Building a community that advances professional and personal development for women in eDiscovery and the Legal Industry, while nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Advancing Talent • Harnessing Expertise • Nurturing Achievement
April 4-7
Develop Professionally.
Grow Personally. Build Community.
Set Sail
Be a part of an incredible community of women in eDiscovery, Data, Privacy, Info Gov, Cyber, Legal Technology, and the Legal Industry for the 2025 ATHENA Summit to embark on a transformative journey tailored just for you.
What To Expect
Professional Development
Gain cutting-edge insights and master new skills through workshops designed to enhance both your hard and soft skills. From leadership strategies to tactical tech insights, ATHENA’s programming will help you lead with confidence.
Personal Growth
Wellness is woven into every aspect of the summit. Focus on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being with targeted sessions that renew and inspire.
Community Building
Forge bonds that last a lifetime with like-minded women navigating similar paths. Whether through group activities, one-on-one mentorship, or shared experiences, the connections you’ll make here will bolster your network and open doors.
The Perfect Setting
Escape the ordinary in a luxurious, immersive environment aboard *Utopia of the Seas*. Each day balances knowledge-building and relaxation, allowing you to recharge and reset while absorbing meaningful insights.
Unleash Your Power on the Open Seas
Date Duration:
April 4-7, 2025
Ship:
Royal Caribbean’s *Utopia of the Seas*
Departure city:
Departing from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida.
Departure Time:
4PM
Why Athena?
Named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, and strategic insight, the ATHENA Summit embodies her legacy by empowering women to thrive in a field that requires both intellect and strength. Here, you’ll sharpen your skills, connect with industry pioneers, and leave inspired to lead the future.
Grab your work wife, your mentor or mentee, your BFF, or that nice neighbor lady down the street, and head out to find yourself and your strength. No better time to relax, rejuvenate, and restore than in the middle of the ocean. After a week of Vitamin Sea, you will return refreshed and ready to make your world a better place.
Summit Registration: $299
Your registration for ATHENA is $299 for all sessions professional head shots and materials. Summit registration does not include your stateroom. Traveling companions not attending the Summit are only required to purchase a stateroom, not register for the Summit.
Register by February 15, 2025 with payment in full by February 28, 2025
Lodging Options
per person
Double occupancy
per person
Single Occupancy
per person
Interior
$1233
$1908
Oceanview
$1402
$2246
Balcony
$1390
$2223
What is Included
Your $100 non-refundable, per person, deposit will secure your spot. We’ll invoice you for the Summit and Stateroom balance with full payment due by February 28, 2025. It’s that easy! ATHENA Summit is unique with the rooms, meals, and conference costs all included.
Pick your cabin, invite a pal, and let’s set sail together.
Your lodging cost, per person, includes your stateroom, meals, fees, taxes, ports, and gratuities. Optional add-ons include: specialty drink package, internet, and excursion costs.
Summit Session Schedule
Pre-Summit Sessions via Zoom
3/21 8am
Know Before You Go with Jaci Russo & Melissa Bowen
3/28 8am
Do Titles Determine Worth? with Keesha Buteau
On Board the Utopia of the Seas
12:30-1
Welcome with Jaci Russo & Melissa Bowen
1:30-2:15
Positive Intelligence: Battle Your Inner Sabateur with Keesha Buteau
2:30-3:15
Say “Hell Yes” to Life by Saying “No” with Melissa Bowen
3:30-4:15
Brand You: Unleashing the Power of Personal Branding with Jaci Russo
4:30-5:15
F-It Model: A Model and Mindset to Productivity with Melissa Bowen
5:15-5:30
Wrap Up with Jaci Russo & Melissa Bowen
Steering Committee
Lori Armstrong-Halber Fox Rothschild
Denise Backhouse Littler
Andrea D'Ambra Norton Rose Fulbright
Kim Duplechain Littler
Shameka Glover iDS
Laura Kibbe Unisys
Pam Keller iDS
Jaci Russo brandRusso / iDS
Nikki Samuels Morgan Lewis
Aileen Schwartz Hill International
Carrie Risatti Green, Steel & Albrecht, LLP
Secure Your Spot at ATHENA 2025
With limited availability, early registration is essential. Don’t miss the chance to redefine your career path and recharge with women who share your passion and drive.
