STEM Leaders Gather for Athena’s 5th Annual Lifting While Climbing Summit

Athena Staff
4 days ago
3 min read

Nearly 150 members of Athena’s powerful STEM community came together under one roof at ResMed Headquarters in San Diego for the 5th Annual Lifting While Climbing Summit — a night that was more than an event. It was an experience.

From the moment attendees arrived, the energy was unmistakable — alive with conversation, curiosity, and connection. As Athena CEO Holly Smithson took the stage, she looked out at a sea of bright minds and opened the evening with both conviction and warmth:

“I cannot tell you how much I love seeing all these brilliant puzzle pieces under the ResMed roof tonight. We didn’t just plan an Annual Summit — we designed an experience that reminds us we belong to something bigger. Each of you represents a piece of this grand puzzle — that when connected, reveals something extraordinary: leadership anchored by connection.”

Owning Your Piece of the Puzzle

Smithson’s remarks set the tone for an evening rooted in courage, community, and authenticity. She called out the growing leadership void in today’s world and challenged every attendee to fill it — not by waiting for leadership to appear, but by being it.

“There’s a leadership void. The fabric of our workforce is unraveling. AI is moving faster than our ethics, and polarization is redefining how we relate and work together,” she said. “But here’s what’s also true — we’re not powerless. The antidote to fear is community. The leadership the world is waiting for is right here in this room.”

The Summit invited every attendee to claim their piece of the leadership puzzle — to check in on their teams, speak up against injustice, and remind the world of the values that define progress.

Leadership in Action: From AI to Climate Tech

The Summit’s signature Lightning Talks brought together extraordinary innovators in AI and Climate Tech, proving that leadership in STEM is not a title — it’s a practice of problem-solving, collaborating, and co-creating.

AI Lightning Talks | From Fear to Power

Moderator: Holly Smithson, Athena CEO

Jaye Connolly | Chairman & CEO, RippleNami
Sara Hyzer | CFO, WD-40 Company
Lauren O’Brien | PwC
Polina D. Wilson | ResMed

Climate Tech Lightning Talks | Women Who Won’t Wait

Moderator: Jaye Connolly, Chairman & CEO, RippleNami

Daphne de Jong | Founder & CEO, Ven
Mary Louise Gifford | Founder & General Partner, Terragenome Ventures
Dr. Ravi Chawla | Founder, Stealth Mode Biomanufacturing Startup

Together, they showcased how women are transforming resistance into resilience — leading innovation in science, technology, and sustainability.

A Call to Remember Your Why

Smithson closed her remarks with a deeply personal reflection on Athena’s mission and the resilience of the women it serves:

“Think back on how you and your companies rose through adversity — the #MeToo movement, the trauma of George Floyd’s murder, a global pandemic, and now the rollback of diversity programs. We didn’t come this far just to get this far. We can no longer wait for leadership to show up — we must be the leadership.”

Her message was clear: progress is not paused, and Athena’s work continues — powered by the collective brilliance of its community.

“So look around. Every face you see is part of the solution. Every story here matters. Tonight, you’ll see leadership not as a title, but as a practice — and that’s the heartbeat of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing Summit.”