Last month, Colleen Vacelet, President of Intreegue Designs and Order Green Supply, was invited to moderate the CREWBaltimore yearly Women of Influence Luncheon. Colleen served on the panel in 2019 as a Women of Influence, so she loved the opportunity to sit on the other side to expertly navigate the conversation. The panelists were full of heavy hitters: Mary Kane, a former MD Secretary of State who now serves as the CEO of the MD Chamber of Commerce; Janet Currie, President of Bank of America Maryland; and an icon, Dr. Nancy Grasmick, the first woman in 100 years to serve as the State Superintendent of Maryland Public Schools. These women brought to the table intersections of finance, education, and politics. During the start of the panel, Colleen steered the conversation to highlight the powerful contributions these women are making across these sectors.

One highlight was the compelling conversation on women in STEM. Colleen kept the discussion moving and engaged, encouraging the panelists (Mary Kane, Janet Currie, and Dr. Nancy Grasmick) to share their experiences and challenges. Her thought-provoking questions led to meaningful conversation about the importance of supporting girls’ interest in STEM from an early age and creating pathways for them to stay engaged throughout their educational journey.

As moderator, we enjoyed the powerful questions posed by our CEO. It invited the panelists to reflect on their roles as women in influential positions. One of the key questions she asked was, “As a woman in an influence role, what do you use your influence for? What do you feel is the responsibility of being a woman of influence?” This question opened up a deeper conversation about leadership, responsibility, and the personal pivotal moments that shaped each panelist’s journey toward becoming a woman of influence.