The March 6 event, which featured Dawn Flythe Moore, First Lady of Maryland in conversation with Tisha Edwards, JD ’01, MSW ’00 during a morning keynote address, was kicked off by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, who welcomed nearly 200 participants to the annual event.

Jennifer B. Litchman, MA, UMB senior vice president for external relations and founder and chair of UMBrella, hosted the symposium’s afternoon event, a fireside chat with Shanna Hocking, founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership, LLC, and author of “One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential.”

Litchman applauded the importance of mentoring women in the workforce, recounting her own experience as a mentor before stating, “We have to remember that people are watching us, and they're modeling us. They are looking to us as that mentor." She emphasized the need for inclusivity and urged attendees to "pull up an extra chair" and create opportunities for all.

In addition to the two speakers, the symposium included midday breakout sessions and UMBrella also announced three awards to recognize the contributions made by individuals who espouse the mission and goals of the group.