2026 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference, April 12-14 in National Harbor, MD.
1. Leadership Legacy: Growing With Intent & Purpose (Women in OR/MS Professional Development Coaching Session)
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11 AM
Quantitative roles demand continuous learning, complex problem-solving, and high cognitive load—conditions that drive both exceptional innovation and elevated burnout risk. This professional development session is designed to equip analytics professionals with an actionable framework for sustaining growth and well-being in environments characterized by rapid change, tight deadlines, and significant responsibility. Drawing from organizational psychology, behavioral science and leadership principles, the session illuminates how participants can foster resilience, performance longevity, and inclusive pathways to advancement.
The core focus centers on three pillars:
(1) building a life thesis statement that helps to cultivate an early focus on what truly matters and intentional work towards a leadership legacy
(2) building adaptive career growth systems that align with personal values and evolving analytics landscapes
(3) cultivating supportive professional networks that buffer stress and expand opportunities through building a personal board of directors
Attendees will leave with a personalized “Leadership Legacy Blueprint” built during the session—offering concrete strategies they can apply immediately.
Presenter: Jacqueline M. Baker
Jacqueline M. Baker is a speaker, author, leadership consultant and advisor known for her unique approach to modern etiquette and leadership. As the author of The Unexpected Leader: Discovering the Leader Within You and Leader by Mistake: Becoming A Leader One Mistake At A Time, she frequently speaks and writes on the leadership-for-all concept. Her inspiration and expertise comes from more than a decade as the founder and principal consultant for Scarlet, a consultancy that provides leadership training to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, community organizations and individuals across the globe. She also leverages her experience serving in a number of corporate board and community service roles. An avid dinner-party hostess, Jacqueline creates space and opportunities to gather groups for compelling conversation, delicious cuisine and untraditional ways for continued leadership development. She is also the host of the podcast, Just Start™: From Ideas To Action
2. Cocktails & Conversations
Monday, April 13, 2026 from 5-6pm
A renowned leader in analytics, as an industry expert, educator, and thought leader, Dr. Anne Robinson will join us to share valuable lessons learned about maintaining growth and well-being throughout her career.
Dr. Anne G. Robinson is a distinguished supply chain strategy and analytics executive, educator, and thought leader with deep expertise in digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. As the founder of Robinson Insights, she provides strategic advisory services to businesses and academic institutions, guiding them in analytics strategy, supply chain innovation, and digital capability development.
3. Women in OR/MS (WORMS) Networking Session
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7-8 AM
Join us for an informal networking hour hosted by Women in OR/MS. Whether you’re an early-career practitioner, a seasoned leader, or somewhere in between, this session offers a welcoming space to share experiences, build new connections, and exchange perspectives on careers, research, and impact in OR/MS. Complimentary coffee will be provided.
PAST EVENTS
2025 INFORMS Business Analytics Conference, April 6-8 in Indianapolis, IN.
1. Professional Development – Psychological Safety for Inclusive Leadership (Hosted by Women in OR/MS)
Presenter: Chris Smithhisler, Managing Director at Tobias Leadership Center
2. Cocktails & Conversations
Join us for this unique opportunity! Cocktails & Conversations with Dr. Robin Lougee, AVP, Data Science & Machine Learning at KnitWell Group, as she shares her experience and reflections on inclusion.
3. Networking Breakfast: Effective Development & Career Advice
Grab your breakfast and come join us for meaningful conversations and connections.
2024 INFORMS Business Analytics Conference, April 14-16, 2024 in Orlando, FL.
1. Professional Development – Amplify Your Voice: Mastering Communication Habits for More Impact and Influence
Facilitated by: Marisa Ciesluk; MWC Leadership
2. Cocktails & Conversations
Join us for this unique opportunity! Cocktails & Conversations with Laura Albert, Prof. & Dept. Chair UW-Madison, Industrial and Systems Engineering. "Surviving and Thriving in Leadership Positions: One Woman's Career Journey”
2022 INFORMS Business Analytics Conference, April 3-5 in Houston, TX.
1. Professional Development – The Great Re-Definition: Defining Power Through Pay Negotiation
Monday 10:30-11:20am, Track: INFORMS Prizes and Special Sessions
While societal and organizational changes are needed for more women to advance, you can take ownership of your career and create your own path. You will learn a step-by-step framework to identify your Strengths, Passions, Accomplishments, Resources, and Knowledge, and understand how to leverage your SPARK in pay negotiations. The Great Resignation and Great Re-Evaluation makes this the perfect time to hone your negotiation skills and learn to communicate your value in a competitive job market. You’ll walk away with the tools and resources you need to ask for what you deserve and use your SPARK to achieve your career goals.
Presenter: Jessica Dowches-Wheeler, CEO & Leadership Coach at Bright Space Coaching
Jessica Dowches-Wheeler, PCC is the Founder & CEO of Bright Space Coaching, a premier coaching and training organization that helps corporate women turn their passions and expertise into thriving coaching or consulting businesses. Jessica is an ICF-credentialed leadership and team coach with 15 years of experience in leadership development, team facilitation, group coaching, and training. As a former leader in a male-dominated field, Jessica became a coach to help women+ advocate for themselves and increase their influence, income, and impact. She has held leadership roles and consulted in a variety of industries, including Federal and local government, private sector, and non-profit organizations.
2. Cocktails & Conversations
Monday 4:40-6:30pm Westchase
Join us for this unique opportunity! Grab a cocktail and learn from a senior leader. Polly Mitchell-Guthrie, VP, Industry Outreach & Thought Leadership at Kinaxis will share her experience, wisdom, and advice about connections, transformation, and getting things done. Bring your questions for this intimate Q&A event.
Polly is the VP of Industry Outreach and Thought Leadership at Kinaxis, a supply chain planning and analytics software company. Previously, she was Director of Analytical Consulting Services at the University of North Carolina Health Care System and worked in various roles at SAS, in Advanced Analytics R&D, as Director of the SAS Global Academic Program, and in Alliances. She has an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also received her BA in political science as a Morehead Scholar. She has been very active in INFORMS (the leading professional society for operations research and analytics) and co-founded the third chapter of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (now more than 90 chapters worldwide).
3. Networking Breakfast: Effective Development & Career Advice
Tuesday 7-8am River Oaks
Grab your breakfast and come join us for meaningful conversations and connections. Start the conversation by sharing the most effective/influential development activity you've completed and wrap it up with the best piece of career advice you've received. It's a chance to learn from one another, share best practices, and develop relationships.