IWF Chicago upcoming events

IWF Chicago Executive Circles: Registration Open (June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Executive Circles Registration

Don’t Miss Out on this Unique Opportunity

Ready to deepen your connections and grow alongside a powerful circle of women leaders? Executive Circles will begin again in September.

Registration Is Now Open

REGISTRATION LINK

Use this link to register and provide your preferences by July 5^th.

About Executive Circles

Executive Circles are at the heart of IWF’s mission to advance women’s leadership and build meaningful community. They are often cited as one of the most valued membership benefits.
Each Circle brings together 6 to 8 members for a year of confidential, supportive conversations that fuel personal and professional growth.
Circles are self-directed—each group sets its own meeting schedule, topics, and format.
Regular participation is key to Circle success so join if you can commit to monthly meetings at the group’s convenience.

Current Circle Participant

“Our group is fabulous - committed to collective building and personal development and support.”

New to Executive Circles?

Want to learn more? Register for one of our upcoming virtual information sessions:

June 17th | 1:30pm | Register HERE for the virtual information session
June 25th | 11:00am | Register HERE for the virtual information session

Rescheduled - A Fireside Chat with Bose Akadiri: Joy Is The Strategy (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

This event has been rescheduled for a fall date which will be shared soon.

IWF Members! Join us for a lively evening with Bose Akadiri, author of The Stay Joyful Method: Using Joy as a Tool to Rise, Lead, and Redefine Success.

Hosted by Khalilah Lyons, this fireside chat will explore how joy can serve as a grounding force across every aspect of life—from career and leadership to relationships and financial well-being—shaping not just how we succeed, but how we experience that success.

Guests can expect a thoughtful conversation, meaningful takeaways, and the opportunity to connect with fellow members. The event will be held at Passages Wine & Books Café on June 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, with networking, wine, and light appetizers before the discussion.

London Confab - Virtual (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join us for a virtual Conference Confab!

During this virtual event members will share highlights, insights, and memorable moments from the recent conference in London. Whether you attended and want to relive the experience, weren't able to make the trip, or simply want to hear stories and key takeaways from those who were there, this is a great opportunity to connect, learn, and continue the conversation.

Hosted by IWF Chicago President Emily Reynolds.

Zoom details to follow.

2026 IWF Chicago Annual Meeting (June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

At this year’s Annual Meeting, President Emily Rice Reynolds will ceremonially pass the torch to President‑elect JoAnn Seagren. We hope you will join us as we express heartfelt gratitude to our departing board members and extend a warm welcome to those beginning their terms of service.

Together, we will honor the leadership and dedication that shaped this past year while looking forward with confidence, appreciation, and renewed vision for the year ahead.

VENUE:

Woman's Athletic Club

626 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Monday, June 22, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Drinks and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.

PARKING/DRIVING DETAILS:

We recommend using Uber, Lyft, or a ride-share service for your convenience. If you plan to drive, SpotHero is a great option to reserve parking in advance.

PARKING AND DRIVING DETAILS

IWF Chicago Executive Circles Information Session (June 25, 2026)

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Executive Circles Information Session

Don’t Miss Out on this Unique Opportunity

Ready to deepen your connections and grow alongside a powerful circle of women leaders? Executive Circles will begin again in September.

About Executive Circles

Executive Circles are at the heart of IWF’s mission to advance women’s leadership and build meaningful community. They are often cited as one of the most valued membership benefits.
Each Circle brings together 6 to 8 members for a year of confidential, supportive conversations that fuel personal and professional growth.
Circles are self-directed—each group sets its own meeting schedule, topics, and format.
Regular participation is key to Circle success so join if you can commit to monthly meetings at the group’s convenience.

Current Circle Participant

“Our group is fabulous - committed to collective building and personal development and support.”

Giving with Intention: A Strategic Approach to Personal Philanthropy (July 07, 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT

How do you decide where—and how—to direct your philanthropic resources? And how might you engage family members or even friends in creating a shared culture of giving?

A more intentional approach can help you clarify your values, bring some accountability to your giving, and better articulate the impact you hope to make—whether you give directly, through a donor-advised fund, or through a private foundation.

Join us for a thoughtful conversation about the motivations and values that shape our philanthropy, with practical approaches to taking action, making meaningful giving decisions, involving family members or friends, and maximizing impact.

The panel will be led by IWF Chicago member Joyce Winnecke and feature fellow IWF Chicago member Tricia Rothschild—both of whom are members of The Chicago Giving Circle. It will also include IWF Chicago member Barbara Best, along with Julie Hoffmann, founder and CEO of JH Philanthropy, which helps individuals and families create meaningful connections and impact through philanthropy.

Light refreshments will be served.

Summer Soirée (August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

A Summer Evening of Connection!

Join us for one of IWF Chicago's favorite summer gatherings as we come together for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration at our Summer Soirée. This special event offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with fellow members, welcome new faces, and strengthen the relationships that make our community so extraordinary. Whether you're catching up with longtime friends or expanding your network, the Summer Soirée is designed to bring our members together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

Enjoy drinks, light bites, and lively conversation while reflecting on the season's highlights and looking ahead to an exciting year of programming and engagement.

Guests are warmly welcome and encouraged to attend.

We look forward to raising a glass with you and making new memories together at this signature summer gathering.

Beverage Innovation Panel (September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Leadership, Trends & Transformation in Beverage

The beverage industry is experiencing revolutionary change. Join our expert panelists to gain insight into today’s market trends and evolving consumer dynamics across the beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic categories. As you explore the transformation shaping the industry, enjoy a curated beverage tasting that brings these trends to life in an engaging and interactive experience.

Guests warmly welcomed.

Speakers:

Cristina Desmond, Regional Vice President, Breakthru Beverage Group
Experienced Beverage Alcohol executive.

Maggie Lapcewich
Maggie is a 35+ year C-suite executive and board member of the beverage alcohol industry where she held Sales, Marketing and Corporate Strategy leadership roles at Breakthru Beverage Group, the 2nd largest beer, wine & spirits distributor in North America and Diageo Plc, the largest distiller of spirits globally. Maggie will moderate and lead an interesting discussion with a talented group of expert panelists.

Esther Park, VP of Portfolio, InvestBev
Esther Park serves as the VP of Portfolio at InvestBev, where she specializes in accelerating high-growth brands and optimizing operational strategies within the adult beverage sector. A seasoned leader in P&L transformation and brand scaling, Esther previously held key marketing and commercial operations roles at industry giants Molson Coors and Bacardi.

Her career is rooted in a chemical engineering foundation and extensive CPG leadership experience at Procter & Gamble and Revlon. This unique background allows her to bridge technical, operational, and consumer-driven strategies to fuel sustainable brand growth. As an investor, Esther leverages her holistic expertise to identify market opportunities and provide strategic oversight for the next generation of beverage leaders.

Mara Smith, CEO and Founder of Inspiro Tequila
Mara Smith is a former attorney, corporate strategist and stay-at-home mom who is the founder of Inspiro Tequila. Mara began her legal career at Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago before joining the corporate strategy team at McDonald’s Corporation.

After her twins were born prematurely, Mara made the difficult decision to leave the corporate world to stay home.

She never stopped thinking about what was next. Mara always envisioned running her own company and in February of 2020 she set out on her journey to create a new tequila brand, Inspiro Tequila.