Leadership Strategist
Carol Wheeler, Ph.D.
NopaLeadership
Thursday, April 22, 2027
Kick off the day with registration, networking, and our exhibitor fair. During this one-hour window, you’ll have the chance to connect with fellow attendees, explore offerings from more than 20 exhibitors, and enjoy a fun photo booth experience before the program begins.
What if the traits you were told to shrink away from are actually your greatest gifts? In this dynamic keynote, Dr. Carol Wheeler challenges women to stop chasing who they think they should be — and start remembering who they've always been. Drawing on research, real stories, and interactive exercises, Carol guides attendees through the process of uncovering their innate strengths through self-reflection, shifting the lens to see their best selves, and taking bold action to step fully into their potential. You'll walk away with a clear-eyed vision of your superpower and one concrete step to start living it today.
Catering by Forty-Six Cafe & Catering
Our breakout sessions are designed to give you choice and flexibility. You’ll attend two 30-minute sessions, with three topics to choose from during each time block. Each session offers practical insights and actionable takeaways to support your personal and professional growth.
Building a brand that demands attention and stands the test of time is challenging. Learn how to create a successful brand step by step.
Fear, limiting beliefs, or obstacles are something we all face in various ways. Risks are scary, but with a relentless vision and actionable goals, we can transform the world around us to rise and invite those around us to rise, emboldened!
In this session, we’ll cover:
You’ll walk away with a dose of courage and an actionable guide to help you rise in your emboldened purpose. You have one beautiful life, and how you live it matters — let’s cultivate it intentionally!
Perimenopause is often framed as a hormonal shift, but for many women it feels like a complete disruption of both body and identity. This session explores how changing hormones impact brain chemistry, emotional regulation, stress tolerance, sleep, and overall sense of control — and why so many women feel anxious, irritable, disconnected, or unlike themselves during this phase of life.
We will briefly explain how fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol affect key neurotransmitters involved in mood, motivation, and resilience, contributing to symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, brain fog, sleep disruption, weight changes, and emotional reactivity. We will also explore how this transition often coincides with major life changes, including children growing up, relationship shifts, aging parents, changing friendships, and body image challenges.
Together, this collaborative conversation connects the dots between hormones and mental health, helping women understand they are not broken — they are navigating a significant biological and emotional transition that deserves grace, not judgment.
When challenges happen in our lives, sometimes our first reaction is to draw inward - to isolate, cry, and hurt without "bothering" others or "bringing others down." What if I told you that the true key to healing is not to turn inward, but to reach out? To work every day to build connection and community, to be part of the net that holds us? Pilina - the Hawaiian word for connection - is more important today than ever. In this engaging and heartfelt presentation, Maile Alau speaks to the pilina that saved her in the most challenging parts of her life, and offers ideas on how to build and nurture the pilina in your life. Pilina is the net that holds us all.
Strategies for women of all generations to empower them to make the best decisions to achieve their dreams. Topic will cover best strategies depending on age…and strategies to avoid. Math, yes will show you how the math works; cash, bonds, real estate, ranch land, unique assets. Will cover the landscape with math!
Perimenopause can leave you feeling off—low energy, poor sleep, mood swings, and a body that doesn’t respond the way it used to. This session is designed to help you understand what’s happening and give you real, practical tools to feel like yourself again.
We’ll cover how to support your hormones through nutrition, exercise, stress management, and targeted supplements, plus an honest conversation around HRT—fears vs. facts. You’ll also learn simple mindset and lifestyle strategies to manage stress, improve communication, support pelvic health, and quiet overthinking.
You’ll leave with a clear starting point, including a simple symptom screener to better understand your body and what it needs next.
This panel brings together three women who are deeply engaged in shaping the New Braunfels community through leadership, business, and service. Featuring Clarisa DeSanto, Business Development Specialist at Providence Title and President of the New Braunfels Downtown Association; Jordan Matney, Deputy City Manager for the City of New Braunfels; and Carol Johnson, Owner of Johnson Furniture Company, this conversation will explore their career journeys, leadership experiences, and commitment to community.
Wrap up the day with a little fun and a chance to win. We’ll close the conference with a raffle featuring curated baskets from local businesses, filled with unique items and experiences from across our community. Tickets will be available for purchase throughout the day at $10 for one or three for $25.
Keep the connections going at our happy hour. We’ll head just across the parking lot from The Venue to Freddy C’s for drinks, bites, and relaxed networking. Thanks to our Happy Hour Sponsor, it’s the perfect way to unwind and continue the conversation with fellow attendees.
