ESPN Hall of Fame Sports Commentator Holly Rowe and two-time Olympic Medalist Shannon Bahrke will open and close the 2025 Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon, the Salt Lake Chamber announced today. Both individuals bring a wealth of experience and accomplishment, offering powerful perspectives on what it takes to succeed at the highest levels.
“We are incredibly honored to have two such renowned and accomplished women as our keynote speakers,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Holly and Shannon both embody the themes of passion, perseverance and leadership that are at the heart of this conference, and their stories will undoubtedly inspire our attendees to reach extraordinary goals.”
The 49th Annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon will be held on November 10, 2025, at The Grand America Hotel. The conference features inspirational speakers, valuable business insights and networking opportunities, as well as recognizes the accomplishments of those helping to make a difference in our community.
ABOUT OUR OPENING SESSION – How Embracing Your Passion Can Transform Your Life.
In this inspiring presentation, Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster and Naismith Hall of Famer Holly Rowe shares how following your passion can transform your life — and the lives of those around you.
From her early days in Utah to covering the biggest sporting events in the world, Rowe reflects on a 30-year career filled with high-pressure moments, hard-won breakthroughs and unforgettable stories from the sidelines. But it was her five-year battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma that reshaped her perspective entirely.
With warmth, wit and wisdom, Rowe opens up about how adversity taught her to lead with joy — not in spite of challenges, but because of them. She offers powerful lessons on finding purpose, staying focused and embracing the spark that drives us — in sports, in work and in life.
Whether you’re an athlete, professional or someone navigating life’s curveballs, Rowe’s message is a reminder that joy isn’t just a feeling — it’s a choice.
ABOUT OUR OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Holly Rowe is a three-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, storyteller and cancer survivor who has spent the last 30 years redefining what it means to be a woman in sports.
Known for her electric energy and compassionate reporting, Rowe has become one of the most respected voices in sports media. From college football and basketball to the WNBA, NCAA gymnastics and the Women’s College World Series, she’s been a presence on the sidelines of some of the most iconic moments in athletics.
In 2023, Rowe was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with the prestigious Curt Gowdy Award, one of the highest honors in sports journalism. She was also named to the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and, in 2021, made history as the first female analyst for the Utah Jazz.
But her career is only part of her story. After being diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, Rowe faced a five-year battle that changed her life — and deepened her mission. Now, in addition to broadcasting, she’s a tireless advocate for cancer research and prevention, using her platform to bring light, awareness and yes — joy — to others.
A Utah native and graduate of the University of Utah, Rowe has also worked as a producer and writer on award-winning features and documentaries, bringing the same curiosity and heart to every story she tells.
ABOUT OUR CLOSING SESSION – Your Extraordinary Starts Now
We live in a fast-paced, always-on world where the lines between work and personal life often blur. This constant state of busyness may look like productivity, but it often leads to burnout, dissatisfaction and underperformance. So, how do you slow down, cut through the noise and focus on what really matters?
In this energizing and empowering keynote, Olympic medalist Shannon Bahrke shares the powerful mindset, habits and strategies that helped her win America’s first medal of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Bahrke reveals how these tools are just as effective in everyday life and business as they are in elite sport, and how you can use them to unlock your next level of success.
Because your extraordinary doesn’t start someday. It starts now!
ABOUT OUR CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Shannon Bahrke was born and raised in Lake Tahoe, CA, and moved to Salt Lake City, UT, in 1998 to pursue her dreams of earning a spot on the U.S. Ski Team and ultimately competing for the USA at the Winter Olympic Games. She made the U.S. Ski Team that very same year and continued on the path of success for the next twelve years. She competed on 6 World Championship Teams, 3 Olympic Teams, brought home 2 Olympic Medals, 7 World Cup wins, 1 Overall World Cup Title and 6 National Titles. She has recently joined her heroes and was inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in March 2024.
Bahrke’s momentum didn’t stop when she stepped off the Olympic podium. Since retiring in 2010, she’s turned her passion for excellence into purpose-driven entrepreneurship. She co-founded and sold a thriving coffee business, authored a children’s book and today she proudly serves as CEO of not one — but TWO companies: Team Empower Hour, delivering leadership and team-building programs to organizations around the globe, and Champions Advantage, a game-changing mental skills program that empowers youth sports teams to develop confidence, sharpen focus and build unshakable resilience — core skills Bahrke mastered on her way to Olympic success.
Whether she’s transforming corporate teams, igniting the next generation of athletes or raising her two incredible kids, Bahrke leads with unstoppable energy, Olympic-level grit and a fierce sense of purpose.
This year’s conference is sponsored by Clyde Companies, Inc., Enbridge and WCF Insurance. Wells Fargo is the sponsor of the ATHENA Awards Luncheon. The event sponsor is BW Productions and the morning keynote sponsor is the University of Utah. Mountain America Credit Union and Select Health are breakout sponsors. The exhibit hall sponsor is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation. Supporting sponsors include KSL.com, Rio Tinto Kennecott, Rocky Mountain Power, Salt Lake City Corporation, Salt Lake County, Staker Parson Materials & Construction, Visit Salt Lake and Zions Bank. For the full list of sponsors and more information: click here.
