Leading Ladies Track
Kandi Hughes
MISO
Executive Track
Lauren McKinnon
Project Mockingbird
Lauren McKinnon is the Founder and CEO of Project Mockingbird, a social impact communications agency built on the belief that strategic storytelling can move markets, shift systems, and change lives. With more than two decades of experience spanning public affairs, advocacy, and brand strategy, Lauren has advised Fortune 100 companies and mission-driven organizations on how to use their voices to advance meaningful social change. Her work has supported causes and institutions including Children’s Health, the Environmental Defense Fund, Habitat for Humanity, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, The Family Place, Nexus Family Recovery Center, and Make-A-Wish Foundation, among many others, each unified by a commitment to impact.
A recognized leader and advocate for women in business, Lauren has been named a U.S. Champion of PR by PRWeek, a D CEO Dallas 500 honoree, and a Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient. Under her leadership, Project Mockingbird has been consistently recognized by Inc. Magazine as a Best Workplace. Lauren is a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), serves on the Dallas County District Attorney’s Task Force, and has held board roles with several organizations advancing equity and opportunity. She is deeply committed to the economic empowerment of under-resourced women and girls, a mission shaped by both her professional journey and her life as a mother of three daughters. Now based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Lauren is focused on continuing to build and advocate with purpose, clarity, and heart.
Entrepreneur Track
Workshops
Jillian Bowman
Project Mockingbird
Jillian Bowman is a seasoned social media strategist with a passion for helping nonprofits and mission-driven organizations connect meaningfully with their audiences. Over the years, she has partnered with organizations across multiple industries including children’s hospitals, mental health organizations, education and the arts to lead successful social media campaigns, bringing clarity, creativity, and consistency to their online storytelling.
As the Social Media Director for Project Mockingbird, a social impact communications agency, she is known for her innovative approach, attention to detail, and passion for purpose. Jillian partners closely with organizations to translate big-picture goals into actionable social media strategies. Jillian resides in Colorado, where she can be found wrangling her three children and embracing new hobbies in the mountains.
Susanne Brunner-Williams
Project Mockingbird
Susanne Brunner-Williams is an Emmy Award-winning former news anchor and reporter with over 15 years of newsroom experience nationwide, including eight years in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she anchored FOX16 News Weekends, Good Day Arkansas, and KARK 4 Today. Known for her work covering breaking news and community issues, she also launched local job fairs and a reading initiative to inspire young readers. Now an Account Director and Media Relations Strategist at Project Mockingbird, a social impact PR and communications agency, Susanne helps clients craft compelling narratives and communicate with confidence in a rapidly evolving media landscape. She is also the author of the children’s book Busker the Tusker and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and two children.
