Launch to the Top
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2026 Speakers
August 13-14, 2026 | Branson Convention Center

Friday, August 14

Jenny Wood

Workshop + Main Stage Keynote
Rise & Shine Workshop, presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
The New Rules of Teamwork: Lessons from Inside Google. This intensive session covers Google-tested frameworks for building high-trust teams and optimizing collaboration.

Main Stage Keynote, presented by Central Bank/Central Trust
Wild Courage: The Confidence to Ask, Act and Lead. Bestselling author and former Google executive shares the "Confidence to Ask" framework, giving you the courage to take up space and lead with unapologetic self-trust.

Friday, August 14

Dr. Meg Myers Morgan

Workshop + Main Stage Keynote
Rise & Shine Workshop, presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
Worth Your Time: How to Own Your Calendar Before It Owns You. This workshop focuses on strategic time-blocking and reclaiming your most valuable resource: your time.

Main Stage Keynote, presented by Husch Blackwell
Know Your Worth: How to Negotiate for Everything You Want in Life and Work provides the ultimate masterclass in negotiation, teaching you how to articulate your value and secure the "yes" you deserve in your career and beyond.
 

2026 SPEAKERS

Meet the women moving 417-land forward. From 2026 Women Who Mean Business honorees to Remarkable Voices and more, this lineup brings together leaders, founders and rising voices from across the Ozarks.

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Amber English

Women Who Mean Business Honoree Co-Owner and Founder, Pixie
Paige Tuck

Paige Tuck

Women Who Mean Business Honoree Executive Director, Synergy Recovery Center, Synergy Counseling Center and Synergy Executive
Angie Jackson

Angie Jackson

Women Who Mean Business Honoree President, Justice Furniture & Mattress
Sadaf Sohrab

Dr. Sadaf Sohrab

Women Who Mean Business Honoree Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Springfield Communities
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Brandei Clifton

Women Who Mean Business Honoree Senior Publicity Manager, Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts
Sarah Hough

Sarah Hough

Remarkable Voices Senior Manager, Community and Outfitter Engagement, Bass Pro Shops
Ettie Berneking

Ettie Berneking

Remarkable Voices Media Relations & Communications Manager, Mercy Springfield Communities
Kylie Jackson

Kylie Jackson

Remarkable Voices Learning and Development Manager, The Great Game of Business
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Meet Your Emcee

Q&A with Publisher Logan Aguirre

We know you are passionate about building better leaders. How did that inspire you to create Ladies Who Launch?
When Biz 417 released its first Biz 100 list in 2016, we immediately heard feedback about the lack of female representation. Only 10 of the 100 leaders were women. When we asked who we missed, the answer wasn’t a list of names. It was that women simply weren’t in many of those key roles.

That was a turning point. We realized we had an opportunity to help chart a clearer path for women in leadership in southwest Missouri. In 2018, we launched the first Ladies Who Launch. This year, 23 women are on the Biz 100. That’s progress, and we’re excited to keep it going.

What is the mission of Ladies Who Launch?
Our mission today is the same as it was nine years ago. We’re here to create content, community and conversation for women in leadership in our region. Ladies Who Launch is a high-energy, positive environment focused on inspiration, tangible takeaways and meaningful connection.

What to expect in 2026?
Expect the same high-energy experience you love, with an even deeper focus on clarity, connection and growth. In 2026, we’re sharpening the flow of each day, enriching workshops and conversations and creating more intentional moments for women to learn from one another.

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SINCE 2018

PAST SPEAKERS

From bestselling authors to national sports executives, Biz 417’s Ladies Who Launch speakers bring real-world perspectives to the professional and personal leadership challenges women face.
  • Alison Fragale, organizational psychologist and author of Likeable Badass, challenged women to claim authority without losing authenticity.
  • Lara Krug, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the Kansas City Chiefs, shared what it takes to help build one of the most powerful brands in sports.
  • Desireé Reed-Francois, former University of Missouri athletic director, inspired women to lead with purpose by staying rooted in their “why.”
  • Sarah Knight, bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, encouraged women to set boundaries, trust their priorities and lead without apology.