Women's Business Conference.
In honor of International Women's Day, WVCBA and CSU Channel Islands join forces for the third consecutive year to host Ventura County's only Women's Business Conference — an inspirational half-day of guest speakers, networking, and more.
Featured Speakers.
Four extraordinary leaders sharing their journeys, expertise, and strategies for building lasting impact.
Sylvia Acevedo
Sylvia Acevedo is a transformative leader, rocket scientist, and visionary strategist. She began her career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory before rising to executive leadership at Apple, Autodesk, Dell, and IBM. From 2016 to 2020, she served as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, modernizing the organization with a focus on STEM, entrepreneurship, and digital readiness. She is the bestselling author of Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist and The Trailblazers Playbook: Practical Tactics to Rise Against the Odds and Achieve Excellence.
Graciela Casillas
Graciela Casillas is a trailblazer in martial arts — a four-time World Champion honored in nine national and international halls of fame, including the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame and Black Belt Hall of Fame. In 2023, she was recognized as "Woman of the Year" by California State Senator Monique Limón. Beyond her undefeated fighting career, Casillas has spent over 40 years teaching and mentoring, and is the author of The Lioness Within: A Personal Guide to Self-Defense for Women.
Lindsey Carnett
Lindsey Carnett is the CEO and President of Marketing Maven, an award-winning global marketing and public relations firm she founded in 2009. With more than two decades of experience, she has earned national recognition for her leadership and impact. Lindsey will lead an interactive session on Mastering Your Personal Brand — covering LinkedIn, thought leadership, SEO, and storytelling.
Nicki Parr
Originally from the UK, Nicki Parr is CEO of WEV — Women's Economic Ventures, one of the region's most impactful nonprofits advancing women in business. She spent more than 20 years in corporate finance and operational management before pursuing postgraduate studies in Somatic Psychology. Nicki will guide a dynamic panel conversation featuring business leaders whose global journeys have shaped their success.
Previous Conference Photos.
2026 Sponsors.
Title Sponsors
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Post-Reception Networking Presented By
