In fast-paced, high-stakes industries like manufacturing and STEM, having a great idea isn’t enough. You have to galvanize, influence, and get it done. This session equips women with the practical tools they need to move ideas through layered systems of stakeholders, skeptics, and decision-makers.

This session breaks it down into three distinct phases:

• Before the Pitch: Build buy-in behind the scenes, pre-wire the room, and anticipate resistance
• During the Pitch: Simplify your message, read the room, and handle pushback with poise
• After the Pitch: Follow up like a leader, drive execution, and create lasting visibility for your wins

Participants will walk away with fill-in-the-blank templates, tactical scripts, and a renewed sense of their power to lead through influence.

Sarah Jean VandaVeer is a Public Relations Lead at Nestlé Purina, covering manufacturing facilities across the U.S., where she helps shape the stories that connect employees, communities and the media. With more than a decade of experience in communications, she thrives at the intersection of strategy and storytelling—bringing big-picture vision while also rolling up her sleeves to make an impact on the ground. Sarah Jean is passionate about building strong cultures inside manufacturing facilities, amplifying community partnerships and inspiring teams through authentic communication.