In November 2025, the SHS Women in Business Association (WBA) was invited to attend the 2025 Business Oriented Leadership Development (BOLD) conference at Harvard College. The conference, which took place on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, featured panels, keynotes, and workshops with over 30 speakers covering a variety of business topics, including finance, social impact, content creation, and more.
High school students from across the country were invited to learn more about business from professional women. The diverse skill sets among the participants help teach the next generation what business careers entail and the next steps for their futures. Inspiring discussions opened students’ eyes to new opportunities and future aspirations.
SHS junior Hailey Gill, one of WBA’s leaders, attended the BOLD conference. Gill said, “A bunch of panelists and keynote speakers come and share their experiences and give tips and tricks for young women who are interested.” Gill has been active with WBA for three years and was able to attend the BOLD conference last year; she said participating students met the founders of large organizations like Tower 28 and Poppi.
When asked about her favorite panel or keynote speaker, Gill said the CEO of Nude Sticks, Jenny Frankel, really stuck out to her. Gill said, “She was a really good public speaker and also explained how she navigated starting a business with her kids.” Jenny Frankel was impactful for Gill and many of the other girls who attended BOLD; the successful entrepreneur explained to the aspiring business leaders how they can do anything as long as they “show up.” Gill said attending BOLD taught her many lessons: “There’s always something that could appeal to you,” she noted.
Gill hopes to bring more girls from SHS to BOLD in the future. She believes there are many opportunities for young women who want to start a business or enter the business world, noting there are always new opportunities to learn from others and to create something that gives girls ways to express themselves in the business world, BOLD being one of them.
SHS junior Izzy Mae Adams, a leader of WBA, believes the BOLD conference does exactly what it says: it empowers young women to be bold. During the two-day conference, Adams was most impressed with Mikayla Nogueira, a content creator and founder of POV Beauty. Adams said Nogueira caught her attention due to her transparency and openness about both her successes and failures on social media.
Adams became interested in business during her freshman year while taking a sports marketing class with SHS business teacher Ross Maki. She continued to explore the field of business by joining DECA and WBA. According to Adams, these experiences helped her understand “what people mean when they say they work in business.”
Inspired by their mentors, Adams, Gill, and SHS senior Ruth Collins, the current leaders of WBA, plan to launch a podcast called Harbor Her Hustle to spread the empowering message of BOLD, provide female representation in the SHS business program, and cultivate business networking.
As Sedge Beswick, another speaker at the BOLD conference, stated, “If there is someone that you are inspired by, someone you want to know about, the worst they can do is ignore you. Reach out.” As the founder of SEEN Connects, Beswick emphasized the importance of networking and connecting with people to broaden social relationships, communications, and opportunities. She encouraged conference participants to work toward their future and find tools that will help them in the long run.