The Association for Women in Events (AWE), an international non-profit organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in all facets of the events industry, is holding “ELEVATE!” on March 7, the day before International Women’s Day. Billing it as the the premier women’s leadership event, they seek to “change the dialogue around how women do business and bring our community together, face-to-face, to see what incredible ideas might eventuate. “ELEVATE!” will galvanize some of the best minds.”
The event will be held at the Conrad Washington, D.C., from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with a networking reception from 5-7 p.m. included. AWE’s premier women’s leadership event’s agenda includes attending disruptive, compelling sessions, hearing from women in business and politics, meeting women and men who are making a difference in the industry and in business, hearing from world-class speakers who are changing the dialogue around how women do business, participating in a complimentary mini makeover—complete with a headshot photo—and breaks with service dogs for ultimate zen, a video interview studio, an inspiration wall, and other complimentary experiences including several networking opportunities with motivated peers and subject matter experts throughout the event.
Says Kendall Davies, “This cutting-edge event will help women activate their voices, while educating them on how to strategically leverage their influence to transform the role and impact they have in our communities and workplaces.” She adds, “We are excited to officially announce the keynote speaker for ELEVATE! will be Sarah Hurwitz (pictured above), a gifted speechwriter and message-crafter who drafted some of the most memorable and inspiring speeches of the past decade. Hurwitz will share experiences from her time as the head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and reveal the secrets of powerful, persuasive storytelling.”
From 2009 to 2017, Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter, starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Obama and then becoming the chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Hurwitz worked with Mrs. Obama to craft a number of widely-acclaimed addresses, including her 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Convention speeches and her political speeches during the 2016 campaign cycle. During Hurwitz’s time in the White House, she traveled with the President and First Lady across America and to five continents. She also worked on policy issues affecting young women and girls as a senior adviser to the White House Council on Women and Girls.
Before working at the White House, Hurwitz served as a senior speechwriter for then-Sen. Obama in the final months of his 2008 presidential campaign and helped Mrs. Obama craft her 2008 Democratic National Convention speech. During the 2008 presidential primary, Hurwitz was the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton from early 2007 until her concession in June of 2008.
Prior to working on the Clinton and Obama campaigns, Hurwitz was a lawyer at the Washington, D.C. office of WilmerHale. During the 2004 presidential election, she served as deputy chief speechwriter for Gen. Wesley Clark in the primary and deputy chief speechwriter for Sen. John Kerry in the general election. From 2000-2001, Sarah was a speechwriter for Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa.
Registration is now open for the inaugural women’s leadership event: ELEVATE! Powered by AWE. AWE has also opened student scholarship applications. Ten students will be selected to help execute and attend ELEVATE! for free. The student scholarship application deadline has been extended to Feb. 1. The link to apply is here.
The Association for Women in Events builds a community where women inspire women, help others and take control of their careers—a place where women go to find solutions, mentors and opportunities. For more info, complete the application here. AWE also has a scholarship opportunity for students to attend. For more info, complete the application here.
Each semester, Harvard’s Institute of Politics invites a select number of prominent political practitioners to serve as Visiting Fellows for a shorter period of time compared to a full academic semester of a resident fellowship. The Visiting Fellows program brings distinguished veterans of public life for a short, yet comprehensive stay—often a week. The program is designed to provide maximum contact with the University community, particularly undergraduate students. Each fellowship is individually tailored to the background of the visiting fellow, as well as his/her calendar availability. For more info, visit https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows
