(NPL) Confidence & Leadership: “Lead Like a Woman: Confidence, Courage & Presence

Description

The Leadership Secret Nobody's Telling Women—Until Now

Ready to stop playing small and start leading bold?

Kick off 2026 with a game-changing session designed for everyone who is done waiting for permission to lead. Whether you're building your empire as an entrepreneur or climbing the corporate ladder, this is your moment to level up.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

Building Unshakeable Confidence – Learn the strategies successful leaders use to command the room, own their expertise, and silence the self-doubt

Conquering Imposter Syndrome – Discover how to recognize your worth, celebrate your achievements, and turn that inner critic into your biggest advocate

Thriving in Male-Dominated Industries – Master the leadership skills that get you noticed, respected, and promoted—even when you're not represented at the table

This isn't another feel-good workshop. This is the playbook for everyone who is ready to lead, not just participate.

Meet Your Speakers:

Wendy H. Brandon, FACHE – CEO, UCF Lake Nona Hospital

Wendy Brandon is the Chief Executive Officer of UCF Lake Nona Hospital, a partnership between the University of Central Florida Academic Health and HCA Healthcare. With over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience and an MBA from Belmont University, she is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

A dedicated servant leader, Wendy serves on multiple boards including the Orlando Economic Partnership and CareerSource Central Florida. She currently serves as the 2025 Event Chair for the American Heart Association Central Florida Heart Walk and is a member of AHA's Circle of Red.

Wendy embodies the leadership principles she'll share—confidence, authenticity, and the ability to thrive in any environment.

Sharon Almeida – COO, AdventHealth Lake Nona

Sharon Almeida serves as Chief Operating Officer at AdventHealth Lake Nona, where her leadership is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to operational readiness as AdventHealth Lake Nona prepares to open in November 2026. A trained nurse with almost 2 decades of leadership experience, Sharon brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and operational excellence.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in leadership. Sharon is passionate about advancing whole-person care—addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being—and is deeply aligned with AdventHealth's mission as a faith-based organization.

Sharon represents the powerful combination of clinical compassion and executive leadership that inspires women across industries.

Poorna Bhattacharya, AICP, LEED AP – President, Asha Planning

Poorna Bhattacharya is the President of Asha Planning, bringing 25 years of experience in urban and transportation planning to the leadership conversation. As owner of a Lake Nona-based transportation planning firm, she provides consulting services to the Florida Department of Transportation, Orange County, City of Orlando, and other governmental agencies.

Poorna has dedicated her career to context-sensitive transportation planning that integrates the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists into one cohesive system. Combining her background in Architecture and Urban Planning, she advocates for transportation systems that are seamless extensions of the built environment. Over the past decade, she has passionately championed bicycle and pedestrian safety initiatives and multimodal safety programs.

Prior to launching her consulting practice, Poorna worked for national planning and engineering firms. A mother of two spirited children who love riding their bikes around the neighborhood, she brings the same advocacy and determination to her professional work—championing safe, accessible environments for everyone.

Poorna exemplifies leadership that breaks barriers, builds community, and creates lasting impact in male-dominated fields.

The women who show up to this session won't be the same ones who leave. Will you be one of them?

January 12, 2026 | 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Reserve your seat now—this is the year you stop wondering "what if" and start owning "what's next."