To know School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) is to understand the many ways the sisters lead as educators, both in and out of the classroom. This year’s Women’s Leadership Luncheon series and speakers took that concept and expanded it to illustrate how all women are educators and often via multiple roles. Across the four luncheons, six speakers offered their perspectives in the hope of encouraging women to find the unique ways they can share their own innate gifts as educators.

For their generosity, which allows us to offer this event free of charge to our attendees, we extend our sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Ann Kampeter, and our $5,000 Sponsors: Ascension, Bayer, Jim Butler Auto Group, Catholic Housing Initiative, Many Hands Many Lands and Midwest BankCenter. We also thank our Venue Sponsors, River City Casino & Hotel, for their hospitality in St. Louis and Italian Community Center for welcoming us in Milwaukee, as well as our many additional sponsors at the $2,500 and $1,000 levels. For a full listing of sponsors, visit our event page.

The series of luncheons kicked off in St. Louis on March 2, followed by Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minnesota and Dallas. All told, approximately 2,000 sisters, sponsors, guests and friends of SSND joined together for these special days of enthusiastic learning, networking and friendship.

In St. Louis, Jennifer Bardot, CEO and Founder of G.R.I.T. LLC, reminded attendees they don’t need a title or corner office to educate or lead others—that women are leading not only in these corporate spaces, but as mothers and neighbors, mentors and volunteers.

The Milwaukee luncheon hosted Dr. Isabelle Cherney, president of Mount Mary University, and Becky Pinter, president and CEO of the MACC Fund. Together, they offered a collaborative conversation, drawing on their own leadership experiences as inspiration and encouragement for attendees to embrace in their own lives.

During the third luncheon of the series, attendees in the Dallas area were treated to a conversation on women as educators by two educators: Dr. Caroline O’Brien, Ph.D., president of Notre Dame of Dallas Schools, and Lydia Torrez, advancement consultant for St. Cecilia Catholic Church and School.

The final luncheon featured Belinda Jensen, chief meteorologist for St. Paul, Minnesota’s KARE11. Pulling from her 35-year career, she told her story through the unique lens of a meteorologist.

If you would like to view or revisit any of our luncheon materials, please visit each location’s individual page, accessible from the main Women’s Leadership Luncheon event page. From here, you can view the programs, complete with speaker and honoree bios and enjoy photo albums of all the events. We encourage you to read the full list of our supporters and honorees. Please consider supporting the organizations and businesses that have so generously made our luncheons possible.

We thank every person who supported and shared in this year’s luncheons. Your enthusiasm, presence and participation makes our Women’s Leadership Luncheons a success. We are already looking forward to 2027!