Reflections on EMPOWER :: Leadership, Connection, and Community

By: Teresa Krupa

As I take a moment to reflect on the EMPOWER conference, what I feel most is pride, inspiration, and deep gratitude.  Pride in what we created together. Inspiration from the energy, openness, and insight that filled the room. Gratitude for the opportunity to be part of something that felt, truly, like the beginning of something very meaningful.

From the moment delegates began arriving, something special was in the air. Not just the buzz of anticipation, but a shared willingness to engage. I watched people connect—genuinely. Whether it was the quiet exchange of contact information between sessions or the thoughtful conversations that spilled over long after the breakouts ended, it was clear: people didn’t just show up; they showed up ready.

Ready to share.  Ready to listen.  Ready to lead.

That’s what made EMPOWER so powerful. It wasn’t just about the panels or the PIE sessions (though those were excellent). It was about the space in between—the sidebar coaching, the hallway laughter, the mutual recognition of shared challenges and ideas.

That’s what leadership looks like.

I’m incredibly proud to be part of the team that made this happen—the intention and care that went into every detail. And I was proud to watch people walk in as strangers and leave as part of a growing professional community.

I also felt honoured—truly honoured—to be part of organizing an event that inspired such openness, authenticity, and momentum.

My hope is that we keep building on what we started. That EMPOWER becomes more than a conference. That it continues to be a movement—for leadership, for connection, and for growth.

Let’s keep the conversations going. Let’s keep empowering each other. And let’s make next year even better.