CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. — Thomas More University hosted its fourth Annual Women’s Conference, uniting leaders, entrepreneurs and community members ready to make changes in their community. 

Many of those in attendance had a goal of stepping outside of their comfort zones.

Courtney Kleier, director of alumni engagement, said with that goal in mind the team had the perfect theme for the year.

“Growing courageously, because we think that it can speak to people in every part of their life, whether it’s in thinking of career, make career, or even post career, she explained. 

Business owners, like Becca Calhoun, participated in the conference’s pop-up shops. Calhoun said events like this bring opportunities that help bridge the inequity gap for women and minority-owned businesses.

“People that do have... loud voices like a university.... and has a big backing to contact people like me, who is a small business who wouldn’t generally have this type of opportunity and this type of advertisement... is very important,” said Calhoun.

There were several featured panelists and workshop leaders including technology innovators and Thomas More alumni Katie Trauth Taylor and Catherine O’Shea, founders and CEO’s of Narratize, a generative AI storytelling platform.

Trauth Taylor and O’Shea shared their entrepreneurial journey and why spaces curated for women by women are so important. 

“Only 0.3% of venture capital in AI goes to female founders,” Trauth Taylor explained. “Diversity is a major problem in the AI space. We’re so proud and honored to elevate that, bring visibility to that and hopefully make it easier on the future women entrepreneurs who need to be in this space so crucial.”

Kleier agreed, saying building spaces for innovation is a top priority of the University.

“I want people to know that Thomas Moore is a place where these conversations happen, and this is a place where we’re driving people to be more and to see more in themselves,” she shared.