Apr 10, 2017 08:35 AM EDT By Anne Collins, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Mentoring Monday program brought women of all industries and levels of experience together from across the country last week. They discussed career advancement and business development.

The Biz Journals reported that the 41-city event saw nearly 10,000 women participate in the fourth-annual program from American City Business Journals.

Nearly 40 influential women took part in the annual event at Olmstead. They came from across the Louisville area and served as Bizwomen Mentoring Monday mentors.

Mentoring Monday was a two-hour breakfast and networking event that gave attendees the chance to connect and get a one-on-one speed mentoring session with individuals from the group of successful businesswomen.

Each mentor represents a variety of industries and professions. They range from small-business owners and bankers to attorneys and executives at some of the most powerful comanies and nonprofit organizations. Seating was limited and attendees had to book in advance.

The Charlotte Business Journal's event at the Sheraton hotel was one of ACBJ's national events that featured nearly 50 mentors from the finance, marketing, real estate and education industries.

The Mentoring Monday event at Louisville was just one of more than 40 events hosted by American City Business Journal publications across the nation. The event ran from 8 to 10 a.m.

Amanda Lordy, senior director of social media partner engagement for NASCAR, signed up for the event as a mentor for the first time. She has mentored people throughout her career.

She said she was lucky to have had great mentors early in her career that shaped what she was doing. Lordy added that she wanted to pay it forward by helping other people.

Stephanie Counts, cofounder and CEO emeritus of the Women's Inter-Cultural exchange, returned as a mentor for the third time to give back and help make business connections. She said she was still in touch with the women that she met at the first Mentoring Monday event.

Scott Lieberman, human resources at TIAA-CREF, was the only male in the scene. He said he wanted to get senior women's advice on HR policies and broaden his own perspective.

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