Hosted at the Royal Sonesta hotel in the heart of the Windy City in downtown, Chicago, the Association of Equipment Distributors (AED) put together a series of conversations that were not your typical speakers.
Women came from all over the United States (and beyond!) to bring the AED Women in Equipment community of industry women to life this week.
This year’s conference highlights included:
- Including a wall of ‘AHA’ moments where winners of the ‘best’ AHA moments got books
- Panel presentation on Leadership in the Field including one of rockstar customers, WPI’s VP of Operations, Jackie Haney.
- An opportunity to purchase Robyn Bolton’s book on Innovation for 0.99 cents while attending the show that day
- Announcements for new and upcoming opportunities with AED
- Special opportunities to write with intention with writing exercises with a former Olympic athlete
Speaker Highlights
This year’s sessions showcased the strength, creativity, and determination of women driving change in the equipment industry. From practical leadership strategies to heartfelt stories of resilience, the takeaways were clear: when women amplify their voices and support one another, industries evolve and opportunities expand. We’re excited to continue these conversations and build on the momentum in the year ahead.
A variety of speakers led the sessions across the full day of speaking including:
Women in Leadership: Recap of Key Sessions
This year’s program brought together powerful voices and practical insights to help women thrive as leaders in the equipment industry and beyond.
Likeable Badass: The Science of Winning the Status Game
In a fireside chat, Alison Fragale and Lisa Rottmann unpacked why women often struggle to be seen as both competent and likeable. Fragale shared research-backed strategies from her book Likeable Badass, showing how women can gain the respect, influence, and power they deserve—even when the odds are stacked against them.
Still Strong, Still Kind: The Graceful Strength of Boundaries
Amy Parrish reminded us that boundaries aren’t walls, but agreements that protect our energy and leadership potential. She encouraged attendees to embrace “no” without guilt and stay grounded in their authentic power.
Women in Industry Panel
Panelists: Paulina Matel (Morgan Stanley) and Megan Stern (Forvis Mazars), Kerri Courrier (RDO Equipment Co) and Jackie Haney (WPI), moderated by Alexis Gladstone, shared personal stories of navigating male-dominated spaces, highlighting the importance of mentorship, resilience, and creating new opportunities for women in the field.
Women at Work Roundtable
This interactive session, led by Amy Parrish, gave attendees a chance to connect, share workplace challenges, and trade practical advice for career growth and balance.
Start Smaller. Move Faster. Lead Smarter.
Innovation strategist Robyn Bolton offered actionable tools for leading change from any role—focusing on momentum, smart resource allocation, and eliminating bottlenecks to drive meaningful results.
Built to Lead: Owning Your Excellence
Michelle Venturella a former Olympic athlete and coach inspired women to align their leadership with core values, strengthen their identity, and lead boldly through Built to Lead’s 12 Essentials of Personal Excellence.
Building & Growing Success Workshop
Closing the program, Kathryn Janicek led an interactive workshop on amplifying voice and visibility. With hands-on exercises, she guided participants in breaking down barriers, building networks, and positioning themselves as industry leaders.
Evening Event
The evening event started off with a photo for charity where $100 was donated for everyone who agreed to stick around and be in the picture.
Session Book Highlight
All of the speakers and sessions allowed for intentional Q&A in a space where curious questions were encouraged and heard. With Robyn Bolton, she took it a step further and shared ideas from her book on innovation.
That’s a Wrap on AED 2025!
From tackling the science of status to building authentic leadership, the sessions sparked inspiration and equipped attendees with tools to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and lead with confidence. While it may be a wrap on AED for us for the year, the annual AED Summit kicks off in January of 2026 in Dallas, TX. We can’t wait to meet more partners in the industry there in 2026!
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