“By Women Lawyers, For Women Lawyers”
Friday, March 10, 2023
K&L Gates LLP
599 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10022
130 years ago, Mary Kennedy Brown became the first female graduate of Cornell Law School in 1893. This inaugural summit of the women’s alumni network of Cornell Law School was developed to inspire women lawyers to continue the tradition of Cornell Law School’s female graduates who have been pioneers in law, business, and education. The 2023 summit is titled “Women in Entrepreneurship and Leadership.” It is uniquely designed to provide networking, learning and friendships that will last far beyond 2023 and become part of your pathway into the future.
Friday, March 10, 2023
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Breakfast/Registration
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Session 1: “Cornell Women in Entrepreneurship: A Lawyer’s Perspective”
Celebrate Cornell Law women advising and being entrepreneurs. Lawyers, advisers, and founders — in their footsteps are thousands more — all supported by life-long learning opportunities that focus on women and women entrepreneurs. Highlighting the unique collaborations and offerings Cornell provides for women entrepreneurs and clinical training for the lawyers of entrepreneurs, this panel will discuss the advice and skills needed to promote women entrepreneurs.
Moderator:
Speakers:
11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Session 2: “In the Business of Being a Woman Lawyer”
What are some of the unique challenges that women face as they build a brand and a business? How do we as women lawyers learn the lessons of entrepreneurship? What are the skills that we develop that can be applied to other business models? The panelists will share how entrepreneurial concepts also relate to building a business, assuming leadership positions in organizations and on boards, and will discuss successful skills for pivoting from law firm to business, to board rooms and beyond.
Moderator:
Speakers:
12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Session 3: “Diversity and Disruption in Venture Capital”
The VC industry remains overwhelmingly male and white, with glaring inequality on both sides: the VC firms and the founders and companies they invest in. Great efforts are being made to clear the pathway for women and people of color, but much work remains. Join our panel as they share their experiences, assess the biggest barriers to diversification and discuss how their advocacy is disrupting the business for women and people of color.
Moderator:
Speakers:
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Break
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Session 4: “Communities & Networking Post-Pandemic”
Does networking make you uncomfortable and feel like a chore, and how has the global pandemic of 2020 impacted the way we network? Is it better, worse, or just different, and how have women lawyers adjusted?
Moderator:
Speakers:
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors




Please consider supporting the Law School Annual Fund for Scholarship, which greatly impacts the educational opportunities for women and students of color.