Sara Salazar, founder and brand strategist at Las Vegas-based distributor BrandRave Marketing, and Kash Herbert, director of global product development and quality assurance at S&S, PPAI 100’s No. 2 supplier, were selected as this year’s recipients of the WLC First-Time Attendee Scholarship.
Funded by money raised at WLC 2025, the scholarship covered registration, lodging and up to a $500 flight reimbursement for each recipient. At this year’s Women’s Leadership Conference, held in Milwaukee, both Salazar and Herbert say the experience offered exactly what the scholarship was intended to provide: access to professional development, leadership education and a community of women across the branded merchandise industry.
ICYMI: Women In Merch Find Inspiration, Education & Connection At WLC
‘Phenomenal Experience’
For Salazar, WLC stood out because of the way it balanced practical business education with intentional opportunities for connection. She says every session offered something useful, from leadership perspective to business advice, but the moments between sessions were just as valuable.
“One of my favorite parts of the conference was how intentional PPAI was about creating opportunities for us to connect,” Salazar says, pointing to the dine-around dinner experience and mini networking sessions as examples. “I left WLC feeling inspired, re-energized and with pages of notes that I’m already putting into practice.”
Sara Salazar
Founder & Brand Strategist, BrandRave Marketing
Herbert describes the conference as “a phenomenal experience” and says she appreciated being welcomed by the community as both a first-time attendee and a scholarship winner. The mix of timely topics, strong speakers and shared experiences with women leaders across the industry made the event especially meaningful.
Navigating AI And The Unknown
Both recipients say AI was among the themes they’re most eager to discuss with their teams. Salazar cites Sarah Baldeo’s session on AI as one of her biggest takeaways, particularly the message that AI shouldn’t replace the relationships, creativity and strategic thinking that define the branded merchandise industry.
“AI isn’t here to replace people in the promotional products industry,” Salazar says. “It’s here to help us become better at what we do.”
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Herbert says she has already begun sharing insights with her team and plans to pass along book recommendations and lessons from the conference. Among the ideas that resonated with her were making AI an administrative aid, using AI safely, creating a personal narrative, showing up authentically and building a personal board of directors.
‘Lifting Others Up’
The scholarship recipients also emphasize the importance of in-person connection, especially for professionals who work remotely.
“Building community with multi-generational leaders and people from various backgrounds and views, who are all facing similar challenges, gave good insights and encouragement to keep striving,” says Herbert, who donated to next year’s scholarship fund and plans to advocate for including WLC in future budgets whenever possible.
Kash Herbert
Director of Global Product Development & QA, S&S
Salazar says WLC reminded her that leadership doesn’t require having all the answers, but rather a willingness to keep learning, growing and lifting others up. Furthermore, the experience reinforced her optimism about the future of the industry and the women helping shape it.
“Whether you’re just starting your career or have been in the industry for decades, WLC has something to offer,” Salazar says. “You’ll leave with new ideas, meaningful connections and a reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about continuing to learn, grow and lift others up along the way.”
