TMA Florida NOW Summit presents a powerful lunch panel, Building High-Performing, Gender-Balanced Teams: Was This Worth It?, featuring experts who are redefining leadership in today’s rapidly evolving business world.
The bad news is that most deals and most businesses fail.
The good news is that there are ways to avoid being like most.
Decades of research point to a clear conclusion. Teams with both men and women outperform single-gender teams. They make sounder decisions, innovate more effectively, and navigate complexity with greater agility. These teams balance human capital, finance, and technology with intention rather than chance.
This candid, expert-led conversation will explore what it really takes to build high-performing, gender-balanced teams and whether the effort is worth it. If you are building a team designed to grow, adapt, and leave a lasting legacy, this discussion is for you.
Following the lunch panel, attendees will participate in a professionally led icebreaker designed to spark meaningful connections and continued conversation.
All guests will receive a complimentary copy of The 100-Year ROI by Keri Laine, with an exclusive onsite book signing.
Register today for a timely conversation and networking opportunity you will not want to miss.
Event Panel:
Keri Laine - KLES
Keri Laine is an executive advisor, keynote speaker, and author of The 100-Year ROI: Reimagining Success Through People, Purpose, and Profit. She founded Keri Laine Executive Solutions to help growth-minded leaders, investors, and boards align talent, culture, and capital for value that compounds across generations, not just quarters.
A former global C-level executive, Keri has led organizations from $40M to $5B in revenue through rapid growth, 25+ M&A deals, and multiple IPOs. Her Return on Relationships and 100-Year ROI frameworks provide practical tools for building enduring legacy.
Dr. Patricia Baxter - Dr. Pat Baxter & Associates
Having lived and worked around the world, Dr. Pat uses her global perspective to help firms lead high-impact culture change and sustain talent growth by using the art and science of emotional intelligence(EI) in addressing conflict resolution.
Her industry expertise includes global financial services, technology, call centers, nonprofits, and pharmaceuticals. As an executive coach, Dr. Pat works with established and emerging leaders around the globe with a focus on supporting women as they grow their thriving careers.
She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University and an BS and MS from the City University of New York. Dr. Pat has received the prestigious Society of Emotional Intelligence Ambassador award, authored four books, contributed to three anthologies, presented at dozens of conferences worldwide and loves being a podcast guest.
Jackie Zumba - Jackie Z Style Co.
Jackie Zumba is the founder and CEO of Jackie Z Style Co., a luxury fashion and lifestyle brand based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Over the past 14 years, Jackie has grown the business from a small boutique into a multi-million dollar company, generating over $40 million in revenue and building a highly recognized brand both in-store and online.
Jackie runs the company side-by-side with her husband, Brian, making their partnership a modern example of gender-balanced leadership in entrepreneurship. Together, they have built the business from the ground up, navigating the challenges of scaling a family-owned company while balancing leadership roles, creative vision, and long-term strategy. Jackie is also deeply committed to philanthropy and community impact, regularly leading charitable initiatives and events that support women, children, and local organizations. She is passionate about empowering women in leadership and frequently speaks on business growth, branding, and overcoming obstacles as a female founder.
Judge Michaeil Hooi - Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida (Moderator)
Michael Hooi serves as a judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida and an adjunct professor at The University of Tampa. Before becoming a judge, he practiced law at Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A., in Tampa, Florida, where he handled bankruptcies, litigation, out-of-court workouts, and business transactions. He began his legal career as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit for Judge Charles R. Wilson after graduating from the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University.