The WIT Network's Igniting Excellence 2026
Rising Together, Leading Forward

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.
What Happened in San Diego Is a Different Story

"Conferences like this aren't just events. They're accelerators. Accelerators for ideas. Accelerators for connections. Accelerators for the courage to think bigger and lead bolder." — Cassandra Terry, IBM, Austin Community Lead, The WIT Network

From March 10 to 12 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, The WIT Network brought together women and men in technology, leadership, and business. They showed up for two days of keynotes, workshops, and mentoring, but they left with more than new insights.

Over those two days, something felt different. Connections were more intense. Conversations went deeper. Speaker messages were more honest. Memories were more vivid and bright.

What made this event resonate so strongly with nearly everyone who shared their impressions, reached out, or typed into our post-event survey? We'll let our attendees explain it better than we ever could.

The Right Moment in Time

"WIT is evolving from 'Women in Technology' to 'We Ignite Transformation.' More than a name change, this rebrand reflects a broader mission, expanding beyond one industry to become a global platform for transformation, inclusion, and growth for women and their allies." — Geneviève Kameni, Attendee

Igniting Excellence 2026 arrived at a significant moment for The WIT Network. Just weeks before the event, we finalized the last touches of our rebrand reflecting an evolution from Women in Technology to We Ignite Transformation.

This was not just a new message and logo. It was part of a broader mission to welcome all women in all roles, all companies in all industries, and the allies who stand alongside them on this journey. What we want to be clear about is that we are not shifting our focus toward allies or marketing to them. Our mission is still, and will always be, to support women. That never changes.

Nina Harding, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Ecosystem, who wrote publicly about the conference and what it represents. "Organizations like The WIT Network invest in training, mentorship, and leadership development for women across partner companies," she wrote. "With more than 60 chapters and thousands of members globally, they are building capability and connection at scale." 

She added that strengthening leadership capability across the ecosystem "is not optional. It is foundational."

The Right Opening for Honesty

"Women don't just need opportunities. We need spaces where we can tell the truth about where we are. Spaces where we can reconnect with our courage. Spaces where women lift each other up and remind one another what is possible." — Kelly Nagel, Rise & Reignite Retreat Co-Facilitator

Before the conference officially opened, a smaller and quieter moment was already underway. The Rise & Reignite retreat, led by Kelly Nagel and AnnMarie Santamarina with movement and joy brought by Jessica Mancuso, created space for something that doesn't always get room at professional events: honesty.

Women shared stories they had carried quietly for years: burnout, career uncertainty, roles that no longer felt aligned. One woman spoke, then another, then another. Encouragement started flowing between people who had only met hours earlier. That spirit didn't stay in the retreat room. It walked into Igniting Excellence and set the tone for everything that followed.

The Right Intent and Energy

"This wasn't just a 'typical' conference. This was much bigger. A space where you could feel the intention, the energy, and the care in every moment." — Andrea Feinberg, OD and Change Management Leader

Intentionality was woven into every part of this event, from the programming to the space itself. It opened with everyone gathered around the pool for networking drinks and a deeply felt welcome from WIT Network CEO and Co-Founder Christine Bongard, setting a tone that carried through both days.

Each morning before the keynotes, attendees could choose how to arrive: yoga with Jessica Mancuso, or the Morning Icon Walk with Cheryl Stookes. The Spark Lounge ran all day as a space to recharge, connect, and carry the energy forward between sessions.

The energy throughout those two days was unmatched, from the way speakers showed up to the audience reactions, the formal and informal conversations, and the networking that continued long after sessions ended.

The Right Content and Speakers

"At The WIT Network, I saw something powerful: a room full of people building what's next. I saw leaders. Builders. Innovators. But I also saw sparks. People leaning in. People asking deeper questions. People wanting to reclaim something they know is possible." — Jennifer Weiss, Founder, Mission Save a Life

The agenda was a dense sequence of high-value keynotes and sessions, organized around themes that moved fluidly between professional strategy and personal leadership.

On the leadership and mindset front, Gavriella Schuster brought her signature clarity to leading through uncertainty. Dr. Nwando Anyaoku challenged attendees to own their leadership in the age of AI. Christine Sandman Stone offered modern management tactics that could be put to use immediately. Colleen Tyler led a high-performance session alongside Rachel Howard, Kevin Lake of Finding Mastery, and two-time Olympian and high-performance psychologist Dr. Nicole Davis, exploring optimism and growth mindset. Traci Costa's mentoring circle on ATHENA's 8 Principles of Leadership rounded out a thread that was as much about inner clarity as external strategy.

On the personal reinvention and resilience front, sessions explored burnout as a systems signal, the founder mindset, energy resets, and the courage it takes to step into something new. Speakers shared honestly about health challenges, career pivots, and what it looks like to rebuild momentum when life gets in the way.

"I was too engaged to pick up my camera," said speaker Christine Mulcahy. "This was exactly the inspiration I need right now."

The Right Cultural Shift

"CFO: 'What happens if we invest in our people and they leave?' CEO: 'What happens if we don't, and they stay?'" — Tiffani Bova

Tiffani Bova challenged the room to rethink growth through the lens of human experience, landing line after line that attendees were still quoting days later. Gloria Feldt reminded the room that brilliance goes unrecognized far too often, and that this is precisely the moment for women to lead boldly in technology.

