Women of Influence : How sharing our quirks brought us close.
I’ve picked up some of my favorite lessons in hospitality over the years, but this one might be my favorite yet.
In a time when making (and keeping!) truly meaningful female friendships can feel a little harder, I decided to run a tiny experiment. (Huge thank you to the nine incredible friends and colleagues who had no idea what they were saying “YES!” to. Your openness made it magic. 💛)
At Calvin Gin’s suggestion, I hosted a table at Crain’s Women of Influence Luncheon and asked each guest to send me a childhood photo + a short, informal bio. Some women knew each other… many didn’t.
The morning of, I dropped all the childhood photos into a group text and encouraged quick hellos and travel check-ins. Within minutes? Heart emojis everywhere. Instant warmth. The tone was set: zero judgment, all curiosity.
At the table, I turned their bios into a little “guess who” game with bite-sized clues, lots of laughs. And because I couldn’t help myself, I added one charming, unexpected icebreaker for each guest… something you wouldn’t find on LinkedIn 😉
Safe to say: strangers didn’t stay strangers for long.
So tell me… can you guess … who am I?
“I often sing a response to my partners on zoom calls.”
“I believe you can meet the man of your dreams at the grocery store meat counter.”
“I homeschooled my three girls and would love living on a farm with ten children.”
“I have a winning smile and kind word for everyone I meet.”
“I was vocalist or hype girl in my early 20’s for major clubs in Italy!”
“I spray painted a lemon on Laura’s house.”
“One of my favorite job’s - dancing paint onto a canvas. I see life as a grand performance and I’m happiest with an audience.”
“You can find me most mornings lifting heavy weights at SoHo with my friends DJ and Laura!”
“I recently gave a presentation dressed as Albert Einstein.”
Hi, I’m Laura Rose Barth. I design creative tools for leaders and organizations…enabling growth in sales, awareness and collaboration. As a guide for emerging leaders worldwide, I collaborate with people, brands, and organizations seeking authenticity. My intuition has led me to help individuals tap into their full potential. Together, we venture beyond traditional branding methods, taking unique paths that require a willingness to challenge the status quo.
DJ Blatner simply calls me a “muse” and she’s almost always right. :)
I was homeschooled, 30 years before the rest of the world gave it a shot. Upon my dad’s advice I dropped out of collage and became a portrait photographer, launching Everyday Charming in 2006 followed by a suite of Charming brands. I partnered with Calvin Gin on the 2021 purchase of Luby’s. As Chief Brand Officer my goal is to re-build the most hospitable name in Texan culture. My efforts in Texas have been featured by The New York Times and The Bitter Southerner.
Raised by a family of risk takers, in 2022 I invested in T2D2, an AI inspection company in NYC. I’m the co-founder of WorkPlate, a private incubator to explore new ideas, allow them to develop and hopefully grow into their own identity. Through Charming Studios we produce photo and video content that speaks authentically for executives. I co-founded Digital Handshake in 2020, personal websites designed to introduce WHO you are - not just WHAT you do.
I have 3 spiritualists I talk to daily and my favorite weekend plans are going to a church service.
Although I don’t understand it I’m drawn to geo politics. My favorite read lately taught me how to negotiate while sitting on the same side of the table and find win/wins. The hugs given and received by world leaders during The Abraham Accords make me think anything is possible. “Breaking History” by Jarad Kushner was the read I didn’t know I’d need to learn from this past quarter, but wow did I. I aspire to be friends with his wife, Ivanka.
I was invited to a dinner with the past president of Mongolia last Wednesday and it made me realize titles don’t matter as much as we think they do. We are all just regular people who want to feel something, but mostly we want to feel connection to each other and a deep sense of purpose.
My goal is to always cultivate curiosity, start my mornings with my gym friends, journaling, meditation and laugh a lot. So much for writing a short and informal bio.
“Hi! 🎶 I’m Heather Stead, the creative visionary for one of the top four accounting firms in the world. I built our brand’s identity and designed the firm’s first and largest center in Chicago and then nationwide. I shape the national narrative, collaborating with architects, designers, and stakeholders to support impactful client experiences. I developed visual design strategy, pioneering a new way of story telling with Charming Studios through implementing the DUO Method. I Oversee $5.5M and 25 creatives who support over 200+ Fortune 1000 clients annually. My career has been defined by a commitment to crafting immersive experiences that bring brands and spaces to life through design and real human connection. Outside of my 9-5, my invitation designs were featured in Vogue. I LOVEEE the Beatles and much of my work is inspired by music. 🎶 I often sing a response to my partners on zoom calls. I’m a mom and school cheer coach. I’ve volunteered thousands of design hours at the Pearl Fincher (a fine art museum in Houston). I have collaborated on a decade of photo shoots with Laura Rose Barth. I am loyal to a fault and always support my people.”
