On Sept. 13, WALTER hosted the tenth annual WINnovation at The Umstead Hotel & Spa, an event that celebrates female leadership through storytelling. The evening kicked off with workshops on professional development led by Amanda Lamb with Stage Might Communications, Amy Gerhartz with a Higher Way of Living, and Melissa de Leon with Melissa de Leon Styling. During cocktail hour, guests were able
to take head shots with photographer Terrence Jones.

The WINnovation talks took place during a three-course dinner in the ballroom. Kari Stoltz, president for Bank of America of the Triangle, and Dianne Bailey, managing director and national philanthropic strategy executive for Bank of America, kicked off the program with a conversation about women leading philanthropic giving.

This year’s program shared stories and wisdom from speakers Francie Gottsegen, president of the North Carolina Courage; Yvette Holmes, CEO of Southeast Raleigh Promise; visual artist Precious D. Lovell; Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson; and Dr. Denise Young, director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Bank of America, supporting sponsor Diamonds Direct and workshop sponsors Wegman’s and Campbell University Law School, as well as table sponsors North State Bank, Synergy Spa, Duke Fuqua School of Business, Dress Code Style, Closets By Design and the City of Raleigh

This article originally appeared in the November, 2024 issue of WALTER magazine.