If there is one event in the medical aesthetics industry that stands apart as the “who’s who” gathering of leaders, visionaries, and trailblazers, it’s the Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC). In 2025, WALC once again solidified its reputation as the ultimate gathering for women shaping the future of medical aesthetics, drawing not only the field’s top names but also its most promising up-and-comers. 

Held from October 3-5 at the breathtaking Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, this year’s conference married luxury with legacy, offering unforgettable opportunities for inspiration, celebration, and—most of all—connection.

 

The Ultimate Networking Arena for Movers and Shakers

WALC 2025 was about more than education. It was about access and empowerment. Nowhere was the myth of competitive isolation more thoroughly debunked than here, where sharing a breakfast table could mean finding a new mentor, business partner, or lifelong friend. 

The hallways buzzed with informal conversations in which real connections were forged, and social events provided the perfect backdrop for pitch-perfect networking. 

 

 

Learning On-stage and Off

Leaders like Jamie Kern Lima (founder of IT Cosmetics), Jane Wurwand (co-founder, Dermalogica), and industry influencer Cy Wakeman were not separated behind velvet ropes; instead, they mingled freely, offered candid advice, and listened deeply to the next generation of changemakers.

Attendees listened to luminaries like Shelby Miller, FNP-C; Erika Barry, NP-C; Amy Lynn Birkenstamm, RN; Carrie Galpin and Nicole Katz speak about Owning Success Without Shrinking, and then had the chance to immediately meet with them in person, face-to-face.

 

 

Once Amanda Holden, MD, Taylor Siemnes, FNP-C, Robin Ntoh and Terri Ross stepped off stage from the People Puzzle panel, the walked right into a crowd of peers eager to make deeper connections.

 

 

Each workshop, each break, each meal was a rare opportunity for practitioners at the top of their game to share knowledge and commiserate with each other and draw inspiration from the best of the best.

The real magic of WALC was in these moments. A spontaneous chat at lunch that led to a collaboration idea, a morning walk with peers who would become accountability partners, or sharing wisdom during Q&A after panel sessions. Attendees left not only with new contacts in their phones but with doors opening to new business opportunities, mentorship relationships, and industry collaborations.

 

Advancing the Industry Together

Industry support was strong as well as brands embraced empowering women leaders and moving medical aesthetics in a positive direction. WALC attendees were the first to meet Nicole Mowad-Nassar, new President of Global Aesthetics for Allergan Aesthetics, as she held a fireside chat with AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch, JD, on the future of the industry. 

Brittany Croasdell, FNP-NC and Allergan’s Michelle Hinds spoke on customer sentiment regarding HA filler, and how practitioners can better encourage patients to take that first step to the treatment chair.

Ryann Lavenia, APRN, shared her growth story along with Skytale’s Judy Kozlicki, outlining from personal history what it takes to scale and lead a business.

 

Distinguished Women Honors Dinner: A Night of Inspiration

Though every WALC experience is impactful, one event stood out as the crowning jewel: the Distinguished Women Honors Dinner, sponsored by Merz Aesthetics. This elegant dinner honored 25 visionary women as the Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics 2025, each one chosen for her outstanding leadership, innovation, and service.

 

The 2025 Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics include:

• Traci Andreason, FNP-C, Owner/CEO, Rise Rejuvenation Center

• Sheila  Barbarino, MD, CEO, Barbarino Surgical Arts

• Brooke Bentley, FNP-BC, Owner, Bentley Medical and Aesthetics

• Tracy Blusewicz, MD, FACOG, Director and Founder, Aspire Medical Spa / Advanced Women's Care Medical

• Bobbi Bullock, NP-C, Owner, Bobbi Bullock Medical Esthetics

• Georgia Cirese, RN, Founder, Georgous Aesthetic Bar

• Michelle Doran, APRN-BC, Owner, RN Esthetics

• Yan Duan, FNP, Founder and CEO, Renew Aesthetic & Laser Clinic

• Sonya  Ellis, RN, CPSN, Co-owner, Lead Nurse Injector, the L.A.B. Med Spa

• Leslie   Fletcher, NP-BC, President, Injectability Clinic and Institute

• S. Alexis Gordon, MD, FACS, CEO, Renew MD Medical Spa & Aesthetics

• Brandi Gregge, FNP-BC, Founder, Mint & Needle

• Cheryl Haseeb, FNP, DNP, Owner, Pura Medical Aesthetics

• Amanda Hopper, Med Spa Director, The AH Method/St George Med Spa, Founder and CEO, St George Med Spa

• Ryann  Lavenia, CRNA, APRN, Founder and CEO, Face It Botox Bar

• Tanya Lawson, ND, Founder and Medical Director, Inbloom Health + Medispa

• Jennifer Linder, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Linder Health

• Shelby Miller, NP-BC, Founder, RUMA Medical

• Erica Oakes, RN, CANS, Founder, Culture Aesthetics & Wellness

• Vrinkley Pruna, NP, Clinical Director, SHAPE & SKIN Medical Spa & Weight Loss

• Erika Smith, PA-C, Director, Spa 3:16

• Andrea Thayer, NP-BC, Founder and Owner, Exclusive Med Aesthetics & Hair Restoration

• Jennifer Walden, MD, Owner, Dr. Jennifer Walden Aesthetic Plastic Surgery/The Medspa Austin

• Sharonda Walton, ANP-BC, Owner, Royalty Wellness Spa

• Chakika Williams, FNP-BC, CEO and Founder, SkyRose Rejuvenation Clinic & Spa 

 

Their stories illustrated the many paths to success in medical aesthetics and the countless ways feminine strength shapes the industry. More than just an awards dinner, it was an evening of camaraderie, encouragement, and the kind of celebration that affirms every woman’s unique contribution. For many, the dinner was a transformative highlight—an inspiring reminder that leadership takes many forms, and that together, women in aesthetics are creating a future defined by collaboration and courage.

 

 

Beyond the Stage

Complementing these keynotes were curated breakout sessions and interactive workshops covering everything from leadership in clinical practice to the power of personal branding and wellness. Wellness activities—puppy yoga on the bluffs, mindful meditation, and ocean-view networking breakfasts—ensured everyone left both recharged and refocused.

For many, what happens at WALC doesn’t stay at WALC—it radiates back into practices, businesses, and professional communities, fueling innovation and uplifting women across the wider industry.

For any woman in medical aesthetics seeking to expand her network, learn from the best, and step into her own story of leadership, WALC remains the industry’s essential destination.