Northwestern women will meet Saturday to exchange stories and offer advice about female leadership at the 12th annual Women in Leadership Conference.

The conference will feature speechs on business negotiation, student leadership, women in ministry and eating disorders.

“Our speakers will encourage women to get together and share ideas about how women can improve society,” said Janet Wei, a Weinberg senior and the conference’s coordinator.

The keynote speaker is Medill School of Journalism lecturer Michele Weldon, author of the nonfiction memoir “I Closed My Eyes: Revelations of a Battered Woman” and the writing guide “Writing to Save Your Life: How to Honor Your Story Through Journaling.” She also made an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in October.

Weldon said she plans to talk about women’s empowerment in today’s world.

“I want to tell women that … when life is less than ideal, or is terrible, there is something you can do,” she said. “You state (your challenges) honestly and find solutions, and that in itself is empowering.”

Weldon said above all she would like to tell women to be honest.

“A leader is someone who faces life honestly,” she said.

Aimee Rivera, coordinator of student organizations in the Campus Activities Office, said this is the first year the event has had a keynote speaker from NU. Financial issues forced the conference coordinators to look locally for speakers.

“We can’t afford to pay for a (non-local) keynote,” said Rivera, who has worked with the conference for the past several years.

Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis alotted the conference the same $4,100 from as it had in previous years.

“Women’s Coalition usually arranges their speakers for the same day, ” Rivera said. “But this year they didn’t get funding, so they couldn’t help.”

Rivera said about 65 people are planning to attend the conference so far, compared with 80 people in 2002 and 120 in 2001.

More women hold leadership roles today than they did when the conference was started, said Wei. Because of that, fewer women may feel the need to attend — or even be able to fit the conference into their schedules.

Wei said despite lower attendance, she thinks this year’s conference will be successful.

“We’re doing our best for the people that come,” she said.

Women in Leadership Conference

10 a.m. Saturday

Norris University Center

Tickets: Available at door; $5 students,

$10 faculty and staff, $15 general public

Keynote address: 2 p.m., free