NYC Sistas in Sales Summit 2026: Top Speakers, Career Opportunities and Insider Advice
Something powerful is happening in New York City this September. Thousands of women of color in sales will gather in one place, ready to learn, connect, grow, and celebrate. It is not just a conference. It is a movement with eight years of momentum behind it. And in 2026, it is bigger than ever before.
Whether you are just starting your sales career or leading a team at a Fortune 500 company, this summit was built for you. This guide covers everything you need to know, from dates and structure to speakers, career opportunities, and the insider tips that will help you make the most of every moment.
What Is the Sistas in Sales Summit?
Since 2018, Sistas in Sales has ignited a revolution in the sales landscape, becoming the leading global membership organization and summit centering women and allies in sales, while welcoming all who champion equity, innovation, and excellence in the industry.
The organization started as a small community for Black and Brown women working in sales. Over eight years, it has grown into something far larger. Backed by powerhouse partners like Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google, the community has grown into a globally recognized force for change, with an inclusive ecosystem connecting a diverse network of sales professionals across industries from tech and media to CPG, retail, and more.
The annual summit is the centerpiece of that mission. It brings together sellers at every stage of their careers for days of training, inspiration, networking, and real business conversations. However, it is also a celebration. The energy in the room is unlike any other sales event in the world.
Dates, Location and the New SIS Week Format
The 2026 event marks a significant shift in how the summit operates. For eight years, Sistas in Sales gathered in New York City to celebrate excellence and shape the future of sales leadership. In 2026, the organization begins The Evolution, expanding beyond one city into a decentralized, global SIS Week.
The 2026 SIS Summit and Gala takes place September 20 and 21 in New York City, as part of SIS Week, which also spans Atlanta, the DMV area, and London.
Your ticket, whether in-person or digital, gives you full access to the New York Kickoff programming and Gala, and connects you to the start of a new model. From there, SIS Week continues with free, chapter-led activations across NYC, DMV, Atlanta, London, and more, featuring community gatherings, skill-building trainings, business development opportunities, and thought leadership events.
This format is a major evolution. It means that even if you cannot make it to New York, you can still participate in your city. Additionally, it reflects the organization’s ambition to build a truly global community, not just an annual New York moment.
Who Attends the Summit?
The largest global gathering for women of color in sales returns in 2026 with 1,000 or more attendees, powerful content, industry recruiters, high-impact activations, and an energy you will not find anywhere else.
The audience is diverse in every sense. You will find entry-level sellers looking for their first big break sitting alongside vice presidents and directors from some of the world’s most recognizable companies. Early-career professionals come for training and mentorship. Senior leaders come to speak, recruit, and give back. Everyone comes for the community.
Additionally, the event draws allies. Whether you identify as a woman of color or as an ally, you are invited to join in shaping the future of sales. Men who champion equity in sales have always been welcomed, and that continues in 2026.
The Conference Structure: What to Expect
The summit is not a single track of panels. It is a layered experience with multiple formats designed for different types of attendees.
The NYC Kickoff programming on September 20 and 21 anchors the week. It features keynote addresses, breakout sessions, workshops, and the flagship Gala. The Gala is one of the most anticipated events of the year. It honors trailblazers in the industry and celebrates the community in a high-energy, unforgettable setting.
Beyond the main stage programming, the week includes smaller events tailored to specific career stages and professional interests. Previous editions have featured the Aspiring Sellers Summit, designed for early-career professionals, and the Leadership Summit, designed for senior executives. Both formats are expected to continue in 2026 given their strong reception in past years.
Throughout all of this, there is a consistent focus on three things: learning real skills, meeting the right people, and leaving with a clear vision for your next career move.
Top Speakers and the Caliber of Leadership on Stage
One of the hallmarks of the summit is the quality of its speakers. The speaker lineup includes leaders from major brands like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google, who share their experiences and expertise.
Past editions have set a remarkable standard. The 6th Annual Summit’s Power 100 Gala honored industry trailblazers including Bonita Stewart, VP of Global Partnerships at Google; Michelle Ward McGee, Director of Global Culture at Microsoft; and Aimee Frank, Area Vice President of Marketing Cloud at Salesforce.
Keynote speakers have included globally recognized figures. Kerry Washington headlined a past summit, drawing enormous attention and bringing a message of ambition, identity, and ownership that resonated deeply with the audience.
In 2026, while the full speaker lineup is still being announced, the pattern is clear. Expect executives who look like the audience they are speaking to. Expect candid conversations about navigating corporate environments, building pipelines, negotiating salaries, and leading teams. And stories that feel real because they are.
Additionally, the summit features speakers from high-growth startups alongside those from legacy enterprises. This balance matters. It means attendees hear perspectives from the full spectrum of the sales world, not just one type of company or career path.
Career Opportunities: More Than Just Inspiration
Many attendees come to the summit for inspiration. They leave with job offers, referrals, and interviews lined up. This is by design.
The summit invites attendees to network with top recruiters from Fortune 100 companies and high-growth startups. Recruiting is woven into the event structure, not treated as an afterthought. Companies that sponsor the summit are there for a reason: they want to hire from this community.
Google has served as a Champion Sponsor for multiple years, running an in-person recruiting lounge on-site, solidifying its impactful investment in the SIS community and demonstrating the company’s commitment to recruiting talent from the SIS member base of more than 5,500 women of color.
