When the Room Gets Real: Moderating the United Way Voices of Impact Panel
Some rooms just have a different energy.
The United Way of Palm Beach County Voices of Impact event was one of them. From the moment the panel began, it was clear that the women on that stage weren't there to recite talking points. They were there to tell the truth about leadership, doubt, pressure, purpose, and what it actually takes to shape a community from the inside out. AND be strong women outside of work, at home and wherever else the days take them.
It was my honor to serve as moderator.
Moderator Paige Kornblue at the 2026 United Way of Palm Beach County Voices of Impact Awards
The Women Unitedâs panel brought together three extraordinary women making a real difference in Palm Beach County: State Attorney Alexcia Cox, who leads a team of 115 prosecutors and 180 professional staff across five county offices and has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases over nearly two decades. County Commissioner Maria Marino, elected in 2020, reelected in 2024, and who served as Mayor of Palm Beach County from November 2024 to November 2025. And Nicole Cummings, Program Manager at L3Harris, who is responsible for the RL10 rocket engine powering the upper stage of the Artemis rocket, a mission scheduled to send astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years, since Apollo 17.
They make movies about these kinds of people.
Paige Kornblue, Maria Marino, Alexcia Cox and Nicole Cummings
The evening also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Women United with the inaugural VOICE Awards honoring women in the community who lead with Vision, create Opportunity, build Impact, show Commitment, and Empower others. The first-ever VOICE Award was presented to Allison Taylor, a partner at Deloitte and the woman whose vision launched the Women United chapter over a decade ago, growing it from a table of 10 women to more than 300 members today.
The Champion of Impact Award, recognizing a woman whose philanthropic support has created meaningful outcomes for the Palm Beach County community, celebrated four remarkable finalists: Dr. Deeawn Roundtree, CEO of Roundtree Training & Consulting and Founder of Leading from Within Ministries; County Commissioner Maria Marino; Stephanie Seibel, CEO of Achievement Center for Children & Families; and Tammy Fields, Deputy County Administrator of Palm Beach County. County Commissioner Maria Marino was among the evening's honorees.
The Steward of Impact Award, honoring a woman in a leadership role who demonstrates excellence in her profession and creates lasting change through her work, recognized four outstanding finalists: Hope Kleckley, Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Vantage Point Counseling & Consulting; Kenya Madison, Community Leader at Kaleidoscope Solutions & Co.; LaTosha Wallace, Public Relations Specialist at Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department; and Lisa LaFrance, Founder & CEO of The LaFrance Project.
Beyond the Titles
What I love most about moderating conversations like this one is what happens when you move past the bio and into the real story. Yes, these women hold extraordinary positions. But the questions that matter most aren't about the titlesâĻ they're about what it took to get there, what it costs to stay, and what keeps them going when the pressure is highest.
We talked about the lessons they wish they'd learned earlier. The moments of self-doubt that nobody puts on a resume. What it feels like to command authority in a room that underestimated themâĻ and what they did about it. The decisions that directly changed lives. And what they'd say to a woman in the audience who feels unqualified to step into leadership.
The answers were honest, specific, and at times, very funny and so real.
What Great Moderation Actually Looks Like
I'm often asked what goes into moderating a panel like thisâĻ and my honest answer is that the script is just the starting point.
Great moderation isn't about following a list of questions. It's about presence. Deep listening. Reading the room in real time and knowing when to follow a thread, when to pivot, and when to simply get out of the way and let something fabulous breathe.
For Voices of Impact, I prepared questions that moved through several layersâĻ from personal growth and professional resilience to community impact and the evolving role of women in leadership. But the moments that landed most weren't the prepared ones. They were the follow-up. The pause. The space created for something unscripted and real to emerge.
That's where the magic lives.
Some of the questions that generated the most powerful responses:
Before your current positions and accomplishmentsâĻ do you remember a time you doubted yourself? And what did you do next?
Have you ever had to command authority in a room that doubted or underestimated you? What did you learn?
If someone in this audience feels unqualified to step into leadershipâĻ what would you tell her?
What skill matters more than talent?
And in rapid fire to closeâĻ one word that defines your leadership. The best advice you ever received. What keeps you up at night. And what gives you hope right now.
Why This Work Matters
Events like United Way's Voices of Impact exist because representation matters. Seeing women like Alexcia, Maria, and NicoleâĻ not just in the room, but on the stage, in positions of real power and real consequenceâĻ changes something in the women watching.
And having a moderator who can hold that space with intention, warmth, and journalistic depth? That's what transforms a panel from an event into a conversation worth carrying home. And why I love what I do!
I am deeply grateful to United Way of Palm Beach County for the opportunity and to these three remarkable women for their honesty, their leadership, and their time.
Interested in having Paige moderate your next panel, event, or summit? Visit paigekornblue.com or reach out directly at pk@paigekornblue.com
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