Women's Leadership Conference

Mark Your Calendar!

Thursday, September 12, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SMSU Upper Conference Center

Register by September 5th

SMSU Women's Leadership Conference

The Women’s Leadership Conference provides opportunities for women of all ages and stages in their lives and careers to connect in meaningful ways. The conference is designed to bring women together, encourage them to lead where they are, embrace their worthiness and potential, and be inspired to lead balanced lives full of purpose and authenticity. Our purpose with this conference is to empower our attendees to create camaraderie, build confidence, and strengthen connections. Join us for this uplifting day focused on you!

Professional women wear many hats. Yet these "hats" make up our identities both in and out of our professional workplace. The Women's Leadership Conference encourages women to take a couple hats off and hang them up from time to time. When we move a million miles a minute, we forget that we don't need to be everything to everyone. We must learn how to lead where we are dependent on the stage of life we are in. From a professional setting to just being human and how to manage the in-between.

LEARN

Taking steps outside of your comfort zone can be scary but this space is where we tend to learn and grow the most. Our speakers will challenge you to lead even during uncertain times, to capitalize on your strengths and better understand your weaknesses, and to manage the responsibilities of being a woman professional.

NETWORK

Networking for women goes beyond just making connections. It's about building a supportive community. The conference will offer various resources and opportunities for women of all ages to solve problems, share personal tips and tricks, and form new relationships.

LEAD

Women leaders bring such a unique skill set that significantly enhances organizational success. You will leave the conference with a new sense of purpose, full of fresh ideas and valuable resources, and feeling empowered to lead no matter what "hat" you are wearing.

Together We Are Unstoppable

The Women's Leadership Conference equips women from all walks of life with the proper tools and strategies to lead with a purpose. Be prepared to learn and grow not only as an individual, but as a community of strong, powerful women. The conference will provide women with a safe space to be vulnerable and ask tough questions because in the end, we are all working toward the same goal: professional development and personal growth.

View Agenda

Meet the Speakers

Sherri Coale, Keynote Speaker

Sherri Coale is a native Oklahoman. She grew up about thirty miles to the right side of the Red River in a small rural town where she fell in love with reading, writing and basketball, not necessarily in that order. In 1987, after a highly successful collegiate career at Oklahoma Christian, she hung up her high tops, moving from the court to the sideline as she began what would become a Hall of Fame career as a Women’s Basketball Coach.

For 25 years, Sherri Coale served as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma where she is the winningest coach in OU history. She built a powerhouse program in Norman that appeared in 19 straight NCAA tournaments and competed in 3 Final Fours.

Sherri Coale is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Christian Hall of Fame, the Norman High School Wall of Fame, and has “Home of” signs that flank both entrances to the small town of Healdton where she was born and raised and will be eternally indebted.

During her illustrious career at the University of Oklahoma, in addition to coaching the Sooners, Coale participated in USA Basketball as an assistant coach in 2001 where the squad won a bronze medal, and a head coach in the World University Games in 2013 where her USA squad defeated Russia on their home court to bring home the gold. In addition to competitive excellence inside the lines both nationally and internationally, Sherri Coale has received numerous accolades and recognitions for her players’ performance academically as well as their team community service through the years. Maximizing her players’ skills both on and off the court has always been her goal.

Sherri Coale is a master motivator, an engaging speaker, a gifted writer, and a keen observer of everyday life. She and her husband, Dane, have been married for 37 years. They have two children, one daughter-in-law, and one adorable granddaughter around which their universe currently spins.

Julia Walfoort '16, Associate Director at Stackline

Upon graduating from SMSU in May 2016 with a B.S. in Marketing, Julia moved to the Minneapolis area and started her career in the advertising industry. Her first position was an Associate Search Strategist at ICFNext (formerly Olson), then moved on to broader digital marketing strategy at Bain & Company (formerly FRWD) and has now spent the last 3+ years on the Professional Services team at Stackline, helping clients build their search strategies across various Retail Media Networks. After eight years, four promotions, and three different companies - Julia contributes her success to hard work and emphasis on remaining true to herself in the workplace. Now leading a team of two, Julia is starting to learn who she is as a leader and where she envisions herself in the next five years.

When she's not working, Julia can be found playing volleyball with friends, traveling with her husband (planning a visit to Germany in December), and going on walks with her golden retriever (Miss Remi).

Lori Dubbeldee '00/'11, VP of Finance at Schwan's Consumer Brands

Lori Dubbeldee is originally from Marshall, MN and currently resides in Bloomington, MN. She graduated from SMSU in 2000 with a B.S. in Accounting and Computer Science, and again in 2011 with an MBA with a leadership concentration. She has worked for CJ Schwan’s for 24 years holding various positions in Corporate Accounting, IT, Food Service, and most recently as the VP of Finance for Schwan’s Consumer Brands. Lori also serves on the Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation as a board member and treasurer. Since the fall of 2023, she has additionally served as an adjunct professor within the SMSU North Star Mutual School of Business in the Department of Business Innovation & Strategy. Lori also serves on the Parish Finance Council at her local church, Nativity of Mary.

Outside of work, Lori has two daughters, Tori (22) and Tiffany (19), and a dog named Oscar (4). Lori’s hobbies include traveling, reading, running, and walking her dog.