Takeaways from the 2026 Orlando Women’s Conference
Orange Appeal magazine's 2026 Orlando Women's Conference welcomed more than 450 women.
At this year’s event, our founder and CEO, Wendy J. Roundtree, APR, joined fellow leaders on the Community Leadership panel.
"What began as a conversation quickly turned into a call to action for the entire room," Roundtree said.
Three ideas from the panel stand out.
Leadership doesn't wait for a title. Some of the most important leadership in a community happens long before anyone has the title, a budget, or a seat at the table. It shows up in the person who organizes and asks the tough questions.
Being the first or the only doesn't make a voice less valuable. The panel's message was clear: that perspective isn't something to minimize. Lived experience matters.
Honest conversations turn good intentions into real change. The difference between intention and impact is often the willingness to have honest, unscripted conversations about what's working, what isn't and who's missing from the table.
Elisha González, Wendy J. Roundtree, Sandi Vidal, RK Little Kelley and Jennifer Evins.
What this means for purpose-driven organizations
Beyond individual leadership, these takeaways are also core communications principles for organizations driving positive change in their communities:
Bring frontline voices in early. Staff, volunteers and community members experience your mission up close. As your strategy takes shape, involve them in your research.
Make room for lived experience. Stories grounded in real experience can build more trust than polished talking points.
Step outside the echo chamber. Seek out diverse voices, especially the ones that challenge the status quo.
Before your next campaign, ask: whose perspective haven’t we heard yet?
Looking for help telling your organization’s? Let’s connect.
