“If you wait for fear to subside, you’re going to be on the sidelines for a very long time,” Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” told a sold-out audience of 8,000 at the 11th annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women. “It’s important to fight the battle in front of you.”

The conference was presented by Beneficial Bank and its foundation, with sponsorship from many local businesses including: AmerisourceBergen, Johnson & Johnson, QVC, Tierney, Acme Markets, Amtrak, Comcast, Philadelphia Magazine and WPVI-TV 6abc.

Roberts spoke about her recovery from two serious illnesses and the death of her mother, chronicled in her new book, Everybody’s Got Something – as well as her lifelong reliance on faith, family and friends. Roberts also reacted to recent controversial comments by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella regarding women waiting to ask for raises. “I spoke up,” said Roberts. “I didn’t just sit at my desk waiting for karma.”

The conference, themed “The Power of Us,” gave the microphone to more than 100 speakers for a day of inspiration, reinvention and networking. Topics included leadership, career advancement, money management, health and wellness, small business and entrepreneurship, social media and branding.

Legendary actress and author Diane Keaton; Jill Abramson, the first female executive editor of the New York Times; former “Today” co-host and “Dateline NBC” anchor Jane Pauley; and Candy Chang, creator of the “Before I Die” art project were also speakers.

“Today’s conference once again showed us that remarkable things happen when thousands of women come together to be educated, inspired and empowered,” said Leslie Stiles, conference president.

More information and resources are here:  www.paconferenceforwomen.org

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Top Photo Cred: @denisejames