These four speakers share their stories of ambition, resilience and reinvention over dinner at The Umstead.
by WALTER staff
We’re thrilled to welcome WINnovation into its second decade! Originally conceived by WALTER staffers Liza Roberts and Jesma Reynolds in partnership with Kari Stoltz and Virginia Parker of Bank of America, the first WINnovation, in September 2015, was billed as “an elegant dinner celebrating women and innovation” and held at The Angus Barn Pavilion. That inaugural gathering featured six panelists who shared short “WIN Talks” outlining their experiences with entrepreneurship and innovation.
Since 2016, the event has taken place over dinner at The Umstead Hotel & Spa, expanding over the years to include professional workshops and networking alongside the storytelling. But the heart of the evening has never changed: gathering women leaders from our community to share their stories. In the years since, we’ve covered nearly every topic relevant to women in the workplace — from fueling ambition to finding balance, from overcoming failure to mentoring fresh talent, from navigating workplace politics to leading solo. This year, on September 18, we continue that tradition at The Umstead — join us for another night of honest, inspiring conversation.
Read on to meet the speakers for WINnovation 2026 and find more details about the event here.
WINnovation 2026 Speakers
Lauren Kennedy Brady | Founder & Executive Director, Theatre Raleigh
Lauren Kennedy Brady is a Broadway veteran and graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her credits include lead roles in Sunset Boulevard, Side Show, Les Misérables and Spamalot, plus Nellie Forbush in South Pacific at London’s National Theatre. At Northlight Theatre, she originated the role of Cathy in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. Brady is lead producer of Bull Durham, co-producer of the Tony Award–nominated Titanique, and has released two solo albums with PS Classics. As founder and executive director of Theatre Raleigh, she has built one of the region’s leading professional theatre companies and spearheaded a successful million-dollar capital campaign to relocate and transform an industrial warehouse into a vibrant performing arts and education hub.
Jean Gray Mohs | Artist & Co-Director, Visual Art Exchange
Jean Gray Mohs is a local artist and arts leader who builds with wood, thread, fire and community. She is a co-executive director of Visual Art Exchange (VAE), Raleigh’s artist-led nonprofit supporting emerging and professional artists through exhibitions, programming and advocacy. Mohs’ sculptural work explores the body as architecture, informed by her experience as a double lung transplant survivor navigating chronic illness — work that has been featured in regional and national publications. Before her leadership at VAE, Mohs built a studio practice in Raleigh while serving on nonprofit boards. With a degree in studio art, she’s a passionate advocate for investing in local creative ecosystems. A Raleigh resident and mother, Mohs builds arts infrastructure with her hands, time and sustained commitment to everything she builds.
Stacey Buescher | EVP of Commercial Operations, Kane Realty
As EVP of Commercial Operations for Kane Realty, Stacey Buescher oversees day-to-day operations at all commercial properties, with a focus on exceptional customer service across all relationships and partnerships. She also manages teams dedicated to events and marketing, specialty leasing and construction upfits. Buescher began her career at IBM before moving to ChannelAdvisor, where she spent over nine years leading and growing teams that supported more than 1,100 U.S.-based clients. Buescher serves on the boards of Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Marbles Kids Museum and more. Born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, she has loved Raleigh since the day she arrived at North Carolina State University.
Shirnetta Harrell | Founder and Executive Director, The No Woman, No Girl Initiative
Shirnetta Harrell is the founder and executive director of The No Woman, No Girl Initiative. A social worker by trade, she brings over a decade of experience in crisis response and trauma-informed care for vulnerable women in our local communities. Harrell is a former Miss Shaw University, a two-time HBCU graduate and recipient of numerous regional and local awards. In 2024, following Hurricane Helene, The No Woman, No Girl Initiative expanded its reach to serve the state of North Carolina. The organization remains hyper-local to Raleigh, having ensured that over 9,000 women, girls and families have access to hygiene products during their darkest moments.
This article was originally published on July 8, 2026 on waltermagazine.com
