POWER IN PROGRESS: Women Leading Forward

Power in Progress brings together women founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders for candid conversations and practical tools you can use now. Expect authentic stories, actionable advice, and a supportive community focused on building where we live.

What you will get

• Real-world tactics from women founders and leaders
• Visibility and brand tools you can copy
• Investor readiness tips and finance checklists
• Downloadable recap PDFs and resource links

Who should attend

• Women founders and small business owners
• Operators and marketers supporting growth
• Students and career changers exploring entrepreneurship
• Allies who want to learn how to better support women-led ventures

All Venture Pfest events are free.

Times are in Central. Schedule subject to minor updates.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Location: Movie Theater Auditorium and Lobby

Focus: Why women’s entrepreneurship matters for Pflugerville and the future. Speaker shares personal experience as a councilwoman and entrepreneur. Introduction of the moderator for Panel 1.

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Panel 1: Real Talk from Women Founders — Lessons from the Trenches

Location: Movie Theater Auditorium and Lobby

Format:

• 5 min intros
• 30 min moderated Q&A
• 15 min audience Q&ATopics: Starting lessons, scaling teams and systems, brand building, mental health, family balance, customer acquisition, pivots, and defining success.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Lunch and Keynote: Women in Business Spotlight

Location: Movie Theater Auditorium and Lobby

Speaker: Stacey Pfefferkorn, Director of Business Retention and Expansion, PCDC

Format:

• 11:15 – 11:25 AM: Grab lunch in lobby, return to seats
• 11:25 – 12:00 PM: Networking lunch with theater display
• 12:00 – 12:15 PM: Featured keynote: "Small Town, Big Vision — Building Business Where You Are"

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Panel 2: Finance and Media — Power Tools for the Next Generation

Location: Movie Theater Auditorium and Lobby

Key Topics: Investor readiness and financial mistakes to avoid, storytelling and visibility as assets, getting media attention, personal and business brand alignment, overcoming bias and undercapitalization, and turning community credibility into traction.

Host or Publisher Pflugerville Community Development Corporation