The Women’s Leadership Program is a staple of Forrester events. While each year’s program evolves, its core purpose remains the same: to build community, acknowledge challenges, celebrate strengths, and help women advance — in their careers and as leaders, wherever they are in their journey.

Maria Chien and Phyllis Davidson are two of the hosts of this year’s program at B2B Summit North America. Here, they share what makes the program so special — and why it matters now more than ever.

Q: For those who aren’t familiar with it, how would you describe the Women’s Leadership Program?

MC: At its core, the program is about building a sense of community — a space where women can feel safe, authentic, and supported. It’s intentionally designed to lower the walls people often feel they have to keep up at work — or even at large events. It’s an opportunity to openly reflect on shared challenges but also on the distinctive perspectives women bring to leadership, work, and life.

It’s also important to call out that the program is not just for people with leadership titles. We use the term leadership very deliberately — because it shows up in a lot of ways. You might be leading a team, a business, a project, or simply your own career as an individual contributor. This program is for women across levels, roles, and stages of experience.

Q: Why is this program particularly meaningful right now?

MC: First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that women still are not where we need to be. Progress has been made but not enough — and not fast enough. That makes programs like this not just nice to have but necessary.

PD: Also, thinking about the moment we’re in right now, there’s so much coming at us — job market uncertainty, advances in AI, broader social and economic pressures. For those of us working in the B2B space, we know how dramatically those dynamics are changing. All of this creates real stress and fatigue. Community is more important than ever. Your network can support you, challenge you, and lift you up. This program is about creating space for those connections — not just transactional networking but relationships that endure.

Q: What do you personally enjoy most about being part of the program?

PD: The energy in the room is unlike anything else at the event. There’s a sense of camaraderie and warmth that settles in quickly. It becomes a place where people give themselves grace — where they can focus inward for a moment and acknowledge the value they bring, not just to their jobs but to their lives.

There’s also something really powerful about the openness participants bring. We’re intentional about the tone, the speakers, and the topics, but what makes the program what it is every year is the willingness of attendees to show up authentically. That shared vulnerability creates moments that stay with people long after the event ends.

Q: What do you hope participants come away with?

MC: A stronger network and a stronger sense of community, certainly. Many people also leave having made connections that turn into mentors. Hopefully, participants also gain a different perspective — an understanding and appreciation for others’ lived experiences.

An important aspect of the program is hearing from women at different stages of their careers. There’s real value in “reverse mentorship” — listening to less tenured professionals talk about what they’re experiencing, what challenges they’re facing, and how they’re navigating them. They learn from us, but we learn just as much from them. That exchange helps all of us become better, more inclusive leaders.

Q: What can participants expect from the Women’s Leadership Program this year?

MC: Based on a positive response from last year, the program is woven throughout the event, rather than concentrated into a single block of time. This was in response to feedback we heard that people wanted more opportunities to connect.

The program will kick off on Monday morning with a keynote, followed by a panel discussion and roundtables designed to encourage conversation and connection. On Tuesday, there will be a lunch session featuring another panel, including voices from our Future Leaders program. We’ll wrap up on Wednesday morning with a breakfast focused on reflection — what resonated, what people learned, and how we can continue to evolve the program.

Importantly, there’s something happening each day, and it’s designed to complement — not compete with — the broader Summit agenda.

Q: What are you most looking forward to?

PD: Meeting everyone! Every year, the people who come into the room bring something different — their stories, their honesty, their energy. When that happens, it creates something bigger than any one session or speaker.

It’s that shared sense of connection — the feeling that you’re not alone, that you’re part of something — that makes the program so special. And it’s what keeps us excited to come back and do it again, year after year.

Inspired? Register now for B2B Summit North America and join us for the Women’s Leadership Program!