Whether you subscribe to the belief that autumn starts after Labor Day or, if like me, you’re hanging on to summer for as long as possible and waiting until the Sept. 22 equinox to declare an end to beach days, grilling and pool hangs, at Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC), we’re in deep prep for our fall On the Road events, beginning with Chicago and Columbus on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16, respectively.

WIRLC Co-Founder and Brand Director Melissa Campanelli has been hard at work creating the perfect speaker lineups for these half-day events, and we’re so excited to announce the following retail leaders will take the stage in the Midwest this fall:

In Chicago, keynote speaker Kelly Mahoney, chief marketing officer at Ulta Beauty, will be kicking things off by offering a playbook into how the beauty retailer is creating connection, loyalty and cultural relevance as it enters a new era. She’ll explore how brand equity, cultural resonance and innovation work together to meet the evolving needs of today’s beauty consumer.

International keynote speaker Shelley Brown will then share some hard truths about the myth that women shouldn’t be their authentic selves in order to be good leaders. Through compelling storytelling and actionable strategies, Brown will reveal how embracing our whole selves, both our hard and soft qualities, is not only acceptable, but essential for lasting influence and impact.

The half-day Chicago event will conclude with some unfiltered insights from a panel of experts taking leadership to new heights. The panel will include Sarah Casalan Bittle, president of The UPS Store; Roz Johnson, senior vice president and chief people officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop; and Janice Tennant, global brand president at Merrell.

Follow the WIRLC team on a flight to Columbus after that (or take a six-hour road trip like we did last year) for our next half-day event, featuring a conversation with Shawuan Johnson, Victoria Secret’s chief merchant.

Executive coach and motivational speaker Regan Walsh will then take the stage to answer a question all of us have probably asked ourselves at one point as we climb the corporate ladder: “Is this it?” Walsh will uncover the eight secrets to heart-led success — from defining what it means to win to making our yesses count — so we can author a life we love.

Elaina Carpino, chief operating officer of Change Enthusiasm Global, will then lead us in an interactive discussion where we will tackle the most pressing challenges facing retail leaders today. You’ll walk away with a few solutions that you can immediately take back to your teams.

As with Chicago, we’ll close the afternoon with a panel of powerhouse retail leaders sharing their insights on growth, navigating setbacks, developing high-performance teams, and more. The panel will include Claudia Cividino, president of Jared Jewelers and Diamonds Direct under the Signet Jewelers portfolio; Chris Kaighn, executive vice president and chief stores and culture officer for francesca’s; and Susan Oguche, former executive vice president and chief communication officer for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Aside from these incredible speakers, what makes our On the Road events so special is the community of female retail leaders coming together for an afternoon of open and honest discussions, authentic insights, and beautiful connections. We can’t wait to see you in Chicago on Oct. 14 and Columbus on Oct. 16 — grab your tickets before we sell out! WIRLC members receive discounted registration, so if you’re not a member, apply today!