ATHENA Speaks Series
ATHENA Speaks is a women's empowerment guest speaker series presented in partnership with the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership. Women are changing the landscape in many organizations and their needs can be met through women leaders sharing and collaborating. ATHENA International has a clear vision--to achieve balance in the voices of leadership worldwide and communities like Erie by developing, supporting, and honoring women leaders. ATHENA Erie and the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership have come together to collaborate on reaching the community of women and men who are ready to support and sustain these important changes. ATHENA Speaks is intended to develop, support, and honor women leaders; lifting up the current and future generations of women leaders by amplifying their voices.
ATHENA Speaks: On Leading in a Virtual Environment - Thursday, February 11, 2021
In 2018, Forbes published an article explaining the concept of "connectional intelligence", which refers to getting ahead and delivering results in one's career by harnessing the power of your relationships. A Harvard Business Review study that same year also revealed that the connections women make when gathering in person lead to greater career success. Both pieces stressed the importance of professionals, especially women, gathering in person to form relationships and develop the confidence to move forward in their careers.
Fast forward to 2020 when in-person networking events are a fond memory and we've been challenged to form relationships from behind the safety of a computer screen. Many professionals have described feeling lost or disconnected during this time, but just because we can't physically gather together doesn't mean we can't still foster meaningful connections.
Keynote speaker, Beck Power, and panelists, Janae Butler, Amanda Kochirka, and Anne Lewis, led a presentation and discussion on how to make the most of building relationships, delivering results, and advancing in your career in a virtual environment. Attendees learned tips for forming true connections without meeting in person, understanding the importance of diversifying your connections, and how to emphasize your value as a leader, all from a virtual platform.
Fast forward to 2020 when in-person networking events are a fond memory and we've been challenged to form relationships from behind the safety of a computer screen. Many professionals have described feeling lost or disconnected during this time, but just because we can't physically gather together doesn't mean we can't still foster meaningful connections.
Keynote speaker, Beck Power, and panelists, Janae Butler, Amanda Kochirka, and Anne Lewis, led a presentation and discussion on how to make the most of building relationships, delivering results, and advancing in your career in a virtual environment. Attendees learned tips for forming true connections without meeting in person, understanding the importance of diversifying your connections, and how to emphasize your value as a leader, all from a virtual platform.
Keynote Speaker: Beck Power, Power Creative Media & Amp Content Academy
Beck Power is a content marketer, international speaker and the host of the Amplify Content podcast.
Beck helps small businesses to create more content and to make that content more effective, driving awareness, engagement, leads and sales. Beck is the founder of Power Creative Media, a done-for-you content agency, and Amp Content Academy, a free resource for DIY content hacks, concepts and frameworks.
Beck has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, New York Mag and TheNextWeb.
Panelists:
Janae Butler, Erie's Public Schools
Janae, an Erie resident and member of the marketing committee for ATHENA Erie, has served as Erie’s Public Schools Communications Specialist since 2015. Her daily job duties include social media and mobile app management, overseeing district and school website content, editorial oversight of district publications, assisting with press materials and more. In 2019, Janae was recognized as a member of the Erie Reader’s “40 Under 40” for her work at Erie’s Public Schools over the years. Janae serves as a current member of Gannon University’s National Alumni Board and is also is a member of Gannon’s “igKnight 90” student mentorship program. Janae graduated from Gannon University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Communications and is a current Gannon student pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications.
Janae, an Erie resident and member of the marketing committee for ATHENA Erie, has served as Erie’s Public Schools Communications Specialist since 2015. Her daily job duties include social media and mobile app management, overseeing district and school website content, editorial oversight of district publications, assisting with press materials and more. In 2019, Janae was recognized as a member of the Erie Reader’s “40 Under 40” for her work at Erie’s Public Schools over the years. Janae serves as a current member of Gannon University’s National Alumni Board and is also is a member of Gannon’s “igKnight 90” student mentorship program. Janae graduated from Gannon University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Communications and is a current Gannon student pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications.
Amanda Kochirka, Decision Associates
Originally from Meadville, Amanda is an Associate Consultant in the Human Capital Practice at Decision Associates, delivering executive recruitment and culture development services to businesses throughout the region. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Public Administration, both from Gannon University. Community service is very important to Amanda and she gives back by participating on the boards for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Foundation for Erie’s Public Schools. She serves on the ATHENA Luncheon and ATHENA Speaks planning committees and is also a member of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture Advisory Board, Erie Women’s Fund, and Erie Arts & Culture Leading Ladies. She was recognized as a member of the Erie Reader “40 Under 40” Class of 2016 and was a finalist for the Women’s Roundtable Diane DeLuca Thompson Woman of the Year award the same year.
Originally from Meadville, Amanda is an Associate Consultant in the Human Capital Practice at Decision Associates, delivering executive recruitment and culture development services to businesses throughout the region. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Public Administration, both from Gannon University. Community service is very important to Amanda and she gives back by participating on the boards for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Foundation for Erie’s Public Schools. She serves on the ATHENA Luncheon and ATHENA Speaks planning committees and is also a member of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture Advisory Board, Erie Women’s Fund, and Erie Arts & Culture Leading Ladies. She was recognized as a member of the Erie Reader “40 Under 40” Class of 2016 and was a finalist for the Women’s Roundtable Diane DeLuca Thompson Woman of the Year award the same year.
Annē Lewis, Red Letter Hospitality
Annē currently serves as Director of Marketing for Red Letter Hospitality and has played a role in many other essential functions of the business since 2014. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurship. In addition to her work with Red Letter, she's a member of the Athena Circle of Trust, Young Erie Professionals, Young Erie Philanthropists, a 2019 graduate of Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy, Junior Achievement Celebrating Success recipient, 40 under 40 recipient, and a constant cheerleader for the Erie Community. Annē has worked extremely hard on rooting herself in the Erie community to do her part in energizing and growing the city. She has created many partnerships with local organizations and loves developing new programs and events for her hometown.
Annē currently serves as Director of Marketing for Red Letter Hospitality and has played a role in many other essential functions of the business since 2014. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurship. In addition to her work with Red Letter, she's a member of the Athena Circle of Trust, Young Erie Professionals, Young Erie Philanthropists, a 2019 graduate of Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy, Junior Achievement Celebrating Success recipient, 40 under 40 recipient, and a constant cheerleader for the Erie Community. Annē has worked extremely hard on rooting herself in the Erie community to do her part in energizing and growing the city. She has created many partnerships with local organizations and loves developing new programs and events for her hometown.