We connect women leaders across South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) – Women from across western KELOLAND gathered in Deadwood this week for the 11th Annual Women’s Business Summit.

“It was almost like a big reunion, our last big event was in Deadwood in October 2019,” said Michelle Kane, CEO of SD’s West Women’s Business Center.

For the first time since the pandemic, the Women’s Business Summit was held in person. The conference is hosted by the SD CEO West Women’s Business Center, a program funded by the Small Business Administration.

“There were 350 women here on Tuesday,” Kane said. “They come from all over the world and there are so many different women who participate: university students, young career women and experienced executives.”

This personal connection is one of the key components of the summit, which aims to create a community among the region’s businesswomen.

“Sometimes we need to hear women speaking from the podium so that others in the audience can relate to it. So wow, that’s possible for me too.”

That’s the kind of inspiration the SD CEO West Women’s Business Center has nurtured for the past 11 years by highlighting entrepreneurs from the west side of the state at their annual summit.

“There are so many amazing women in South Dakota doing amazing things. But they’ve got their head down, they’re running their business, they’re focused. Our goal is to find them and bring them to the stage,” Kane said.

“We’re really excited to be able to capitalize on the local talent, the local women entrepreneurs, and help build a community at this conference,” said SD CEO Sadie Swier, director of the East Women’s Business Center.

Now, women business leaders in east KELOLAND can share their stories and network with other women at a new conference in Sioux Falls on September 27th.

“The East Women’s Business Center just turned one year old,” Swier said. “And now we’re hosting our first Women’s Visionary Summit, which will be our first conference in Sioux Falls.”

Giving women across South Dakota a chance to grow.

“The goal is really personal and professional growth,” Kane said. “West River, East River, there is such competition, but we are here to serve all women.”

“Making those connections and driving that economic development across the state,” Swier said.

Registration for SD CEO East’s first women’s conference is open until September 20th. The Women’s Visionary Summit will be held on Tuesday, September 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Washington Pavilion.