WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Amplifying Allyship: Embracing Risk and Vocal Advocacy

Thursday, September 26, 2024
2:30-3:00 PM Registration and Networking
3-4:30 PM Summit | 4:30-5:30 Networking

Bassford Remele proudly announces its Third Women’s Leadership Summit. Join us for an invigorating discussion with Minnesota women business leaders about the importance of allyship.

Being an active ally requires more than good intentions or showing support when it is convenient. Active allyship requires taking risks, seeking feedback, and providing consistent, intentional support—especially when it is inconvenient, or no one is watching. To move towards equity across all genders, allyship must be active and vocal. Our panel will examine gender inequity and the important role that active and vocal allyship plays in shaping company initiatives, generating new ideas for change, and enhancing our collective efforts towards a more equitable future.

• MODERATOR: Kathy Robideau, Chief Growth Officer, Versique Search & Consulting (formerly Market President & Publisher, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)
  • Kathy Robideau joined Versique Search & Consulting as Chief Growth Officer in June of 2024. Prior to Versique, Robideau served as Market President and Publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ), where she previously led their sales and advertising team and was instrumental in launching several local and national products. Prior to her tenure at MSPBJ, she was the Chief Operating Officer of a medical staffing organization based in Winter Park, Florida where she led multiple acquisitions and assisted in implementing the company’s proprietary database.
  • An Ohio native, Kathy attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated from Capella University. She is deeply involved in the Twin Cities business community and actively participates in several local organizations, including the Itasca Project. She currently serves on the boards of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, YMCA - Eagan, Junior Achievement, and the Thielen Foundation.
  • In her free time, Kathy enjoys sports, outdoor activities and spending time with her husband Tim and twins Payton & Max.

• PANELISTS:
  • Kate Raddatz, Director of Public Relations and Communications, McClung PR, radio contributor (formerly WCCO-TV news reporter)
    • Kate Raddatz is the Director of Public Relations and Communications at McClung PR, where she assists clients in PR and media outreach strategies and media coaching. Prior to joining McClung PR, Kate was an Emmy-award-winning TV news reporter known for her breaking news coverage, health and science reporting, and family-focused storytelling.
    • Kate has more than 13 years of news experience, including almost 10 years as a reporter for CBS at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Kate became a trusted journalist in the Twin Cities, making connections with newsrooms, businesses, non-profits, and government entities across the state.
    • Kate has won four Emmy Awards for her work, which has been picked up by national media outlets including the CBS Evening News, BBC News, People, Yahoo News, and more. Prior to working in Minnesota, Kate covered news, politics, and sports for WBAY-TV, an ABC affiliate in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
    • Outside of work, Kate and her husband, John, stay busy chasing their three young children.
  • Lani Basa, Owner and Co-Founder, The BWC - The Business Women's Circle
    • Lani Basa is the owner and co-founder of The BWC (The Business Women’s Circle), an organization dedicated to bringing like-minded business women together to share their collective wisdom and support one another as they work to achieve business, leadership and life goals. Celebrating 15 years, The BWC continues to focus on supporting women in business through peer Circles, workshops and their Annual Forum.
    • Previously, Lani spent 22 years at the Target Corporation as an “intrapreneur.” Her tenure includes time on the Marshall Field’s Stores Leadership Team, as a Director of Organizational Effectiveness and her last position—creating the HR Operations Division at Target. In all roles, she has always focused on strategic development, leadership coaching, and professional development.
    • The loves of Lani’s life are her people (family, ohana family, friends, pets...), learning (almost anything), the Pacific Northwest, food, books and co-working spaces. Lani eventually plans to do more traveling, after having lived a nomadic life having lived in 9 states and 6 countries – all by the time she graduated from college – she knows the wanderlust will hit again.
    • Company Social Media
      • Instagram: @thebwcorg
      • Facebook: @thebusinesswomenscircle
      • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bwc
        • Personal Social Media
        • Instagram: @lanibski
  • Holly Vitense, Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager, Mechanical Circulatory Support Operating Unit, Medtronic
    • Holly Vitense is Vice President and General Manager of Medtronic's Mechanical Circulatory Support Operating Unit. Holly has a 22-year history at Medtronic where she has held product development, marketing, clinical, medical education, and business leadership positions in businesses serving electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, and interventional cardiology. Holly currently sits on the Global Medtronic Women’s Network Leadership team and is the Executive sponsor for the Maimi hub of the Medtronic African Descent Network, as well as a member of the MedtechWOMEN Advisory Board.
    • Holly holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, as well as a bachelor’s and master’s in Human Factors Engineering from Wright State University.

• Darcy Dahl, CFP, Associate Vice President and Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
  • Darcy Dahl is a Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner®. She has been with Morgan Stanley for more than 16 years, developing her experience through multiple roles. She served in administrative and support roles both client facing and as part of the market management team before becoming a financial advisor in 2016. She earned the Certified Financial Planner® designation shortly after that transition.
  • Darcy is a partner of The Hyland Reserve Group at Morgan Stanley, a team of financial advisors based in Bloomington, MN with more than one billion dollars of assets under the team’s management as of July 31, 2024. In her role she spearheads the team’s financial planning practice. Financial planning is used as the framework to understand each client’s financial needs and priorities before implementing investment recommendations. She closely listens to their experiences to help ensure they have the support needed to make informed financial decisions. For multiple years she has been recognized as part of Morgan Stanley’s Pacesetter’s Club which recognizes financial advisors early in their careers who have demonstrated the highest professional standards and first-class client service.
  • She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. In her spare time, she serves on the Investment Committee for the Japanese Americans Citizens League and is a certified fitness instructor, teaching classes at Barre3 Edina.

Location:

The Grand 1858 at Minneapolis Event Centers
212 Second Street SE, Minneapolis
Complimentary parking | No fee to attend | All genders are welcome

Register here 

Bassford Remele proudly serves as local and national counsel for many major corporations and Fortune 500 Companies and is a go-to litigation firm representing local, national, and international clients in state and federal courts across the region. The firm provides comprehensive counsel and representation in litigation and dispute resolution, family law, and corporate matters, ensuring prompt and effective service for its clients.

Established in 1882, Bassford Remele is proud to be the oldest top-25 law firm based in Minnesota.