**This was held at Breakbulk Americas 2024 which is now over. Register your interest for 2025**
Bold Women, Brave Choices
Building on the past successes of Women in Breakbulk, this year's event has been expanded to give you an experience like no other. Enjoy the networking fueled by refreshments, inspiring keynotes from a woman who knows what it's like to succeed in an all-male industry, and one who's navigating her early career at an online giant. Space is limited, so reserve your seat now.
And the networking doesn’t stop at the end of Tuesday’s event. For the first time, there will be a Women in Breakbulk networking lounge on the show floor.
What is Women in Breakbulk about?
Here, you'll never be the only woman in the room. Share your experiences, support each other and turn strangers into friends. With every sector represented, you’ll be surrounded by brave women who’ve made bold choices. Share your story!
Companies in the spotlight
This year’s speakers represent industry leaders plus a few surprises!
Women in Breakbulk Networking Event
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When: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 from 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm
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Where: Marriott Marquis – Scot Cotton Ballroom, 2nd Floor
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Emcee: Leslie Meredith, Marketing & Media Director, Breakbulk Events & Media
Building on the past successes of Women in Breakbulk, this year's event has been expanded to give you an experience like no other. Enjoy the networking fueled by refreshments, an inspiring keynote from a woman who knows what it's like to succeed in an all-male industry, everyone's favorite industry women's panel plus two mini workshops where you'll work as teams and as individuals.
Space is limited, so reserve your seat beginning Sept. 2 in the registration portal.
Event Ambassadors
Your hosts for the day's event
Women in Breakbulk Networking Event
Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 12:45pm – 4:30pm
Marriott Marquis, Scot Cotton Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Speakers
Agenda
12:45pm – 1:25pm
Check-in, refreshments, casual networking
1:25pm – 2:00pm
Keynote Conversation: From Courtside to C-Suite: Winning Strategies for Women
How did a woman from Spring, Texas, rise to one of the top leadership positions at an NBA team? Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets, will reveal the strategies that propelled her from an account executive to the driving force behind one of the league’s most innovative franchises. Her approach—leveraging digital innovation, building strategic partnerships, and steering her team through industry challenges—will provide powerful examples for women in Breakbulk.
Speakers
Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations, Houston Rockets
Vanessa Richardson, Houston Rockets Sideline Reporter, Space City Home Network
2:00pm – 2:20pm
Interactive Group Activity: Positive & Bold!
CoachesLupita M. Almuhana, Founder & CEO, Stressie
Kattya Distefano, Founder, Kattya & Co.
2:20pm – 2:50pm
Panel: Thriving in Times of Uncertainty
Industry leaders share their personal stories of navigating uncertainty, from global crises to project snafus. Whether it’s responding to a critical seaway closure, unexpected weather of any one of a million things that can affect a project’s timeline, you’ll gain practical strategies to cope with the unexpected and even turn a bad situation into an opportunity to demonstrate leadership.
Moderator
Kasey Eckstein, Founder & Executive Director, WIMOs; President, Eckstein Trade & Transport “ET&T”
Speakers
Emily Carruth, Business Development Manager, Gebrüder Weiss
Taylor Dickerson, Vice President of Project Management, Kirby Corporation
Stephanie Esparza, Terminal Manager – Galveston, Ports America
Victoria Malbrough, Process Specialist and Compliance Leader, Shell Oil & Trading
Jessica Nguyen, Trade Development Manager, Port Houston
Lt. Savanna L. Vandehei, Port State Control Officer, U.S. Coast Guard
2:50pm - 3:00pm
Stressie Mindful Minute and Break
3:00pm – 3:20pm
Keynote Conversation: Building Your Career in the Land of Giants
From the perspective of a new hire at the world’s biggest online retailers after a two-year stint at Dell, this conversation will explore the challenges of standing out in a huge organization, offer practical insights on becoming a productive team member and how to get initiatives approved by senior leadership. Through her experience navigating a host of supply chain disruptions, Isha will share lessons on perseverance and what young women need from their female leaders to thrive in their early careers.
Speaker
Isha Yadav, Supply Chain Manager – Planning, Amazon
3:20pm – 3:25pm
Group Activity: Mindful Minute
CoachLupita M. Almuhana, Founder & CEO, Stressie
3:25pm – 4:10pm
Workshop: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Exploring Logistics Planning & Risk Analysis
We’ll look at common challenges and risks in logistics planning, helping you anticipate and address potential issues before they arise. Through practical "oops" examples and interactive discussions, you’ll gain the skills to identify risks, develop effective strategies, and keep your operations running smoothly. Join us to learn how to enhance your logistics planning with confidence.
Trainers
Pam Holdrup, Principal, Project Logistics Solutions
Cheryl Fee, Principal, Project Logistics Solutions
4:10pm – 4:15pm
Group Activity: Mindful Minute
CoachLupita M. Almuhana, Founder & CEO, Stressie
4:15pm – 4:30pm
Raffle, closing
Women in Breakbulk Association Partner
Women in Maritime Operations (WIMOs) is a non-profit organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining, advancing, and promoting women in the maritime industry through sharing knowledge and continuing education. The organization was founded in New Orleans, LA in 2017 and now has 1,000 members across 30 U.S. states and four other countries.
Previous Women in Breakbulk events
