Texas Conference for Women
 | |
| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Women's leadership organization |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
Official language | English |
| Website | TXConferenceForWomen.org |
The Texas Conference for Women is a nonprofit, nonpartisan leadership conference for women of all ages and backgrounds. The first annual conference was held in 2000 in Austin, Texas. From 2000 until 2014, former Governor Rick Perry and former First Lady Anita Perry served as the official hosts of the event, which has featured keynote speakers including Dr. Maya Angelou, poet, author, educator and historian; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, writer and family health advocate; Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP; Maria Hinojosa, Emmy-nominated journalist and author; and Melinda French Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Traditionally, the conference has attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 7,500 women.
The one-day event consists of keynote addresses and breakout sessions led by experts in the fields of business, philanthropy, health, finance, media and professional development. Attendees learn new communication skills, leadership strategies and work/life balance tools designed to enhance their professional and personal growth.
Past speakers
Yolanda Adams; Isabel Allende; Maya Angelou; Jennifer Arnold; Martha Beck; Jennifer Berman; Laura Berman; Bertice Berry; Cherie Blair; Lindy Boggs; Barbara Bradley Baekgaard; Nancy Brinker; Douglas Brinkley; Neissa Brown Springmann; Marcus Buckingham; Jeri Callaway; Katherine Center; Johnnetta Cole; Jody Conradt; Kathleen Daelemans; Sarah Ferguson; Carly Fiorina; Vonetta Flowers; Nely Galán; Melinda Gates; Nancy Giles; Glenda Hatchett; Christy Haubegger; Jessica Herrin; Maria Hinojosa; Karen Hughes; Mae Jemison; Tory Johnson; Marion Jones; Sarah Jones; Doris Kearns Goowin; Geraldine Laybourne; Nastia Liukin; Marcus Luttrell; Robert Malone; Rose Mapendo; Sara Martinez Tucker; Cindy McCain; Pat Mitchell; Jeff Moseley; Lisa Niemi Swayze; Suze Orman; Turk Pipkin; Rend Rahim Francke; Condoleezza Rice; Ann Richards; Cokie Roberts; Rebecca Roberts; Leslie Sanchez; Ruth Simmons; Melinda Spaulding; Martha Stewart; Helen Thomas; Leigh Ann Tuohy; Elizabeth Vargas; Lori Vetters; Andrea White; Meg Whitman; Mary Wilson