Third Annual Women for Women Summit Set for October 5th

The third Annual Women for Women Summit, presented by the College of Charleston School of Business, will be held on Thursday, October 5th at the Francis Marion Hotel. The summit is a full day of panel discussions, professional workshops, and networking opportunities for professional women across the state.

The lineup of speakers includes women leaders in business, philanthropy, and healthcare. This year’s keynote speaker is Sheila Johnson, founder and CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts and the first African American female billionaire. Businesswoman and philanthropist, Anita Zucker, is the 2023 Woman of Courage award honoree.

“Our theme this year is ‘champion,'” said Joanna Lau, founder and CEO of executive consulting and investment company Lau Acquisitions, who is a member of the School of Business Board of Governors. “Our kickoff speaker Sheila Johnson and our honoree Anita Zucker as well as our panelists exemplify championship in their own right. These women faced numerous obstacles and setbacks along their journey, but never allowed those challenges to define them. Instead, they harnessed their inner strength and used every setback as fuel to propel them forward. You will hear their personal journeys at this year’s Women for Women Summit.”

2023 Speakers 

Keynote 

Sheila Johnson is Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. The company operates a collection of luxury properties centered around unique destinations in the US and the Caribbean that includes the luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa, in Middleburg, VA which has achieved Forbes Five-Star ratings for both its accommodations and spa.

As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Johnson is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, for which she serves as President and Managing Partner. She also served on the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association where she spearheaded efforts in increasing diversity in the game of golf. Johnson’s memoir, Walk Through Fire, will be published by Simon & Schuster in September 2023.

Woman of Courage honoree 

Anita Zucker is the Chair of The InterTech Group, Inc. (TIG), a privately held company founded by Anita and former husband, Jerry Zucker (OBM). She also served as the TIG CEO from 2008-2022. One of the largest private companies in the USA, TIG and its affiliates operate in a diverse array of industries, from aerospace and specialty chemicals to real estate and entertainment.

Additional Speakers

Jennet Robinson Alterman

LaVanda Brown

Sarah Castle

Helen Hill

Reshma Khan, M.D.

Joanna Lau

Angela Passarelli, Ph.D.

Susan Hull Walker

For additional information about the third annual Women for Women and to purchase tickets, visit https://w4w.cofc.edu.