November 13, 2026
Join us in Uptown Charlotte for a high-impact, half-day experience designed for women who are ready to grow, lead and take meaningful steps forward in their careers.
BuildHER brings together practical learning, authentic conversations and opportunities to connect with women across the Charlotte region.
BuildHER is designed for emerging and established women leaders who want to strengthen their confidence, expand their influence and develop practical strategies for navigating today’s workplace.
Whether you’re stepping into new responsibilities, preparing for your next opportunity or looking to strengthen your professional foundation, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and strategies you can put into practice.
Invest in your professional growth. Secure your spot early for the best rates:
Need approval or professional development funding to attend BuildHER? Use one of our customizable templates to help communicate the value of attending to your employer. Choose the general template or an industry-specific option that best fits your role.
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Assistant Dean for Graduate Enrollment Management, MBA, Ed.D, UNC Charlotte
Dr. Sabrina L. Brown is Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Management at UNC Charlotte and a higher education leader with more than 15 years of experience spanning student affairs, recruitment, admissions, and enrollment strategy. A three-time director before stepping into senior leadership, Sabrina brings a deeply personal perspective to the courage, intentionality, and strategic influence required to grow as a leader.
Her work and leadership philosophy center on helping people recognize the value of their voice, occupy the spaces they have earned, and lead without diminishing themselves to meet others’ expectations. She is particularly passionate about women not only opening doors for themselves, but leaving those doors a bit wider for others.
Sabrina holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, an MBA, an M.Ed. in Counselor Education–Student Affairs, and a B.A. in English.
From the opening keynote to interactive breakout sessions and conversations with women leading in Charlotte, the BuildHER agenda is designed to balance learning, connection and practical professional growth.
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast | Enjoy a light breakfast and coffee while connecting with fellow attendees. |
| 8:30 – 8:40 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Welcome to BuildHER and an introduction to the morning ahead. |
| 8:40 – 9:10 AM | Keynote | Dr. Sabrina L. Brown, Assistant Dean for Graduate Enrollment Management, MBA, Ed.D, UNC Charlotte |
| 9:10 – 9:30 AM | Networking Break and BuildHER Marketplace in Atrium | Connect with fellow attendees, reflect on the keynote and explore the curated BuildHER Marketplace. |
| 9:30 – 10:15 AM | Work Site Break Out Sessions | Choose from five interactive sessions focused on workplace leadership and professional growth. |
| Session 1: The Art of the Brave Conversation | Speaker: Karri Kennedy | |
| Session 2: The Authority Standard: Communication Strategies for Leadership | Speaker: Mary Smith | |
| Session 3: No Permission Needed | Speaker: Alvarys Santana Chisholm | |
| Session 4: Solve for Yes | Speaker: Michelle Barnhart | |
| Session 5: Connections That Count | Speaker: Amy Nolan Pack | |
| 10:15 -10:35 AM | Networking Break and BuildHER Marketplace in Atrium | Continue the conversation and enjoy additional Marketplace time. |
| 10:35 – 11:20 AM | Executive Panel: Women Leading in Charlotte moderated by Elisabeth Thornton | Moderated by Elisabeth Thornton with Karen Calder, Monét Means, Beth Morrison-North and Kimberley Dayton. |
| 11:20 – 11:35 AM | Networking Break and BuildHER Marketplace in Atrium | Connect with attendees, reflect on the panel discussion and explore the Marketplace. |
| 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM | The Collective Connector: Turning Today’s Connections into What Comes Next | Anna Mullen, Business Development Director, UNC Charlotte introduces BuildHER’s year-long connection experience and a new approach to mentorship where every participant has something to learn and something to share. |
| 12:05 – 12:30 PM | Closing & Next Steps | Reflect on key insights, learn about the University’s leadership certificate program and enjoy final shopping time in the BuildHER Marketplace. |
Take the Conversation Further. BuildHER's Work Site breakout sessions bring real workplace challenges into the conversation. Choose from five sessions exploring communication, leadership, professional relationships and advocating for yourself and your ideas.
Senior Director for Program Management and Learner Engagement, UNC Charlotte
Karri Kennedy is a people and process leader who drives collaboration and innovation across diverse educational programs and teams. With more than 20 years at UNC Charlotte, her career has focused on strengthening operations, supporting learners and bringing people together around shared goals.
Today, Karri oversees the integration of enrollment management and student services, marketing and communications, and program management for programs within the School of Professional Studies.
Director of Student Services and Academic Planning, Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Mary Smith provides strategic leadership for districtwide initiatives supporting student success, organizational effectiveness and continuous school improvement. With more than 16 years in public education, she has served as a teacher, school counselor and district administrator.
Mary is passionate about building strong teams, developing leaders and creating sustainable systems that help people do their best work.
President and Principal Consultant, AS STRATEGY
Alvarys Santana Chisholm is a global business strategist, growth mindset expert and social impact innovator who bridges corporate strategy and community development.
Drawing from experience with Fortune 40 companies, Alvarys helps individuals and organizations strengthen their strategies, transform their mindsets and connect professional growth with meaningful social impact.
