Women's Symposium

During the virtual, half-day event, attendees will hear from experienced keynote speakers, engage in thoughtful discussions and leave empowered to cultivate a better banking industry. We’re currently working on the 2024 event. To see the types of sessions you can expect, check out the 2023 program below.

Sign Me Up

2023 Speakers

2023 Speakers

Blessing Adesiyan

Founder and CEO, Mother Honestly WorkLife

Blessing Adesiyan is the Founder & CEO of MH WorkLife where she is building care infrastructure to drive and improve policy, people, and business results. MH's technology and social platforms reach millions of employees and employers globally. She spent 15+ years in Fortune 100 companies such as Microsoft, HP, Cargill, PepsiCo, DuPont, and BASF where she built operational and business excellence frameworks across the United States, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia.

Randall Hultgren

President and CEO, Illinois Bankers Association

Randy Hultgren became president and CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association in July of 2020. An Illinois native, Randy served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2019 for the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. In Congress, he served on both the House Financial Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. Prior, he served in the Illinois Senate—on the financial institutions’ committees in both chambers.

Joyce Marter

Psychotherapist and Author

Joyce Marter has been a licensed psychotherapist for over twenty years and is the Founder of Urban Balance, an outpatient mental health company with seventeen locations in six states. Marter is routinely consulted as a mental health expert in the media, featured in such outlets as The Wall Street Journal, CNN and MTV. She is the author of The Financial Mindset Fix: A Mental Fitness Program for an Abundant Life.

Eartha Morris

COO, Forbright Bank

Eartha Morris is a career banker with 30 plus years of senior leadership experience in the financial services industry with expertise in operations, strategic planning, technology management, risk management, enterprise Project Management, contingency planning, process improvement and policy. In addition to banking, Morris is passionate about educating our future leaders in financial literacy and has served several organizations in this capacity.

Rob Nichols

President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Rob Nichols is the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation’s $23.7 trillion banking industry. Rob joined ABA in August 2015 following ten years at the helm of the Financial Services Forum, a non-partisan financial and economic policy organization. Before joining the Forum, Rob served in the George W. Bush administration as the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Treasury Department, a position requiring confirmation by the United States Senate.

Nan Poppen, PHR, SHRM-CP

PHR, SHRM-CP, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, First Bank & Trust

Nan Poppen, who has been with First Bank & Trust since 2001, is the Chief Human Resources Officer working with employee relations, benefit design, compensation, and strategic planning. Poppen is the President of the Kid’s World Board of Directors. Kid’s World provides childcare and preschool options for employees of First Bank & Trust.