(NPL) Confidence & Leadership: “Lead Like a Woman: Confidence, Courage & Presence Presented by Advent Health Women

Description

The Leadership Secret Nobody's Telling Women—Until Now

Ready to stop playing small and start leading bold?

Kick off 2026 with a game-changing session designed for everyone who is done waiting for permission to lead. Whether you're building your empire as an entrepreneur or climbing the corporate ladder, this is your moment to level up.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

Building Unshakeable Confidence – Learn the strategies successful leaders use to command the room, own their expertise, and silence the self-doubt

Conquering Imposter Syndrome – Discover how to recognize your worth, celebrate your achievements, and turn that inner critic into your biggest advocate

Thriving in Male-Dominated Industries – Master the leadership skills that get you noticed, respected, and promoted—even when you're not represented at the table

This isn't another feel-good workshop. This is the playbook for everyone who is ready to lead, not just participate.

Meet Your Speakers:

Wendy H. Brandon, FACHE – CEO, UCF Lake Nona Hospital

Wendy Brandon is the Chief Executive Officer of UCF Lake Nona Hospital, a partnership between the University of Central Florida Academic Health and HCA Healthcare. With over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience and an MBA from Belmont University, she is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

A dedicated servant leader, Wendy serves on multiple boards including the Orlando Economic Partnership and CareerSource Central Florida. She currently serves as the 2025 Event Chair for the American Heart Association Central Florida Heart Walk and is a member of AHA's Circle of Red.

Wendy embodies the leadership principles she'll share—confidence, authenticity, and the ability to thrive in any environment.

Sharon Almeida – COO, AdventHealth Lake Nona

Sharon Almeida serves as Chief Operating Officer at AdventHealth Lake Nona, where her leadership is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to operational readiness as AdventHealth Lake Nona prepares to open in November 2026. A trained nurse with almost 2 decades of leadership experience, Sharon brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and operational excellence.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in leadership. Sharon is passionate about advancing whole-person care—addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being—and is deeply aligned with AdventHealth's mission as a faith-based organization.

Sharon represents the powerful combination of clinical compassion and executive leadership that inspires women across industries.

Poorna Bhattacharya, AICP, LEED AP – President, Asha Planning

Poorna Bhattacharya is the President of Asha Planning, a Lake Nona-based transportation planning firm with 25 years of experience in urban and transportation planning. She provides consulting services to the Florida Department of Transportation, Orange County, City of Orlando, and other governmental agencies.

Poorna combines her background in Architecture and Urban Planning to advocate for context-sensitive transportation systems that integrate the needs of all users. Over the past decade, she has passionately championed bicycle and pedestrian safety initiatives and multimodal planning in male-dominated engineering fields.

A mother of two spirited children who advocate for safe biking and walking alongside her, Poorna exemplifies leadership that breaks barriers and creates lasting community impact.

Hope L. Newsome, Esq. – Senior Director of Industry Affairs, Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA)

Hope Newsome serves as Senior Director of Industry Affairs for ILPA, advocating on behalf of limited partners within the private markets. With nearly 20 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, and investment management, she has served as general counsel and chief compliance officer for registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and private funds.

A graduate of Spelman College and Barry University's Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Hope previously served as board chair for Heart of Florida United Way and the Black Chamber of Commerce Central Florida. She's a member of the Florida Bar's Professional Ethics Committee and has been recognized by Orlando Business Journal as 40 Under 40 and Top Compliance Counsel.

Hope represents the power of legal expertise combined with strategic leadership—navigating complex industries and creating opportunities for others to thrive.

The women who show up to this session won't be the same ones who leave. Will you be one of them?

January 12, 2026 | 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Reserve your seat now—this is the year you stop wondering "what if" and start owning "what's next."