Empowering Women in Leadership at the 6th Women in Business Conference

The EnviTrace team recently attended the 6th Women in Business Conference hosted by SCORE Mentors, a powerful gathering focused on women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and community impact. For our CEO Tracy Kliphuis and Director of Operations Torey Renee, the event offered a rare chance to step out of the tech industry and into a space centered on women-centric connection, learning, and authentic support.

Women in business still face systemic barriers: access to capital, mentorship networks, representation in leadership, and the expectation to "prove" themselves in ways their male counterparts often don't. Conferences like SCORE's Women in Business Conference exist to address these gaps; not through platitudes, but through real mentorship, peer networks, and shared experience.

What made this event stand out wasn't just the content, it was the intentionality behind it. SCORE brings together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and mentors in a deliberately supportive environment. There's no competition, no "proving ground." Instead, there's collaboration, vulnerability, and genuine investment in each other's success.

Highlights

Throughout the day, speakers highlighted themes that deeply align with EnviTrace’s values:

• The importance of mentorship and knowledge sharing

• Building strong networks for women entrepreneurs

• Community leadership as a foundation for business success

• Increasing visibility and opportunities for women in STEM, tech, and other industries which are historically male-dominated

Being surrounded by women leaders, innovators, creators, and small business owners was both refreshing and motivating. The stories from the speakers and people we met reinforced why supporting women in business is critical for local economic development and for driving innovation across sectors, including technology and environmental science.

What We Learned at SCORE

The conference sessions ranged from financing and marketing to leadership presence and work-life integration. But the most valuable moments often happened in the hallways and during breaks (or touring the historic and unique corners of the Scottish Rite Temple!) - conversations between founders, CEOs, and mentors who shared experiences of resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to build something from nothing.

Some recurring themes:

• Access to capital remains a real barrier: Women founders receive less VC funding than their male counterparts, even when controlling for industry and performance.

• Imposter syndrome is universal: Even successful, accomplished women question whether they belong in the room.

• The "motherhood penalty" is real: Women in business still navigate expectations and biases around family and caregiving that men rarely face.

• Community matters more than individual achievement: The most resilient leaders are embedded in networks of support, not going at it alone. Networking is invaluable.

EnviTrace's Commitment to Women in Leadership

The energy transition (and the innovation required to achieve it) needs women in leadership. Geoscience, engineering, data science, and climate tech all benefit from diverse teams. And companies that build inclusive cultures outperform those that don't.

At EnviTrace, we're committed to:

• Building an inclusive workplace where all women and underrepresented groups feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best work.
• Mentoring the next generation within our organization and in the broader energy and tech communities.
• Speaking up: Sharing our story, our challenges, and our learnings in forums like the Women in Business Conference.
• Supporting other women founders and leaders; because a rising tide lifts all boats.

Looking Forward

Events like the 6th Women in Business Conference hosted by SCORE Mentors remind us that the work of building equitable, inclusive organizations is ongoing. It requires intentionality, vulnerability, and commitment. But it also reminds us that we're not alone. There's an entire community of women in leadership navigating these challenges, learning from each other, and creating change.

To the women in business everywhere: your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And the networks and communities you build are essential to your success and to the success of the companies and causes you care about.

Thank you to SCORE Mentors for creating a space where women can show up authentically, learn together, and build the future.

We are grateful to the speakers, panelists, and organizers who made the conference meaningful, including Kim White, Victoria Price, Jen Sincero, Aurora Escobedo, Madeleine Wright, Ph.D., Lea Ann Knight, Franziska Neumann, Monica Poling, Kiana Estevez, EJ Wych, and the Santa Fe Small Business Navigator team.

Learn more about EnviTrace:

• Visit EnviTrace.com
• Meet our team and leadership
• Get in touch: contact@envitrace.com