The prestigious Women of Impact Summit returns for its fifth annual gathering next month, bringing together visionaries from fashion, finance, and technology. This year’s event promises groundbreaking discussions on industry convergence and female leadership in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Over 300 executives will convene at the Javits Center in New York City from May 15-17. The summit’s expanded three-day format reflects growing corporate interest in women’s leadership initiatives. According to McKinsey’s 2024 Women in the Workplace report, companies with higher female executive representation outperform peers by 27% on long-term value creation metrics.
“This isn’t just another networking event,” explains Summit Chair Rebecca Houghton. “We’ve created a forum where meaningful collaborations happen across industries. Last year’s summit directly led to three major venture funding deals for women-led startups.”
The summit arrives at a pivotal moment. Despite women earning nearly 60% of undergraduate degrees, they hold just 24% of C-suite positions in Fortune 500 companies. The technology sector shows even more pronounced disparities, with women occupying only 17% of technical roles at major firms, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
This year’s keynote speaker, Treasury Secretary Elena Martínez, will address economic inclusion strategies. Her session explores how policy reforms can support women entrepreneurs. Other featured speakers include fashion innovator Simone Chen, financial technology pioneer Daria Williams, and sustainable investment expert Leila Johnston.
The summit’s unique cross-industry approach distinguishes it from typical corporate conferences. Panel discussions will tackle artificial intelligence ethics, sustainable fashion, financial inclusion, and leadership development. Each session pairs executives from different sectors to explore collaboration opportunities.
Tech entrepreneur Maya Singh, whose startup secured $5 million in funding following connections made at last year’s summit, believes the event’s value comes from its diversity of thought. “I met investors who understood my vision because they brought different industry perspectives,” she told Forbes. “Traditional tech investors couldn’t see what fashion-focused VCs immediately grasped about our consumer platform.”
Beyond formal programming, the summit features mentorship sessions where established leaders meet with emerging talents. These structured conversations create pathways for participants to build relationships beyond the event itself. According to organizers, 43% of attendees from previous years report forming ongoing mentoring relationships.
Financial services representation has grown significantly for this year’s event. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Blackrock will send delegations, reflecting finance’s increased focus on women in leadership. “The industry recognizes that diverse teams make better investment decisions,” notes financial analyst Sophia Torres of The Lindemann Group. “This isn’t just about equity—it’s about competitive advantage.”
The fashion contingent brings sustainability experts alongside traditional design houses. Luxury conglomerate LVMH will present its women’s leadership initiative results, while smaller ethical fashion brands showcase scalable production models. “Fashion has always had powerful women, but now we’re claiming technical and financial expertise too,” explains designer Rachel Patel, whose sustainable luxury brand launches this year.
Technology representation spans established firms and startups. Microsoft and Google are platinum sponsors, while venture-backed firms present innovation showcases. Session topics include ethical AI development, biotechnology advancements, and financial technology solutions addressing historical gender gaps in banking.
The summit eschews traditional panel formats for more interactive sessions. “Collaboration Laboratories” pair executives from different industries to solve specific challenges presented by nonprofit organizations. Last year, these sessions generated actionable solutions for educational access, healthcare delivery, and climate initiatives.
Corporate sponsorship has doubled since the inaugural summit, reflecting businesses’ growing recognition of women leaders’ economic impact. Research from Boston Consulting Group indicates companies founde
