Videos & Photos: Women's Global Impact

Sponsor Spotlight with MyEyeDr.: Leading with Purpose

Sue Downes, founder of MyEyeDr. and an event sponsor, sits down with Newsweek's Kylie McCoy to discuss the power of perspective and leading with purpose during the 2025 Women's Global Impact event. Having built a network of optometry offices that grew to more than 900 locations in 24 years, Downes has combined her passion for promoting healthy eye care practices with a people-centered approach.

“Vision has always been core to me, and I think the consumer is often miseducated. I wanted to create a company where, when you come in with a problem, we can spend more time focused on eye care and eyewear,” Downes said.

Sponsor Spotlight with Hers: The Future of Women’s Health

In this forward-looking conversation, Newsweek's Kylie McCoy sits down with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Chief Medical Officer at Hers, an event sponsor, to explore how connected, personalized care is breaking down long-standing barriers in women’s health. Shepherd explains how telehealth appointments can combat feelings of shame.

"I can see all my patients. Even those who know what we do still experience that shame," Shepherd said. Having availability, flexibility, and convenience when it comes to scheduling and attending appointments is "profound" for women who may be taking care of others while juggling a career, Shepherd told the audience.

Women at Work: Shaping an Equitable Future

Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts USA, and Catherine Wragg, Chief People Officer of TriNet, an event sponsor, sit down with Newsweek’s senior reporter Lauren Giella to discuss how women are leading innovation and reshaping the workplace across multiple industries. Wragg highlights TriNet’s programs that elevate female employees, including executive programs and peer-to-peer groups focused on self-advocacy and pay negotiations.

"A lot of it is just bringing in other leaders—whether they’re male or female—and talking about their life experiences, being authentic about the challenges you’ve faced or the opportunities you’ve had, and sharing your trajectory. Because it’s not always linear. Sometimes it’s horizontal,” Wragg said.

Female Founders: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Launching a business is bold—but thriving as a female founder in today’s entrepreneurial landscape requires strategy, resilience, and support. In this empowering discussion, Anu Duggal of Female Founders Fund leads a conversation with Kristie D’Ambrosio-Correll of Dacora and Katie Sturino of Megababe, author and body acceptance advocate. Together, they share their journeys, challenges, and wins—offering honest insights and practical advice for navigating the startup world and building a more inclusive future for women in business.

Redefining the Market: How Women in Business Are Transforming Consumer Engagement

Women in business are reshaping the way brands connect with their customers.

In this panel, Sarah Bishop, vice president, Global Brand and Consumer Marketing of the NFL, Alex Schinasi, co-founder and president of Hulken, and Jennifer Yue, SVP, Tapestry & Coach Strategy and Consumer Insights at Coach Collaborations and Coachtopia, lead a discussion on how female leaders and entrepreneurs are moving beyond traditional engagement tactics to build compelling narratives and value-driven experiences.

Moderated by Mandy Taheri, weekend reporter at Newsweek, the panel of changemakers share how they drive meaningful engagement and build loyalty in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.

Women on Boards: How to Get There and How to Leave a Lasting Impact

Trewstar founder and CEO Beth Stewart led a panel of leading female board members to discuss how they can drive meaningful change, influence strategy, and leave a legacy of leadership.

Sharda Cherwoo, Independent Board Director of The Carlyle Group and World Connect Corp., and Bridget Ryan Berman, member of the Board of Directors of the Asbury Automotive Group, Newell Brands, and Tanger, Inc. discuss how to navigate board dynamics and contribute in a way that will resonate, long after your term has ended.

Tech Savvy - Leveraging AI To Exceed Expectations

Artificial intelligence leaders joined Jennifer Cunningham, editor-in-chief of Newsweek, to discuss how to use it as a powerful tool to reshape how business people work, lead and innovate.

Panelists Christel Buchanan, founder and CEO of ChatAndBuild; Melissa Faulkner, chief information officer of Skanska USA; and Miruna Sasu, president and CEO of COTA, Inc, discussed how to best harness AI to elevate performance, optimize decision-making and drive transformational outcomes.

Post Girlboss The Next Generation Of Female Leaders

A new generation of executives shared their experiences of stepping into the boardroom for the first time at Newsweek's Women's Global Impact forum.

Lucy Guo, founder and CEO of Passes; KaLeigh Long, founder and CEO of Westwin Elements; and Daniella Pierson, founder and CEO of The Newsette and CHASM, join moderator Katherine Fung, senior reporter at Newsweek, to discuss being Gen Z leaders in the business space and how they navigate generational gaps across industries.

Industry Spotlight - Women in Health Care

Leading health care industry experts discuss shaping policy, delivering care and driving change at every level.

Panelists include: Heather Farley, MD, MHCDS, FACEP, chief well-being officer and professor of emergency medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina; Rhonda Jordan, SHRM-SCP, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Virtua Health; Stacey E. Rosen, MD, FAHA, executive director of the Katz Institute for Women's Health at Northwell and volunteer president at the American Heart Association; and Jannine Versi, co-founder and CEO of Elektra Health.

The panel of trailblazers are discussed transforming health care and women making bold moves in medicine, biotech, public health, administration and beyond.