8 Personal Development Events Especially for Moms
Stephanie Llorente, owner of Restored, is a regular contributor to the WRAL Family blog where she writes about relevant topics for working moms. We repost that content here.
Photo credit: Danielle Presley Photography
When you’re a mother, it can be overwhelming to think about taking time to invest in yourself. It’s true for moms who work at home with their families, and it’s true for moms with careers outside of the home. There are usually at least five good reasons why you can’t, or shouldn’t, or won’t carve out time and/or financial resources to build into your own development.
One thing hinders moms is wading through the sheer volume of options. Why? Because it takes time – and that’s a precious asset as a mama.
Allow me to lighten your load.
Because of my background in professional settings within public relations and because of my role with Restored, I get invited to attend, speak or participate in some way at local gatherings, many of them women-centric. I weed out what’s worthy and what’s not, and I’ll share my “worthy” findings with you here so you can more easily connect with other women while making progress toward professional or personal goals in 2024.
Some events are specifically for women with careers, and others aren’t. Most are really affordable and I didn’t include anything that would require travel. Pick one that’s right for you, test it out and make 2024 the year you invest in yourself.
8 development events for moms
International Women’s Day Expo (Raleigh) – Full disclaimer that I’ve never attended this event, but I’ve heard positive feedback. It’s ripe with opportunities for women in business, and those who have interest in jumping back into the workforce. What I love most is that there are opportunities for children to get involved, too.
One Woman Conference hosted by Knowing God Ministries (Apex) – This is a faith-forward conference for all women. I’m adding it to my calendar this year because I’ve heard rave reviews from friends who like to mix faith, fun and friendship.
SHERO Conference hosted by Dr. Ruth Steidinger (Apex) – This inaugural event is set to take place in downtown Apex on Jan. 27, and I’m excited to already be on the attendee list. The host is a go-getter who hopes to create space for women to feel confident in the roles they carry out each day. Bonus: My friend Heidi is a speaker, and I can’t wait to cheer her on!
Photo credit: Danielle Presley Photography
Thriving Women’s Conference (TBD) hosted by Lisa Hansen – Being in a room with Lisa is always a joy. Her conferences are built for all women with goals, no matter if they’re employed or not, and she’s a fireball who hires like-minded fireballs as speakers. Conference details haven’t been yet announced, but it will be held sometime in October 2024, and the VIP night is always a blast.
Mentoring Monday hosted by Triangle Business Journal (Raleigh) – If you’re a woman in business in the Triangle area, this is a gathering to attend. You can rub shoulders with highly sought out female leaders while connecting with women in a variety of fields. I’ve attended a few times in the past and enjoyed it. Best part? It’s only a two-hour commitment.
Women in Business hosted by the Garner Chamber of Commerce (Raleigh) – I attended the event a couple of times in the past when I worked on the eastern side of the Triangle. It’s typically well attended, and the past speakers were pretty high caliber. This year’s event lists a Raleigh address, but it’s really located in that weird part of town between Garner and Willow Springs.
Women of Western Wake hosted by Cary Magazine (Cary) – I attended this annual event for the first time in 2023, and I’ll be going back for seconds. The content was relevant, and it was peppered with breakout sessions attendees could tailor to their own interests.
Professional Women’s Luncheon Series hosted by the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (Raleigh) – I’ve heard only good things about this series. It’s a quarterly luncheon with networking and speakers specifically for women in business. I have yet to attend one, but it’s on my list.