Sisterly Love Collective 2026 Work/Shop
About this Event
Join Sisterly Love Collective for Work/Shop 2026, sponsored by , ia a full-day conference designed for small business owners and hospitality & food professionals who are ready to invest in themselves and their businesses. From morning pastries to an evening happy hour, the day is packed with practical sessions, meaningful conversations, and connection with Philadelphia's most dynamic culinary community.
Full Agenda
WELCOME & REGISTRATION 9AM – 930AM
930am-10am
SLC STATE OF THE COLLECTIVE
Where We've Been, Where We're Going SLC leadership shares what the organization has been working on, what's coming next, and how members can get more out of their membership. Plenty of time for open Q&A, feedback, and suggestions from the audience. Ellen Yin, Jen Carroll, Sofia Deleon, Jill Weber
SESSION ONE 10AM – 11:30AM
Building Your Confidence Practice Confidence isn't something you either have or you don't- it's something you build. Anna Gordon leads this session on developing a sustainable confidence practice that shows up in your leadership, your pitch, and your everyday business decisions. Presenter: Anna Gordon
Strategic Planning for Small Business Owners How do you build a real plan for where your business is going and actually stick to it? Michele Schina walks through strategic planning frameworks designed for small business owners who are too busy to think long-term but can't afford not to. Presenter: Michele Schina
SESSION TWO 11:45AM – 12:45PM
Know Your Resources: Support & Tools for Small Business OwnersRepresentatives from PIDC, the Department of Commerce, Santander Bank, and the Acceleration Project break down the landscape of support available to small business owners- funding opportunities, free programs, technical assistance, and beyond. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this session will help you understand what's out there and how to access it. Moderated by: Francesca Galarus, Panelists: Carmel Deane, Michelle Price, Ellen Rosenberg, waiting to hear from Tamar
Communication That Builds Culture Learn the core building blocks of effective communication—from strengthening day-to-day connection to navigating conflict in ways that deepen trust and reinforce healthy, high-performing teams. Presenters: Sarah Diehl and Emily Helms of Empowered Hospitality A/V
Reset Your Mind. Strengthen Your Leadership. with Michelle DeLorenzo of Monarch Yoga
Step away from the demands of running a business and take time to reset. Through guided breathwork and meditation, you'll learn simple techniques to reduce stress, improve focus, and build resilience so you can return feeling grounded, clear, and ready for what's next.
LUNCH 12:45-1:45PM
SESSION THREE 1:45PM – 2:45PM
Live AUA - P&L Workshop - Your profit and loss statement tells the story of your business, but only if you know how to read it. Ellen Yin and Julie Averona break down the P&L in plain language, covering what your numbers actually mean and how to use them to make smarter decisions. This is an interactive session with plenty of time for questions, real examples, and honest conversation about the financial realities of running a small business. In conversation with Ellen Yin & Julie Averona
Telling Your Story Your founder story is one of your most powerful business tools — but are you telling it well, and is your team telling it too? Natalia and Cassandra lead this interactive session with real-time feedback for audience members who want to workshop their own story live. In conversation with Natalia Lepore Hagan and Cassandra Burnett A/V and pencil and paper
Nervous System & Positivity - Build Resilience from the Inside Out with Sara Downey of Monarch Yoga
Your nervous system plays a powerful role in how you respond to stress, make decisions, and connect with others. In this workshop, you'll learn how the vagus nerve helps regulate your body's stress response and supports a greater sense of calm, resilience, and well-being. Through simple, practical techniques, you'll discover how to activate the vagus nerve, shift out of stress, and cultivate a more positive, grounded mindset that supports both your personal and professional life.
SESSION FOUR 3PM – 4PM
AI & SEO Visibility Strategies to Make Your Website Findable AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are now recommending businesses to potential clients, and right now your competitors could be the ones showing up instead of you. In this workshop, you'll learn how AI search actually works, what these platforms look for when recommending businesses, and exactly what you can do to make your business more findable — all in plain English, no techy jargon or expensive tools required. You'll learn practical strategies you can implement right away to start showing up in AI search results for the right things. Presenter: Julia Bocchese A/V
SOUND BATH with Sara Schwartz of Monarch Yoga & Undercurrent Sound Healing
End the day with a restorative sound bath designed to calm the mind, relax the body, and restore your nervous system. Using voice and therapeutic sound instruments, this immersive experience creates space for deep rest, reflection, and renewal.
KEYNOTE 4:15PM – 5:15PM
Service Ready: Building a Culture of Hospitality From the Inside Out Molly Irani, author of Service Ready, shares how the principles of hospitality can be applied to foster a strong business culture. And how this is the most important step in creating a high functioning crew — one with retention, longevity, and scalability — principles that apply to every business, not just restaurants. A conversation about leading from the heart without burning out. Presented by: Molly Irani
INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR 5:15PM – 7PM
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 10.00 to USD 250.00
