Nearly 4,800 attendees — including more than 2,500 certified women-owned businesses — gathered in New Orleans for the 2025 WBENC National Conference. It was an extraordinary week of connection, inspiration, and collaboration.
But it was also marked by an immense loss.
As we continue to process the unexpected passing of WBENC President & CEO Pamela Prince-Eason, we are even more aware of the depth of her impact. Her fingerprints were on every element of this conference, from the powerful speakers to the visionary themes to the unwavering commitment to uplifting women entrepreneurs.
Pamela led with purpose. She built a national stage for women-owned businesses to thrive, and her leadership has shaped WBENC into a force for economic empowerment and equity. Over the past 15+ years, she accelerated opportunity, created space for bold conversations, and championed a future where women-owned businesses are essential drivers of progress.
We honor her legacy by carrying her work forward with courage, with conviction, and with community.
Here are just a few of our team’s reflections on what made this year’s conference so impactful.
Unrivaled Networking & Deal-Making
The Expo alone connected over 4,800 powerful women business owners with Fortune 500 corporations and public-sector leaders. Women Impact Tech and Women Impact Business met with:
- BMO
- 5th/3rd
- Chevron
- Delta
- Disney
- GSK
- KPMG
- Medtronic
- Merck
- NiSource
- PENN Entertainment
- RTX
- Salesforce
- Shell
- ExxonMobil
- Sony
- Southern California Edison
- Southwest Truist
- Vizient
- Wells Fargo
- and many more…
ACCELERATE: Theme with Tangible Results
Leading WBEs—like Vicky Keramida and Avis Yates Rivers—shared powerful testimonials: sustainability initiatives, cybersecurity innovation, and double-digit company growth all accelerated thanks to peer mentorship and corporate partnerships forged at past WBENC conferences.
Celebrating Collective Excellence
The WBE Star Awards celebrated exceptional women business owners who embody “ACCELERATE,” shining a spotlight on leaders who are driving progress, job creation, and economic impact in communities nationwide.
Technology and Creativity for the Future — Where Innovation Meets Impact
AI took center stage in a powerful panel session led by Pamela, joined by executives Brett Howroyd of ActOne, Diana Gonzalez of Amazon, and Kathy Golding of EY. Together, they sparked a timely and essential conversation on responsible innovation, ethical leadership, and the future of opportunity in an AI-driven world.
Chrissy Teigen!!!!
Chrissy Teigen—entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of WBENC-Certified WBE Cravings by Chrissy Teigen—had a fireside chat with Pamela, followed by a fun live cooking demo with New Orleans’ own Chef Kaitlin Guerin, 2025 James Beard finalist and founder of Lagniappe Bakehouse.
Cultivating Future Women Entrepreneurs
The Collegiate Accelerator Pitch Competition and WBE product demos provided emerging women entrepreneurs with mentorship, visibility, and confidence, highlighting how structured support systems nurture the next generation. I was honored to mentor Angel Chuang, Co-Founder of MindMunch, who is already reshaping the future of business.
Angel Chuang is a sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, passionate about the intersection of tech, health, and entrepreneurship, especially in edtech and biotech.
MindMunch is an edtech and productivity app that combats screen addiction and boosts student focus by turning scrolling time into study time. With just five months of development, Angel and her co-founder have raised $30K through pitch competitions, an impressive early achievement from a team determined to redefine digital wellness.
Angel’s 2025 goals are ambitious and inspiring:
- Launch MindMunch across iOS, Android, and web
- Grow a global network of mentors and partners
- Secure pre-seed funding and strategic partnerships
We are proud to have supported Angel through WBENC’s Mentorship Program and are even prouder to watch her continue to thrive.
What This Means for Your Community and Pamela’s Legacy
- Local ecosystems strengthened: Regional partner meet-ups ensured that connections didn’t just end in New Orleans; they traveled back home to build long-lasting support hubs.
- Economic momentum: As WBEs scale and collaborate, they bring jobs, innovation, and diversity inclusion to all corners of the country, creating measurable ripple effects.
- Emotional resilience: These gatherings do more than business—they reinforce mental well‑being by building belonging, inspiring confidence, and reducing isolation stress.
We are grateful for this incredible community, and we are committed to continuing the work Pamela began, building the future she believed in so fiercely.
