22 Years Strong: WPO Chicago Annual Summit 2025 a Grand Success!

©2025 Women Presidents Organization Chicago.  All rights reserved.

This is "us" – Women Presidents Organization Chicago strong.  A grand success at our 22nd Annual WPO Chicago Summit 9/11/25.

The Summit took a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping business today and tomorrow. From the broader state of the economy to the evolving role of tariffs, interest rates, inflation, and the Federal Reserve, we’ll examine the questions that matter most to business leaders. Are current policies pushing us toward recession—or resilience?  How might rate decisions in 2025 and beyond affect growth? And what happens if politics enters the Fed’s decision-making? Join us for an engaging discussion on what lies ahead and how you can prepare for it.

Panelists discussed:

• A macro view of the state of the economy.
• Where we stand with tariff changes and policies and the impact on business owners.
• Where interest rates will settle in 2025.
• What happens if the Federal Reserve becomes politicized.
• Whether the U.S. dollar strengthens or weakens in 2025.
• What impact the firing of the BLS Administrator has on economic data.
• What if the next equity drawdown is inflation-led, not growth-led?
• How a business owner can survive or even thrive during economic turmoil.

It was a thought-provoking, engaging and informative program. 

Thank you to Foley & Lardner LLP for hosting us.  Shout out to Ellen Wheeler and Lauren Loew – WPO Chicago members and each respective partners at Foley. 

Big thank you to Lisa A. Byrne, MBA, Senior Vice President | Financial Advisor, Portfolio Director Group, RBC Wealth Management and Rachel D. Irons, CFP®, ChFC®, Senior Vice President – Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, UBS for moderating our panel discussion on "Navigating the Unknown: Economic Strategies for Women CEOs."

And to the panelists – Kristin Roesch, Vice President Blackstone Investment Strategy; Charlotte Noels, Vice President Blackstone Private Wealth; Scott Becker, CFA, Calamos, Senior Vice President, Head of Portfolio Specialists; and Katrina Schmaltz, CFA®, CPA, Managing Director, Portfolio Strategist, Nuveen – thank you for sharing your expertise with us.

See you at our 23rd Annual Summit in 2026!

wegg® Showcase™ Featuring Nida Khan, Founder and President, Arya Consulting Partners

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® is a partner to the Women Presidents Organization and Nida Khan (as shown) is a WPO Chicago I chapter member and Founder and President of Arya Consulting Partners.  wegg's focus is educating women entrepreneurs and women business owners on how to take a business global.

Read Nida's inspiring story – why and how she started her business, what challenges she has encountered, what makes Arya Consulting a great place to work, and what tips she has for fellow women business owners who want to start selling services globally – Redefining Consulting:  From Grit to Global.

The CEOs Guide to Delivering Despite Uncertainty

By reining in costs, harnessing new technologies, and strengthening your organization’s culture, you as a CEO can achieve your strategic objectives in 2025 and beyond.

Learn how you can execute on your priorities during uncertain times.

The 22nd Annual WPO Chicago Summit 2025 – Navigating the Unknown: Economic Strategies for Women CEOs

Bring the Intention Back to Buying Black

“What we’re seeing right now isn’t just a political shift – it’s a deliberate turning away from communities that have always been pushed to the margins,” Nikki Porcher, the Atlanta-based founder of nonprofit Buy From a Black Woman, told The Story Exchange. “The reduction in DEI commitments, cuts to inclusive funding programs, and the silencing of conversations about equity all have very real economic consequences, especially for Black-owned businesses.”

Which is why Porcher wants to bring the intention back to buying Black – and she’s got just the directory to make it happen. This past Juneteenth, Porcher debuted Buy From a Black Business.

Three Tips to Foster a Thriving Business Culture

The longer days with summer and renewed momentum offer a great opportunity to reflect on what keeps your team strong and resilient. One of the most effective, yet often underestimated tools is recognition.

Like any good habit, recognition thrives with consistency. 

Here are a few thoughtful ways to reignite the power of recognition in your workplace – this month and beyond. 

ChatGPT Prompts To Help Grow Your Business

ChatGPT has quickly become a household name, with businesses of all sizes leveraging the AI-powered tool to automate tasks and advance their workflows. While its adoption has been rapid, understanding the best practices to maximize its benefits takes time.

Here are 13 useful prompts for ChatGPT, along with methods for fine-tuning them to get high-quality results that help grow your business.