Log Off & Link Up at the Next Femme Circle
Founded and hosted by Nikki Vargas, Femme Circle is a series inspired by New York's historic Round Table and its "Vicious Circle,” where an informal group of influential creatives regularly met in the 1920s and 30s. Each Femme Circle invites people to gather offline for a happy hour followed by a panel of professional and creative women discussing how their specific industry is evolving.
The first Femme Circle invited women in media to examine the shifting media landscape, bringing editors and writers from major publications (ELLE, AFAR, New York Magazine, etc.) to the historic Algonquin Hotel's Round Table to discuss the importance of sharing women's stories. The second Femme Circle took place at the beautiful co-working space, Neuehouse, inviting a diverse panel of women to examine today's literary landscape from the perspectives of a literary agent from a top-tier agency, a bestselling YA novelist, a published essayist, and a veteran of the publishing houses, as well as the founder of a Simon & Schuster imprint. The third Femme Circle, planned in partnership with the Pendy Manhattan West hotel, invites a panel of women within the travel industry to come together to examine how the work and experience of travel continues to evolve.
If you're interested in hosting an upcoming Femme Circle, e-mail Nikki.
Founded and hosted by Nikki Vargas, Femme Circle is a series inspired by New York's historic Round Table and its "Vicious Circle,” where an informal group of influential creatives regularly met in the 1920s and 30s. Each Femme Circle invites people to gather offline for a happy hour followed by a panel of professional and creative women discussing how their specific industry is evolving.
The first Femme Circle invited women in media to examine the shifting media landscape, bringing editors and writers from major publications (ELLE, AFAR, New York Magazine, etc.) to the historic Algonquin Hotel's Round Table to discuss the importance of sharing women's stories. The second Femme Circle took place at the beautiful co-working space, Neuehouse, inviting a diverse panel of women to examine today's literary landscape from the perspectives of a literary agent from a top-tier agency, a bestselling YA novelist, a published essayist, and a veteran of the publishing houses, as well as the founder of a Simon & Schuster imprint. The third Femme Circle, planned in partnership with the Pendy Manhattan West hotel, invites a panel of women within the travel industry to come together to examine how the work and experience of travel continues to evolve.
If you're interested in hosting an upcoming Femme Circle, e-mail Nikki.
Follow @FemmeCircleNYC on Instagram for Femme Circle announcements.
Femme Circle: Women in Travel ✈️
Spring 2026
Hosted by Pendry Manhattan West
Hosted by Pendry Manhattan West
In partnership with Pendry Manhattan West, you're invited for a complimentary happy hour followed by a panel discussion uniting women in the travel industry. From business experts to storytellers to editors, this panel will offer a mini 360-degree view of a rapidly evolving industry through the lens of the women who are defining it.
Meet the Panel
Senior Vice President of Communications, Montage International, Kacey Bruno.
Renowned Travel Expert and EMMY-Winning Television Host of ‘Places to Love,’ Samantha Brown.
Contributing Editor of Conde Nast Traveler, Author of the Assouline book ‘Mystic Mist: The Rituals of Huqqa’, and an Award-Winning Journalist, Sarah Khan.
Vice President, Finn Partners, a Travel, Tourism & Lifestyle Marketing and PR agency, Christina Gnozzo.
Writer, Creative Consultant, and Deputy Print Editor of Dossier Magazine, Sophie Yun Mancini.
Moderated by Senior Editor of Fodor's Travel, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Meet the Panel
Senior Vice President of Communications, Montage International, Kacey Bruno.
Renowned Travel Expert and EMMY-Winning Television Host of ‘Places to Love,’ Samantha Brown.
Contributing Editor of Conde Nast Traveler, Author of the Assouline book ‘Mystic Mist: The Rituals of Huqqa’, and an Award-Winning Journalist, Sarah Khan.
Vice President, Finn Partners, a Travel, Tourism & Lifestyle Marketing and PR agency, Christina Gnozzo.
Writer, Creative Consultant, and Deputy Print Editor of Dossier Magazine, Sophie Yun Mancini.
Moderated by Senior Editor of Fodor's Travel, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Femme Circle: Women in Book Publishing 📚
Summer 2025
Hosted by Neuehouse
Hosted by Neuehouse
The second Femme Circle focused on women in the literary space, bringing together a panel of bestselling authors, literary agents, and publishing veterans to offer unique perspectives on the evolving book publishing landscape. In partnership with Neuehouse, the Femme Circle had over 80 RSVPs and 60 confirmed attendees and kicked off with a happy hour with complimentary prosecco before inviting guests to sit on Neuehouse's beautiful "Spanish steps" for a live panel discussion about today's literary world.
Meet the Panel
USA Today bestselling YA novelist of The Rebel Girls of Rome, The Paper Girl of Paris, and The Revenge Game, Jordyn Taylor.
Literary Agent of the Paradigm Talent Agency, Katelyn Dougherty.
Author of A Black Girl in the Middle: Essays on (Allegedly) Figuring It All Out, Shenequa Golding.
Founder of Regalo Press and Former VP and Executive Editor of Grand Central Publishing, Gretchen Young.
Moderated by author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Meet the Panel
USA Today bestselling YA novelist of The Rebel Girls of Rome, The Paper Girl of Paris, and The Revenge Game, Jordyn Taylor.
Literary Agent of the Paradigm Talent Agency, Katelyn Dougherty.
Author of A Black Girl in the Middle: Essays on (Allegedly) Figuring It All Out, Shenequa Golding.
Founder of Regalo Press and Former VP and Executive Editor of Grand Central Publishing, Gretchen Young.
Moderated by author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Femme Circle: Women in Media ✏️
Spring 2025
Hosted by The Algonquin Hotel
Hosted by The Algonquin Hotel
For the first Femme Circle, a panel of writers and editors across the media industry gathered at the iconic Round Table inside the historic Algonquin Hotel. This first sold-out event focused on bringing together women in media for a candid discussion on the shifting media landscape, the importance of telling women's stories, how women are represented across media genres, and the stories behind each of the panelists' own impressive careers.
Meet the Panel
AFAR's Editorial Director, Billie Cohen.
Freelance Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of Full Time Travel, Esme Benjamin, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, and more.
Author of This Might Be Too Personal (St. Martin's Griffin, 2022), New York Magazine contributor, and The Cut Columnist, Alyssa Shelasky.
ELLE's Staff Culture Writer, Lauren Puckett-Pope.
Moderated by Fodor's Travel Senior Editor, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Meet the Panel
AFAR's Editorial Director, Billie Cohen.
Freelance Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of Full Time Travel, Esme Benjamin, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, and more.
Author of This Might Be Too Personal (St. Martin's Griffin, 2022), New York Magazine contributor, and The Cut Columnist, Alyssa Shelasky.
ELLE's Staff Culture Writer, Lauren Puckett-Pope.
Moderated by Fodor's Travel Senior Editor, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
