Showing Up With Purpose
By: Brittany Gudex
I remember getting the phone call with the invitation from my mom.
"Britt, we need to go to the Women's Leadership Conference this year. It really means a lot to
me. We've been through a lot, and the number one thing I've learned throughout my career is
that women become stronger when they surround themselves with other women in a
community."
I made a muted, unsure sound like…“Uhh…”
Mom continued her pitch: "I'll drive. All you have to do is join me."
How could I say no to that?
I said yes.
To give you a fuller picture the family business my mom and dad built for over 15 years had gone through an acquisition earlier that year. I had just made a career pivot into a new industry, and baby number four was six months old.
Now, everyone knows you have to show up to a women's event in style. Showing up with intention about what you're going to wear is mission critical. The night before, I called my mom.
(Because who had time to prepare sooner, right?)
"What are you wearing?" I asked.
"Well, you know, probably dress pants, maybe a blazer."
I didn't have any of that. After baby number four, my wardrobe options that fit just right and weren't "work clothes" were slim. I ended up in a black cheetah dress I found on the sale rack. In hindsight, it really didn't matter what I was wearing when I showed up. All the women were gracious and kind, and I even got a compliment on that dress. What impressed me most was the panel of professionals from manufacturing companies. Every speaker who took the stage brought poise, energy, and compassion. By the end of the day, my feet hurt and my notebook was filled with wisdom to carry forward with courage, confidence, and perseverance.
A standout highlight was from Denise Thomas, who made us all try to write down our "why."
I didn't have one.
I sat there stuck, unable to form the words. Looking back at my notes, I realize she planted seeds that would resonate in the months to come- because she kept saying “WRITE THIS DOWN.” And, I did. A few months later I developed my "why," and that's the best part. The lessons don't always land immediately. Sometimes they take root and grow when you're ready.
The second time I attended the Women's Leadership Conference, I brought the only female sales advisor on my team. Blazing a trail in a male-dominated industry like automotive was not easy. That year, my dealership won Top 100 Dealerships to Work For. I had incredible momentum and we weren’t backing down.
I remember the moments my teammate and I shared together, laughing and reflecting on what was meaningful to bring back to our team. At one point hugging it out in the front row after a keynote. We struck synergy, and left energized to share what we had learned.
That year there was a blue lipstick moderator, Quinn Conyers. My thought was, Why on earth did she wear that?!"
Here's the thing: I remembered her.
To this day, I still utilize Quinn Conyers' tool for luxury language modeling. Her work continues to inspire me. What you learn at this conference is priceless. These lessons stick with you throughout your career and personal life as you navigate some of the hardest things you'll ever do, like raising children, pivoting careers, and finding your voice.
We had a lot of fun.
The third Women's Leadership Conference I attended came recently after making a career pivot into a new industry. I invited the ladies on my team to join me. The breakout sessions were memorable beyond belief.
I broke down into tears during one session. The speaker, Cassandra Vohs-Demann, started playing her guitar, performing a song about using our voices. Encouraging us to sing along, and we did! It wasn’t long before the entire room erupted into joyous song, and inspiration.
The irony about her story, and why I weeped tears was that I knew how to use my voice all along. I had always been a singer, and spent nearly 10 years in the Lawrence University Girls Choir. I understood posture, breathing, and presence when addressing a crowd. The adult professional never reflected back to those moments being something I could lean until that moment.
What I didn't realize was that I lacked the confidence and self-belief to make the messages my own. To be unscripted. To speak from the heart the way she did.
After her session, I walked up and gave her a big hug with tears streaming down my face. Tears of joy. I told her how thankful I was that her message resonated deeply. I knew I had work to do ahead of me, and I was ready to do the work- and make sure her lesson would stick.
The summary and lessons from all three of these experiences come down to this:
Every year I showed up with an uncertain outcome in the back of my mind. My heart and mind were open to learn and love the room I was in with the women who filled it. Every year was special and filled with its own challenges before I arrived, along with opportunities to apply what I learned to the next chapter.
This year, WLC #4 will be epic.
One of my author-artist idols, Judi Holler, is the morning keynote. I'm on the forefront of publishing my first book. I'm at the crossroads of pivoting my career closer to my purpose, with a vision I've held close like a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon as a beautiful butterfly.
I am so honored to serve as an Ambassador for the Women's Leadership Conference. To not just be a fan cheering from the crowd, but a key stakeholder in this community that has given me tools, tears, and transformation over the years. This role means the world to me.
If you're on the fence, approaching the idea, or simply in need of making time for YOU, this event will make room for it all.
The Women's Leadership Conference, presented by New Sage Strategies, has become an annual tradition for many companies and a pillar of this community. It keeps evolving, transforming, and giving women leaders a voice in the room when the noise in our heads turns up.
This year's theme is "Fear Less. Be Fearless." It's an invitation to think differently about fear.
Not as something that stops us, but as something we can navigate with clarity and courage.
📅 October 6, 2026 | Backstage Event
📅 October 7, 2026 | Women's Leadership Conference
📍 Green Bay, Wisconsin