Holton Welcomes Wonder Women Leadership Program

For four days this summer, the Holton campus became an immersive learning environment for women leaders in education as Leadership + Design hosted its Wonder Women Leadership Program in the Susanna A. Jones Learning Commons. Holton Director of DEIB and Signature Programming Sherry Wells, Assistant Head of Middle School Roz Byrne, and Aquatic Director and Global Trip Coordinator Carrie Braun attended the conference.

Wonder Women brings together bold, curious, and diverse women to strengthen their leadership capacity through honest reflection, collaborative problem-solving, and meaningful conversation. Rather than focusing solely on leadership theory, participants explore the habits, mindsets, and skills that help them lead with authenticity and lasting impact. 

Throughout the program, participants explored the experiences that have shaped their leadership journeys, discovered their signature leadership presence, collaborated on a real-world design challenge, and engaged in conversations about power, influence, feedback, and personal growth. 

Among this year's featured rapid-fire speakers was Holton Head of School Penny B. Evins, who also serves on the Leadership + Design Board of Directors. Joining Courtney Martin, Head of School at Sheridan School, and Natalie Nixon, Ph.D., CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, Penny reflected on the realities of leadership and the lessons she continues to learn.

"I am a systems thinker and believe talent, not title, belongs at the table," she told participants, describing a leadership style rooted in stewardship, thoughtful preparation, and care for the people and institutions she serves. Addressing the challenges that define leadership, she added, “The moments that shape leaders are not the easy ones. They are the moments when your values become visible under pressure."

She concluded by encouraging participants to embrace leadership grounded in authenticity rather than perfection. "Leadership presence is not performance. Not polish. Not pretending to be fearless. It is becoming recognizable to yourself while serving something larger than yourself."

Hosting the Wonder Women Leadership Program reflects Holton’s commitment to fostering courageous, compassionate leadership and creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue. By welcoming accomplished women leaders to campus to share their experiences, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another, the program created a powerful environment where authentic leadership could be explored, practiced, and strengthened.