Panelists: Flannery Shay-Nemirow, Nat Bell, and Claire Miller

Join us for an open and engaging roundtable discussion centering the voices and experiences of women and non-binary routesetters in the climbing industry. This panel explores the unique journeys, challenges, and triumphs of setters who are often underrepresented in the field.

Panelists will share what’s kept them in the industry, what it takes to set at a high level, and how they’ve navigated tokenism, gender dynamics, and the dual demands of technical skill and emotional resilience. We’ll explore the soft skills vital to thriving as a setter—like communication, assertiveness, and managing insecurities—and dive into personal practices that help shift mindset, find flow, and build sustainable routines.

We’ll also open space for rarely discussed topics like setting while menstruating or postpartum, and the feelings of isolation that can come with those experiences.

A roundtable for all genders and experience levels to reflect, connect, and create a more inclusive future for routesetting together.