Sara Potecha to Keynote the AVIXA Women’s Council Breakfast at InfoComm 2020

The author of West Point Woman will discuss the power of women sharing their stories to create a bond through their similarities and differences

The AVIXA Women’s Council, a global community for supporting and empowering women in the pro AV industry, will host its annual breakfast event at InfoComm 2020, on Thurs., June 18, with keynote speaker Sara Potecha, author of West Point Woman.

“I’m always fascinated by industries where women are not the majority – where they’re going up the same hill I faced in the military and in some of my corporate jobs,” said Potecha.”During the AVIXA Women’s Council event, I will talk about how the power of sharing our stories can unite each and every one of us by bonding over our similarities and learning about our differences. Being an effective storyteller enables you to connect with people on a deeper level. Our mind is wired to receive stories – that’s how we remember things. That’s how you will leave a lasting impression.”

Potecha began her career as an Army Officer supervising more than 300 highly skilled technicians while stationed in Europe. The technical expertise gained through her military experience served her well when she began her corporate career working in the information technology department for a large bank. However, it was her leadership skills that propelled her career as she was called upon to solve complex employee relations issues. This led to her role as Director of Change Management for a mortgage company. Potecha launched her management consulting firm in 2014 and recently published her book West Point Woman, which shares the fundamental leadership principles she learned at a young age at the United States Military Academy and applied throughout her career.

“Last year, I was sent a copy of West Point Woman by council leader Gina Sansivero,” said Brandy Alvarado, Chair for the AVIXA Women’s Council and Business Development Manager at Mad Systems. “I took away so many lessons from the book – the one that resonated most was the importance of building camaraderie. Embracing our differences and respecting, empathizing and empowering one another are the guiding principles for continued growth among professional women. I’m thrilled that Sara Potecha will join us for our annual Women’s Council Breakfast to share the insight she’s gained on her career journey.” 

The AVIXA Women’s Council Breakfast takes place Thurs., June 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Registration for the event is available when registering for InfoComm 2020 atinfocommshow.org. Each attendee will receive a free AVIXA edition of West Point Woman, with the book’s foreword written by Brandy Alvarado.

The Women’s Council will also host a roundtable event on Thurs., June 18, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The roundtable discussion will center on topics surrounding women in the AV and IT industries. This will be a collaborative, open-forum conversation that will dive into the challenges women face in their professions and the unique strength and perspectives women bring to this exciting and rapidly changing vocation.

To add to the events that promote inclusion in the pro AV industry, the Diversity Council will host a reception on Fri., June 19, at 1 p.m. at the AVIXA booth. The council’s mission is to ensure that everyone feels welcome in this industry. The reception is an opportunity to network and learn how to get involved with the council’s initiatives. The event is free to attend, and registration is not required.

InfoComm 2020, the largest pro AV show in North America, returns to Las Vegas June 13-19, 2020, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.