2016 WLP Fall Symposium Program

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
The Art of Talking About Yourself
University Club
Whether you are trying to ace a job interview, sign a new client or land a promotion, it is critical to sell yourself.
Professionals often fall into the trap of regurgitating bullets about their past jobs instead of sharing the value
they can offer as a result of their experiences. Bringing together a diverse group of powerhouse women, this
interactive session will share best practices and lessons learned from experts around branding, talking about
yourself and selling yourself.
Lauren Key
Vice President of Marketing, Florida Hospital West Florida Region
MODERATOR
Lauren Key is a healthcare marketing and business executive with more than 25 years of experience
in public, private, venture-stage and not-for-profit companies including Florida Hospital, Eli Lilly
& Company, Gillette/Braun/Thermoscan, Quidel, Discus Dental, Intelident Solutions and Coast
Dental. Her extensive healthcare industry experience includes hospitals, physician practices,
multi-location corporate dental practices, dental labs, dental products, practice management
software, medical devices, point-of-care and in-vitro diagnostic testing, medical education and
pharmaceuticals. Lauren’s background and expertise includes corporate turnarounds, mergers
and acquisitions, strategic marketing planning, launching new business enterprises, developing
new product lines, driving revenue streams, managing strategic partnerships, public relations,
crisis communications, and creating brand strategies and integrated marketing communications.
She also has demonstrated success in building and leading effective and collaborative marketing
organizations to get results. Key earned a bachelor of business administration degree with honors
from the University of Oklahoma and completed executive coursework at the Harvard Business
School in strategic marketing management. An active member of WLP, she has also served as a
Board Member for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce since 2013 and is currently serving on
the Executive Committee as co-chair of the Marketing Committee. Lauren is married and has lived in
Tampa since 2003.
Claire Lessinger
Director of Special Events, Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Claire Lessinger joined the Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) as the sales and events manager.
In October of 2015, Claire was promoted to director of special events. The TBSC is a private, nonprofit,
501c3, charitable corporation that serves the entire Tampa Bay area as the lead organization
for bidding on and hosting premiere sports and entertainment events. Lessinger and the TBSC are
responsible for driving economic and social impact by identifying, bidding on, and ultimately hosting
sporting and entertainment events in Tampa Bay. Most recently Tampa Bay hosted the 2016 Men’s
Frozen Four, 2015 NCAA D.II Women’s Volleyball Championship and the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final
Four where Lessinger served as the Tournament Manager for all three. As the event’s point guard,
Lessinger was the liaison to the NCAA staff and managed day-to-day operations for the Tampa
Bay Local Organizing Committee (TBLOC). Now, Lessinger and the TBLOC are preparing to host the
first College Football Playoff National Championship in the Southeast at Raymond James Stadium
on January 9th, 2017. Lessinger spent eight years as the University of South Florida head volleyball
coach, and she remains engaged with USF as an active member in WLP, serving as the leader for
the inaugural WISE student initiative. She graduated from UF in 1997 with a bachelor of science
degree in exercise and sports science with a concentration in sports management. Claire and her
husband Mike reside in Tampa with their two sons Tyler and Tanner.
26 #USFWLP • 11 TH ANNUAL WLP FALL SYMPOSIUM