WNY Women’s Foundation to Host Annual WNY Leadership Summit

Signature event aims to engage more than 900 professionals in all stages of leadership

The WNY Women’s Foundation invites local women, men and allies of inclusivity in the work place to register for the 2026 WNY Leadership Summit at the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts on Friday, May 29.

Centered on this year’s theme, “Owning Your Power, Building Com munity,” the Summit will bring together people from all professional backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences to build community, learn from one another and strengthen leadership skills.

The WNY Leadership Summit offers attendees the opportunity to cus tomize their experience based on their current career stage. Tailored interactive workshops and panel discussions are built around the following tracks:

• Aspiring Leaders (0-5 years of career experience)

• Emerging Leaders (6-10 years of career experience)

• Experienced Leaders (10+ years of career experience)

• SHE-Suite Leaders (Women at the C-Suite level)

In addition, a fifth track for Leadership Allies offers programming for men, which is designed for leaders who want to strengthen their role as advocates, sponsors and partners in advancing women in leadership.

“The tremendous growth of the WNY Leadership Summit has been incredibly inspir ing,” said Sheri Scavone, CEO of the WNY Wom en’s Foundation. “As one of the largest gatherings of Western New York’s established leaders and young talent, it offers a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds and career stages to learn from one another in a supportive and uplifting environment.”

The event has sold out for the last two years. Sessions will focus on a range of topics, including defining your leadership style, the art of listening, leveraging influence to create opportunities for others and building supportive work environments.

The UB Distinguished Keynote Panel will feature UB Distinguished Alumni Dr. Ellen Baker (Director, Project ECHO; NASA Veteran), Dr. Raven Baxter (Molecular Biologist & Science Communicator), Dr. Amy Butler (Former Biosciences Division President, ThermoFischer Scientific), and Dottie Gallagher (President & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership). The panel will be moderated by WNY Women’s Foundation emerita board member, Sujata Yalamanchili.

The 2026 WNY Leadership Summit is hosted by the WNY Women’s Foundation, with Pre senting Leadership Part ner Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, in partner ship with the UB Office of Alumni Engagement and the UB Center for the Arts. Arlene Kaukus, Director of Alumni & Industry Engagement at UB, Wei Loon Leong, UB’s Director of Inter national Alumni and Affinity Group Engagement, and Carmen Snell, Esquire, WNY Women’s Foundation Board Member, are co-chairing the event.

“It’s our hope attendees of the summit come away ready to lead with confidence and build environments where everyone can succeed,” Scavone said.