Human Resources and Operations Leader, The Timken Company
Michelle Barnhart is a human resources and operations leader whose work spans talent development, Lean manufacturing, workplace culture, accessibility and leadership development.
At The Timken Company, she leads the human resources functions of its Operations Development Program and mentors emerging manufacturing leaders. In 2025, Michelle also launched Timken’s first employee resource group dedicated to disability, neurodivergence and caregiver inclusion.
Co-founder and Principal Partner, AccruePartners
Amy Noland Pack is the Co-founder and Principal Partner of AccruePartners, a talent advisory firm specializing in Interim Staffing, Search, Project Consulting and Embedded Recruitment.
A recognized thought leader in the staffing and talent industry, Amy helps organizations navigate complex workforce needs and align talent decisions with their goals, culture and future direction.
Leadership rarely follows one path. Women Leading in Charlotte brings together women with different professional experiences and leadership journeys for a candid conversation about leadership transitions, visibility and lessons learned while advancing their careers.
Executive Director, Classroom Central
Karen Calder is the founding Executive Director of Classroom Central and brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her work supporting students, educators and the Charlotte community.
A UNC Charlotte graduate, Karen is an alumna of Leadership Charlotte Class 30 and was named one of Charlotte’s Most Admired CEOs by the Charlotte Business Journal. She is passionate about collaboration, continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
Sr. Organizational Development Partner, Electrolux Group
Monét Means has spent her career helping people grow. Before moving into leadership and organizational development, she began her career in education as a teacher and later served as the director of a school for children with special needs.
Today, her work focuses on helping leaders create cultures where people can perform at a high level while maintaining authenticity, well-being and a sense of belonging.
Executive Director, Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte
Beth Morrison-North leads initiatives that preserve affordable housing and help older adults, veterans and families remain safely in their homes.
With more than a decade of experience in affordable housing and community development, Beth is passionate about thoughtful leadership, collaboration and developing sustainable solutions that strengthen communities.
Vice President of Operations, Intake Solutions of America
Kimberley Dayton is an operations executive and people and performance strategist with more than three decades of experience in insurance, customer engagement, organizational operations and talent development.
Her career has focused on building scalable, people-centered organizations through empathetic leadership, coaching and strategic systems.
BuildHER doesn’t end when the conference does.
The BuildHER Collective is a year-long connection experience that reimagines traditional mentorship. Rather than assigning the roles of mentor and mentee, every participant joins as a Builder — bringing valuable experience and perspective while also having opportunities to learn and grow.
Following the conference, participants who choose to join the Collective will be thoughtfully matched based on factors such as career stage, areas of expertise, growth interests and communication preferences.
Through five guided Blueprint conversations, Builders will explore their stories, strengths, professional challenges, networks and what’s next in their careers — creating purposeful connections designed to continue long after the conference.
Business Development Director, UNC Charlotte
Anna Mullen brings a dynamic, cross-sector perspective to workforce and educational development, with experience spanning manufacturing, product development, marketing, economic development and nonprofit engagement.
Today, Anna works with Corporate Training and Executive Education at UNC Charlotte, where she collaborates with companies and organizations to identify workforce needs and develop relevant professional learning opportunities. She is passionate about bringing employers, educators and community partners together to create practical solutions that expand access, strengthen talent pipelines and support long-term growth.
In 2025, Anna received the NCWorks Governor’s Award of Distinction for Outstanding Innovative Partnership in recognition of her leadership in advancing collaborative workforce development.
Anna will introduce the BuildHER Collective and share how attendees can continue building meaningful professional connections beyond the conference.
Make the most of your networking breaks by visiting the curated BuildHER Marketplace in the Atrium.
Connect with participating women-owned businesses, explore their products and services, and continue conversations with fellow attendees throughout the morning.
Are you a woman-owned business? Apply to be a vendor in our BuildHER Marketplace to showcase your products and services to Charlotte’s top professional talent.
Fill out this form and get early access to conference information and volunteer information.
Show your commitment to women’s leadership. Packages range from Community Sponsor ($150) for small businesses to our premier Skyline Sponsor ($5,000), offering top-tier visibility and speaking opportunities.
Interested in sponsoring BuildHER? Email Dayle Janus at dnsummer@charlotte.edu to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities.
The Dubois Center – UNC Charlotte Center City
320 East 9th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Please note the following requirements for the Pivot Parking managed lots near The Dubois Center:
Enforcement: Violations are handled via license plate readers and mailed to the registered owner.
Join women from across the Charlotte region for a morning of practical learning, authentic conversation and meaningful connection.
The UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies serves as the University’s gateway for adult learners seeking to strengthen their professional impact. With a portfolio ranging from industry-recognized certifications to specialized licensure prep the School offers flexible learning formats designed to fit the lives of busy professionals. Through strategic partnerships and a commitment to regional economic growth, the School of Professional Studies ensures that Charlotte’s workforce remains competitive, innovative, and prepared for the future of work.