Success rarely follows a perfect blueprint.
Careers change. Families need attention. Opportunities arrive unexpectedly. Priorities shift. Then, somewhere between professional ambition, personal responsibilities and the many expectations women carry, an important question can get lost, “What am I intentionally building for myself?”
That question is at the center of MastHERpiece: Designing a Life with Intention, the 2026 Women’s Symposium presented by the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (DC Black MBA) on Saturday, August 22, at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
The symposium encourages women to see themselves as architects of their personal, professional, financial and civic lives and to recognize that creating a fulfilling life requires both vision and intention.
“Women spend so much of their lives building careers, families, organizations, communities and opportunities for others. MastHERpiece is an invitation for women to be just as intentional about what they are building for themselves,” said Dr. Carletta S. Hurt, President of DC Black MBA. “We want every woman who joins us to leave thinking differently about what is possible and understanding that she has the power to design her next chapter.”
For Kirsten Williams, Esq., a member of the symposium’s Host Committee, gatherings specifically designed for women offer something that professional biographies and social media profiles rarely reveal the journey behind the accomplishment.
“We don’t often get to see the behind-the-scenes journey the challenges, setbacks, difficult decisions, and lessons learned that shape a leader,” Williams said. “Hearing those experiences helps demystify the path forward and reminds us that success is rarely linear.”
That opportunity to exchange knowledge is important, Williams said, but the community created in the process may be even more valuable.
“I’ve learned throughout my career that no one succeeds alone,” she said. “Every meaningful opportunity I’ve had has been influenced by someone who believed in me, challenged me, or helped me see possibilities I couldn’t yet see for myself.”
That belief in community extends beyond traditional networking. Iris Drayton-Spann of Stanton Chase, also a Host Committee member, sees gatherings like MastHERpiece as opportunities for women to exhale while connecting with people who understand the responsibilities they carry.
“These types of events are vital as they provide a safe place for women to engage, share, connect and breathe life into one another,” Drayton-Spann said. “Many times, we as women carry heavy loads work, family, commitments, caregiving and so many other loads.”
She believes being surrounded by women willing to encourage and invest in one another can provide “balance, comfort, support and real friendship.”
That broader understanding of success is reflected throughout MastHERpiece. Panel discussions will explore politics and civic leadership, leadership and professional development, mental wellness, creativity and the arts, and wealth building. Rather than treating these areas as separate parts of a woman’s life, the symposium asks participants to consider how they work together to create a fuller picture.
That spirit of reaching back while moving forward may ultimately capture the larger purpose of the symposium.
“Success looks different for every woman,” Hurt said. “Our goal is not to tell women what their masterpiece should look like. Our goal is to give them space, resources and community to help them create it.”
For Williams, the impact extends beyond any individual participant.
“When women come together to share their stories, support one another, and invest in each other’s success, we don’t just build stronger careers,” she said. “We build stronger organizations, stronger communities, and a stronger future for the next generation of women leaders.”
Understanding that the real promise of MastHERpiece is less about what happens inside the room on August 22 and more about what each woman decides to build after she leaves.
