You’ve worked hard. You’ve sacrificed. You’ve built a business you are proud of. Now it’s time to stop wearing all of those “in the business” hats and started working “on the business”. Whether you have a storefront, an office building, or work from your dining room table, every woman business owner will get value out of this panel of inspiring women business leaders.

Meet the Panelist 

Senator Sydney Batch

Senator Sydney Batch is a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and social worker. She has made it her life’s work to support North Carolina families in need and extend opportunities to all. She was elected to the NC House representing Wake County in 2018 and was later appointed to fill a seat in the NC Senate in 2021. During her time in the legislature, Sen. Batch has continuously served as an advocate for families and small businesses. Sen. Batch is the founder of a family law firm where she practices with her husband. She resides in Wake County with her husband and two sons.

Sharon Hill

Sharon A. Hill, author, speaker and MBA spent more than 20 years as a development and marketing manager at Fortune 500 giant IBM.

She is the president of Sharon Hill International which is her motivational and educational speaking business. Sharon is a certified etiquette trainer, trained by the American Business Etiquette Trainers Association.

Combining her passion for business etiquette, diversity in the workplace and her MBA research on Organizational Behavior, Sharon is recognized as an authority on American business etiquette for companies, universities, groups, associations and individuals.

Sharon has served on several Boards of Directors including:

• 2013-2015 Board of Directors President for Big Brothers Big Sisters – Raleigh Chapter
• 2013-2014 Past President for the National Association of Women Business Owners- Raleigh Chapter.  
• 2013-2015 Toastmasters International Director
• 2017 – Present – Goodwill Community Foundation Member
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She was recently appointed as a member of the Orange County Economic Development Advisory Board.

Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce named Sharon Hill as the 2016 Woman Business Owner of the Year.

Sharon is the author of five books that focus on etiquette, succeeding in college and corporate America.   She has been heard on numerous radio programs throughout the country.

She is married to her husband and soul mate, Elmer Hill, and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Laura Yamanaka

LAURA YAMANAKA, is President and one of the founders of teamCFO Inc., a financial and accounting firm offering onsite customized CFO/Controller services on an as-needed basis to businesses and nonprofits. teamCFO was founded in 2000 to improve performance and support the growth of the private business community. Today, teamCFO has a dynamic group of professionals focusing on both growth issues and turnaround operations for its clients. Serving both the for-profit and non-profit communities, teamCFO is a well-known resource in the Southern California area. Since its inception in 2000, teamCFO has received several regional and national awards including the Asian Business Leadership Award by Wells Fargo/US Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and the Women in Business and Accountant Advocate Award by the SBA. Laura’s support of the community it demonstrated by service on the following boards: National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) – advises the SBA, the President and Congress. Currently serves as Chair of the Research and Policy Committee. National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – National Board service as Chairperson, Past Chair and Treasurer – Represents all women business owners (WBO) and is the largest WBO membership organization in the United States Center for American Entrepreneurship – National Board – Dedicated to educating and engaging with policy makers regarding the critical role that small business plays in the US ecosystem. Current service as Founding Member and Treasurer. BizFed – Educating, engaging and mobilizing existing advocacy groups, businesses, trade groups and economic organization throughout Los Angeles County and beyond. Currently serves as Co-Chair of the Business Diversity Committee. Prior board roles include service as Chairperson, Treasurer for National Association of Women Business Owners – Los Angeles Chapter, Education Institute, Santa Clarita Valley Resource Center, and other organizations focused on financial literacy, women and girls education and economic improvement. Laura has over 30 years’ experience in a larger variety of financial service companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers where she rose to the position of Manager and work with Royal Dutch Shell(Pennzoil/Quaker State/Heritage Insurance), GE Capital, and Zenith Insurance Group where she held various management positions, including Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Manager and Vice-President – Operations. As a long-time champion of financial literacy for women business owners, Laura has lectured on the subject to diverse audiences, including young girls who are aspiring business women. Laura also has been featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal, the Los Angeles Times and numerous publications in the areas of financial literacy for entrepreneurs and small business.