SALT LAKE CITY, UT (July 27, 2026) – Nicole Robison, the founder who grew Swig from a single drive-thru into a nationally beloved brand, will be the opening keynote at the 50th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon.
“Nicole Robison is exactly the kind of leader this conference celebrates,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “She built one of Utah’s most recognizable brands through vision, resilience and a deep commitment to people. Her story demonstrates how purpose-driven leadership creates lasting impact, and we know attendees will leave inspired by the lessons she’s learned along the way.”
In her keynote, The Swig Effect: Creating a Culture the World Cannot Resist, Robison will share the story behind Swig’s rise and the lessons she gathered along the way. She will trace how one small drive-thru in southern Utah became a national brand, one that has caught the attention of names like Jimmy Fallon and Millie Bobby Brown, and how a people-first culture, purposeful leadership and genuine care turn small, everyday moments into lasting loyalty. Whether leading a team, building a business or shaping customer experience, attendees will leave with a simple but powerful reminder: lasting success often begins with trying to make someone’s day.
Sarah Starkey, Chief Legal Officer for The Larry H. Miller Company, will conduct a fireside chat with Robison after her presentation.
The Salt Lake Chamber will host the 50th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November 11, 2026, at the Grand America Hotel. For 50 years, the Women & Business Conference has brought together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across Utah to share ideas, build meaningful connections and advance women in business.
This milestone year celebrates the conference theme, Momentum, the energy that drives progress, creates opportunity and carries impact forward. The conference agenda, to be announced later this summer, will highlight the ideas, experiences and relationships that help move individuals, organizations and communities forward.
During the luncheon, the Salt Lake Chamber will present the prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award, recognizing an individual whose professional excellence, community service and commitment to advancing women exemplify the spirit of the award. The Chamber will also recognize recipients of the Pathfinder Award, honoring leaders who have created new opportunities and advanced the success of women in business.
This year’s conference is sponsored by WCF Insurance. CHG Healthcare is the event sponsor. The closing keynote sponsors are Clyde Companies, Inc. and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. Intermountain Health, Mountain America Credit Union, Select Health, The Scout Guide Salt Lake and the University of Utah are exhibit hall sponsors. The women veterans sponsors are The Boeing Company, Deseret Management Corporation and Zions Bank.
For more information: click here.
ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE:
Nicole Robison grew up as the fifth of eight children on a farm in Teton Valley, Idaho, where she learned the grit and determination that still drive her today. After earning her associate’s degree from Ricks College (now BYU–Idaho), she poured her boundless energy into raising five incredible children (and now delights in several grandchildren). In 2010, Robison turned her simple love of Diet Coke, pebble ice and meaningful connection into something extraordinary: Swig! What began as one small drive-thru has grown, through her relentless vision and leadership, into a beloved national brand with more than 160 locations and counting. Her journey hasn’t been without challenges. At 37, Robison faced breast cancer, overcoming both the disease and the crushing medical debt it left behind thanks to an anonymous donor’s generosity. That life-changing moment fueled her passion not only to build Swig but also to give back. Today, through Swig’s Save The Cups campaign, Robison helps lift the financial burdens of women battling breast cancer, paying forward the kindness she once received. Save the Cups has raised an incredible 2 million dollars since its beginning in 2020. When Robison is not leading Swig or championing Save The Cups, you’ll find her exploring the world with her husband, hiking the beautiful mountains of Utah and Idaho or soaking up time with her growing family. Her motto says it all: Life is a gift, make it count by loving deeply, connecting often and chasing every dream.
