Where Fashion, Finance, And Tech Leaders Unite

As Delivering Good celebrates its 40th anniversary, one initiative stands out for how quickly and powerfully it has expanded the organization’s impact: the Women of Impact Summit.

Launched three years ago under the leadership of Board Chair Andrea Weiss, the summit has grown from a pandemic pivot into one of the country’s most dynamic and inclusive platforms for advancing women leaders across industries. On June 4, 2025, the summit will be held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a clear purpose: to empower the next generation of women with the networks, insights, and tools they need to drive real change in their fields. The mission is urgent but straightforward—to help women lead with purpose, authenticity, and lasting impact.

The Women of Impact Summit was created during a time of crisis. As nonprofits nationwide struggled with the decline of in-person fundraising during the pandemic, Weiss steered Delivering Good through innovative solutions. She launched a series of free “lunch and learn” seminars focused on leadership, philanthropic empowerment, and the fashion industry. Those sessions kept the organization connected, activated a thriving community, and raised critical funds at a time when few nonprofits could. More importantly, they revealed a powerful truth: women want real stories, tools, and opportunities to learn from one another’s unique experiences.

By fostering conversations about leadership, personal journeys, and generational perspectives, Delivering Good built a stronger community—one that could evolve beyond pandemic restrictions. With a focus on inclusivity, Weiss sought to leverage these insights to create a broader, more engaging experience moving forward.

Lauren Savage, Director of Marketing and Communications, emphasized the broader goal, “It’s about uplifting the next generation of women leaders and inspiring their next act, regardless of age.”

This year’s summit reflects that vision, with an expanded speaker lineup featuring leaders in fashion, finance, corporate social responsibility, beauty, leadership, and technology—each sharing personal stories rooted in purpose and resilience.

“It was clear from the beginning—women wanted to learn from each other,” Weiss said. “And they wanted substance. Real stories. Real tools.”

That pivot became a growth model. Thanks to the generous support of the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Women of Impact Summit has expanded into a full-day conference, with more than 450 attendees expected on June 4.

While Delivering Good built its early reputation in fashion, Weiss recognized that the industry doesn’t operate in isolation. Fashion sits at the center of a much broader economic network. “Fashion is part of a complex ecosystem that includes finance, logistics, technology, legal, and investment firms. If we wanted to lead for the long haul, we had to engage that full network,” Weiss said.

Expanding beyond fashion has paid off. Delivering Good diversified its donor base, broadened participation, and built a scalable, sustainable model for the future.

Finding women leaders in these adjacent industries posed another challenge, as many senior roles were still male-dominated. To address this, Weiss sought out trailblazing women across finance, private equity, and tech—many of whom started their careers in consumer-facing sectors like fashion and beauty. Today, their leadership stories are central to the energy of the Women of Impact Summit.

Weiss also emphasized fashion’s continued cultural and economic power, particularly in today’s digital landscape. She pointed out that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have built ecosystems fueled by fashion and beauty through shopping, style inspiration, and self-expression. Without fashion’s influence, the digital economy would look very different. Broadening Delivering Good’s reach wasn’t just strategic—it was essential. As Weiss said, “We’re building a movement that reflects the real world.”

Women of Impact 2025: Speaker Highlights

This year’s lineup reflects the summit’s cross-sector reach and depth. Standout women leaders include:

• Michelle Carter, EVP, Services Business Development, North America, Mastercard
• Michelle Bacharach, CEO, FindMine
• Patricia Lizarraga, Managing Partner, Hypathia Capital
• Sabeen Mian, President, Performance Beauty Group
• Cate Luzio, Founder & CEO, Luminary
• Heather Salvatore Gruccio, SVP/GMM, Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Factory
• Danessa Myricks, Founder & CEO, Danessa Myricks Beauty

Crucially, the summit has never been about exclusivity. Through sponsorship models that allow companies to donate tickets to students and early-career professionals, the event has become a true launchpad for multi-generational leadership. It also reflects the work of Delivering Good’s Associate Council—an internal advisory group composed of rising professionals who help shape the summit’s agenda and outreach.

“Whether you’re an executive, a recent graduate, or somewhere in between, this is a room where your voice matters,” said Savage. “It’s not a one-way event—it’s a network in motion.”

Savage added that the summit is more than inspiration: “Our focus is on tools, tactics, and human stories. The impact happens when someone returns to their job the next day and makes change happen. That’s what this is about.”

Beyond the summit, Delivering Good continues its core mission of distributing new products—from clothes to household goods—to individuals affected by poverty or disaster. With over 800 community partners and 250 brand contributors, the organization has reached 33 million lives since 1985. It operates with just 12 full-time employees and maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating for transparency and impact.

Weiss sees the Women of Impact Summit as a natural extension of the organization’s values. “Most people want to do Good. They just don’t know where to start. We provide a clear, credible way to plug in—whether that’s as a sponsor, donor, volunteer, or mentor.”

While there are no immediate plans to spin off the summit as a standalone initiative, Weiss acknowledges its potential to grow even further. “Right now, it’s the Women of Impact Summit. Maybe one day, it will become an even broader Impact Summit. But we’re proud that women are leading the way.”

As for the future, both Weiss and Savage agree: the movement has only just begun. “This isn’t just an event,” Weiss said. “It’s a movement. And every woman in that room is part of it.”