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FOCU$ED
CONFERENCE
THE CONFERENCE FOR AMBITIOUS WOMEN
A one-day conference developed to be a catalyst for expansion, connection, and up-leveling
for women who want to build wildly successful businesses,
by women who have built wildly successful businesses
FOCU$ED IS FINALLY HERE
…and it is brought to you by real legit successful female founders
we’re not doing fluff. we’re not wasting time. we’re giving you tricks, tips & hacks.
Need more info? Here’s a taste…
1 Fireside Chat
22 Inspiring Speakers
10 Mentor Tables
Business Marketplace
Complimentary Headshots
Coffee + Grab & Go Snacks + Boxed Lunch + Bevs
Panels, Sessions, Q&As!
click to find out more about our Boost your Businss Giveaway in partnership with KNOW Cares
The best part of FOCU$ED was being surrounded by successful business owners who have been there and done it. They shared invaluable insights and nuggets of wisdom that I can use to become a successful business owner myself.
-Nicole Peternel, Former FOCU$ED Attendee
check out last year epic event!
You’re Invited
The FOCU$ED Conference, powered by KNOW is back for a 4th year! This time we are stopping in Raleigh! Join us for an explosive day on business building, growing and scaling.
Grab your business besties… bring your business cards… and get ready to make that money, honey!
and that’s not all…
BOOST YOUR BUSINESS GRANT IS BACK
Making an Impact on the Future of Women-Owned Small Businesses
Grant for Female Founded Businesses
KNOW Cares, in partnership with KNOW Women, is honored to announce a $90,000+ grant opportunity for three female-founded businesses in fast growing early stages.
The Details
WHEN
Friday, August 22, 2025
– – – –
Doors Open 9am
Conference Opening 10am
Doors Close 3pm
WHERE
THE BRADFORD
523 Pea Ridge Rd, New Hill, NC 27562
(just outside of Raleigh)
WHY
KNOW is committed to connecting high-achieving women and helping take their businesses to the next level. The KNOW FOCU$ED One-Day Conference is a catalyst for expansion, connection, and up-leveling.
20 SPEAKERS | 10 MENTORS | $90,000+ GRANT GIVEAWAY
The Power Panel
ELAINE BUXTON
Confero (the mystery shopper)
KAREN ALBRIGHT
BodyLase (the med spa og)
SARAH BENKEN FOUSHEE
KNOW (founder & CEO)
Your Hosts
Your Speakers
click or hover to learn about each speaker
Valonda, the TV Lady is a familiar face in media, holding positions including television news anchor, reporter, and host. She will be moderating the Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching and will be a mentor in the Mentor Power Hour
VALONDA CALLOWAY
The TV Lady
Mary-Ann is not just the Former of Mayor of Raleigh, she is a successful marketing, communications and business development professional, serving the non-profit, sports, legal & many other sectors. She will be sitting the Panel: Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story
MARY-ANN BALDWIN
Former Raleigh Mayor
Dana – our fireside chat, is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, & professor. She has built 4 successful businesses, including 2 event planning brands, a wedding venue, a consulting firm, & a conference for venue owners and operators.
DANA KALDWELL
C&D EVENTS | THE BRADFORD
Sharon Delaney McCloud, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and agency owner, helps leaders become powerhouse communicators. She empowers people to find their purpose and make an impact. She will be moderating the Panel: Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story
SHARON DELANEY MCCLOUD
Curious Communicator
Simone is the co-founder of Sassool, a mediterranean restaurant with Triangle 2 locations she opened with her father & sister, and FigMINT Farms. She will be sitting on the Panel: Make that Money Honey: Seven Streams to Financial Freedom & providing our box lunches!
SIMONE LAWSON
Sassool Restaurant
Melissa is a life coach & sales consultant with 20 years in corporate leadership & high-performance sales. She now runs a 6-figure coaching and consulting practice. Melissa will be our FOCU$ED Conference closer & mentor in the Mentor Power Hour. You’ll also find her in the business marketplace.
MELISSA COLOTON
Creator of The Honor You Method
Judith is a CBS 17 News reporter, is an experienced anchor and producer. She covers community stories, from local growth to high-profile court cases. She will be offering tips on pitching on the Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching and as a mentor in the Mentor Power Hour.
JUDITH RETANA
CBS17 Producer
Jess is a Forbes Top Rated Speaker, 2x 7-figure social entrepreneur, mom and Harper Collins bestselling author. She’s the founder at Mic Drop Workshop – helping women speak as paid thought leaders. She will be sitting on the Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story panel
JESS EKSTROM
Mic Drop Workshop
Melinda is the founder of Melinda Jackson PR. Getting her start in the LA scene, she has repped brands big to small and is excited to be back in her home state. She will be sitting on the Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching and will be a mentor
MELINDA JACKSON
Melinda Jackson PR
Nicole Beck Januario co-founded Artie Bars, a bakery brand putting a modern spin on millionaire shortbread, leveraging her very successful career in global PR and brand leadership. She will be sitting on the Panel: Money Moves: Funding your Business & Getting the Ask
NICOLE BECK JANUARIO
Artie Bars
Tish is the founder of Tish Times Sales Agency. She is an expert at helping companies attract more leads, maintain a full pipeline, & convert more prospects to clients. Tish will be our serving attendees at every corner as speaker, moderator, mentor and business marketplace.
