On April 16, nearly 250 banking professionals gathered both at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center and online via Zoom for the UBA’s 21st annual Women in Banking Conference, a full day of leadership development, professional growth and practical insights designed to empower women at every stage of their careers.

The day opened with Deborah Ostreicher sharing strategies for communicating with confidence in male-dominated industries, followed by an engaging panel discussion exploring how volunteerism can strengthen careers, expand professional networks and create lasting community impact.

Seantae Jackson challenged attendees to ask boldly, advocate for themselves and lead without burning out before Narisa Dicken demonstrated how agentic AI can improve team efficiency through practical workplace applications.

Following a networking lunch, mentalist Erica Sodos captivated the audience with an interactive presentation highlighting the power of mindset and human potential. The afternoon continued with a fireside chat featuring Flavia Naves and Sylvia Carlson on the growing role of stablecoins in banking, followed by Lora McCray of the American Bankers Association, who discussed workforce development strategies and the future of banking talent.

The conference concluded with Dawn Cannon’s inspiring presentation on finding peace amid chaos, leaving attendees with practical tools to build resilience, lead with confidence and amplify their voices both inside and outside the workplace.

This year’s conference once again demonstrated the strength of Utah’s banking community, equipping attendees with fresh perspectives, meaningful connections and actionable ideas to help them drive change within their organizations and across the industry.