The One SouthCoast Women's Forum is the ideal setting for leading business professionals and aspiring women in business to connect, learn and be inspired by other women. This unique event celebrates the accomplishments of women while motivating other women to fol......More
The One SouthCoast Women's Forum is the ideal setting for leading business professionals and aspiring women in business to connect, learn and be inspired by other women. This unique event celebrates the accomplishments of women while motivating other women to follow their example.
We choose Keynote Speakers who are examples of women who have bravely pushed for initiative, entered new markets and advocate for forward thinking industries.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SPEAKERS
MA Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell
On January 18, 2023, Andrea Joy Campbell was sworn in to be the 45th Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, becoming the first woman of color to win statewide office in Massachusetts.
Andrea's journey to becoming the first Black woman elected Attorney General of Massachusetts didn't follow a traditional path. Born and raised in Roxbury and the South End neighborhoods of Boston, her mother passed away in a tragic car accident on her way to visit her father in prison when Andrea was only eight months old. While Andrea's grandmother did the best she could to raise Andrea and her siblings, she occasionally struggled with alcoholism. Andrea and her brothers would spend their early years moving between relatives and foster care until their father came home from prison, and she met him for the first time at eight years old.
Life wasn't easy. Her family was poor and relied on public housing and food assistance. Her father, who had worked hard to rebuild his life after prison, would not live to see Andrea graduate from college. He died suddenly when Andrea was 19 years old, a sophomore at Princeton University. Her twin brother Andre would later die at just 29 years old in the Department of Correction’s custody due to receiving inadequate healthcare as a pre-trial detainee - a tragedy that fuels Andrea's fight for accountability and justice to this day.
Through all of this, Andrea persevered. Thanks to loving relatives, community support and a network of teachers who encouraged her, she turned pain into purpose. After graduating from Boston Latin School, Andrea would go on to become the first in her family to graduate from college and law school, receiving her degrees from Princeton University and UCLA Law School.
After earning her law degree, she worked as a legal services attorney defending the rights of children and their families - particularly those with disabilities.
Andrea also practiced law in the private sector and ultimately left to serve the public as General Counsel at the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, working across 101 cities and towns to address regional challenges like healthcare access, affordable housing, and climate change.
Andrea served as legal counsel to Governor Deval Patrick, working to improve our education and transportation systems and move forward an agenda of equity across the state.
Before becoming Attorney General, in 2015, Andrea successfully ran for the Boston City Council, becoming the first woman to represent District 4 on the Council. Her first piece of legislation was the Community Preservation Act, which still generates over $20 million annually for new affordable housing, historical preservation, and parks and open space. In 2018, she was unanimously elected City Council President - the first Black woman to hold that title.
Kirsten Smith, Made to Thrive Consulting
Kirsten Smith, owner of Made to Thrive Consulting, is a Business Coach, Certified EOS® Implementer, and co-founder of Beacon & Blade, where she helps growing companies strengthen leadership through Interim Integrators and effective Visionary/Integrator partnerships.
With over 400 full-day sessions delivered, she brings practical experience helping entrepreneurial teams gain clarity, traction, and accountability. Kirsten works with leaders who want more than business success - guiding them to lead with intention and ownership. Known for her candid, no-excuses approach, she challenges audiences to confront reality, take action, and achieve meaningful, lasting results.
MORE TO COME!
Rachel's Lakeside 950 State Rd. Dartmouth