Embark on a Journey of Growth, Wisdom, and Connection at ATHENA.
Athena Summit Sessions
Know Before You Go
Jaci Russo & Melissa Bowen
Get ready to set sail with confidence! Join us for a Zoom session designed to prepare you for the ATHENA Summit 2025. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a frequent sailor, this pre-summit session will help you make the most of your transformative experience aboard Utopia of the Seas. From practical travel tips to insider insights about the summit agenda, this session ensures you’ll arrive ready to connect, learn, and grow. Plus, meet your fellow attendees and start building connections before the cruise even begins!
What You’ll Learn:
Packing tips, cruise logistics, and key travel information to make your journey stress-free.
A walkthrough of the schedule, key sessions, and how to maximize your time at ATHENA.
Strategies to make meaningful connections and establish your presence as a leader in legal tech.
Insights into the unique blend of professional development, personal growth, and community building that defines ATHENA.
Get your questions answered directly by the summit team.
Brand You: Unleashing the Power of Personal Branding
Jaci Russo
Understand and harness the power of your unique identity. By delving into the art and strategy of personal branding, you will gain insights and actionable tips to enhance your professional presence and leave a lasting impression in today’s competitive landscape.
You’ll Learn:
How to translate personal attributes into a compelling brand narrative that resonates with your target audience
Strategies to optimize your online presence
Succinctly communicate your value proposition
How to showcase your true self while aligning with your professional goals
F-It Model: A Model and Mindset to Productivity
Melissa Bowen
Get your mind out of the gutter! “F” stands for freedom, function, flow and a bunch of other words that represent a huge increase in your progress and productivity.
You’ll Learn:
How shame leads to perfectionism
How perfectionism leads to stunted growth and decreased productivity
A repeatable mindset (based in psychological research) that will keep your momentum Forward!
Positive Intelligence: Battle Your Inner Sabateur
Keesha Buteau
This session empowers leaders and teams by enhancing mental fitness and fostering a culture of high performance. Participants will learn to shift from a reactive, survival mindset to a proactive, thriving mindset. Through interactive discussions and exercises, they’ll discover how to manage their thoughts, reduce self-sabotage, and unlock their potential as leaders. The session emphasizes building self-command, intercepting negative thought patterns, and cultivating empathy and innovative thinking. By the end, participants will be equipped with practical tools to transform challenges into opportunities and foster collaboration for personal and professional growth. Ideal for teams or individuals seeking to enhance resilience, improve communication, and create a more positive, productive work environment.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the distinction between the Survive and Thrive regions of the brain.
Identify and intercept the Judge Saboteur to reduce self and external criticism.
Recognize and weaken accomplice Saboteurs that limit leadership effectiveness.
Practice the Sage perspective to transform challenges into growth opportunities.
Say “Hell Yes” to Life by Saying “No”
Melissa Bowen
Our frustrations in life often hint at where we lack boundaries. Establishing healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life empowers you to love yourself, love others, and be successful. We will explore the 5 common obstacles that keep us from maintaining our boundaries, and discuss a step-by-step method for establishing boundaries.
We Will Explore:
The functions and purpose of boundaries
The 5 main obstacles that prevent boundary-setting
A step-by-step process of setting healthy boundaries
Do Titles Determine Worth?
Keesha Buteau
Within our personal and professional lives, we are bombarded with labels and titles that are often used as a means to assign value and worth to products and people. Given this societal norm, individuals may begin to equate their personal worth with the title(s) that society or the workplace has assigned to them. This presentation empowers participants to see past their titles and recognize their true worth!
You’ll Learn:
The Unconscious Effects of Labels and Titles
The Role of Titles in the Workplace
Identifying Personal Purpose & Value