‘Inspires me to dream’: Austin’s top women in business emphasize efficiency and joy at PowerHER

Fashion designer Rachel Roy and 200+ women gathered for annual JPMorganChase event.

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Photos by: Chris Caselli

Nearly 250 women leaders converged last week at JPMorganChase’s PowerHER event in Austin to share their stories, strategies, and support, proving that when women come together, they can achieve extraordinary things. 

“JPMorganChase is dedicated to fostering a business ecosystem where women have the tools they need to grow and thrive,” said Ashley Brueckner, managing director of J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Austin. “PowerHER is a testament to the resilience, ambition and collaborative spirit of women in business.” 

Since its Austin inception four years ago, PowerHER has become an annual event held in other cities across the country, including Seattle, Denver and San Antonio. 

“The first step in helping women succeed is providing the space for them to connect and share their experiences with each other,” said Oksana Malysheva, managing partner at early-stage venture capital fund Sputnik ATX. “This year’s PowerHER was exactly what I needed to hear. It felt like an amazing reprieve, reset and inspiration. This time of year with back-to-school can feel especially hectic for women leaders, so conversations surrounding time management and delegation were invaluable to me.” 

This year’s theme emphasized efficiency as a key driver to success. Presentations focused on helping women avoid burnout to achieve a more balanced life – both personally and professionally.  

“People spend a lot of time on things that seem urgent, but are not actually important,” said Laura Vanderkam, author of several time management and productivity books, including “I Know How She Does It.” 

Vanderkam encouraged PowerHER guests to take control of what they fill their time with.  

“We can’t make more time exist, but we can choose what our priorities are,” said Vanderkam. “We have the power to fill our lives with the things that really deserve to be there.” 

Rachel Roy, designer and founder of her eponymous fashion and lifestyle brand, was this year’s PowerHER keynote speaker. 

When asked about the advice she might give her younger self, 50-year-old Roy encouraged women in the room to “stop worrying about the things you can’t control, and stay present with the things you can control.”  

“At some point in life, I realized I can’t do multiple things great at the same time, but I can do one thing at a time really, really well,” said Roy. “That realization gave me so much relief.” 

Roy also shared key qualities she admires in women she surrounds herself with.  

“The truest measure of success is joy,” said Roy. ‘When I walk into a room, I look for the person with true, natural and authentic joy. That’s who I want to work with, get to know and learn from. Also, truly successful people aren’t overly competitive with other women. They are generous with each other and share information to help each other succeed.” 

Other event speakers included Austin leaders like Brooke Bains, Linda Ginac, Kristina Kennedy and Ganesh Padmanabhan.  

“When it comes to leadership, ask yourself, ‘What do I want to build?’ instead of ‘How much do I want to make?’” said Kennedy, co-founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Kickstand. “That’s been the greatest joy for me in business.” 

Content at PowerHER is geared towards giving guests actionable tools to optimize their personal and professional lives while connecting with other like-minded women.  

“Women-owned and women-led businesses are critical to the success of our local communities and economies,” said Sam Saperstein, head of business growth and entrepreneurship for diversity, equity and inclusion and global head of Women on the Move at JPMorganChase.   

Formalized in 2018, Women on the Move is JPMorganChase’s firmwide commitment to provide women with the resources and tools they need to fuel their ambition and reach their full economic potential.  

“Austin’s women leaders are not only leaving legacies in their businesses – they’re signaling to younger women exactly what is possible,” said Saperstein. 

Tram Tran, an Austin-based small business owner, is one of those women.  

“Hearing from successful business founders and executives gives me hope. It inspires me to dream that maybe one day, I could be like them,” said Tran, who owns Where Love Blossoms, a floral and event venue company. 

Hearing Austin’s senior businesswomen remind guests to focus on what truly matters in life was also a powerful theme, Tran said. 

“Being a business owner is challenging and full of obstacles,” said Tran. “It can be easy to get caught up in every little detail of my business – instead of giving my full focus to the details that I can control and the parts of life that mean the most. PowerHER reminded me that we are all working towards one goal – happiness and joy in our careers and our lives.”