Unfinished & Unstoppable
Women’s Networking Event
February 5, 2026 | Summit NJ
Networking
Doors open at 6:00pm for a few light cafe options and networking! Parking is free in Summit after 6pm so find a spot on the street or give yourself time to park in one of the nearby lots just a 5-minute walk away.
Headshots
New year, new headshot! Come before 6:30 to get in line for your complimentary headshot by local family and real estate photographer Jen Hinger. Photos to be sent digitally after the event.
Inspiration
Hear candid stories from four different leaders who pivoted mid‑journey. The messages will be bold and celebratory, designed to spark momentum, lift confidence, and help you see unfinished work as fuel rather than flaw.
“I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.”
-Tracee Ellis Ross
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Description: Join us for a night with women who embrace being a work in progress and refused to wait for perfect. Hear candid stories from leaders who pivoted mid-journey and listen to inspiring mini talks that normalize iteration and reduce pressure. Keep scrolling for more info on the talks and speakers or select Add to Cart to register.
Details:
6:00 PM - Doors open; event will be held at Serra Doce Cafe in Summit (21 Union Place) where parking is free after 6pm
6:00 - 7:00 PM - Network and mingle; show up by 6:30 to get in line for your complimentary headshot with local family and real estate photographer Jen Hinger
7:00 - 8:00 PM - Main program; four TED-talk style speakers to teach and inspire
8:00 - 8:30 PM - Event wrap up; stay to meet collaborators and swap next steps
Add to Cart to register: All funds received will go directly toward the costs of the event which includes a warm drink, sweet or savory snack, a headshot, and four speakers. Please note that this is non-refundable.
Talk topics
Embracing the Journey
Honoring Our Story
In Embracing the Journey: Honoring Our Story, Dora Santos shares a deeply personal and inspiring reflection on resilience, identity, and transformation. Drawing from her experience as an immigrant child, the loss of her father, and nearly 30 years as an educator, she illustrates how life’s challenges—when honored rather than hidden—become sources of strength and purpose. Through storytelling and real-life examples, this talk invites women to see their experiences not as obstacles, but as powerful foundations for growth, confidence, and leadership.
The Power of Reinvention
Turning Transitions into Transformations
What happens when the identity you’ve built your life around no longer fits?
In this inspiring talk, former FBI leader and founder of Santos Leadership Group, Elisabete Santos, shares her powerful journey of reinvention after a 21-year career in national security, counterintelligence, and cyber investigations. Stepping away from a role defined by certainty and structure, she found herself navigating the unfamiliar space between what was and what comes next, a space many professionals experience but few openly discuss.
Through personal storytelling and practical insight, Elisabete reframes transition not as a setback, but as an invitation for alignment and growth. She explores how letting go of old identities, embracing discomfort, and reconnecting with purpose can transform uncertainty into clarity and confidence.
This talk is ideal for audiences experiencing career change, personal transition, or leadership evolution and for anyone seeking the courage to step into their next chapter with intention.
Why Not Now?
Practical Steps to Fill Your Cup and Follow Your Dreams
In this actionable talk, Allyson Hernandez offers practical, energizing steps to fill your cup, reconnect with the dreams you may have put down, and begin incorporating more of what you love—and who you are—into your life, even if fear is still along for the ride. Because why not now? It’s never too late to choose yourself or take meaningful steps toward a bigger, bolder version of what’s already possible.
Unboxing your Dreams
3 exercises to help you start before you’re ready
What happens when the dream you’ve carried for years feels too big, too impossible, or too far away? In this empowering and tactical talk, Kristen Hubler shares her journey from saying “one day” to finally taking action on her deepest desire: writing a book. Through honest storytelling and practical insight, Kristen explores why courage and discipline - not perfect plans - are the keys to turning intention into impact. She reminds us that being unfinished isn’t a weakness; it’s the starting point for unstoppable growth.
Meet the Speakers
Elisabete Santos is the founder of Santos Leadership Group and a retired FBI Special Agent with more than two decades of experience leading complex national security and cyber investigations. After transitioning from federal service, she reinvented her career to focus on leadership development, women’s empowerment, and guiding others through periods of change with purpose, resilience, and authenticity.
Elisabete Santos
Dora Santos is a Core Energy Life Coach and lifelong educator who brings heart, wisdom, and nearly 30 years of experience to her work. As an iPEC Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, she supports individuals in releasing limiting beliefs, navigating stress, and creating lives guided by clarity, confidence, and intention. Drawing from her deep passion for learning, communication, and personal development, Dora empowers clients to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and step into their highest potential.
Dora Santos
Allyson Hernandez is the Founder and CEO of AH Coaching Group, an HR leader, executive coach, and performing artist who blends strategy with human connection to transform leadership. With over 20 years of experience, she has built and led leadership development programs that strengthen talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and retention—including creating a national learning function from the ground up as a former Director of Learning and Leadership Development. As one of the founding Executive Coaches at Chief, Allyson facilitates high‑trust, transformational spaces for senior women leaders through peer coaching, candid dialogue, and shared learning. An ICF‑accredited coach (ACC) with certifications in Energy Leadership, Myers‑Briggs, Emotional Intelligence, and Hogan, she also designs custom leadership programs, workshops, and executive off‑sites that drive alignment and connection. A professional actor, singer, and writer, Allyson brings a dynamic, creative presence to every room—whether coaching executives, leading a workshop, or performing on stage—and has been featured on Tamron Hall, released multiple albums, and authored the bestselling novel Ballad of Dreams.
Allyson Hernandez
Kristen B. Hubler is an Amazon #1 Best‑Selling Author and the Founder of Workshops by Kristen, where she empowers individuals and organizations with the tools they need to thrive. With an M.Ed, a mini‑MBA in Lean Six Sigma, and certifications as a Prosci Change Management Specialist and Scrum Master, she specializes in guiding organizations through transformational change with a blend of strategy, empathy, and practical application. A respected thought leader in leadership development and professional growth, Kristen has spent years designing and delivering high‑impact workshops that inspire confidence, clarity, and action. Her book, The Impossible Box, helps readers reshape behaviors and build the habits needed to achieve their biggest goals, reflecting her belief that with the right tools and mindset, anyone can create meaningful, lasting change.