Amy Waryas, Boston Red Sox Executive V.P. and Chief People and Culture Officer / COURTESY PHOTO
LOWELL – A member of the Boston Red Sox front-office staff will lead UMass Lowell’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference next month, along with dozens of other high-profile executives who will come together to empower women in the workplace.
Amy Waryas, the team’s executive vice president and chief people and culture officer, will engage participants in a keynote conversation, “Changing the Game: Leadership, Culture and the Power of Team.” The session will be one of many during the annual conference, where professionals across all fields will share ways to advance women’s career success and enhance their personal lives.
Waryas, who was named to her post in 2019, leads people and culture strategy for the team and Fenway Sports Management, including talent and acquisition, learning and development and employee well-being and engagement. Before joining the Red Sox, she was the director of human resources for The Boston Beer Company.
Moderating the discussion will be UMass Lowell’s Lynn Coutts, the Division 1 university’s first female director of athletics.
The conference will be held on Thursday, June 12 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. Ticket information is available at www.uml.edu/wlc.
“The UMass Lowell Women’s Leadership Conference has built on its success as an event that ignites the leadership potential of every attendee. We are excited to bring so many talented and inspiring professionals together for a high-energy, impactful day that is rooted in shared purpose, authentic connection and lasting transformation,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, who was appointed to her post in 2022. Last year, the university was ranked first in the education sector and No. 11 overall in The Women’s Edge 2024 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts.
Women professionals throughout the region will gather for informative panel discussions and networking opportunities at UMass Lowell’s Women’s Leadership Conference. / HENRY MARTE photo for UMass Lowell
Chen will moderate the conference’s other keynote session, “Leading in Tough Times: A Candid Conversation with C-Suite Leaders.” Joining the discussion will be Jennifer Santos, Draper’s vice president and chief strategy officer; Kemi Olugemo ’97, chief medical officer of Korro Bio; and Lauren Knausenberger, executive vice president and chief innovation officer of SAIC.
Breakout sessions throughout the day will feature discussions with other executives in Boston’s sports landscape, STEM-focused industries, human resources, career coaching and more. A full list of speakers can be found at www.uml.edu/wlc.
“We are looking forward to a day of insightful conversations with a powerhouse lineup of speakers and panelists,” said UMass Lowell’s Elizabeth Altman, associate professor of management in the university’s Manning School of Business and conference co-chair. “Attendees will not only be inspired, but they’ll also connect with a dynamic network and leave with actionable tools they can use to advance their careers.”
Established in 2015, the conference will be the first held since UMass Lowell was named a Carnegie-classified Research 1 university, a designation that recognizes the institution’s research excellence and places it among the top 7% of colleges and universities nationwide. The university is an ideal location to unite business leaders across the region.
“From leading sports organizations to launching companies, our speakers and panelists have deep experience and knowledge that they are willing to share. Their openness infuses the day with energy and creates a powerful space for connection, collaboration and community-building. It’s going to be an incredible day,” said Sarah Corbett, senior executive director of Brand, Communications & Creative Strategy for UMass Lowell and conference co-chair.
A networking reception will cap the event. Individuals interested in attending the conference should visit www.uml.edu/wlc for the full schedule of speakers and programs. The registration deadline to attend is Tuesday, June 10.
