2026 Forward Women's Leadership Forum.

Shop Small for Big Impact

The SheShop Marketplace is a curated vendor experience at the Forward Women’s Leadership Forum, created to intentionally support small, women-owned businesses and elevate brands that are rooted in purpose, quality, and community impact.

More than a shopping experience, The SheShop is where economic empowerment meets sisterhood. Each purchase directly supports entrepreneurs who are building, growing, and reinvesting in their communities.

At The SheShop, attendees can:

Discover and support small, women-owned, and mission-driven businesses

Engage directly with founders, makers, and service providers

Shop thoughtfully curated products and services aligned with wellness, lifestyle, beauty, finance, career growth, and entrepreneurship

Learn the stories behind the brands and the impact their dollars help create

By choosing to shop at The SheShop, you are making a conscious decision to:

Support small businesses

Circulate dollars within the community

Invest in women who are creating opportunity and generational impact

SheShop reflects the heart of the Forward Women’s Leadership Forum—intentional connection, collective growth, and the belief that when women support women, communities rise.

SheShop: Shop Small for Big Impact.

The VIP experience is designed for women who want more access, deeper connection, and intentional preparation for what’s next.

Your VIP ticket grants you exclusive, two-day access to the Forward Women’s Leadership Forum experience—beginning the evening before the Forum and continuing through a premium, elevated experience on Forum Day.

VIP Ticket Includes:

Invitation to the VIP Reception
Thursday, March 5, 2026
An intimate evening of Vision, Inspiration, and Preparation with fellow leaders, speakers, sponsors, and partners. This is a curated networking experience with meaningful conversations—not surface-level exchanges.

VIP-Only “NOW” Session
A special empowerment session created exclusively for VIPs, focused on clarity, courage, and next-step strategy. This is where reflection meets action.

Priority Seating & Elevated Access
Enjoy preferred seating and a more personalized Forum experience throughout the day.

VIP Swag & Amenities
Thoughtfully curated gifts and premium touches that reflect the care and intention behind the Forum.

Full Access to the Forum Experience
Includes all General Admission benefits:

Leadership panels across Finance, Careers, Entrepreneurship, and Health & Wellness

Interactive sessions and guided reflection

Marketplace of Opportunities with 30+ curated vendors

Networking with 200+ professional women and change-makers from across the DMV

The VIP ticket is ideal for women who value proximity, preparation, and purpose—and who understand that access accelerates impact.

This is not just a seat in the room.
This is a seat closer to the conversation, the resources, and the relationships that move you forward.

Space is limited. Advance purchase is strongly recommended.

Join over 200 dynamic women for a powerful, one-day leadership experience designed to inspire action, spark connection, and move you forward with clarity and confidence.

The General Admission ticket includes full access to the 8th Annual Forward Women’s Leadership Forum on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel, Columbia, MD, from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM.

As a General Admission attendee, you will experience:

Engaging panels and interactive sessions across the Forum’s four pillars: Finance, Careers, Entrepreneurship, and Health & Wellness

Honest, solution-driven conversations addressing real-world challenges and opportunities facing women today

Access to the Marketplace of Opportunities, featuring 30+ curated vendors and exhibitors

Powerful moments of reflection, motivation, and sisterhood woven throughout the day

Networking with professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers from across the DMV region

Opportunities to learn from pitch competitions, scholarship awards, and leadership recognitions

This ticket is ideal for women who are ready to reset, refocus, and take intentional steps toward their next chapter—personally, professionally, or entrepreneurially.

Please note:
General Admission does not include access to the VIP Reception or VIP-only sessions.

Come as you are. Leave empowered, connected, and ready to move forward—because if not now, when?

COMING SOON!

Friday

8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

8:00 AM - Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM - Opening Ceremony - If Not Now, When?

9:15 AM - Morning Breakout Session (2 - Simultaneous Sessions)

Career Tank and Power Moves Now!: Advancing Your Next Step

Failing Forward: Moving From Vision To Action

10:15 AM - Mindful Reset Break and SHESHOP Marketplace

10:30 AM - Morning Session (2 - Simultaneous Sessions)

VIP (Only) Fireside Chat: From Leadership to Leverage—Building What You Own

General Session: Mindful Reset—Dealing with Stress in Chaos

11:30 – 12:15 PM - Moments of Hope—Sharing powerful stories of resilience and triumph

12:15 - PM - Lunch, SHESHOP, and DJ

1:15 - 2:00 PM - Awards: LeadHERship, Purse Pitch, ScholaHERship

2:00 PM - Afternoon Breakout Session

Health & Wellness Circle: Fibroids—What Every Woman Should Know

3:00 PM - Closing