Last week, I was back at the State Capitol in Hartford to emcee Women Owned Business Day — my 11th year with the event.
It’s a day that brings together women entrepreneurs, public leaders from both sides of the aisle, and a highly engaged audience around a shared focus: expanding opportunity and supporting business growth.
From the outside, emceeing can look straightforward — introductions, transitions, keeping the program moving.
In reality, the role is far more dynamic.
Structuring in Real Time
Live programs rarely unfold exactly as planned — and in this setting, flexibility isn’t optional.
Because the legislature was in session, several legislative leaders needed to step away from caucus meetings to participate. In real time, that meant adjusting the order of speakers so they could join the program and return to their responsibilities.
Maintaining structure under those conditions requires quick judgment — preserving the flow of the program while accommodating the realities of the room.
Preparing Voices to Land
Preparation doesn’t begin on stage.
In addition to working with the entrepreneurs in the Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition, I also worked with several speakers in advance to help them refine their message — aligning it with the time constraints and purpose of the event, and ensuring they could deliver it with clarity and confidence.
When that preparation is done well, each contribution strengthens the overall program rather than competing for attention.
With the Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition winners,
alongside the grant sponsor and WBDC leadership.
alongside the grant sponsor and WBDC leadership.
Managing the Unexpected
Even with preparation, unexpected moments are part of every live program.
Toward the end of the event, we were informed that U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal would be joining — but needed a few additional minutes to arrive.
Holding the room in that moment required a shift. I used the time to engage the audience directly, asking what had resonated most and what they were taking away from the program.
What could have been a pause instead became a way to maintain engagement in the room.
What Makes a Program Work
This year also included the Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition, where six entrepreneurs presented for the opportunity to receive one of three $25,000 grants.
Having worked with each of them ahead of the event, I had a unique perspective on the preparation behind those moments — and the level of clarity and confidence required to deliver under pressure.
Events like this are a reminder that strong programs don’t happen by accident.
They are shaped — through preparation, structure, and the ability to adapt in real time.
And when that comes together, the result is a room that is not just attentive, but meaningfully engaged in something that matters.
Behind the scenes, a great deal of coordination goes into making a program like this work. Thanks to the WBDC team and Long Point Event Planning for the thought and execution that made the day possible.
Congratulations to the entrepreneurs who were awarded grants, and appreciation to the Accelerate Grant Founding Funder Libertas for supporting their work.
Grant recipients: Kayla Walker, Hound and Home LLC, Newington; Luigina Facchini, Norwich Fitness Center, Norwich; Kaitlyn Kimball, Sunset Farm, Naugatuck