On Friday, October 24, 2025, hundreds of professionals gathered at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort for Wāhine Forum 2025, the state’s leading women’s leadership and career development conference.
Presented by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and hosted by Hawai‘i Business Magazine, the event provided a full day of networking, learning, and empowerment for women at every stage of their careers.
Real Tools for Real-World Leadership
The forum focused on timely themes such as AI adoption, data literacy, career transitions, and wellness. Breakout sessions tackled the most relevant challenges facing working women, from navigating burnout to building leadership presence in evolving workplaces.
The session titled “Embracing AI: Your Business Ally for Doing More with Less” helped attendees understand how to integrate artificial intelligence into workflows without losing authenticity or control.
Meanwhile, workshops like “Burnout, Boundaries, and Balance” offered frameworks for maintaining well-being while meeting the demands of modern leadership and entrepreneurship.
A Keynote to Remember
Keynote speaker Nicole Lapin, New York Times bestselling author and financial expert, brought the room to life with honest, practical advice about money, ambition, and redefining success on your own terms.
Throughout the day, the networking expo and breakout groups gave attendees space to connect with mentors, collaborators, and new opportunities.
A Win for Creators and Entrepreneurs
For small business owners, media creators, and digital marketers, the forum was more than a learning event — it was a chance to engage with tools and ideas designed for growth. Sessions on digital leadership, negotiation, and data-driven storytelling proved especially valuable for content-driven professionals.
Looking Ahead
Wāhine Forum 2025 lived up to its reputation as a catalyst for leadership development in Hawaiʻi. By combining practical insight with deep community connection, the event helped participants leave with not just ideas, but confidence and clarity.
Organizers have already begun preparing for 2026, with many attendees calling this year’s forum the most impactful yet.
