WithIt (Women in The Home Furnishings Industry Today) will host a “Rise & Shine” Education Breakfast during the upcoming High Point Furniture Market on October 15, 2023. Presented by Myriad Software, the talk will be led by Dr. Rhonda Butler, management professor at High Point University, and will focus on advancing and empowering women leaders.
Butler is the founding director of the Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T. Fellowship, Sompo Women in Insurance Management (SWIM) program, and the new Women’s Leadership Development academic program at High Point University. As director of L.I.F.T. (Leading and Inspiring Female Trailblazers), she provides mentorship, coaching, and leadership development for aspiring women interested in becoming CEOs, senior leaders, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers. In addition to spearheading other women’s leadership initiatives locally, Dr. Butler has also escorted young women on leadership development trips on Wall Street and in South Africa.
“We need to have a very important, often overlooked, conversation regarding women’s comfort with stepping into the spotlight and shining,” Butler says. “During the breakfast, we’re going to discuss reframing our perceptions on women’s assertiveness and self-promotion, because when women rise and shine, they empower others and organizations to do likewise.”
WithIt is a women’s leadership development network for the home furnishings industry boasting over 500 members and dozens of networking and education events throughout the year. Members of the nonprofit organization include innovators, industry influencers, thought leaders and connectors in a wide range of categories across the United States.
“WithIt is passionate about encouraging and developing female leaders in our industry,” says Jenny Tinsley, manager of corporate communications for Culp, Inc. and WithIt board member. “Often, in the world of career advancement, as women, we feel we are playing in a game where the rules of self-promotion and advocating for oneself seem very unnatural. Dr. Butler will inspire us to rise and shine in ways that authentically represent our values, and by doing so, we give others the freedom to do the same.”
The fall education breakfast at High Point is typically a sold-out event, catering to members of WithIt’s organization as well as to market attendees. Other sponsors for the event include speaker sponsor Fairfield, and event sponsor NFM.
Attendees will receive actionable takeaways they can use personally or with their teams. The talk will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. at the IHFC Green Wing in the International Ballroom on the 11th floor.
