New Orleans Chamber Foundation announces 2025 Power Up: Women’s Leadership Conference

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Chamber Foundation is thrilled to announce the 6th annual Power Up: Women’s Leadership Conference slated for Thursday, April 3 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, with presenting sponsor Fidelity Bank P.O.W.E.R. (Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized). Proceeds from the conference benefit the Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) subsidiary of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, created to advance the mission of the Chamber and positively impact the quality of life for New Orleanians through education and community development.

The Women’s Leadership Conference connects like-minded businesswomen and provides opportunities to accelerate their professional development with two keynotes, multiple breakout sessions and ample networking opportunities. Women’s organizations throughout the region from diverse backgrounds, the Network Partners, will come together for the conference to support and provide resources to all women.

“For over two decades, the New Orleans Chamber has remained a chief catalyst for economic growth and community engagement in the Crescent City,” said Sandra Lombana Lindquist, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce’s President & CEO. “For women business leaders and entrepreneurs in New Orleans and across the region, the Power Up conference is a crucial touchstone for partnership development and strategic planning. We’re especially proud of this event’s support for the New Orleans Chamber Foundation, which works to increase quality of life for all New Orleanians year-round.”

This year’s theme, “Why New Orleans: Culture, Community and Strategic Growth” will explore harnessing the city’s unique environment to drive strategy and business development. The conference features over a dozen professional development breakout sessions and workshops, moderated by the Network Partners, including a wide range of topics designed to ignite partnership and professional development. A complete list of speakers and the conference agenda will be released in March. Among this year’s Breakout Sessions, registered attendees can anticipate:

  • Status of Women in New Orleans – Women in the Workplace

    Presented by Junior League of New Orleans

  • The Power of Connection: Amplify Your Leadership Impact

    Presented by Women’s Leadership Academy

  • What Does Your Image Say About You?

    Presented by I.A.S. Image Consulting

Again, this year, the conference will present the POWERHOUSE Women - a series of short, impactful talks featuring dynamic women from diverse industries as the lunch keynote, sponsored by Fidelity Bank P.O.W.E.R. Attendees will discover these speakers’ passions, hear their stories and gain practical insights to fuel their own career journey.

“Empowering women in leadership roles is essential for driving innovation and growth in our region,” said Chris Ferris, Fidelity Bank & NOLA Lending’s President and CEO. “This conference provides a vital platform for fostering connections, sharing insights, and inspiration that extends well after the sessions end.”

 General admission tickets are $270. Company tables can be reserved for $2,000, including eight tickets with reserved table for keynote sessions. For more information and to register, please visit powerupnola.com.  

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About the New Orleans Chamber Foundation:
The New Orleans Chamber Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization founded to advance the mission of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and to positively impact New Orleanians’ quality of life through education and community development. With a vision to make New Orleans a better place to live, work and play, the Chamber Foundation leverages the support of the local business community to better sustain economic development, entrepreneurship, small business growth and workforce development initiatives across the Crescent City.


About the New Orleans Chamber:
The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization consisting of business and community leaders who work together to create a dynamic business climate that drives entrepreneurship and business success in the New Orleans community. Celebrating 20 years in 2024, the Chamber connects businesses to foster development in the New Orleans community through networking, education and advocacy. With a network of more than 1,300 member businesses, the Chamber is a driving force in the Greater New Orleans business community.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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