At the Netflix welcome reception for the Sistas in Sales Summit, jazz filled the lounge. Women gathered over caviar bumps and conversation, greeting old friends and making introductions that quickly went beyond names and job titles. Over 600 women, representing more than 300 companies, had come to New York City with different goals and experiences, but a shared reason for being there: to show up for one another.
It was a beautiful evening. It also revealed the heart of what Chantel George has built.
George founded Sistas in Sales in 2018 after seeing how many talented women of color were building careers in sales without enough access to mentorship, practical guidance, or a community that understood their experience. She knew the industry firsthand, having worked in tech sales and led teams. She set out to create a place where women could find support and help open doors for one another.
That mission feels especially urgent now. Layoffs have disrupted the careers and financial security of many Black women. In a moment when it can be difficult to know where to turn next, Sistas in Sales offers a place to gather, regain momentum, and share resources. Women can speak openly about what they are navigating, exchange introductions, learn new skills, and help one another see a path forward. A difficult chapter does not have to be faced alone. Sometimes the next opportunity begins with the woman sitting beside you.
Learning for the next chapter
This year’s summit gave that community a practical purpose. Across three stages, attendees could move between big conversations about the future of sales, interactive sessions, and hands-on training. Chantel opened the day by examining how the profession is changing and what women need to build for the next phase of their careers.
The program met the current moment directly. Attendees could learn to use AI for research, prospecting, and follow-up. In a session led by Sybill CEO Gorish Aggarwal, participants were guided through building an AI agent to handle a real part of their sales pipeline. Another training focused on creating an agent to prepare for a live negotiation, whether that meant a client renewal, a pricing conversation, or a discussion about compensation.
There were equally important lessons about the skills that bring people and opportunities together. Sessions explored how to make your work visible to decision-makers, navigate a career pivot, turn expertise into influence, and identify the relationships that can open new doors. Conversations about sports, advertising, and complex sales showed how many paths a career in revenue can take.
What made the agenda compelling was its usefulness. You could arrive needing a new skill, a new role, a stronger network, or simply a clearer sense of what to do next. The summit gave women room to work on those questions together.
The conversations between the sessions
I had the opportunity to moderate a main-stage conversation about how the advertising playbook is changing and what that means for sellers. We explored how to turn information into insight, build stronger account plans, and deepen the client relationships that depend on trust and judgment.
I also kept thinking about the conversations happening offstage. An introduction over lunch can lead to advice you needed to hear. A candid exchange with someone who has made a career change can make your own next step feel possible. A new connection can become a mentor, a collaborator, or the person who remembers your name when an opportunity arises.
Chantel has created the conditions for those moments. She understands the value of seeing someone who shares your experience succeed and of having access to people willing to share what they have learned. She has spoken about the responsibility she felt as a Black woman managing a sales team, particularly for colleagues who had rarely seen a Black woman in that position of authority.
Sistas in Sales carries that understanding into every room it creates. The welcome reception gave women space to celebrate. The summit gave them tools to practice and questions to consider. Throughout it all, the community gave them people to turn to after the event ended.
More than a moment
As a founder, I know how much intention it takes to bring people together in a way that matters. The details of an event shape how welcome people feel and how easily they connect. But its lasting value comes from what they can do with the experience once they leave.
A woman could walk out of the Sistas in Sales Summit with a working AI tool, a sharper way to describe her value, and the number of someone who offered to help. For someone rebuilding after a layoff or preparing for her next move, each of those things can matter.
Chantel George built a community around a need she understood personally. At this year’s summit, I saw how that vision continues to grow: women showing up with their talent, questions, and generosity, then making room for the next woman to move forward too.
