In-Person Book Club Session at the 2026 Conference
Facilitated Discussion: Brave New You
Living, Moving & Leading with Courage Every Day
Session Summary: Inspired by WIC’s Q2 Book Club selection, Brave New You: Strategies, Tools and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day by Mary Poffenroth, PhD, this facilitated discussion is designed to help you reflect, learn from others, and turn insight into action.
Haven’t read the book or weren’t able to join the Q2 book club gatherings? That's okay. This session stands on its own and offers an opportunity to learn from peers and gain practical tools for navigating fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
If you were part of the book club, come to continue the conversation to reflect on key takeaways, share insights, and create accountability for real-world application.
What We’ll Explore Together
Drawing from Dr. Mary Poffenroth’s research and real-life stories, we’ll explore:
How everyday fear, anxiety, and imposter syndrome show up at work and beyond
Hidden sources of stress and self-doubt and how to recognize them
Simple, practical “neurohacks” to move through fear with confidence
Small, courageous actions that build momentum over time
This is a discussion-based, community-centered experience. Come ready to listen, reflect, engage and leave with insights you can apply immediately.
About Brave New You and Mary Poffenroth, PhD:
This is the perfect book for uncertain, stressful, and anxiety-inducing times! Brave New You is a groundbreaking guide to master everyday fear, risk, and anxiety, including imposter syndrome.
Mary Poffenroth, PhD, is a scientist, professor, and fear expert who has spent her career researching how we can all live more courageously, every day. Along with the author’s personal stories about overcoming her fears, Brave New You combines the latest research in biology and psychology to help readers identify the hidden sources of struggle while teaching them to use neurohacks that will give them all the tools and strategies they need to live a fuller, bolder, and happier life.
To learn more and purchase the book: https://marypoffenroth.com/brave-new-you/
moderator
Alyssa Sweigart
Alyssa Sweigart is Essentials Commercial Excellence Business Intelligence Manager for Brenntag North America where she is responsible for the development, communication, and implementation of commercial initiatives, processes, and standards that align with business strategies and market conditions to optimize performance.
She has been with Brenntag for 13 years in various roles responsible for market intelligence management, customer experience and NPS management, Key Accounts, RFQ and pricing management, process improvement, internal communications, and project management. Alyssa has been instrumental in the creation of several best practices for processes and tools throughout her tenure at Brenntag. Prior to joining the chemical industry, Alyssa worked in academic publishing.
Alyssa joined the Women in Chemicals leadership team as Education Coordinator in September 2023 and transitioned to the role of Programs Coordinator in 2026. She is passionate about female empowerment, personal development, and continuous education and is excited to further these passions with Women in Chemicals.
Alyssa holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Lebanon Valley College. She is also a Six Sigma Green Belt and holds a certificate in project management from Penn State University.
Excited for this Session? Learn More about our Quarterly Book Club.
Women in Chemicals hosts a virtual book club to bring our community together around great books and provide a welcoming, supportive space where we can connect, share experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. Each quarter, we select a new book focused on personal or professional growth. We meet once a month for relaxed virtual discussions held at various times to accommodate all global time zones. Attendance is flexible and registration is always open, so you can sign up at any time. Pre-reading is encouraged but never required, and all are welcome. Join us to start reading and discussing now!