More than 1,000 gather for Raleigh's Women Leadership Conference

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- More than 1,000 people came together for the Women's Leadership Conference in downtown Raleigh. Some were CEOs, others were women looking to start their own businesses.

It was held as Coworking Cafe ranked Raleigh No. 3 in the nation for female-owned businesses among the major U.S. metros.

Jessica Scott is one of Raleigh's newest residents. She moved here from Maryland for a job almost a year ago and works at the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.

"I did work in Corporate America for 20 years, and so there are definitely pay gaps," said Scott. "One of the sessions reminded us to show up in the rooms and to not make apologies for what we know," she said.

Some women at the event said there are still hurdles.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) said it found that nationally, women will make 81 cents to every dollar a man earns among full-time workers.

"I say architecture is 'male, pale and stale' so we have a lot of work to do," said Kristen Hess. "I am still often the only female in the room, believe it or not."

Hess started her own architecture firm, HH Architecture, and said this event re-energized her to move the business forward.

"Let's all be reinvigorated, that there are these gaps that it is still not equal," said Hess. "Men and women alike, all people need to recognize that when women do well, everyone does well. It's good for families. It's good for society. It's good for business."

There are more than 100 female-owned small businesses in downtown Raleigh.