CEO & Founder of DivaDance
• Shirin Behzadi, Entrepreneur, Former CEO & Business Advisor
• Adenah Bayoh, CEO of Adenah Bayoh, Co-Founder of Cornbread Farm to Soul & Multi-IHOP franchisee

Moderator: Ali Schwartz, Yelp Senior Marketing Manager

12:50 PM – 1 PM ET
A Note From Our Partners
Details to come

1 PM – 1:40 PM ET
Branding 101: How to Market Your Business
Is it time to join Clubhouse? Should you be advertising on local television? How do you get on the Today show? Get first-hand insights from industry leaders on how to incorporate marketing, social media, and PR when building a brand.

Speakers:

• Carrie Morey, Founder of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
• Nicole Reyhle, Founder of Retail Minded
• Nana Agyemang, CEO and Founder of EveryStylishGirl

Moderator: Brittany Smith, Community Marketing at Yelp

1:45 PM – 2:25 PM ET
Fireside Chat | Financial Literacy & Funding
More and more women are founding and funding companies. But when it comes to financing, many female entrepreneurs hit a wall. We’ll hear from experts on how gender can impact access to funding and how they aim to upend the status quo in business.

Speakers:

• Luz Urritia, CEO of Opportunity Fund
• Alethia Mendez, VP Operations at Grameen America

Moderator: Miriam Warren, Yelp Chief Diversity Officer

2:30 PM – 3:10 PM ET
Female Founder Collective Panel
Details to come

3:15 PM – 3:55 PM ET
Fireside Chat | Making it in a Male Dominated Industry
Chef Nyesha Arrington discusses how she has found success in a traditionally male-dominated world. She shares advice and insights for not just chefs, but anyone who has ever fought for a seat at the table.

Speaker: Nyesha Arrington, Chef
Moderator: Tara Lewis, Yelp Trend Expert

3:55 PM – 4 PM ET 
Yelp’s Women in Business Summit: Closing Remarks