For years, Beekeeper Group has been a proud supporter of Women in Government Relations (WGR) and their mission to empower strong women advocates in public affairs. During this year’s Leadership & Advocacy Conference, held September 18-19, 2025, we were proud to serve as a Track-Level Sponsor and provide technical support for the official conference mobile app.
A team of Beekeeper Group attendees also had the opportunity to experience an energizing two days of leadership development, policy insights, and meaningful networking.
We asked the group to share what stood out the most to them:
Judy Ly
Account Manager
My takeaways: Embrace the challenges and learning curves, but center common sense and common ground in your approach to policy and advocacy. It’s important to know your audience and craft your messaging that resonates with them, especially when it comes to bipartisanship. In the age of disinformation and misinformation, there is a gap in information available, and the audience that wants it. You just need to find ways to communicate the information that will reach the intended audience. Rely on your partners to get goals across, as no one can do it alone.
Cat Proulx
Senior Manager, Marketing and Culture
There were two speakers whose content really stood out to me. Jessica Yellin’s session “Cutting Through the Noise'” discussed her founding of News Not Noise, and the importance of reporting fact-based truth. She is dedicated to clear, credible reporting, which is a new struggle in the world of journalism with the rise of “newsfluencers.”
The other speaker that stood out to me was Shea Holman and the session “Reprogramming Bias: Centering Gender Equity in the Artificial Intelligence Policy Landscape.” Her session presented a really compelling argument for why AI regulation is needed to help combat sexism in AI and other forms of prejudicial bias. A key point from her presentation is that policies surrounding AI should adopt an inclusive, intersectional lens, ensuring the development of AI helps us become a better society and doesn’t further entrench us in our prejudices.
Alex Dickinson
Managing Partner
I always walk away from Women in Government Relations events reminded why I love this field. It was a conference brimming with energy, ideas, and the chance to connect with so many women doing incredible things. But two sessions this year really stood out.
AI was on everyone’s mind, but it was refreshing to hear a critical take on how these tools are being shaped and deployed. One session explored the feminization of AI and how the voices, imagery, and subtle design choices baked into our technology reinforce gendered stereotypes. It was a fascinating look at how bias doesn’t just live in data sets; it seeps into how tools are built and branded. As someone working at the intersection of communications and advocacy technology, it made me think about the quiet power of design and our responsibility to push for more intentional, inclusive approaches as AI becomes more embedded in our work.
The second session, “Curiosity Connects: Navigating Touchy Subjects and Finding Common Ground,” offered a timely reality check for anyone in advocacy. The speakers reframed what “success” looks like in tough conversations. It’s not about winning a debate, it’s about deepening understanding and trust. They shared practical ways to move beyond the false comfort of “both sides,” asking better questions and removing language that triggers defensiveness. It was a powerful reminder that empathy and curiosity are strategic tools, not soft skills.
Both sessions reinforced what makes WGR so valuable: it’s a place where honest conversations and big ideas intersect, and where you leave a little more inspired (and a little more fired up) about what’s possible.
Congratulations to WGR on a successful conference and for celebrating 50 years of shaping the future for women in government relations!