In the heart of Cincinnati, we explore a powerful new summit taking shape — one designed to inspire, connect, and uplift women across every stage of their professional journeys. On September 30, the inaugural ConnectHER OTR Summit will bring women together for a full day of speakers, dynamic workshops, and intentional networking, all grounded in an affirming theme: You Are Enough.
Hosted by the OTR Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with community-building powerhouse Cincy Girls Who, the summit will take place at the Hard Rock Casino from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $95 and include lunch, vendor access, a branded ConnectHER gift, and on-site parking.
But ConnectHER OTR is more than just a conference. It’s the result of years of observation, research, and lived experience by Julie Clayton, executive director of the OTR Chamber, who noticed something surprising while reviewing membership statistics: 38% of the Chamber’s member businesses are women-owned — more than double the national average.
“That sparked something in me,” Clayton says. “I started asking myself: What more can we be doing to support this growing part of our community?”
Her search for an answer began with a series of monthly Connector OTR lunch hours — small, intimate networking events styled like dinner parties. “Sixteen to twenty women would come, pre-order lunch, and just talk. Real conversations, real connections,” she explains. “They sold out every single month.”
Building on that momentum, Clayton began dreaming bigger: What if the same magic could scale to a full-day event?
Enter the ConnectHER OTR Summit, created in partnership with Tara Osborne, founder of Cincy Girls Who. The pair clicked immediately — Clayton brought the professional lens, while Osborne brought the social spark. Together, they’ve curated a summit that’s equal parts strategic and soulful.
The day is designed with intention, from roundtable seating that fosters conversation to workshop tracks that meet attendees where they are. “We want this to feel personal,” says Clayton. “Something for the entrepreneur just getting started. Something for the mom with a side hustle. Something for the woman in her 30th year of business who’s looking to grow or reset.”
Forge Your Own Path
The agenda includes two interactive workshop sessions, allowing attendees to tailor their experience based on their goals, interests and stage in life or career. During each session, participants will choose from two thoughtfully designed workshops, each led by professionals with deep expertise and practical insight.
Session A
- AI Glow-UP – Presented by Andrea Larsen of UFO Performance Marketing, this workshop explores practical applications of artificial intelligence to elevate creativity, strategy, and efficiency.
- The ASCEND Method® – Conducted by Elisabeth Galperin of Peak Productivity, this session offers tactical steps to move from busy to truly productive — both professionally and personally.
Session B
- Discover Your PATH (Purpose, Action, Time, Honor) – Led by Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and Adventure Bright President Jill McCarthy, this session helps participants chart a clear path forward in their lives and careers.
- Power Moves – Hosted by Sherry Sims of Black Career Women's Network, this workshop offers bold strategies for building brand visibility and business growth.
In addition to the workshops, the summit will feature a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, a vendor fair highlighting local women-owned businesses, and a special presentation from Katherine Butler-Dines of Women Who Travel Abroad.
Attendees will have plenty of time to connect throughout the day — and to keep the networking jitters at bay, the ConnectHER OTR team plans to incorporate special “spark” questions designed to foster personal and professional connections.
“We’re setting the stage for real conversations,” Clayton says. “At check-in, you might get a prompt like ‘Find someone holding a coffee and introduce yourself.’ We’ll have table cards that ask things like, ‘What’s something you’re looking for right now — personally or professionally?’”
It’s an approach that reflects a core philosophy of the event: that authentic personal connections often lead to professional breakthroughs. “Women connect differently,” Clayton says. “For us, it’s about making those personal connections that lead to business connections."
For Clayton, this summit is deeply personal. “This is something I wish I had years ago,” she says. “Even now, I struggle with that feeling of not being ‘enough.’ This summit is about challenging that — showing women that they are enough, just as they are.”
Looking ahead, Clayton and Osborne hope to expand ConnectHER OTR and Cincy Girls Who far beyond the fall summit. Monthly lunch hours and evening events like candle making and cooking classes are already drawing crowds — and the groups are making plans to address fast-growing interest.
“It’s about meeting women where they are,” says Clayton. “Whether they can get away at lunch, after work, or just need that moment of connection,”
Ready to register? Visit https://www.otrchamber.com/connecther-otr-summit-9-30-25/ for full details.
“Something for the entrepreneur just getting started. Something for the mom with a side hustle. Something for the woman in her 30th year of business who’s looking to grow or reset.”
“Women connect differently. It’s about making those personal connections that lead to business connections."