Maryland Smith To Host Tenth Annual Women Inspire Event

At Maryland Smith, Women’s History Month will be off to a strong start.

On March 4, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business will host Women Inspire. Now in its 10th year, the annual event celebrates alumnae leaders in business and encourages attendees to strive to reach their full potential.

The 2021 Women Inspire Honorees will be Maryland Smith alumnae Wendy Sanhai, PhD, EMBA '09, specialist leader at Deloitte Consulting, and Ali von Paris ’12, CEO and founder of Route One Apparel. The panel discussion, held virtually via Zoom, will be moderated by Smith professor Nicole M. Coomber.

This year’s event builds on a tradition of showcasing fearless Maryland Smith alumnae succeeding at every level in business and influencing future leaders, says event organizer Mark Forrest.

“From finance to marketing to business development and all areas in between, the list of past Women Inspire honorees is filled with Smith alumnae leaders in a variety of disciplines,” says Forrest, program director for Maryland Smith’s Office of Alumni Relations. “This year’s honorees will expand that list of disciplines and continue to raise the bar of excellence for business leaders.”

Following the one-hour discussion, a special virtual networking hour will take place, with attendees welcome to enter breakout rooms catering either to specific industry groups or general networking.

The networking event, Forrest says, provides an opportunity for attendees to glean insights from their peers, discuss important issues and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

“The virtual networking hour will be similar to the reception that normally takes place at an in-person Women Inspire program,” says Forrest. “We hope attendees will use the hour to connect with fellow leaders, forge new contacts, and engage in thoughtful conversation around being successful business leaders.”

To learn more about the event and how to register, visit the official Women Inspire webpage.