KNOW Your Worth: Women in Leadership Panel Inspires Confidence, Courage, and Connection

Overland Park, Kansas, October 9, 2025 – Kompass Kapital’s women’s group, KNOW, hosted their first leadership panel, inviting women from Airshare, Dynamic Logistix, Kompass Kapital, and Moonshot Solutions to spend a morning building connections, sharing insights, and renewing their confidence.

The KNOW Your Worth: Women in Leadership panel brought together four powerhouse leaders in the Kansas City community for an inspiring conversation on confidence, technology, and authentic leadership:

  • Katie Ervin, CEO at Catalyst Development.
  • Whitney Bartelli, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Community America Credit Union
  • Erica Brune, CEO at Lever1
  • Jennifer Hannah, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Forvis Marzars

Keynote speaker, Dr. Ervin, set the tone for the event with a powerful opening message: shift from apology to ownership. She shared how some women tend to shrink themselves in the workplace. They worry about being too much, about sharing their opinions, or about bringing their authentic selves to work, believing that doing so will diminish their impact as a leader. She emphasized the importance of being true to yourself and reminded attendees that confidence is a skill, not a trait.

This theme carried over into the leadership panel, moderated by Dr. Ervin, and featured questions from KNOW members.

When asked what would matter most in the next decade, all three panelists pointed to artificial intelligence as both a tool and a challenge. Bartelli encouraged women to leverage AI to create more opportunities for critical thinking and reminded everyone that “there’s no replacement for the human mind.” Brune echoed the sentiment, highlighting that technology can’t replicate your ability to persuade or empathize with others, while Hannah reframed AI as a tool to work smarter and more strategically.

Each leader shared the values guiding their careers. Hannah stated that “you learned everything you need to know in kindergarten,” like getting along with others, being yourself, and being eager to learn at every opportunity. Bartelli shared the importance of self-awareness and confidence, while Brune reminded the audience that ego is the enemy and how active listening builds trust.

On leadership and approachability, the consensus was clear – authenticity matters. Brune emphasized that getting to know others is equally important as producing quality work. Bartelli added that emotional intelligence is the foundation of leadership, while Hannah stressed that humility and a willingness to learn earn respect among peers.

The panelists were especially energized about the future of women in leadership. Hannah celebrated the drive of younger generations, saying, “The only person I want to outshine me is my daughter.” Bartelli encouraged everyone to gather “a table of experts” and offer a helpful hand to women wanting to step into executive roles. Brune stressed the importance of diverse perspectives and allies who lift women up.

On managing career and family, they all agreed, balance doesn’t exist. Hannah said, “You can’t have it all, all the time,” but grace comes with purpose. Brune championed women who unapologetically pursue their careers. Bartelli reminded working mothers that there will be days when they’re worn thin, but modeling resilience for their children will pay off.

Their networking and lifelong learning advice was practical and empowering: be yourself, sit with people you don’t know, take notes, and follow up personally. Seek out mentors who have the career you aspire to and learn from everyone.

As the session closed, each woman reflected on her current season of leadership. Hannah is focused on abundance, Bartelli on embracing change, and Brune summed it up best: “The future is female.”

Kompass Network Of Women (KNOW) is a leadership group aimed at empowering and uniting women under Kompass Kapital’s umbrella of affiliated companies, industries, and community. They seek to build connections, foster mentorship, and promote leadership development through networking initiatives. Check out kompassknow.com for upcoming events and its periodical newsletter.