The Lonnie & Lynne Burnett Event Center was buzzing this week as the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 3rd annual Built for This Women’s Leadership Conference.
Open to business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone eager to grow, the gathering offered more than speeches and panels. It was an energy-filled day built on connection, encouragement, and inspiration.
With more than 500 women having taken part since its launch in 2023, the conference has quickly carved out a reputation as one of the most anticipated events of the year.
This time around, the theme—“Lead With Purpose. Ignite Your Potential.”—set the tone for a program that pushed attendees to step into leadership with confidence and clarity.
Building Bridges Across Industries
One of the strengths of this conference is its wide reach. Attendees included women from education, healthcare, corporate leadership, small business, and creative ventures.
The format encouraged conversation across these different backgrounds, letting someone in marketing sit alongside someone in construction or finance and realize they’re working through many of the same challenges.
Marketing Coordinator Jorjalyn Lofton highlighted the impact of those interactions: “No matter what industry you’re in, it’s just a day to come together, grow, and make a really meaningful connection.”
For those in the room, that shared sense of purpose gave the day a spark that carried through every breakout session and casual conversation.
Learning to Own the Room
Workshops tackled practical skills like presentation delivery, networking strategies, and even on-camera confidence.
It wasn’t about theory—it was about practicing in real time and leaving with tools you could use the very next day.
Tia Austin, president of FCS Facility Maintenance, described the experience as a boost: “Just learning how to get in front of a camera, get in front of people, and just being able to make those connections. Anything that can help scoot us forward into that confidence where we can just walk in and just own the room—that’s amazing.”
That kind of takeaway can ripple into boardrooms, classrooms, and community meetings, strengthening voices that might have once stayed quiet.
Friendships That Last Beyond the Conference
Beyond the scheduled sessions, much of the value came in the moments between—sharing contact information over coffee, swapping stories in the hall, and cheering for one another during Q&As.
Organizers say it’s common for women who meet here to reconnect a year later, bringing fresh updates about collaborations or career leaps sparked by last year’s conversation.
Those friendships stretch the event’s impact well past a single day. They weave into professional circles and personal support systems, helping create a network that grows stronger with each new conference.
“Friends have been made, and it’s always really beautiful to see that,” one organizer said.
A Tradition Worth Repeating
Now three years strong, the Built for This Women’s Leadership Conference has built momentum that shows no signs of slowing.
Every testimonial pointed to the same truth: attending is worth it. “Oh, do it. Absolutely,” Austin said when asked if others should join in the future.
It’s an event that has proven it can inspire, encourage, and equip women to take bold steps in their careers and communities.
For those who made it into the room this year, the lessons and relationships formed there won’t fade quickly.
And for those considering it next time, the message is clear: the door is open, and the welcome is warm.
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