2025 Women in Leadership Conference

July 22-23 | Lake of the Ozarks

This is the must-attend event for Missouri women in business! Join women leaders from all across Missouri for our sixth annual statewide summit. The schedule will be a mix of interactive workshops and impactful keynotes that blend tangible takeaways, motivational stories and authentic opportunities for networking. Sign up now before it sells out!

Member registration: $300

Non-member registration: $375

All credit card payments will be charged a 3% convenience fee.

Lake of the Ozarks

Join us in 2025 at beautiful lakeside property, Camden on the Lake! Programming will begin the afternoon of July 22 and conclude late in the afternoon July 23.

If you’d like to extend your stay and book more than one night at the property, call 573-365-5620 and reference group code: MCOC0725.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM

2024 Highlights

Hear what past attendees had to say and click below to watch a highlight video!

“I am always inspired by the dynamic speakers who have a lot of inspiring personal stories of overcoming adversity and sharing their journey in transforming their personal and professional lives.”

“Each session was so unique – they were all great!”

“It was eye opening and very informative. I have not been to anything like this before and was really inspired by all the women.”

2024 Highlight Reel

Schedule

We can’t wait to share the full agenda!

For planning purposes, here is the timeframe of the conference:

Tuesday, July 22 | 1:30 – 7 p.m.

We will begin after lunch with interactive sessions and end the day with a networking reception (dinner served). A break from 4-5 p.m. will give you time to check-in to the hotel!

Wednesday, July 23 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Day 2 will consist of general sessions and time for networking over meals – we will end around 3pm.

Take a peak at what we're working on

Mindfulness & energy medicine workshop

Squash mental barriers to be the CEO of your life

Panel discussion with women in politics

Psychological safety and confidence in the workplace

Mental agility and making connections at work

Networking with amazing women

Kara Corches, the first woman President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be the event emcee!

Corches joined the Missouri Chamber in 2019 and has served in multiple roles. She has led the organization’s successful advocacy efforts as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs, like championing the passage of Fast Track and the Credential Training Program to enhance Missouri’s workforce. Corches spearheaded efforts to protect Missouri’s free enterprise system against governmental mandates. She has also led the business community’s robust political efforts via the Missouri Chamber Political Institute, which conducts polling and voter education in support of pro-business candidates.

Before joining the Missouri Chamber, Corches was chief lobbyist for the California Optometric Association in Sacramento. She also worked in political affairs at the California Farm Bureau Federation. Prior to her entry into state-level politics and advocacy, Corches worked at the federal level in Washington, D.C., for the American Medical Association and a member of Congress.

Corches earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Sacramento. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Baylor University. She and her husband, Gwen, have one child and reside in the Jefferson City area.

Speaker Spotlight

Dr. Sarah Getch

Dr. Getch earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and completed both her pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Feinberg School of Medicine. While at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, she worked on several NIMH R01 and R21 projects focused on affective processing as well as perinatal anxiety and depression. After deciding to pursue a career in academia, Dr. Getch worked as an Assistant Professor at Midwestern University in the Department of Behavioral Medicine. In addition to teaching and mentoring Psy.D. students, she served as Director of Admissions, Education Chair, Co-Chair of the Self-Study & Accreditation Committee, and was a founding member of the Interprofessional Education Committee. More recently, Dr. Getch joined Kansas City University (KCU) as the Program Director of the Clinical Psychology program and Assistant Provost for Accreditation where she and her team have built an APA accredited PsyD program. She continues to build IPE curriculum both within the PsyD program and at a university-wide level by assisting in the creation of the university-wide IPE Committee, serving on the IPE steering committee, and through the creation of IPE coursework as well as multiple IPE student experiences.

Dr. Getch discloses that she has no relevant financial relationships with any organization producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients relative to the content of this presentation.

Dr. Kasi Lacey

Dr. Kasi Lacey is a Confidence Coach, Psychologist, and Executive Leadership Speaker specializing in confidence-building, workplace psychology, and women’s leadership development. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, leadership development, and executive coaching, she has worked with professionals at all levels to break free from self-doubt, step into leadership, and lead with authenticity.

As the CEO & Founder of H & L Legacy Consulting, Dr. Lacey blends psychology, leadership strategy, and personal development to empower professionals to take bold action in their careers. Her mission is to help women achieve unshakable confidence, advocate for themselves, and lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact. A sought-after keynote speaker, she equips professionals with the mindset and strategies to apply boldly, interview with confidence, and lead powerfully in their careers.

Headshot of Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano wearing blue sleeveless dress.
Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano

An immigrant from Mexico, Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano uses her lived experiences to transform barriers into opportunities, advocating for equity, entrepreneurship, and language access. As Vice President of Entrepreneurship at Cortex Innovation District and Executive Director of The BALSA Foundation, she has helped hundreds of diverse founders launch and grow businesses, fueling economic empowerment in St. Louis.

Gabriela is a two-time #1 international best-selling author, having participated in three anthologies, including Calladitas Rising, which amplifies the voices of Latinas reclaiming their power. She co-founded Latinas Rising, a platform for women’s leadership and storytelling, and leads STL Juntos, a non-profit that advocates for Spanish-speaking communities to have access to critical resources.

A dedicated marathon runner and community leader, Gabriela serves on numerous boards focused on women’s empowerment, business development, and education. She is also a dynamic speaker and media personality, co-hosting She Led Badass Podcast and Auténtico Podcast, nonprofit and a cohost of Women Rising St. Louis which just launched.

Gabriela’s work has garnered numerous awards, and she continues to inspire others through her mentorship, speaking engagements, and community-building efforts. Her resilience, servant leadership, and passion for creating opportunities for others define her leadership and make her a powerful advocate for change.  With authenticity and passion, Gabriela inspires audiences to lead boldly, embrace their voices, and drive change.

Dr. Lynn Rossy

Dr. Lynn Rossy is a health psychologist and an expert in mindfulness-based interventions for the workplace, stress, and eating. Her books, The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution and Savor Every Bite: Mindful Ways to Eat, Love Your Body, and Live with Joy, were both highlighted as the best mindfulness books the year they were published. She teaches Kripalu and Energy Medicine Yoga in Columbia, MO. She leads retreats and workshops around the world in mindfulness, mindful eating, and yoga. She spent much of her career at the University of Missouri and now works for herself as the Executive Director of Tasting Mindfulness, LLC.

Dr. Ashley Smith

Dr. Ashley Smith is a licensed psychologist, speaker, and author who challenges audiences to master their minds, push past limits, and live boldly. As the co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength, she translates cutting-edge psychology and brain science into actionable insights for overcoming fear, building courage, and expanding what people believe is possible.

Born with a rare visual impairment that makes her legally—and increasingly—blind, Dr. Ashley knows firsthand what it takes to conquer both real and perceived limits. She has built a life filled with bold choices—and now teaches others how to do the same. By blending science with powerful storytelling and practical strategies, she shifts the way audiences see the world—and themselves.

Her message is simple: Your mind will keep you playing small—if you let it.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders — sponsor the Women in Leadership Conference and make a lasting impact on women’s professional growth and success! Sponsorships include attendee seats, as well as premium branding and advertising opportunities. To learn more, contact Chris Burruss at cburruss@mochamber.com or call 573-634-3511.

VIEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

2025 SPONSORS

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Questions?

Reach out to Ashley Schwab with any conference questions!

Ashley Schwab

Director of Conference Development

CONTACT