Midland University will welcome women of all industries and backgrounds to its first Women’s Leadership Forum, "Follow Her Lead," this month.

In stride with the societal momentum of the women-supporting-women movement, Midland University will host the inspirational forum for local women of all leadership capacities to help facilitate and enhance a community of support.

“Our primary goal is to engage aspiring leaders in the community,” said Jody Horner, Midland University president. “While this event is open and welcoming to persons of all genders, we are excited to feature the unique perspectives and experiences of female leaders in our local community. Midland University believes in the education and advancement of women, and through this exciting event, we hope to continue the global conversation about the distinctive leadership of women.”

The leadership forum will be panel-style, where leaders will be asked to share  personal experiences and reflections on what it means to be a relevant leader today. To best accommodate professional work schedules, the event will be held on two separate dates. The first is Thursday, May 16, at 11:30 a.m. for attendees interested in joining the discussion over the lunch hour. The second event will take place Monday, May 20, at 3 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the Midland University Omaha location at 11213 Davenport St., Suite 100.

“Advancing the education, growth and leadership of women has been a longstanding hallmark of the Midland University experience,” said Jessica Janssen Wolford, vice president for institutional advancement. “As we look to our vision for the future, we boldly aspire to be relentlessly relevant and encourage the next generation of women and men to be great leaders in their communities.”

"Follow Her Lead" panelists are Horner; Karen Bell-Dancy, executive director of YWCA of Lincoln; Jennifer Bixby, president of Don Peterson & Associates; Brandi Paul, director of communications and engagement at Westside Community Schools; the Rev. Peggy Hall, vice president of mission and spiritual care at Immanuel; Brianne Mathew, mergers, acquisitions and market conversion at First National Bank; and Stephanie Gould, senior vice president of talent, leadership and organizational development at American National Bank.

“Through this inaugural event, we have the distinctive opportunity to highlight women from across the state who have been truly inspirational in their work, and I am personally excited to learn from their experiences,” Janssen Wolford said.

For additional information or to register for the Women’s Leadership Forum, visit https://info.midlandu.edu/follow-her-lead/.