SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR HIGHLY AMBITIOUS WOMEN
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR HIGHLY AMBITIOUS WOMEN
ALL EYES ON US, in partnership with Shopify NY, invites you to an evening exploring a new era of ambition — one rooted not in overperformance, but in sustainable, structured growth.
This event is exclusively for women and those who identify as women.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Welcome to an evening for ambitious women who are ready to grow, scale, and lead — with structure, intention, and most importantly, self-respect.
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Doors Open + Curated Networking with light bites and refreshments, Photo & Video Captured Moments
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Panel Discussion — Sustainable Growth for Highly Ambitious Women
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Guided Working Session — Designing Sustainable Growth, a structured reflection and alignment exercise designed to translate insights into clear, sustainable next steps
EVENT FLOW
Sustainable Growth for Highly Ambitious Women brings together visionary founders, executives, and Columbia Business School faculty to explore a new model of ambition — one rooted in structure, clarity, and long-term sustainability.
Today’s ambitious women are capable, driven, and growth-oriented — yet rarely taught how to turn ambition into a sustainable strategy. In a culture that rewards speed, visibility, and constant performance, ambition often turns into pressure.
This evening is about changing that.
Through a conversation that blends academic research with real founder experience, we’ll explore the patterns behind burnout and the structural shifts that make growth sustainable. Rather than leaving with a longer to-do list, you’ll leave with greater clarity — a clearer understanding of what truly drives your growth, what may be quietly draining it, and where to strengthen before accelerating further.
OUR PANEL WILL ADDRESS
Bringing together Columbia Business School faculty and high-growth founders, this conversation bridges academic research with real-world scaling experience.
Together, we will unpack:
• Why so many ambitious women burn out — and how to prevent it without slowing your growth
• How to grow without building your business at the expense of yourself
• How to recognize when expansion is outpacing capacity
• The role of infrastructure, systems, and decision-making clarity in scaling
• What sustainable growth looks like in practice — from both research and lived founder experience
WORKING SESSION
The working session is the practical core of the evening.
Rather than adding more goals, this guided exercise helps you assess alignment between your ambition, your infrastructure, and your personal capacity.
Through structured reflection, you’ll identify what is truly driving your growth, where expansion may be outpacing structure, and what needs to be strengthened or protected before accelerating further.
You’ll leave with clearer priorities and one concrete decision to support sustainable growth in your next chapter.
In addition to the conversation and working session, guests will also receive curated gifts from our partner brands — thoughtfully selected products from companies building with intention, creativity, and care.
Speakers:
This conversation brings together leaders who have experienced growth at a high level — and who are ready to talk openly about the pressure behind it, the trade-offs, and what sustainable ambition truly requires.
Sheena Iyengar — S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and a global authority on choice and innovation. Known for her groundbreaking “Jam Study,” she is the award-winning author of The Art of Choosing and Think Bigger and creator of the Think Bigger Method. Her TED Talks have over 7 million views, and she advises organizations worldwide on decision-making and innovation.
Stephanie Gottlieb — Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry, founded in 2013 by visionary designer Stephanie Gottlieb, is a modern jewelry brand known for celebrating individual expression through meticulously crafted pieces. With a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and ethically sourced materials and natural diamonds, the brand offers collections ranging from timeless classics to contemporary designs. Known for its custom creations and celebrity fans, and worn by Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, and more, Gottlieb’s jewelry sits at the intersection of elegance and personal style.
Aitong Li, PhD – an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where she teaches social-organizational psychology and behavioral research in business. She is also a People Analytics Researcher at Google, shaping more inclusive and responsive workplace systems.
Deepti Sharma – serial entrepreneur and advisor focused on building values-driven, sustainable growth. She founded FoodtoEat to support immigrant-, women-, and minority-owned food vendors and later co-founded Bikky, a customer data platform for restaurants. During the pandemic, she helped feed over 500,000 food-insecure New Yorkers while supporting local businesses. Today, she advises early-stage founders and nonprofits on go-to-market strategy and mission-aligned growth.
Julia Kolodkina – brand strategist and creative entrepreneur with over a decade of experience leading branding and marketing for Fortune 500 companies. She is the Founder & CEO of Aliiiens: Brand Venture Lab, helping bold companies grow and stand out through next-generation brand strategy.
She is also the founder of ALL EYES ON US, a curated NYC community for ambitious women entrepreneurs building serious businesses with purpose.
Moderator: Jess De Jesus — product leader, educator, and independent music artist (AURA) based in New York. As Director of Product, B2B at Noom, she leads enterprise health initiatives focused on building scalable, sustainable systems for long-term impact.
Hosted by:
Shopify NY, located in Manhattan's vibrant Soho neighborhood is a hub for local entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow. Our space hosts a range of on-site event programming, retail activations, and value-added services. By partnering with real, local merchants, we create events that generate word-of-mouth buzz and seamlessly integrate Shopify technology.
ALL EYES ON US is a creative women’s entrepreneurship community in NYC, built for women who were never meant to play small – for you.
We bring together self-made women with an entrepreneurial mindset because we believe that connections are the force behind growth, new opportunities, and pushing beyond limits.
When you're surrounded by ambitious, growth-driven women, you don't just build faster and dream bigger — you also feel seen, supported, and safe to share your journey and exchange experiences.
This is where you meet your co-founder, partner, peer, or best friend — through transformational events, meaningful conversations, and the power of a like-minded community.
By attending the event, you consent to photography and video recording for promotional purposes.