In her welcome address, summit host Shirley Everett, senior associate vice provost for Stanford Residential & Dining Enterprises and special advisor to the provost, urged participants to dream beyond boundaries, harness their strengths, and challenge their limits. “We stand on the threshold of endless possibilities, where your unique talents, ideas, and aspirations give you the power to shape your future,” she told the audience. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

In her address to the summit, Stanford Provost Jenny Martinez spoke about the collective strength born from Stanford’s diverse community and the importance of mentors and colleagues. “Leadership isn’t a journey to be undertaken alone,” she said. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

This year’s summit attracted nearly 300 Stanford community members for a full day of presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. Among the key messages of the day: Leadership thrives on collaboration, inclusivity, and the willingness to lift up others. | Nikolas Liepins / Ethography

“Leadership is not just about winning games; it’s about inspiring and elevating those around you,” said keynote speaker Tara VanDerveer. “Always remember to visualize your goals, celebrate your achievements, and never doubt your ability to make a profound impact.” Video highlights of VanDerveer’s legendary coaching career were played for the audience before she took the stage. | Ken Hamel / Ken Hamel Photo

Karen Stephens-Johnson and Maureen Slocum participated in a panel discussion titled “Ignite your power, lead with purpose,” moderated by Shirley Everett.| Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Karen Stephens-Johnson, co-founder of the Faith Deanna Johnson Foundation, shared how the tragic loss of her daughter galvanized her and her husband to advocate for ovarian cancer awareness, ultimately leading to the passage of the Faith Deanna Johnson Act in Delaware. “We are more powerful than we think,” she said. | Ken Hamel / Ken Hamel Photo

Maureen Slocum, CEO and publisher of Zoomba Group, shared highlights from her career path. “Innovation happens when you see an unmet need and take action. Sometimes, all it takes is asking the right question: ‘How can I help?’” she said. | Ken Hamel / Ken Hamel Photo

A panel discussion on the benefits of inclusive leadership featured (left to right) Leslie “Tru” Fleming, associate director for responsible purchasing; moderator Jocelyn Breeland, chief communications and marketing officer for R&DE; Lori Mackenzie, co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab; and Sara Brooks, assistant director for IDEAL advancement. | Ken Hamel / Ken Hamel Photo

Milan Drake, community design lead at the Stanford d.school, led an interactive session about infusing design thinking into leadership, emphasizing the power of feedback and support. | Nikolas Liepins / Ethography

Attendees worked together to create personal “mixtapes” as part of the design thinking presentation. | Nikolas Liepins / Ethography

Adam Banks, faculty director of the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and the Institute for Diversity in the Arts (left), former Assistant Vice Provost Jan Barker Alexander (center), and Jeanette Smith-Laws, director of operations and student unions (right), discussed leading in uncertain times. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

In a breakout session, Joyce Sackey, Stanford Medicine associate dean and chief community engagement officer, spoke about cultivating resilience and staying mission-focused during times of change. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Giselle Flores Martin, director of finance and operations in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, led a breakout session covering issues related to women in senior leadership roles. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Women’s Leadership Development Program (WLDP) co-chairs Amanda Gotthold and Cyndi McCollister led a session on “how shifting perspective opens a world of possibilities.” | Diane McClamroch / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Mia Love, neurodiversity educator and district director for Stanford Land, Buildings and Real Estate, led a breakout session that offered education and support for neurodiverse individuals and allies. | Diane McClamroch / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Career and leadership coach Sonia Ashok’s breakout session, “Advocating for community across career stages,” was an opportunity for leaders at all levels to share and support one another. | Diane McClamroch / Residential & Dining Enterprises

Stanford Federal Credit Union’s Adeline Bellot offered guidance for creating financial security in a session titled “Empowering the investor: Creating a long-term plan and using practical ideas in an impractical world of investing.” | Diane McClamroch / Residential & Dining Enterprises

The panel “Beyond the glass ceiling: Women redefining wine culture,” featuring three pioneering women vintners and a wine industry researcher, was moderated by Rosalind Conerly, associate dean and Karr Family Director of the Black Community Services Center. The vintners’ wines were served at the reception that followed. | Karen Spicer / Spicer Studios

Shirley Everett (fourth from left) with members of the Women’s Leadership Development Program council and advocate board. | Karen Spicer / Spicer Studios

Conversation continued around the tables as participants reflected on the day’s events. | Keith Uyeda / Residential & Dining Enterprises