TISH TIMES
Tish Times Sales Agency
Rachel is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Cut, Glamour, Vice, and many more outlets. She’s also a former editor at Bustle and Mic. Rachel will sit on the Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching
RACHEL SIMON
national writer & journalist
Christina, the pink-loving powerhouse behind Pinup Studio, built her seven-figure salon business from solo stylist to 16 chairs and 4 related brands. She will be sitting on the Panel: Make that Money Honey: Seven Streams to Financial Freedom
CHRISTINA KIRKEY
Pinup Studio
Justine, a NYC based licensed psychotherapist and podcast host, helps individuals and ambitious women manage anxiety, stress, & perfectionism to create more fulfilling lives. She will be on the Money Moves: Funding your Business & Getting the Ask panel & will be a mentor
JUSTINE CARINO
Carino Mental Health Counseling
Andrea helps entrepreneurs turn stories into revenue. Her clients have generated over $80 million using her psychology-backed Story Arc Framework. She will be joining the Panel: Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story and will be a mentor
ANDREA MERRILL
Andera Merrill Co
Somer is a North Carolina native, serial entrepreneur and investor. She is a well-known award winning photographer and owner of Revolution Studios. She will be joining the Panel: Make that Money Honey: Seven Streams to Financial Freedom
SOMER HANDLEY
Revolution Studio
Venus is a startup attorney & founder of Liles Law. Through transparent flat-rate packages and practical legal guidance, she helps founders knowing their businesses are protected. Venus will be working with attendees on their legal woes as a mentor and in the business marketpace.
VENSU LILES
Liles Law
Michele helps women feel wildly alive—calm in their bodies, clear in their purpose, and radiant in their self-worth. As a mentor & vendor in the business marketplace, she will share how to strategically use color to build a bold personal brand, turn heads when you walk in the room.
MICHELE NIDIFFER
Live Wildly Alive
Productivity consultant, Emily creates personalized solutions to help effectively invest time, energy and focus. She has spoken for 1000s, contributed to media nationwide, written books on efficiently accomplishing what matters. She will be a mentor at the Mentor Power Hour.
EMILY PARKS
Organize for Success
Kelly is an Arizona based award-winning serial entrepreneur and CEO of KLM Consulting, Marketing, and Management. She has grown and scaled her companies and help many others do the same. She will be mentoring on hiring, staff expansion, and building teams.
KELLY LORENZEN
KLM Consulting, Marketing, & Management
Morning Session:
Doors open , mingle breakfast bites coffee, headshots visit the marketplace
Conference Opening with Sarah Benken Foushee, KNOW Founder “Sales Cure Everything”
Panel: Money Moves: Funding your Business & Getting the Ask
Panel: Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching
Panel: Make that Money Honey: Diversify your Revenue
Fireside Chat: Dana Caldwell
—Mentor Power Hour —
—lunch break —
Afternoon Session:
Afternoon Welcome Back
Panel: Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story
Power Panel: Making Bold Moves
Announce the Winner of Boost Business Grant
Happy Hour & Mingle
Conference Close
The Agenda
Morning Session:
Doors open , mingle breakfast bites coffee, headshots visit the marketplace
Conference Opening with Sarah Benken Foushee, KNOW Founder “Sales Cure Everything”
Panel: Money Moves: Funding your Business & Getting the Ask
Panel: Panel: Get Seen, Get Heard: Mastering Media and Pitching
Panel: Make that Money Honey: Diversify your Revenue
Fireside Chat with Dana Caldwell
– Mentor Power Hour & Lunch –
Afternoon Session:
Afternoon Welcome Back
Panel: Strut Your Stuff: The Art of Telling your Story
Power Panel: Making Bold Moves
Announce the Winner of Boost Business Grant & Happy Hour Mingle
Conference Close
SAVE YOUR SPOT
Maybe… you’re struggling to hit your goals, you’re new to the business game and still trying to figure it out, you’re in high-growth mode and need to hire quick, you’re dying to expand but not quite sure of the right steps to take – or – you’re lonely and want meet fellow ambitious women that get the growth mindset…
It’s NOW your chance to get in the room!
The Tickets
VIP Tickets are limited! Don’t miss out on up-front seating, speaker meet & greets, and three complimentary months of KNOW Insider!
Access to all programming, including the panels, fireside chats, and mentor power hour
Complimentary headshots to elevate your personal brand
Coffee, bites, boxed lunch, snacks & bevs to keep you fueled throughout the day
Access to the curated business marketplace for the business services you need right now!
A happy hour wrap party to finish the day with your new business besties
A journal to jot down all of your ideas
Everything included in the General Admission Ticket PLUS:
A high-vibe happy hour with special guests & speakers the night before
Reserved upfront main stage seating
An EPIC swag bag filled with women-owned products & goodies
not an INSIDER? Subscribe for $6.99 and get 20% off your ticket to FOCU$ED
What to Expect
Want to see if this is the right room for you? Here are some more details so you know what to expect!
GET READY TO MAKE THAT MONEY, HONEY
Ready to level up your business? Here’s what’s waiting for you:
- Instant takeaways that you can implement now.
- Straight talk, no fluff: Learn foundational strategies from women who built it, sharing how you can get there faster.
- Powerhouse panels covering essential topics like funding, pitching to media, branding, scaling, and more.
- Connections that count: Curated networking to expand your circle and propel your goals.
- A fun happy hour to mix and mingle with future collaborators and industry titans.
- Plus, a Mentor Power Hour for personalized group insights on the topics you care about most!
THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU, IF YOU’RE:
A business owner, founder, or freelancer at any phase of your journey seeking education and community
Ready to get FOCU$ED on your foundation to ensure growth at your next level of business
Looking to connect and network with likeminded ambitious women
Wanting to find a mentor to take your business to the next-level
Ready to find everything you need for your business in one place
Excited to gain the tools to help you crush your goals and end the year strong
Dying to meet women locally & across the US who have built BIG businesses
BUSINESS MARKETPLACE
The FOCU$ED Conference has all of the services you need for your business NOW! Think branding experts, business coaches, financial experts, web designers, and more!
SEE WHAT THE FORMER ATTENDEES ARE SAYING...
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