Sync Up with Your Goals, Your Network, and Your Growth
May 7, 2026 1pm – 4pm ET
The WGA Sync Up is your virtual midyear momentum boost. This event is free and designed for women in the grocery industry and our allies. Reconnect with your goals, reflect on your growth since last year’s Symposium, and gear up for what’s ahead.
This energizing event focuses on professional and personal development. Whether you’re a longtime member or just curious about what WGA has to offer, this is a great way to stay engaged and grow your leadership toolkit.
Schedule:
Session | Speaker | Description |
Welcome | Kristie Maurer, Owner, Maurer’s Urban Market | A welcome to the WGA community from our Chair. |
State of the Industry | Greg Ferrara, President & CEO, NGA | What policies are impacting the grocery industry and how is NGA working to support you? |
Across Generations: Choosing Your Focus. Owning YourPath |
| In an industry where the lines between work and home are often intertwined—especially within family-owned businesses—finding balance can feel less like a goal and more like a moving target. Fixed store hours, lean teams, and a deep sense of responsibility can make it difficult to ever fully disconnect, often leaving little room to reflect on what you truly want. This dynamic panel brings together women across different career stages and generations within the independent grocery industry, offering a range of perspectives on how priorities, challenges, and definitions of success evolve over time. Through candid conversation, panelists will share how they’ve navigated competing demands, redefined their focus in different seasons of life, and let go of guilt when trade-offs are necessary. Together, we’ll explore how to get intentional about your career—aligning your work with what genuinely fulfills you, setting boundaries that protect your energy, and recognizing that being good at something doesn’t always mean it’s right for you. Whether you’re just starting out, stepping into leadership, or reevaluating your next chapter, you’ll walk away with practical insights on making empowered choices, seeking mentorship beyond your organization, and building a career that supports both your ambition and your well-being. |
Break | ||
WGA Member Spotlight |
| Real stories and insights from the WGA network. |
From Reactive to Intentional: Leveraging Relationships & Strategic Networking | Dr. Ndala Booker, Critical Thinking Consultant & Executive Coach at Ndala Live | Dr. Ndala Booker will equip women in the grocery industry with a critical thinking framework to transform their approach to professional networking. Instead of attending events out of obligation or connecting randomly, participants will learn to think strategically about relationship-building — deciding which opportunities deserve their time, how to nurture key relationships without burnout, when to leverage their network and how to say no without guilt or burning bridges. We begin with an experiential activity that reveals the hidden barriers in our thinking. Participants will learn a Critical Thinking Framework and immediately apply it to real networking challenges women face in male-dominated industries: evaluating networking opportunities, tiering relationships for strategic nurturing, making asks without discomfort, and declining gracefully. This session moves beyond networking tips to provide repeatable thinking process that participants can use for every professional relationship decision. It’s designed as a foundation for deeper work at the upcoming WGA Symposium. |
Closing Remarks | Kristie Maurer, Owner, Maurer’s Urban Market | Recap the afternoon and explore how to stay engaged with WGA year-round. |
Photo Gallery
