A grassroots leadership event designed for women from an array of professional backgrounds is returning to Cleveland later this month.

The Women’s Leadership Conference of Northeast Ohio, founded by Hinckley resident Robin Doerschuk, takes place October 27 at the Intercontinental Hotel. Doerschuk expects 400 to 500 attendees representing a multitude of industries and titles.

Diversity is what sets the conference apart from other professional women's events tied to awards or upper-level management, notes Doerschuk, who is by day the director of learning and development at Alliance Solutions Group in Independence.

The proof is in the conference's speaker list: Doerschuk invited a dozen influential female speakers from industries including STEM, marketing, government, finance and education.

"If you have a STEM background, I have somebody from Lubrizol speaking," Doerschuk says. "Or if you're from a nonprofit, I have a doctor focused on women's healthcare. Entrepreneurs will be on hand, too."

Gathering a cross-section of women from entry-level to c-suite aims to "empower, educate and inspire" all involved. Keynote speakers and breakout sessions will cover women's health, entrepreneurial leadership, marketing and other topics relevant to the modern businesswoman.

Doerschuk has seen the event's impact herself, pointing to an audience member at last year's inaugural event who formed a business relationship with a speaker. Then there were the two former classmates who reconnected at a breakout session and are now working together.

"For me, this is an opportunity to get hundreds of women linked up and networking," says Doerschuk. "It's a deeper dive of support that results in a relationship after the conference."

Last year's meeting drew 350 women to Landerhaven, having enough of an influence that Doerschuk switched venues this year with assistance from a team of volunteers.

"We created the conference to retain top female talent and create networks for women," says Doerschuk. "To see it grow means what we're doing has value."

The conference founder recognized a need for a built-in support system of women upon joining the professional ranks a decade ago. Her brainchild's networking and education focus could extend next to college students readying themselves for a competitive employment market.

"If this conference existed when I was 24, I'd be further along in my career than I am now," says Doerschuk. "I've had women approach me and say this is something they've needed for a long time."