Dawn Jackson “DJ” Blatner, I’m a RDN, CSSD. registered dietitian, sports nutrition expert and media personality. I authored two acclaimed books, The Flexitarian Diet (named a top diet by U.S. News & World Report) and The Superfood Swap. I regularly appear on national TV including, The Today Show and Good Morning America. I starred in and won ABC’s primetime reality show My Diet Is Better Than Yours, and hosted an Emmy-nominated TV show in Chicago. I spent 10 years as the head dietitian for the Chicago Cubs, earning a World Series ring with the team. I’m known for my high-energy communication style and partner with leading food and lifestyle brands to bring nutrition science to life through media, video, webinars, and live speaking events. I love to jump rope and roller skate with friends, socialize at the gym and grocery store, and dress in bright colors. My mantras: Joy is a Nutrient and Neon is a Lifestyle. I believe you can meet the man of your dreams at the grocery store meat counter.
Sarah Austin - “Founder of The Scratch Pantry, serving up clean-label, herbaceous chicken sausage and chicken chorizo across Chicago’s hospitality scene. Equal parts business builder and people connector. Big fan of early workouts, good books, spontaneous travel, and long dinners with friends. If there’s Mexican food and tequila involved, even better.”
“Hi, I’m Maria Moran - the CEO at ICNC or the Industrial Council of Near West Chicago. Throughout my career I seek out win-win scenarios and dive in to produce winning outcomes. I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds with different skill sets and with different opinions! When I’m not at work I enjoy being with my family, love a good game of lacrosse and really appreciate the creative mind.”
Andrea Goodkin - “I lead HUB's People & Technology Consulting practice, working with companies on HR strategy, HR technology, and compensation. I have 30+ years of experience across both corporate HR and consulting, including a stint as Head of HR at Baker McKenzie. My roles spanning everything from a state government agency to a Silicon Valley startup. I’ve seen a lot, fixed a lot, and have the stories to prove it. I’m a UW grad with a certificate from Stanford's HR Executive Program and hold both SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications.”
Hi! I’m, Alyssa Bergamini, a Chicago sports broadcaster, covering both the Bulls and White Sox. I graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, and a minor in Spanish. In 2024, I became the first female Public Address Announcer for the White Sox in franchise history. When I’m off the clock, I enjoy traveling internationally with my younger sister, Alaina, and golfing with my husband, Matt. You can find me most mornings lifting heavy weights at SoHo with my friends DJ and Laura!
Destiny Nicole Fox - “I’m a creative entrepreneur with roots from Italy to Chicago, blending real estate, hospitality, and storytelling through writing, music, and community. Featured on CNN and WGN Radio, I bring resilience, artistry, and soul to everything I do—always creating a sense of “home” wherever I land. I follow my curiosity. Once I’ve learned what I came for, I chase the next challenge.”
Hello, Solidea Bonina. I’m a Ph.D. civil and environmental engineer, technical expert, and growth leader for an engineering firm based out of Chicago. I work nationally across the U.S. and, more recently, I’ve been intentionally pushing my work onto a global stage. I’m proudly Italian -born and raised in Italy - and after 19 years in the United States, proudly American as well. My career spans academia, the U.S. EPA, and environmental consulting, which means I’m equally comfortable in rigorous science, real‑world problem solving, and strategic growth conversations. Beyond my happily nerdy technical background, I love traveling the world and discovering great food -Italian is the foundation, of course, but curiosity always leads the way. When I’m not working, I prioritize health and longevity: lifting heavy, boxing harder, and decompressing with Pilates and yoga whenever my calendar allows (and sometimes when it doesn’t). My real superpower? People. I’m deeply social, genuinely curious, and energized by meaningful conversation, so, for everyone’s sake, I’ll hand the mic to the next person now… unless you’d like to ask questions. Then we may be here a while.
I recently gave a presentation dressed as Albert Einstein.
Hi, I’m Emma Lyons. The first critique I ever received was when my kindergarten teacher said “She has an overactive imagination,” and absolutely nothing has dampened that to this day. I use an unending flow of creativity to bring visual art, fashion, performance, writing, and experiences into the world. My work blends genres and encourages others to be fully and authentically themselves. You are a Work of Art.
KPMG Creative Director, Heather Stead, Leo Burnett’s CEO, Kate Jeffers, Luby’s Chief Brand Officer, Laura Rose Barth all agree businesses must work together to help solve society issues government can’t. (Especially in education!)
Ciere Boatright Commissioner Chicago Department of Planning & Development accepting her award and connecting to her audience by tossing out her speech and just sharing her heart.
In summary, my experiment filled my heart. Ten women tore themselves away from hectic schedules and came together to learn about each other and offer encouragement and support. (Sharing our quirks felt like glue bringing us close in minutes.) These spaces for women are rare and purposeful. Thank you to each one of you for holding space for our wins, tears, imperfections and triumph. I love you all.
