Sea Services Leadership Association Plans 2021 Joint Leadership Symposium in Norfolk, Virginia
Washington, DC (January 13, 2021)– The Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA), host of the annual Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, is preparing for the next conference to take place in-person, August 31-September 1, 2021 in Norfolk, Va.
The symposium’s theme, “Illuminating Our Leaders: Today, Tomorrow & Beyond,” captures the importance of providing a clear path for leadership development and recognizing the diverse group of service members who lead by example. The first day of the conference will be a joint services day featuring plenary keynote sessions and joint breakout discussions followed by a second day featuring branch-specific sessions to allow discussion of topics such as leadership, mentorship, Post-Traumatic Stress, military policy and family wellness.
On September 2, SSLA will host the third annual SSLA Career Transitioning Seminar for service members, veterans, and their spouses who are preparing to retire or transition to a civilian career.
The 2021 Symposium follows SSLA’s popular and successful first Joint Women’s Leadership Virtual Series. The Series brought together over 1,500 servicewomen and men, veterans, and civilians from around the world during the 13-part series.
Ret. Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson speaks on the panel “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Female Firsts, ” on September 8, 2020, as a part of the 2020 JWLS Virtual Series hosted by the Sea Services Leadership Association.
From August to December, the series showcased servicewomen sharing tips on topics such as breaking the glass ceiling; how to handle toxic leadership; military moms discussing the importance and the challenges of achieving work-life balance; and resources for a successful transition from the military to the corporate world.
Series sponsors USAA, Johnson & Johnson and Amazon hosted sessions detailing the opportunities available for service members and veterans. The 13 sessions are available on-demand at SSLA’s YouTube page.
“When we realized that it wouldn’t be possible to hold the 2020 Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium in Norfolk, Va., we knew we needed to give servicewomen the platform to continue to share stories and grow as leaders, even if not face-to-face,” said SSLA President Marine Lt. Col. Jenny Storm. “We are very proud of the success of the Joint Women’s Virtual Series and the impact our speakers and participants continue to have on the military community, and we look forward to continuing to grow as leaders when the symposium comes together in person in 2021.”
More information about the symposium and the seminar can be found here. All prospective attendees with questions may reach out to the SSLA JWLS Lead Co-Chair Lt. Corinne N. Powers (Coast Guard) and Co-Chair Lt. Cmdr. Theresa Carpenter (Navy) at sslajwls@gmail.com.
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About The Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA)
Established in 1978, SSLA is a non-profit, non-political organization recognized by the United States sea services, dedicated to providing professional development to growing service women as individuals through access to networking, mentoring, and opportunities to unleash their leadership potential and increase the effectiveness of the organizations in which they serve. SSLA is a member of the Navy & Marine Corps Council and the Coast Guard Affinity Group Council, which advises the Secretary of the Navy and Commandant of the Coast Guard about issues affecting Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel and their families. Each year, SSLA hosts the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium for all the military services, making it the largest gathering of women in uniform nationwide. To learn more about the SSLA and the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, visit https://www.sealeader.org/, or follow JWLS’ Facebook, SSLA’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About JWLS
- The Joint Women's Leadership Symposium (JWLS) is open to Active, Reserve and Retired Military service members from all service branches, DoD Civilians, the National Guard, NOAA and our international allies.
- The Symposium is planned and executed by the Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA).
- JWLS traditionally rotates between fleet concentration areas and has been held in Washington D.C., Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA over past years.
- JWLS attendance ranges in size from 900-1500 attendees dependent on the hosting location and regularly has representatives from various allied countries, including Canada, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and more in attendance.
- In past years, several speeches and panels were televised live by prominent media outlets, including C-SPAN.
- The Symposium is the largest gathering of military women in the nation and has been recognized as the premier professional and personal development conference for women in the military.
JWLS Impact
"Before attending JWLS I was struggling with my place within my organization and if I wanted to continue my service. After attending and hearing what some of these powerful, successful women had to say, it reminded me of my purpose and why I joined in the first place."
Highlights from JWLS 2019
Links and Downloads
We Won the Gold!
