CNBC's Sharon Epperson will speak at the fourth Women's Leadership Conference and Celebration of Inspiring Women to be held Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. Epperson will speak in the place of Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, CNBC's chief international correspondent, who has been called to cover the unfolding situation in Ukraine.

In addition to reporting for CNBC and CNBC.com, Epperson is a regular contributor on NBC's "Today" and Today.com and appears frequently on NBC Nightly News, MSNBC and NBC affiliates nationwide. She also reports for Public Television's "Nightly Business Report," which is now produced by CNBC.

She is the winner of the Alliance for Women in Media's 2014 Gracie Award for Outstanding Online Host for her "Financial Advisor Playbook" video series on CNBC.com. She has received the Vanguard Award for her distinguished career in business and personal finance reporting from the National Urban League Guild, the All-Star Award from the Association of Women in Communications, and the Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Radio and Television for a series of reports on female CEOs. She also has won awards from the New York Festivals, the New York Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Her book, "The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money -- and Live Richly Ever After," was a finalist for the Books for a Better Life Awards, honoring works that have "changed the lives of millions." She also was a contributing writer for "The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster."

Epperson's personal finance expertise has been featured in numerous publications, including USA Weekend, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Self, Essence, Ebony and Time, where she had covered business, culture, social issues and health as a correspondent prior to joining CNBC.

She is committed to improving financial literacy, particularly in underserved communities. She has been invited to the White House to speak about financial literacy and to moderate a public meeting of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability at the U.S. Treasury Department. She also speaks frequently at conferences and events for local and national organizations, colleges and universities about many facets of personal finance.

An adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International Public Affairs for more than a decade, Epperson enjoys teaching the importance of budgeting and building long-term savings as part of her course on professional development for graduate students interested in media careers.

Epperson earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and government from Harvard University and a master's of international affairs degree from Columbia University. A Pittsburgh native, Epperson lives with her husband and two children in Westchester County, N.Y.

Other keynote and plenary speakers include:

* Paula Harper Bethea, executive director of the South Carolina Education Lottery

* Nathalie Dupree, celebrity chef and author

* Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, only woman to ever pitch in the Negro Leagues

* Lori Free, Motivational speaker, life coach

* Chris Linnares, Brazilian psychotherapist and creator of Diva Dance

* Joe Moglia, chairman of the board, TD Ameritrade, CCU Head Football Coach * Wendi Nix,ESPN reporter and host

* Kathrine Switzer,first woman to run the Boston Marathon

* Barbara Hickman Whye, director of global strategic initiatives at the Intel Foundation

* Marguerite Willis, attorney, first woman partner with Howrey, LLP, Washington, D.C.