KS WELI Changemakers Summit
A Celebration of Leadership, Innovation, and Impact.
Free and open to all current UT Austin students ONLY
An energizing, full-day experience celebrating innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Connect with inspiring speakers, mentors, founders, and ecosystem leaders through keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions. Explore student ventures, hands-on activations, and curated networking opportunities. Leave empowered, supported, and ready to turn ideas into impact.
Drop in when you can, whether you join us for a single session or spend the day with us.
🎟️ Program Schedule + Activations
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Attendee Registration + Activations Open
Check in, grab a coffee from Luna Espresso, and explore summit activations as the day gets underway. Settle in, make connections, and get ready for a full day of ideas, energy, and momentum.
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Welcome + Kendra Scott Executive Keynote Panel with Michelle Peterson (CMO) and Beth Ley (Chief People Officer) - moderated by Sheena Wilde (SVP, Philanthropy & Culture)
Start the day with a powerful keynote and a behind-the-scenes look at how purpose translates to career paths.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Live Panel: Show Up, Stand Out: Building confidence and navigating imposter syndrome on your terms
Anita Desai, Head of Industry, TikTok
Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco
Julie Ruehle, Family Office Principal, Ruehle Realty
Pranitha Patil, Co-Founder & CBO, Function
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Round 1: Breakout Sessions
The Pivot Playbook: How Founders Take Smart Risks, Adapt Quickly, and Grow Through Change
Lexi Wier, Co-Founder, BURLEBO
Trey Wier, CEO & Co-Founder, BURLEBO
Kathy Terry, Founder, P-Terry’s Burger Stand
Moderated by Kelly Krause, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Kendra Scott
Making Money Moves: How to Start Investing While Still in College
Michaela Lindsay, Founder, Savvy InvestHer Society
Moderated by Varsha Shashidhar, KS WELI Senior Programming Intern
The New Era of Marketing: Grabbing Attention and Driving Real Connections
Krista Dalton, CMO & CDO, Tecovas
Perry Hector, CEO, Wonderkind
Saebryn Peel, Social Creative Strategist, Wonderkind
Moderated by Sarah Graves, Texas Women's Basketball
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch + Networking
Enjoy lunch from P-Terry’s and Tiff’s Treats while connecting with fellow attendees, speakers, and campus changemakers.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Round 2: Breakout Sessions
Leading From the Top: How executive women navigate leadership, influence, and career climbs
Christe Burke, Chief Solutions Officer, GreenEcko
Nish Parekh, SVP & Chief Product Officer, Omnicell
Leslie Zamora-Murguia, Founder, Executive Insight Partners
Moderated by Rebecca Feferman, Founder, The FefCo
From Idea to Team: Making your first key hires to start up your business
Tiffany Fernandez, Head of Ops and People, TaxTaker
Makenzie Stokel, Co-Founder, EVA
Andrea Nucete-Elliott, Co-Founder and CEO, TIY Products
Breaking into Venture Capital: Demystifying your path into the industry
Priti Joshi, Operating Advisor & Board Member, Consumer Brands
Rachel Hirsch, General Partner, Wellness Growth Ventures
Paola Retes, Investor, LiveOak Ventures
Moderated by Whitney McElwain, Director, KS WELI
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
KS WELI Spark Founders Pitch Showcase
Student founders from the Spring 2026 Cohort will take the stage to share their ventures, vision, and impact.
Rutu Ruparel, Oncera Health
Jason Wang, Saja Drinks
Zahra Shaikhali, Teach Together
Ivy Fan, Spice-A-Bowl
Raimah Rahman, SynapSense Technologies
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Closing + Keynote with Allison Ellsworth, Co-Founder of poppi
Close out the summit with Allison’s journey building Poppi—from a kitchen experiment to a breakout beverage brand—and her insights on building a mission-driven company.
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Networking Hour
Connect with your fellow students alongside industry leaders, mentors, and supporters. Continue conversations and grow your community.
A huge thank you to our brand partners and contributors, come check them out at the event:
Kendra Scott Foundation
JustWorks
Tiff's Treats
Gymshark
Milk + Honey
The Mahjong Line
KPMG
Experian
SusieCakes
Bloom
Luna Espresso
Burlebo
Siete
Waterloo
Unwell
Mad Hippie
Hint Water
Poppi
Better Sour
TIY
Sour Punch
Kendra Scott
Questions? Everything you need to know is here!