While Iowa Women Lead Change vocalized its intent at this year’s Central Iowa Conference to use 2018 as a platform to bring more men into the women’s leadership conversation, the theme for the organization’s five 2018 conferences will reinforce this commitment.

IWLC recently announced the theme for the events held in Des Moines, Sioux City, Dubuque, Coralville and the Quad Cities. The theme — Iowa Women (and Men) Lead Change — not only exemplifies IWLC’s current mission, but recognizes the importance of involving men.

“The mission of IWLC isn’t changing,” Tiffany O’Donnell, CEO of Iowa Women Lead Change, said in a release. “IWLC conferences will continue to recognize the benefits of empowering, inspiring and educating female leaders across the state, but we must not only invite male allies into the conversation, but encourage it.”

Throughout the past 10 years, IWLC has worked to involve men by including specialized men’s tracks as well as a CEO forum at many of its leadership conferences. While these events typically welcome men at high levels of leadership, IWLC will specifically work to engage male allies on a wider scale in 2018.

IWLC also plans to add “best practices” programming for men, designed to empower leaders at all levels, according to the release.

“Recent events in the news and beyond have underscored the importance of a flowing communications channel between the genders,” O’Donnell said. “Engaging male allies is key to creating opportunity for women in leadership roles on the job and in the boardroom.”