S C H E D U L E

S C H E D U L E

S P E A K E R S

S P E A K E R S

A T T E N D

A T T E N D

K E Y N O T E S

K E Y N O T E S

P H O T O S

P H O T O S

VIP NETWORKING EVENT

Sponsored by

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026

5:30 - 7:00PM

DESIGN1 Showroom

10800 Colonel Glenn Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204

VIP Registrants and Sponsors are invited to attend a private networking event.

Join Us!

SOIREE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM - MAIN EVENT

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM

(workshops 2:15-3:45 PM)

Statehouse Convention Center - Wally Allen Ballroom

Presented by

Register Here

2026 Schedule

7:30 a

  • No physical tickets required. Just check in with your name or company in the Statehouse atrium.

  • Network with other attendees and interact with our event partners.

  • Light breakfast including coffee, tea and juice

Registration & Networking Breakfast

in Statehouse Atrium

9:00 a

  • Opening remarks and introductions from the WLS team and presenting sponsors, Delta Dental of Arkansas & The Hatcher Agency

Welcome

in Wally Allen Ballroom

  • The 2026 opening keynote features Cindy Jones-Nyland, a former C-suite executive and Georgetown-trained coach who helps leaders navigate high-stakes transitions with clarity and confidence. Drawing on her executive experience, she equips leaders with practical tools to build “agency over self” and lead through uncertainty while staying grounded and intentional.

9:15 a

Opening Keynote

in Wally Allen Ballroom

  • visit our activation booths & grab a snack

10:10 a

Break #1

in Pre-function Area

10:30- 11:00 a

  • Importance of Serving on Boards & How to Become an Attractive Candidate for Boards

    Kandi Hughes, MISO

  • Personal Branding for Executives

    Lauren McKinnon, Project Mockingbird

  • Social Media for Small Businesses

    Aly Lablanca, FLEX360

    Sponsored by Wright, Lindsey, Jennings (WLJ)

Session One in Breakout Rooms

in Ballrooms A, B & C

11:05 - 11:35

  • Feedback & Communication in the Workplace

  • Creating Family-Friendly Workplaces

  • What Businesses Need to be Thinking About in 2026

    Sponsored by Wright, Lindsey, Jennings (WLJ)

Session Two in Breakout Rooms

in Ballrooms A, B & C

  • Visit our activation booths, grab a snack, take a break!

Noon

Break #2

in Pre-function Area

12:10 p

Lunch

in Wally Allen Ballroom

12:15 p

Wellness Panel Discussion

in Wally Allen Ballroom

12:50 p

  • The Community Quotient: Designing Workplaces for Connection & Impact

    The focus on creating connected workplace cultures has been building momentum over the past few years, and now is the time to create a fusion between why it is important and how to do it, and that is at the heart of this energizing and soulful presentation from Liz Bohannon.

in Wally Allen Ballroom

Luncheon Keynote

1:35 p

Dismiss

2:15 - 3:45p

Workshops

in Ballrooms B & C

2026 Sponsors

  • DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS

    CO-PRESENTING SPONSOR

  • THE HATCHER AGENCY

    CO-PRESENTING SPONSOR

  • BAPTIST HEALTH

    WELLNESS SPONSOR

  • SIMMONS BANK

    LUNCHEON KEYNOTE SPONSOR

  • DESIGN1

    VIP SPONSOR

  • UAMS HEALTH

    OPENING KEYNOTE SPONSOR

  • WOMAN RUN (WLJ)

    ENTREPRENEUR TRACK SPONSOR

  • WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF ARKANSAS

    SUPPORTING SPONSOR

  • LITTLE ROCK MARRIOTT

    HOSPITALITY PARTNER

  • LRCVB

    PRODUCTION PARTNER

CORPORATE TABLE SPONSORS

Arvest Bank

CARTI

First National Bank

IQonic Wealth Management

Meridian Investment Advisors

Mitchell Williams Law Firm

Lexicon

L'Oréal

Project Mockingbird

The Arkansas Financial Group