Showing Up, Lifting Up: Reflections from WITness Success 2025

By Darlene Whitney, Lead Consultant, ImagineCRM

Darlene (Far Right) and Friends!

By Darlene Whitney, Lead Consultant, ImagineCRM

I had the opportunity to attend the WITness Success Conference (Women in Technology) here in Louisville a few weeks ago, and it was an incredible experience for both professional growth and personal reflection. I want to share a few key takeaways that stood out to me.

1. Inspiration and Connection

One statement that really resonated with me was: “Women are natural leaders, even without the fancy titles (but you should still give them the fancy titles).” It was a powerful reminder that leadership often shows up in how we problem-solve, support one another, and share insight not just in our titles. A theme throughout the conference was the importance of lifting each other up, supporting underrepresented groups, and not being afraid to ask for help. Even the smallest interactions can spark meaningful connections. This space reignited my confidence and reminded me that we’re truly all in this together.

Darlene Whitney and Stacey Whitaker, Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame and Women in Tech conference organizer.

2. Professional Learnings

Several sessions pushed me to refocus on the purpose behind our work. For example, in looking at health data, the message was to always anchor on the “why” (why we’re collecting specific fields, and how that information supports decision-making). I was reminded to take a thoughtful approach to field management, object configuration, and flow automation, building for reusability and simplicity. I also gained new frameworks for evaluating and improving data collection processes, ensuring forms, fields, objects, and automation align cohesively. Another strong takeaway was around discovery: as Business Analysts, we need to dig into the “why” behind requirements, processes, and stakeholder decisions. Ideally, the first discovery session should begin during the RFT stage to set the foundation early.

3. Personal Growth

Interestingly, one of the most impactful sessions for me wasn’t technical at all; it was called “Just Show Up (Even When You’re Not Ready): Practical Strategies to Trust Yourself and Deliver Anyway” presented by Marianne Fields. The message was simple but powerful: be kind to yourself, embrace imperfection, and remember that progress matters more than perfection. Every “not ready” moment you’ve overcome has prepared you for the next. Self-trust isn’t a trait, it’s a practice. The encouragement to just show up, even when you don’t feel ready, was a great reminder that growth happens when we keep moving forward, even imperfectly.

4. Closing Session

The conference wrapped with a thought-provoking session, “Human Neural Networks: Thriving in an AI World Starts with Community” from the amazing Stephanie Herrera. The key message was that AI is here to stay, but our success in this new era depends on how we show up for each other. Each of us plays a role in the strength of our community and in shaping the tools we build and use. The future of AI isn’t just about algorithms or automation — it’s about people, collaboration, and the shared responsibility we carry to ensure technology serves us all well.

Overall, WITness Success was both energizing and grounding. It gave me new tools and strategies for my work, renewed confidence in my leadership, and a reminder of the power of community.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Leadership without titles: Women lead through problem-solving, support, and insight — formal recognition matters, but leadership shows up in everyday actions.
Connection and inclusion: Small interactions spark meaningful connections, and lifting underrepresented groups strengthens the whole community.
Purpose-driven work: Always anchor on the “why” in data, discovery, and business analysis to build with clarity, reusability, and simplicity.
Progress over perfection: Self-trust is a practice; growth comes from showing up even when you don’t feel ready.
Human-centered AI: Thriving in an AI-driven world depends on community, collaboration, and ensuring technology serves people first.