Event information

Thursday, September  17
10am – 4:00pm

JWS Harborside Campus
320 Harborside Blvd. Cranston

Join the Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island for the inaugural Women in Insurance Leadership Summit, a one-day event designed to inspire, connect, and empower women at every stage of their careers.

Through interactive workshops, engaging speakers, and candid conversations, attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen communication, navigate difficult conversations, build confidence, establish healthy boundaries, and grow as authentic leaders. The day concludes with a networking reception featuring appetizers and drinks.

Tentative Agenda

10:00 AM – Workshop: Active Listening & Holding Difficult Conversations

Tricia Driscoll
Executive Director
Center for Mediation and Collaboration RI

Strong communication starts with knowing how to truly listen, especially when conversations get difficult. This interactive workshop will explore practical ways to listen with intention, communicate clearly, and approach challenging conversations with greater confidence.

11:00 AM – Keynote Speaker: No Permission Required: Building Influence, Visibility, and Leadership in Insurance

Traci Adedeji
Founder & President
Positive Paradigm Group

You don’t need the perfect title, invitation, or permission to lead. Discover how to recognize the value you already bring, use your voice with intention, and step confidently into the rooms where decisions are made.

12:00 PM – Lunch Program: Listen to Your Heart

Florence DuPerry
SVP, HR Consulting Practice Leader
Starkweather & Shepley Insurance

Women spend so much time taking care of everything and everyone around them that it can be easy to ignore what their own bodies are telling them. In this powerful personal session, Florence shares why those warning signs matter.

1:00 PM – Featured Session: More to Come

Additional session details coming soon.

2:00 PM – Panel Discussion: Women in Leadership

There’s no single path to leadership. Hear from an accomplished panel of women as they share the experiences that shaped their careers, the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and the lessons they’ve learned about leading with confidence and purpose.

Panelists:

• Melissa Darigan, Rhode Island Superior Court Judge
• Michele Streton, Chief Executive Officer, Providence Mutual
• Elizabeth Lowe, President, Starkweather & Shepley Insurance
• Betty Robson, Owner, JF Moran

3:00 PM – Connect & Unwind: Networking Reception

Wrap up the day with drinks, appetizers, and meaningful conversation. Connect with fellow attendees, continue the discussions from the day, and build new relationships in a relaxed setting.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gold Sponsor ($1,000) | Unlimited Opportunities
Gold Sponsor of the Women’s Summit.
• Two (2) complimentary event registrations.
• Opportunity to have an exhibitor table.
• Logo on pre-event marketing, website & emails.
• Logo on onsite printed and digital signage.
• Dedicated social media recognition post.
• List of registered attendees prior to event.
• Opportunity to include one promotional item in attendee welcome bags.

Silver Sponsor ($500) | Unlimited Opportunities
• One (1) complimentary event registration.
• Logo on pre-event marketing, website & emails.
• Logo on onsite printed and digital signage.
• List of registered attendees prior to event.
• Opportunity to include one promotional item in attendee welcome bags.

Exhibitor Table Sponsor ($350)
• One exhibitor table in the networking area.
• One (1) exhibitor representative registration.
• Logo on pre-event marketing, website & emails.
• Logo on onsite printed and digital signage.
• List of registered attendees prior to event.