Women's Emerging Leadership Forum (WELF) 2025

The 2025 edition of the Women's Emerging Leadership Forum (WELF) - now in its 11th year - is underway! As always, we are looking forward to fostering connections with diverse communities and reaching beyond the confines of our campuses.

As the flagship event of the Lam-Larsen Community Engagement (CE) Initiative at San Francisco State University, Lam Family College of Business, the focus of this year’s WELF is the financial industry, and we are collaborating with VISA on this year's event. Accordingly, this year's theme is Women Driving Finance.

We invite you to join us to get inspired and feel empowered! Come hear from an array of distinguished speakers who will share their unique narratives and invaluable insights on how shape the financial industry, how to think about money, spending, saving, investing, and much more!

We are bringing together the voices of women shaping the future of money, markets, and decision-making. Through powerful stories and fresh insights, we’ll explore how women lead, influence, and drive real change in finance — and how those decisions ripple into everyday lives. Whether you're managing your own finances or steering major decisions in your company, you’ll leave with insights plus a renewed sense of what’s possible when women take up space in the world of money.

We anticipate this event will sell out as it has in the past so be sure to reserve your seat early. If you've never attend WELF before, we look forward to welcoming you and expanding our evergrowing learning community! Those of you who have attended WELF in previous years, we look forward to welcoming you back at this year's event!

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Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Speakers

Nicole Mossman (SFSU BA'94, MBA'97), Chief Marketing Officer, AssetMark

Erica Taylor, Senior Vice President, Community Impact and Public Relations Officer, Golden 1 Credit Union

Kerry Deichen, Market Executive, Bank of America

Melissa Palwick, Senior Vice President & Chief Lending Officer, San Francisco Federal Credit Union

Nitu Nanda, Senior Vice President, Consumer Lending Regional Executive, Bank of America

Ekaterina Petelina, Head of Global Sales and Commercial Operations, Visa

Neelima Gaddam, Senior Director, Product Management, Consumer Payments, Visa

Agenda

8:15 - 9:00 a.m.: Registration, Complimentary Continental Breakfast, Coffee/Tea, Networking

9:00 - 9:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks

9:15 - 9:45 a.m.: Morning Address

9:45 - 10:00 a.m.: Coffee/Tea Break & Networking

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.: Keynote Speaker

11:00 - 11:15 a.m.: Short Break - Stretch, Refresh, Hydrate

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Panel Discussion I

12:15 - 12:45 p.m.: Lunch Break

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.: Afternoon Address

1:45 - 2:00 p.m.: Short Break - Stretch, Refresh, Hydrate

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion II

3:00 - 3:15 pm : Closing Remarks

Please note all ticket sales are final and no refunds will be issued.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

VISA Global Headquarters, 300 Toni Stone Crossing, San Francisco, United States