Direct Selling Association
WOMEN'S INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Agenda
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
5:15 p.m. Meet in Hotel Indigo Lobby to Depart to Sapulpa
6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner (Restaurant in Downtown Sapulpa)
Break bread with fellow retreat attendees at a downtown Sapulpa restaurant.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
7:00 a.m. Breakfast (Indigo Hotel)
7:30 a.m. Bus Departure to Sapulpa
8:00 a.m. Tour of Our Retreat Host’s Hometown Sapulpa
9:15 – 9:45 a.m. The U.S. Environment for Direct Selling
As the results from DSA’s most recent Growth & Outlook Report are in, we’ll take a look at:
- Annual market sizing, sales by product & service category break-down, macroeconomic environment & trends, channel forecasts, and more
- Comparisons between direct selling’s results and selected U.S. economic indicators such as overall retail, e-commerce, and unemployment rates
- The impact the recent marketplace dynamics are having on sales, recruiting, and supply chain
Melissa Brunton, Senior Vice President, DSA
Nancy Burke, Vice President, DSA
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. The Digital Transformation Journey
Digital transformation has created dynamic growth for many direct selling companies over the last two years, yet many are still grappling with how to integrate the latest technologies into their current business models. Three direct selling executive will share their insights on what their companies have done and are preparing to do to take advantage of the ongoing opportunities presented in a digitally evolving world.
Lynne Cote, Chief Executive Officer, Princess House
Asma Ishaq, Chief Executive Officer, Modere
Heidi Leist, Founder & CEO, Lemongrass Spa
10:30 – Noon How do we compete to win?
As the economic forecast continues to look bleak, many direct selling companies are concerned about continued downturns in sales, recruiting, and retention. Come prepared to share your perspective on the most important growth strategy in your strategic plan. We’ll have 5 minutes per person for these share-outs.
Nancy Bogart, Founder & CEO, Jordan Essentials
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch at the Mansion + Tour of the Mansion
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Hot Topics
Always a favorite retreat session, make sure to submit your top-of-mind topic(s) in advance. Then, the group will share what we know on each subject. A few we know will be on everyone’s list:
- Apps and other salesforce tools that provide results
- Assessing the need for new tech and tools
- KPIs measurements
- Supply Chain Challenges and Strategies to Overcome Them
- Scaling technology
Mindy Lind, Founder and CEO, Damsel in Defense
2:45 – 3:30 p.m. Intentional Leadership
Women leaders have an emotional connection to their field that bonds them together. This empathy and caring make us arguably more competitive than our male counterparts, but it can be all-consuming if healthy boundaries are not set. Being intentional with your leadership by setting up systems to proactively create a fair balance is critical not only for your own health but for your company’s long-term success. We’ll end today’s discussion with a thoughtful perspective from one of our favorite gems.
Joan Hartel
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Paint & Sip
5:30 – 8:30 p.m. BBQ Dinner and Activities at ROC Ranch
8:45 p.m. Buses Depart for the Hotel
Friday, October 7
8:00 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast and Gift Exchange (Hotel Indigo)
Enjoy breakfast with fellow attendees. Bring some favorite company products to share with colleagues if you'd like to participate.
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. Marketing and Communications Conversation
The professionals in this room work tirelessly to build brands that show how our products, the personal empowerment enabled, and the engagement inspired by direct selling is as much a part of the American fabric today as it has been for more than 130 years.
We understand our channel's effectiveness in building market share as an alternate go-to-market strategy, yet alternate narratives persist.
This panel will explore what we can do as a community to gain an increased "share of voice" in a media climate that too often occludes our business model's competitive advantages and its ability to ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship among individuals.
These leaders will share what our channel can learn from our detractors and what we can do as companies through digital initiatives, compensation plans, and salesforce training initiatives to turn the negative tide that too often dominates our narrative.
Ashley Collins, Executive Vice President - Marketing, PR, Social Media,
USANA Health Sciences
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Giving your Salesforce their Voices Back: Permissible Claims in a Time of Increased Regulatory Scrutiny
Distributors want and are entitled to, a voice that allows them to sell the wonderful products and services direct selling companies across the United States offer. But in times of increased channel scrutiny, building a business has inherent challenges. Distributors are often only told what they are not permitted to say, which can lead to much frustration and multiply the number of non-compliant materials companies must police. In this webinar, we will discuss best practices for educating your distributors to better understand the contours of what they are permitted to say and what to avoid.
Katrina Eash, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
11:00 a.m. – Noon Closing Lunch
Enjoy one last chance to break bread with fellow attendees.
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