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September 25, 2025 // New Orleans

WHAT IS IRIS?

The IRIS Conference—formerly known as OWIB—is a dedicated daylong event held just before the ROMBA Conference. Named after Iris, the Greek mythological figure who embodies the rainbow and moves fluidly between worlds, the conference is designed to uplift and connect women, transgender, gender non-conforming individuals, and allies within the business community. IRIS creates a welcoming space that encourages authentic connection, support, and visibility, offering attendees the chance to build a strong network that extends beyond shared identities. This year’s conference includes powerful speakers, educational panels, and networking opportunities with fellow attendees and corporate partners committed to building inclusive workplace communities. By bringing together MBA students and professionals, IRIS fosters relationships that not only enhance the ROMBA experience but also continue to grow long after the conference concludes.

Corporate Partners

Thanks to our IRIS partners for their loyal support. To learn more about IRIS partnerships, click the link below and go to pages 32-34

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2025 Agenda

8:30 am Duration 30 min

Check-in & Breakfast

Welcome to the 2025 IRIS Conference! Attendees will hear from the Reaching Out MBA Team about the day’s events.

9:00 am Duration 30 min

Perspectives

IRIS Perspectives invites individuals to take the stage and share powerful, deeply personal stories that reflect the complexity and richness of their lived experiences. From moments of self-discovery and career-defining risks to unexpected paths to business school and the impact of meaningful work, each talk offers a unique lens into the lives of LGBTQ+ leaders and change-makers. Join us for a moving session that uplifts bold voices, sparks reflection, and honors the vibrant diversity of our community.

9:30 am Duration 60 min

Rooted Leadership: Navigating Inclusion in a Changing World

In today’s complex and fast-changing environment, efforts to advance equity and inclusion can feel increasingly fragile. Yet this moment calls for bold authenticity, creative resilience, and values-driven leadership more than ever. This session will explore how leaders can stay grounded in their values, foster collective care, and build inclusive communities that thrive even in the face of uncertainty. Attendees will enjoy a dynamic panel discussion and an audience Q&A session. Speakers will share their lived experiences, practical tools, and strategies for creating a meaningful and lasting impact—while leading with purpose and integrity.

10:45 am Duration 60 min

Keynote: Mercury Stardust

We’re excited to share that Mercury Stardust (she/they) will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2025 IRIS Conference.

Known widely as the Trans Handy Ma’am, Mercury is a Professional Home Maintenance Technician, performer, and award-winning activist. With a community of over 2.5 million followers on TikTok and 750,000 on Instagram, Mercury has built a movement rooted in compassion and empowerment—showing that home repair can be accessible for everyone.

Her expertise ranges from drywall and painting to rental maintenance and landlord negotiations, and her advocacy has made her a powerful voice for inclusion and education.

12:00 pm Duration 50 min

Lunch

12:50 pm Duration 60 min

Pitch, Power, & Presence: Finding Your Strongest Voice

This session is designed for gender-diverse professionals who want to find, strengthen, and amplify their voice. Our panel of experts will share how they’ve navigated moments of visibility, communication challenges, and the art of being heard throughout their careers. Following the panel, attendees will break into small-group workshops with each expert, gaining practical tools and personalized guidance to help them speak with clarity, express themselves with confidence, and command presence in any room.

2:00 pm Duration 40 min

Double Click: Where Your Curiosity Leads the Conversation

Have you ever been in a conversation unsure of what to say, or felt like you weren’t being heard in a large group setting? This session will help you tap into your natural curiosity and active listening skills to spark more authentic, engaging conversations. Through a guided networking activity and reflection, you’ll learn how to confidently ask more profound questions, tell your story, and connect in ways beyond surface-level networking. Whether you’re preparing for ROMBA or any professional setting, this session will help you show up as your most interesting, thoughtful self.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When and where is this year's IRIS Conference?

The 2025 IRIS Conference will take place on Thursday, September 25th, as a lead-in to the ROMBA Conference. It will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, located at Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

What is the agenda for IRIS?

Programming for the IRIS Conference will take place on Thursday, September 25th, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. More details on the agenda coming soon!

Can I attend both the IRIS Conference and the ROMBA Conference?

For anyone who identifies as a woman, trans, NB/GNC, or ally, and plans to attend ROMBA, we encourage you to consider attending IRIS as a prelude to ROMBA. 

Registrants will get a 20% discount when they register for both conferences.

What is the cost to attend the conference?

We have three ticket categories set at various price points, with price increases following the August 21st and September 14th deadlines. You can find more information about our ticket prices in the table below. Registrants will get a 20% discount when they register for both IRIS and ROMBA conferences. Details in the second table below.

 

Early Bird Pricing

(Until August 21)

 Regular Pricing

(Until September 14)

 Last Minute Pricing
Current Students $75 $100 $125
Professionals $150 $200 $250
Corporate Partners $200 $250 $300

 

IRIS + ROMBA BUNDLE PRICING:

Early Bird Pricing

(Until August 21)

 Regular Pricing

(Until September 14)

 Last Minute Pricing
Current Students $360 $430 $550
Professionals $470 $620 $750
Corporate Partners $1160 $1450 $1740

What meals will be provided to attendees during the conference?

Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.

What are ROMBA's current health and safety protocols?

For information on our current health & safety policies, please visit this page.

How can my company learn more about partnership opportunities?

You can learn more about corporate partnership opportunities on our Become a Partner page.

Can allies attend the IRIS Conference?

At Reaching Out MBA, we’ve always embraced the power of allyship—and that commitment remains strong. Allies are always welcome at our events and programs and your presence can help strengthen the impact of our mission. In fact, ROMBA intentionally includes allies in our definition of LGBTQ+. Reaching Out MBA uses the “+” as part of LGBTQ to intentionally embrace all individuals who are working towards building communities of inclusion, respect, and belonging, including allies of the LGBTQ community and those who are not fully represented by the letters LGBTQ.

What is the conference attire?

The recommended ROMBA Conference attire is “business casual authentic” – you are welcome to wear whatever business casual clothing is the most authentic to your identity. Jeans are fine, and suits/blazers certainly aren’t required.

Is there financial assistance to help with travel for current students?

Applications to the James Robertson LGBTQ+ Student Access Fund are now open and are reviewed on a rolling basis. You can apply here.

Thanks to the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the LGBTQ+ James Robertson Student Access Fund enables LGBTQ+ MBA students to attend Reaching Out events, helping them grow as leaders. We invite students to apply for funds when covering the cost of travel would provide a financial burden. We have also created this support letter to help those seeking financial support from their school or employer to attend the Conference. 

We ask that students capable of personally covering travel costs and those that receive funding from their school or LGBTQ+ Club reconsider applying. This allows us to provide funding to more students that otherwise would not be able to participate.

I can no longer attend the conference, and I need to cancel my registration. What should I do?

If you’ve only registered for IRIS, ticket refunds, minus the $10 processing fee, will be available by request (at info@reachingoutmba.org) until Friday August 29th, 2025. Please include REFUND REQUEST as the email title.

After that, any canceled/forfeited fees will be considered a donation to the ongoing work of Reaching Out MBA.

 

If you’ve registered for both IRIS and ROMBA, ticket refunds, minus the $50 processing fee, will be available by request (at info@reachingoutmba.org) until Friday August 29th, 2025. Please include REFUND REQUEST as the email title.

After that, any canceled/forfeited fees will be considered a donation to the ongoing work of Reaching Out MBA.