Words can’t express the inspiration and excitement I leave with after every time I get to meet more of you and collaborate with you in person. Last week was Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s (WIRLC) first time back “On the Road” for our regional, day-long events, this time in Dallas, and wow, it didn’t disappoint!

The leadership lessons from incredible keynote speakers like Doughp Founder Kelsey Moreira, Courageous Leadership Institute President and Founder Cindy Solomon, and Grocery Outlet Chief New Store Growth Officer Layla Kasha ranged from how to make mental health a priority to how to lead courageously to how to uplift women and work together to rise to the top.

We also heard a real discussion about the career challenges women in the retail industry have been facing, a conversation on how leaders can build inclusive culture to keep employees engaged, and life lessons from top retail leaders such as Half Price Books’ President Kathy Doyle Thomas and At Home Chief Revenue Officer Ashely Sheetz.

Best of all, attendees spent time getting to know each other in vulnerable, authentic ways. We wrapped up the event with cocktails and networking that none of us wanted to end.

What I love most about these events is hearing that you felt it was a safe space to share, let your guard down, and connect without any pressure. So often, networking and professional events come with certain expectations, and women remain cautious and reserved — at least I do. But our On the Road events and our annual Women in Retail Leadership Summit strive to teach you how to bring your whole self to whatever it is you’re looking for — courage, leadership, connections, or something else.

If you haven’t yet been to a WIRLC event, or would like to join us at a future one, we have two more remaining this year! We’ll be hosting our New York On the Road event on Oct. 6 and our San Francisco On the Road event on Nov. 9. If you can’t join us in person, we’ve got plenty of virtual opportunities as well, including our next virtual workshop on attracting and retaining talent in the new world of work. Join experts from Korn Ferry in this virtual discussion starting at 12 p.m. ET on June 16. The virtual workshop is free for Women in Retail Leadership Circle members; it is $79 for nonmembers. Email me (malbiges@napco.com) for the free promo code!

And some more good news: the content from our On the Road event in Dallas is available on-demand to WIRLC members for free. You can learn more about our organization and apply for membership here.