Venture Conference for Women's Leadership
The Elizabeth Elting Foundation Venture Conference for Women's Leadership (Venture) is a three-day conference for incoming female students.
The program was established in 2013 by a Trinity College planning committee led by history professor Joan Hedric and originally called Venture Trinity. It was later named for Trinity College alumna and Board member, Elizabeth Elting '87, a philanthropist and entrepreneur. The conference serves as a pre-orientation program for those who seek to broaden their leadership skills while making connections with peers, upper year students, alumnae, faculty, and administration. The program includes panel discussions, networking opportunities, team-building exercises, and personal strength assessments. Serving as an introduction to the collegiate experience, the Venture Conference is a way for new first-year students to meet others before the academic year begins.
Venture is organized and administered by a small group of women faculty, administrators, and coaches with diverse backgrounds and leadership experiences. In addition, previous years' attendees are invited to return first as Mentors, and again as Senior Mentors, to gain further leadership experience by helping to run the program. Venture accepts up to 30 students through an application process. No previous leadership experience is required.