USD’s Knauss School of Business Champions Female Leadership at San Diego Women’s Week

The Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego was proud to serve as a sponsor of San Diego Women’s Week, a dynamic series of events focused on career progression, leadership development and actionable strategies for success by the North San Diego Business Chamber. This year's events hosted a staggering 680 registrants from 254 organizations.

Throughout the week, Knauss supported multiple programs and connected with attendees across industries, including tabling at the Elevate and Engage event and the Leadership Conference to share resources and opportunities with aspiring and established leaders alike.

A highlight of Knauss' involvement was a featured session by Dr. Manna Semby, moderated by Department Chair of Management and Professor of Business Ethics, Tara Ceranic Salinas, PhD. The session, “When High Performers Crash: The Biology Behind Midlife Burnout — and What Workplaces Must Know,”  discussed the science behind the “broken rung” phenomenon, unpacking why midlife women —often at the height of their expertise— face disproportionate career slowdowns. Drawing on neuroscience, endocrinology, and workforce data, she reframed burnout as a business and leadership imperative, equipping organizations with practical strategies to better support and retain high-performing women.

"Interviewing Dr. Semby, who is dedicated to revolutionizing women’s health in the workplace was fantastic," Professor Salinas noted, "her talk and our conversation after highlighted the critical intersection between employee wellbeing and organizational success." 

The events also featured inspiring keynote sessions such as Lead with Courage with Margie Warrell, who challenged women to lead from conviction rather than self-doubt, and Revered: The Power of Female Leadership with Jamie Moraga, which offered a look at the resilience and grit required to lead at the highest levels. 

The week concluded with a networking happy hour in the garden of the Rancho Bernardo Inn, where attendees continued meaningful conversations sparked by the day’s sessions. Knauss was honored to contribute thought leadership, campus representation and community engagement to a week dedicated to advancing women’s leadership across San Diego.