Sponsors across the years have included Oracle, Workday, Spotify, Braze, Dynatrace, Pinterest, Snapchat, DocuSign, TikTok, Motive, and many more. These are not passive logos on a banner. Their teams attend the summit, host sessions, run lounges, and actively seek candidates.
Therefore, if you are considering a career move in 2026, attending this summit is a strategic decision, not just a professional development one. Come with your resume polished, your elevator pitch ready, and your LinkedIn profile updated.
Skill-Building Sessions and Learning Formats
Beyond networking and inspiration, the summit delivers practical, actionable training. Sessions are designed to improve the skills that directly affect performance and advancement.
Topics covered across previous summits and expected again in 2026 include:
- Negotiating your salary and your deals with confidence
- Building and managing a sales pipeline that consistently converts
- Using AI tools to research prospects and personalize outreach at scale
- Transitioning from individual contributor to sales leadership
- Creating a personal brand that opens doors before you walk into a room
- Managing mental health and well-being within a high-pressure sales culture
Two days of programming are packed with industry-leading insights, cutting-edge sales workshops, and action-packed sessions designed to hone your skills. These are not lecture-style talks. Many sessions are interactive. Attendees work through real scenarios, receive live feedback, and leave with frameworks they can use immediately.
Additionally, the digital ticket option means that even attendees who cannot travel to New York can access the programming. The hybrid format has been a consistent feature of the summit for several years and continues in 2026.
The Power of the SIS Community Year-Round
One of the most underappreciated aspects of the summit is that it is a gateway, not a destination. The Sistas in Sales community is active and growing throughout the entire year.
Membership gives women of color in sales access to a private network, online events, peer groups, mentorship programs, and job postings shared within the community. Past attendees frequently describe the connections they made at the summit as the most valuable professional relationships in their careers.
Additionally, SIS has been supported by over 60 organizations including Salesforce, Twitter, Google, Spotify, SAP, Pandora, Bravado, Slack, Monday.com, Crunchbase, and many more. This breadth of corporate support means that the community has genuine influence and reach within the industry.
When you attend the summit, you are not just buying access to two days of programming. You are joining a network that continues working for you long after the Gala ends.
Insider Tips to Make the Most of SIS Week 2026
Getting the most out of this summit takes preparation. Here are practical strategies that experienced attendees swear by.
Arrive with a clear goal. Know before you land whether your primary objective is to meet recruiters, find a mentor, learn specific skills, or build your personal brand. That clarity will guide every decision you make once you are inside the venue.
Use the app and pre-event tools. The summit typically provides digital tools for scheduling and attendee matching. Use them aggressively before the event starts. Sending connection requests in advance means your face-to-face conversations pick up where a meaningful online exchange left off, not from zero.
Attend the Aspiring Sellers Summit if you are early in your career. This dedicated track is designed specifically for emerging sales professionals and is one of the most high-value, low-pressure environments in the entire week. It is where many attendees have found their first mentor or landed their first big company interview.
Show up for the Gala. It is easy to skip evening events after a full day of sessions. Do not. The Gala is where the community comes alive in a different way. The conversations are looser, the connections are warmer, and the memories are lasting.
Follow up fast. Within 24 hours of meeting someone at the summit, send a note, a LinkedIn message, or an email. The energy of the event fades quickly. Your follow-up is what turns a conversation into a relationship.
Finally, if the NYC dates do not work for you, check the chapter-led SIS Week activations in Atlanta, the DMV, and London. These free events are a genuine alternative, not a consolation prize.
Conclusion
The NYC Sistas in Sales Summit 2026 is one of the most important events in the sales calendar this year. Taking place September 20 and 21 in New York City, as part of the newly expanded, global SIS Week, it brings together more than 1,000 women of color and allies in sales for two days of high-level programming, world-class speakers, real career opportunities, and community that lasts well beyond the event itself. Speakers from companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google bring credibility and candor to every stage.
Recruiters from Fortune 100 companies and fast-growing startups attend with genuine intent to hire. Practical workshops build skills that translate directly into quota, promotion, and leadership. And the Gala at the heart of it all reminds every person in the room why this community was built and how far it has come. Whether you attend in New York or join through a chapter activation in your city, SIS Week 2026 is a moment you will look back on as a turning point.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Sistas in Sales Summit 2026?
The NYC Summit and Gala takes place on September 20 and 21, 2026, in New York City. It serves as the kickoff for SIS Week 2026, which also includes free chapter-led activations in Atlanta, the DMV area, and London during the same week.
Who is the Sistas in Sales Summit designed for?
The summit was built primarily for women of color in sales at all career stages, from aspiring sellers entering the industry to senior executives and directors. However, allies who champion equity and inclusion in the sales profession are also welcome to attend and participate fully.
How do I register for SIS Week 2026?
Tickets for the NYC Kickoff programming and Gala are available through the official Sistas in Sales website at sistasinsales.com. In-person and digital ticket options are both offered. Chapter-led activations across other cities during SIS Week are free to attend.
What companies recruit at the summit?
The summit has historically drawn recruiters from some of the world’s most prominent companies, including Google, Salesforce, Microsoft, Oracle, Workday, Spotify, and many high-growth startups. These companies attend specifically to connect with and hire talent from the SIS community.
Do I need to be a Sistas in Sales member to attend the summit?
Non-members can purchase tickets to attend the summit. However, becoming a member of the Sistas in Sales community gives you year-round access to networking events, job opportunities, mentorship programs, and exclusive online community spaces that extend the value of your summit experience throughout the entire year.
