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On Sunday evening, September 7, we had the privilege of hosting the third annual Ladies Running Programs event at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, to kick off the 2025 Contingent Workforce Strategies (CWS) conference in style, complete with a ‘Red Carpet’ welcome. What started just three years ago in a hotel suite has grown into a thriving tradition–bringing together women from across the industry for an evening of authentic connection, storytelling, and inspiration.
More than 120 women came to share experiences, celebrate personal and professional milestones, and strengthen the bonds that carry through the CWS community. The evening was filled with laughter, tears, and moments of vulnerability that reminded us how powerful it is to create space for each other.
Personally, it is one of our most rewarding moments of the year for Worksome, and this year seeing women in the entrance line with the cowboy-boot pins given out at last year’s event was a great reminder that it just might also be as meaningful to the attendees as well.
A very special thank you to our toast-givers Angela Westhead with OpenAI, Orli Becker with AMS, Erin Moore with AGS, and Adorée Durayappah-Harrison with Papaya Global, our event co-sponsor. Your words set the tone for the evening, sparking inspiration, authenticity, and connection among everyone in the room. We are grateful for the time, energy, and personal stories you shared that helped make this year’s gathering so memorable.
Reflections from the Worksome Team
Emily Stringer, Solution Design at Worksome:
It was my pleasure to join the Ladies Running Programs event at this year’s Contingent Workforce Summit in Dallas. As a Worksome newbie, I am fortunate to have been indoctrinated into the unofficial sisterhood of CWS.
Industry-leading ladies from over 70 companies came together for an evening of networking, connection, and powerful storytelling that left every attendee feeling excited and inspired before kicking off the conference officially on Monday morning. We laughed, we cried, and we celebrated each other’s personal and professional successes. What was even more powerful was seeing ladies who connected at the event reconnecting on the conference floor as we all work together to build a better future of work and solve our industry’s challenges.
Erika Novak, Head of Customer Success at Worksome:
I had an incredible time at the Ladies Running Programs event on Sunday, September 7, as part of the Contingent Workforce Strategies conference in Dallas. The sense of camaraderie among the women was truly heartwarming. The hugs, smiles, and joy of reconnecting with old friends made it incredibly special. I loved the openness to welcoming newcomers and the authenticity of speeches about the power of mentorship and sharing wisdom.
A huge shoutout to Angela Westhead for making the experience deeply personal and vulnerable, which truly resonated with all of us. Special thanks to Erin Moore, Orli Becker, and Adoree Durayappah for leaning into this meaningful event and taking the mic. It is a privilege to serve alongside such inspiring women in this industry.
As the saying goes: “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.”
Rachel Yancius, Head of Community at Worksome:
What began three years ago in an Omni Dallas suite has blossomed into a thriving community. The Ladies Running Programs event has grown into a space where women come together to share experiences, learn from one another, and forge lasting connections.
Attendees consistently share how they leave feeling inspired, not only by the stories they hear, but also by the genuine support of peers who understand the challenges and triumphs of the CW industry, a rare and valuable commonality. Many have built connections that sparked ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and friendships that continue well beyond the event itself.
It is a privilege to share space with so many intentional, accomplished women, driving the industry forward together.
Scroll the gallery below to relive the night. Want to share on your LinkedIn? Email brianna@worksome.com and we’ll send the snaps.
