Exciting lineup to inspire, empower at 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference
MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University and the Minot State Looyenga Leadership Center are pleased to announce Lauren Beane as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference on Saturday, March 22.
The conference is set for the MSU Student Center Conference Center from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is free and open to all. Breakfast and lunch are provided, with registration required to ensure an appropriate amount of food and seating is available. Information and registration are available HERE. The Looyenga Leadership Center sponsors the event and is in its second year.
“The Looyenga Leadership Center Women’s Leadership Conference is an opportunity for students to learn, develop their skills, and network right here on campus for free,” said Jim Sturm, director of the Looyenga Leadership Center. “We are happy to be able to provide this type of programming for the campus and community, and we hope that students take advantage of these events to further enhance their education and prepare for their professional careers.”
Beane, CEO of Ready Enough, Co., will be joined by featured speakers Megan Langley, founder and executive director of Strengthen ND; Kristi Berg ’95/’00, Minot State professor of business information technology; and Madison Hanson ’24, MSU social work graduate, and current master's degree-seeking student specializing in social change and leadership.
“At the Women’s Leadership Conference this year, we have an exciting line-up of speakers to inspire and empower current and emerging leaders,” said Jessica Smestad, MSU Honor’s Program director and leadership development specialist.
Beane is a highly acclaimed TEDx and Top 50 Female Speaker who helps audiences take the leap and believe they are ready enough by offering tools and her personal stories to embrace and own their unique talents.
“Lauren will share with participants how they can be ‘ready enough’ to take action toward their goals, even if they don’t have all of the answers,” added Smestad. “Additionally, Madison will discuss how participants can get involved in civic processes; Megan will provide tools and advice for working with diverse groups; and Kristi will discuss the importance of mentoring. It is our hope that participants can directly apply the learnings from this conference to their own leadership pursuits and organizations/groups. There will also be opportunities for networking with other conference participants.”
The Looyenga Leadership Center was made possible by the generosity of Roger ’68 and Ann Looyenga. In 2019, the Looyengas gifted MSU with $1 million to broaden the University’s academic offerings in the area of leadership. They are passionate about the area of leadership and are committed to ensuring current and future Minot State students have educational opportunities in this important area.
For more information on leadership programming at Minot State, see the Looyenga Leadership Center WEBSITE.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 02/28/25
