Mindy Kaling, Kylie Kelce, Lindsey Vonn, and Others Share New Takes on Overcoming Obstacles at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women
More Than 9,000 Attend 23rd Annual Event in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From the ski slopes to Hollywood to the daily juggling act of work and family, speakers at yesterday's Pennsylvania Conference for Women shared candid stories of setbacks, comebacks, and finding success on their own terms.
Olympic ski champion, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Lindsey Vonn recalled her devastating accident in February and how she has seized new opportunities since.
"I was in the starting gate, number one in the world at the Olympics, this incredible comeback, and then 13 seconds later, I'm in the most excruciating pain of my life, being helicoptered off the mountain."
Her recovery has involved multiple surgeries, with a tenth scheduled for Monday, she said.
"But as soon as I felt like I got past the moment where I could see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel," she said, "I just put my foot on the gas throttle and I went as fast as I could because when you have something taken away from you that you love, you realize how much you love it. And so, I've just been going nonstop since then."
Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling author and TIME100 Honoree, told a story about her publisher dropping her earlier in her career.
"They said that I was a financial liability. Now I thought that was harsh because I knew I was not, say, a financial asset, but a liability?"
At a crossroads, Jones decided she would finish the book she was writing and attend the only remaining event on her calendar, where, as it happens, she met the famous children's book publisher Judy Blume, who introduced her to another publisher.
"My students say, 'See, professor, that just goes to show it's all about who you know.' But I tell them, 'No, it's about doing your work and then letting the universe take over."
Mindy Kaling, Tony Award-winning and Emmy-nominated writer, producer and actor, spoke about overcoming other people's limiting expectations of her.
"I feel like my entire life, even as a child, people have wanted to put me in a box, and I've wanted to surprise them, and I've wanted to show them that I could do more," she said. "I have never asked permission," she added.
Philadelphia-area native, host of the Not Gonna Lie podcast and Eagles Autism Foundation advocate Kylie Kelce spoke about her popular podcast, saying "I think honestly it has exposed a need for women to have the conversations that we're having with our best friends behind closed doors and have those conversations in a public forum."
Bozoma Saint John, marketing executive, entrepreneur, author, and cultural strategist, also inspired attendees to live an intentional and expansive life.
Dozens of the nation's top experts also led breakout sessions and mini-masterclasses on a wide range of current topics, including leading in the age of AI, decision-making in uncertain times, and sustaining performance without burnout.
ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN
The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is part of CFW, the nation's premier nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to accelerating leadership, career growth and wellbeing. For more than two decades, CFW has empowered over 1 million professionals at every stage and across every industry to reach their full potential.
Conferences for Women also hosts the National Conference for Women, a virtual event on March 3, 2027, that will bring together more than 15,000 professionals nationwide for inspiring speakers, practical ideas, and meaningful conversations about career and personal growth.
SOURCE The Conferences for Women
Share this article