The Allyship in Action panel, moderated by Kati Quigley and joined by Brian Papay, Thomas Ajspur, and Eric Brungart, brought a candid and timely conversation about what meaningful allyship actually looks like in practice. Thomas Ajspur, CEO of Enavate, shared a moment many in the room recognized: a man in a meeting who said "I don't think we have a problem here" and immediately recognized, in saying it, that he was proving the opposite. "Culture doesn't change because we talk about it," Ajspur said afterward. "It changes because leaders decide to act differently." He closed by committing to bring more men into the room next year.

The Right AI Conversations

"Artificial intelligence without women at the table becomes artificial ignorance." — Gail Mercer-MacKay

Three parallel workshops were built for a world where AI is already in the room:

• AI Fluency for Modern Sellers with Cherilynn Castleman
• Finding Your Voice Before Using AI with Iva Vlasimsky
• YOUmanizing Your Authority on LinkedIn with Rachel Lee

Each session offered practical, modern tools for leading in an AI-driven world. The through-line across all three was consistent: AI is not the point. The women using it are. "Stop chasing tools," said Cherilynn Castleman. "Start using AI to amplify what makes you unforgettable."

The afternoon brought sessions on visibility, mentorship, grit, neuroinclusive workplaces, and the kind of mindful leadership that sustains performance over time rather than burning through it.

The Right Community Support

"They've built a space and community where women are seen, supported, and encouraged to grow into whatever comes next in their careers and in their lives." — Jennifer Zarate, Speaker

The name We Ignite Transformation reflects exactly what this community does. The new tagline, Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Empowered., did not come from a branding exercise. It came from what members kept saying after events: "I felt like I belonged." "I was in a safe place." "I didn't feel alone."

As Christine Bongard put it: "We help people transform from one place to the next: a career pivot, a return to the workforce, a step into a first leadership role, or a long-overdue promotion. Whatever that next move looks like, our programs, our mentors, and our global network exist to make it happen. We are the igniter. The transformation belongs to our members."

Igniting Excellence 2026 made all of that visible. In the sessions, the hallway conversations, the mentoring circles, and the posts that kept appearing days after the event ended, the same thing kept surfacing: this community is doing what it set out to do.

The Right Sponsors and Event ROI

"Choosing to be in a room built for women in tech leadership together felt like exactly the right investment."— Jacci Robinson, Anunta North America

None of this happens without the partners who believe in the mission. Igniting Excellence 2026 was made possible by the generous support of Microsoft, Ingram Micro, Lenovo, Anglepoint, Blackbaud, Odigo Group, Sony, Panduit, GN Group, Bentley Systems, and Transcends. Their investment goes beyond event sponsorship. It is a statement that advancing women in the workforce is a business priority, not a side conversation.

Sponsors didn't just show up with logos. They showed up with conviction, and the difference was felt in the room. What was particularily interesting was that attendees were genuinely excited to engage with sponsors, seeking out conversations at the welcome reception rather than avoiding the usual booth small talk.

Cora Naughton, Director of Strategic Alliance Programs at Lenovo, described it best: "I experienced the focus on driving meaningful connections and measurable outcomes first-hand at this year's event."

The results reflect that. One 2026 sponsor generated over $500,000 in new sales pipeline directly attributed to the event, a 217x return on a three-day investment!

The Right Global Impact

"There's no space for tormentors in what we're building. We only have room for mentors." — Andrea Feinberg, OD and Change Management Leader

The reach of this community extended well beyond the Town and Country Resort. Igniting Excellence 2026 was a hybrid event, and global members tuned in via livestream from across the WIT Network's 60-plus communities worldwide, bringing the energy of San Diego into living rooms, offices, and co-working spaces around the world.

Local communities activated in parallel. The WIT Network Singapore held a session on building unshakable self-belief. The Austria community celebrated its first anniversary. The NYC community gathered for mentorship and coffee. The event was the headline, but the global momentum it reflects runs year-round.

The Right Movement That Lasts

"I am better today because I came." — Melissa Ruth, Speaker

What we witnessed at this event was the moment a community became a movement. And you can feel that in what people say after they leave.

More than 30 original posts appeared organically across LinkedIn, from speakers, attendees, sponsors, community members, and allies, from around the world: San Diego, New York, Austria, Singapore, India, and more. People felt compelled to talk about it, and act on it.

Igniting Excellence 2026 is behind us. What it set in motion is not.

Ready for What's Next?

"The next phase of innovation will be shaped by leaders who prepare intentionally, think clearly under pressure, and guide others with steadiness." — Nina Harding, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Ecosystem

The WIT Network's mission, to advance women through education, mentorship, and community, is unchanged and accelerating. If you were in San Diego, you already know what's possible when this community gets to work. If you weren't, the door is open.

There are ways to get involved right now: join a local community, bring The WIT Network into your organization as a corporate partner, or follow along as the next chapter of this story takes shape. The conversation that started in that room doesn't have to end when the event does.

The WIT Network is building something that lasts. Igniting Excellence 2026 was one more proof point that the foundation is solid and the momentum is real.

The next gathering is already in the works. Be part of it.

Iva is a go-to-market content strategist and fractional product marketer with 20 years in communications, helping Microsoft partners break through the noise of sameness. She builds communication strategy from brand awareness to closed deals — connecting marketing, sales, and customer success — with a focus on differentiation and narrativeled growth. Based in Croatia, she works remotely with global teams and is active in IAMCP and The WIT Network.