2025 ATHENA International Conference at Sea: Where Connection Met the Horizon
If you missed the 2025 ATHENA International Conference... well, let’s just say: you really missed the boat.
This wasn’t your average hotel ballroom-and-stale-coffee kind of conference. This year, ATHENA International set sail on a transformative, all-inclusive leadership experience aboard one of the most exciting cruise ships to ever host a gathering of trailblazing women and allies. From sunrises spent in deep, soul-fueled conversation to sunset networking under the stars—every moment was infused with purpose, power, and a splash of ocean breeze.
The conference was anchored by an extraordinary lineup of visionary leaders whose voices sparked bold dialogue and lasting inspiration.
The Emcees, Mo and Katy: A dynamic duo who brought both heart and humor, engaging the crowd with perfectly timed puns and ice-breakers. They set the tone for an atmosphere that was welcoming, warm, and wonderfully energizing. We can’t wait to have them back for our next conference… stay tuned!
Gavriella Schuster, ATHENA’s 2020 Global Award Recipient, former global tech executive, and allyship expert, challenged us to move from intention to action in her compelling keynote, ALLIES in Action: Surviving, Growing, and Thriving.
Debbie Peterson unlocked the power of Authentic Leadership, guiding women to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Michelle Massey moved hearts with Living on the Right Side of the But, reminding us that service to others can be our most powerful leadership tool.
The Predictive Index session, sponsored by The MindWire Group and expertly facilitated by Gail Paul, drew robust participation. From Gail’s seminar to her one-on-one office hours on the ship, participants left with tools to lead more consciously and effectively.
Evening Entertainment: When the weather wasn’t friendly, the onboard shows were a perfect escape. There was always something to do, something to laugh about, and someone to do it with.
Photos courtesy of: Alex Campbell
This year, ATHENA proudly expanded its legacy of recognition with a series of powerful global honors:
Full Circle moment, we were deeply honored to welcome Linda Ackley, the original creator of the iconic ATHENA award sculpture and the newly introduced Pantheon Award. Her presence was a powerful reminder of how one woman’s vision can ripple across decades. Seeing Linda with both the legacy and future of ATHENA in her hands was a profound full-circle moment for all in attendance.
Ann Playter received the prestigious ATHENA Global Leadership Award—a tribute to her unwavering dedication, trailblazing advocacy, and decades of empowering women to rise, lead, and uplift others. Ann’s leadership has shaped ATHENA’s current state, inspired generations, and left a legacy that will echo for years to come.
The WIT Network, a fierce global advocate for women in technology, was named the first-ever Global Pantheon Award Recipient. Under the leadership of its visionary President, Christine Bongard, the organization is redefining what inclusive, equitable leadership looks like across industries and continents.
Sarah Jennings, Sheri Jones, and Debbie Peterson were honored with the inaugural Global Servant Leadership Award, a recognition reserved for those who lead not from the spotlight, but from the heart. Their leadership, rooted in humility, courage, and service, exemplifies what it means to put people and purpose first.
Photos courtesy of: Alex Campbell
Contained, Yet Free: The Magic of Being at Sea
One of the most unexpectedly powerful aspects of hosting the conference aboard a ship? The environment itself. We were all together—intentionally and authentically. With limited distractions (unless you count the spa, sunsets, or spontaneous karaoke), the experience fostered rare focus, presence, and connection. And yet, there was plenty of space—literal and emotional—to recharge, reflect, or dive into rich conversations on your own terms. It was a masterclass in being held and free at the same time.
The conference pulsed with powerful panels and immersive moments that sparked dialogue, crossed generations, and celebrated community:
The Intergenerational Leadership Panel brought together Nicole Noll Williams, Michelle Massey, Paula Farmer, Karli Corey, and Mickey Hughes, who shared generational wisdom on bridging age, identity, and industry to build a more inclusive leadership future.
Our cheeky yet deeply insightful “Bored Room” Skit was anything but dull. Featuring dynamic voices like Gavriella Schuster, Kimberli Green, Tash Price, Carrie Harbinson, Michele Reister, Nicole Noll Williams, Kimberley Bates, and Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski, the session fearlessly challenged outdated power dynamics with humor and heart.
Fireside Chats lit up the stage—and our spirits—with global voices including Karen Bird, Isadora Maria Mendes de Souza, Matthew Anderson, Sarah Mpenza, Heather Hitchler, Hellena Pugh, Keith Williams, Kimberli Green, and Christine Bongard. Together, they offered raw, resonant reflections on leading with equity, courage, and compassion across cultures and continents.
Photos courtesy of: Alex Campbell
Soulful Leadership: Wellness That Transformed
Beyond the panels and keynotes, some of the most profound moments of the 2025 ATHENA International Conference took place in the stillness of early morning. Our wellness sessions—curated with intention and led by a powerhouse trio—became sacred spaces of healing, reflection, and personal transformation.
Debra Hart guided participants through grounding, body-based practices that reconnected them to their own inner wisdom and intuition—laying the foundation for more authentic and embodied leadership.
Carlene Kanellis, a gifted breathwork practitioner and somatic healer, led participants into deep, restorative states using the power of breath. Her sessions helped many release what no longer served them and reconnect with their deepest truth.
And then there was Nina Grae—whose voice didn’t just echo in the room, it echoed in our hearts. Ethereal, honest, and soul-shifting, her music and presence created an atmosphere of profound emotional safety, inspiring tears, laughter, and the kind of clarity that only stillness and sound can evoke.
These sessions weren’t just wellness breaks—they were transformational journeys, quiet revolutions that left participants forever changed.
Meaningful Connections That Will Last a Lifetime
The networking? Next level. With fewer distractions and a naturally intimate setting, it was easier to strike up conversations that went beyond business cards. Some met during sunrise wellness sessions, where raw, heartfelt talks about personal growth and rising as women in a man’s world emerged organically—no panel required. These weren’t just chance encounters; they were seeds planted for lifelong alliances.
The real success of the conference was in the stories being told after: The woman who shared a table at breakfast and found a new mentor. The first-time cruiser who left not only with her sea legs but a renewed sense of direction. The unexpected hallway chats that turned into future collaborations. The sheer joy of seeing new friendships spark, grow, and shine.
And let’s not forget—we did all of this while gazing out at the endless blue horizon.
So, if you didn’t make it this year, we hate to say it—but you missed something extraordinary. Here’s the good news: we’re already planning our next big conference. Bigger. Braver. Even more boldly ATHENA.