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Lead at Any Level

  • Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP)

    From Conference Keynote to Mentoring Program Mainstay

    How a standout conference speaker became a trusted partner in leadership development.

Client Overview

WiNUP is a national nonprofit connecting and advancing women in the utility industry through education, mentoring, and networking. With members across generations and career stages, the organization champions professional growth in a historically male-dominated field.

The Challenge

In 2024, WiNUP’s national conference committee needed a dynamic, engaging speaker to kick off their annual event and set the tone for meaningful connection. They were looking for someone who could address inclusive networking in a way that resonated across roles and regions—and leave attendees with tools they could use immediately.


What they didn’t expect was how deeply Amy C. Waninger’s sessions would resonate—or that she’d soon become a key contributor to their year-round mentoring program.

Our Approach

Part 1: National Conference Programming
Lead at Any Level® delivered two back-to-back sessions for the 2024 WiNUP Annual Conference:

    • “Network Beyond Bias” – A keynote that challenged participants to assess the diversity of their professional networks and provided actionable strategies to overcome affinity bias.
    • “Building Stronger Professional Networks Online” – A breakout workshop offering practical tools for connecting in virtual spaces, especially through story-driven engagement and inclusive language.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. 100% of respondents rated both sessions as valuable, engaging, and worth repeating. Attendees called the sessions “actionable,” “eye-opening,” and “the best [they’d] attended on networking." One conference organizer, Cindy Owen, shared, “Every interaction was truly a delight. I looked forward to our meetings. Amy took personal ownership of the event and went above and beyond to make the experience fantastic for our members.”


Part 2: Mentoring Program Facilitation
Impressed by her impact at the conference, WiNUP invited Amy to co-facilitate its 2025 national mentoring program. This engagement included:

    • A Kickoff Meeting to build rapport among the 22 participants
    • Individual EIQ assessments
    • A live group debrief of EIQ assessment results
    • An interactive action planning session to further personal and professional development
    • A forthcoming deep dive session, customized to participant feedback

So far, participant feedback mirrors the conference experience. “Very insightful,” “Dynamic and engaging,” and “This was a very informative class that makes you reflect on yourself—in both personal and professional aspects.” 100% of respondents said they found the EIQ session valuable and would attend again.

The Outcome

WiNUP’s partnership with Lead at Any Level continues to evolve. What started as a one-time conference keynote has grown into a year-long leadership development collaboration. Through interactive sessions, personalized coaching, and practical tools, participants are building the confidence and emotional intelligence to lead boldly—within WiNUP and beyond.


Ready to Turn One Great Event into Lasting Impact?

Let’s talk about how Lead at Any Level® can support your next conference or leadership program.

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