Allowing Yourself and Your Business to Evolve and Transform

The world is shifting—and if you’ve been feeling the pressure to keep showing up like “business as usual”... you’re not alone.

Join us for a live, candid panel conversation where we explore what it means to evolve as a business owner, creative, or leader in a time of political unrest, AI disruption, rising violence against queer and trans communities, and burnout that runs bone-deep.

This isn’t a productivity talk.This is real talk—about masking, allyship, identity, and building businesses that honor both our values and our humanity.

💬 Topics we’ll explore:

• What it looks like to adapt your business in times of uncertainty
• Who you choose to work with (and why it matters)
• Navigating client relationships when you're unmasking or showing up more fully
• What ethical leadership looks like in a climate of performative allyship
• How we’re (actually) using AI—ethically, creatively, or not at all
• What happens when your identity is sexualized or dismissed in professional spaces
• The messy middle of being visible, principled, and human

We’ll also be weaving in real questions from registrants to guide the conversation.

👥 Meet the Panelists

💠 Beatrice Stonebanks (She/Her/Sir) - CRO, Stonebanks Sales Management Teams
AI strategist and sales leader helping businesses scale ethically through innovation and equity; founder, speaker, and voice for women in tech and ESG leadership.

💠 Mary Beth Hall (She/Her) - Director of Marketing
Marketing educator and strategist with a passion for women in tech, ethical AI, and storytelling that drives connection and change.

💠 Matt Skallerud (He/Him) – President, Pink Media
LGBTQ+ digital marketing pioneer with decades of experience helping queer-owned brands thrive online and expand their visibility.

💠 David Ardelean (He/Him) – Co-Owner, Parkway Motel/Marina & HavAnnA Cafe
Hospitality entrepreneur navigating growth, visibility, and inclusive business in a transforming rural community.

Panel Conversation Facilitated by:

✨ Mandi Hawke (She/They) – Chief Magic Maker, Proud Empowerment

✨ Joseph Federico (He/They) – Marketing Coach, The Mystical Marketing Maven

This event is for you if you're:

• Feeling the tension between showing up and shutting down
• Reimagining how your work can serve both your people and your peace
• Tired of one-size-fits-all marketing advice that erases nuance
• Curious how other queer leaders are navigating this moment—mess and all
  

🎁 Post-Event Bonus:

We’ll keep the conversation going on Instagram!Any questions we don’t get to live will be answered in a shared Collab Post across @proudempowerment @josephafederico and panelist pages.

Bring your questions, your complexity, your full self.

This space was made for it.