Title:Women’s Forum 2026 celebrates the power of connection

From March 19-21, members of the Georgetown community gathered in downtown Washington, DC, for the 2026 Women’s Forum to connect, discuss, and empower. Events were held at locations throughout Georgetown’s Capitol Campus and at The Royal Sonesta, Washington, DC – Capitol Hill, a neighboring hotel. 

The biennial conference began as the Georgetown Law Women’s Forum in 1992, and became a university-wide event in 2018, thanks in part to the leadership of Julia Farr (C’88, Parent’19, ’21, ’24), the first woman to serve as executive director of the Georgetown University Alumni Association. 

Learning from each other 

The event, which is open to all members of the Georgetown community, drew 200 alumni from 10 schools, as well as speakers and student attendees. 

At the Thursday evening Welcome Reception at 125 E Street, Ashley Hollis (L’24) and Sarah Mucha (SFS’17) discussed personal branding, belief in your own worth, and the power of creating a network.  

On Friday, Julia Farr gave opening remarks before a talk by gerontologist Kerry Burnight, author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. 

“Connection matters, particularly among women,” said Burnight, emphasizing the importance of putting in the work to maintain and grow connections throughout different life stages. She also shared insights into internalized ageism, explaining that perception of aging impacts how people age. 

A later panel, ”Strategic Leadership: Insights from Mastering The Corporate Chess Game,” reiterated the importance of connection with insights from a book written by multiple Hoyas and edited by Cynthia Groves (whose husband, Robert Groves, is Georgetown’s interim president). 

“Leadership is a radical act of service,” said panelist and author Lizzy Conroy (C’97), who emphasized how Georgetown’s Jesuit values give its students’ unique skillsets in contemplation and service. 

Prioritizing self-care

Multiple panels and presentations explored health, wellness, and self-advocacy.

One session focused on “The Power Years: Perimenopause and Menopause,” while at a second—“Beyond the Check-Up: Understanding the Drivers of Physical and Financial Wellness”—Kimberly Henderson, M.D. (C’91, L’95, M’00) emphasized that “Health is all encompassing; it is not only the absence of illness.” She noted the importance of prioritizing your own health and setting up solid personal finance structures; financial stress, she said, can lead to 200 fewer hours of sleep per year.

Two “Power Years” panelists also co-authored: The Game Plan: A Woman’s Guide to Becoming A Doctor and Living a Life In Medicine.

Exploring diverse career paths

Carole Roan Gresenz, dean of McCourt School of Public Policy, moderated a panel called “Insights from Capitol Hill: Discussion with Alumni Chiefs of Staff.” In it, Jenny Gorski (C’01), Angeline Jabbar (L’95), and Amy Friedman (C’97, G’98) discussed their  divergent career paths, which ranged from pursuing a degree in government to law school to a career in education policy. 

A keynote luncheon with Goli Sheikholeslami (SFS’89), POLITICO Media Group CEO, explored journalism as service and the importance of decisiveness in leadership. Sheikholeslami credited her mother for empowering her with an ethos that “you’re welcome at any table, and to welcome anyone at your table.” 

Katrina Trompeta contributed to this article. 

To read more coverage of the 2026 event, visit the Georgetown Law website.