On August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado, Swanee hosted Unconventional Women, a historic symposium uniting 3,000 women to advance their political leadership and participation. The event was part of the Democratic National Convention's Rocky Mountain Roundtable series. The week of the convention marked the passing of 88 years since the enactment of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Women from all walks of life – young and old, affluent and struggling, Democrat and Republican – gathered to hear stories from senators, congresswomen, White House staffers, donors, non-profit leaders, candidates, and a governor about the challenges and rewards that women face in politics.

Swanee and Black Entertainment Television co-founder Sheila Johnson opened the day with a reading of the “Remember the Ladies” correspondence between Abigail and John Adams. They were followed by former White House deputy chief of staff Maria Echaveste, who introduced film clips documenting the work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and other early suffragists. Later in the day, Ilana Goldman, President of the Women’s Campaign Forum Foundation, introduced the She Should Run program, calling upon the audience to nominate women that should run for office.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke about her life in the public eye, reflecting on over 20 years in the House of Representatives and exhorting the young women in the audience to “know their power.” Later, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota addressed the question “So you’re in office…now what?” with the help of CNN commentator Donna Brazile. Senator Barbara Boxer spoke about her own political journey, introducing the film 14 Women, a documentary about the 14 women Senators of the 109th Congress.