Women in leadership focus of upcoming Chamber series
Women who are leaders will highlight Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming 2026 Speaker Series, Women in Leadership: Balance | Self-Care | Resilience, which will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Embassy Suites, 9621 Parkside Drive.
Starting with casual networking over wine and charcuterie, it will be emceed by Amanda Hara, WVLT-TV anchor, and the panel for the event will feature Chrystal Armstrong Brown, president/CEO of United Way of Greater Knoxville; Tammy White, president/CEO of Leadership Knoxville; and Missy Wallen, Knoxville chairman of Pinnacle Financial Partners. The panel discussion will begin at 4:30 p.m.
While seating capacity is limited, flat-rate tickets are $25 each for members and non-members alike.
“We really wanted this to be open to the community,” she said. “And, even though it’s focused on women, the event is open to gentlemen.”
There is a discount option of two tickets for $40 for members and non-members. Reserved tables of eight can be purchased for $400 for members only.
Tickets are available at farragutchamber.com, and people need to register as soon as possible by Friday. Feb. 13.
Sponsorships by members also are available at $350, $500 and $1,000 levels. The presenting sponsor is Pinnacle Financial Partners, and the community sponsors are Main Event and Lapis Insurance.
Water Into Wine bistro & lounge is sponsoring wine and other beverages (an ID will be required to be served alcohol), and Euphoric Cheese Shop is sponsoring charcuterie.
“This is a little different from what we’ve done with our speaker series in the past,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “First of all, it’s an after-hours event. We’ve never done an after-hours style event with our speaker series. I’m excited about that.”
They decided to make it an after-hours event “just to see how it changes the mood and how it changes the audience, the attendees,” she added.
“We wanted to do an event that was framed, kind of, as a conversation,” Blaylock said. “We’ve seen, for decades now, women are entering the workforce in increasing numbers, holding positions of seniority within various industries and companies.
“Yet, at the same time, we still see the challenges of being a
female in the workforce, especially as your role and your responsibilities rise and still have to juggle the demands of children, especially when it comes to the lack of childcare options and affordability,” she said. “Children, households and all the other silent demands that may not seem obvious but are there and how to balance it all in the modern world, how to maintain and build your own individual resilience so that you can continue to perform professionally, reach those goals you might have in your career and, yet, still meet all the goals and responsibilities you have on the personal side.
“So, we asked three female executives at different industries and different stages of their careers to come and sit and be part of this conversation that’s facilitated but with audience Q & A, to just talk about this topic, just share their story and share their experiences and just give what guidance they can,” Blaylock said.
