Women’s Empowerment Summit
Growth. Connection. Transformation.
A five-part virtual series from March - April 2025
Join an inspiring global community of women leaders, innovators, and changemakers, as we learn from 15 inspiring women and celebrate Women’s History Month.
Strengthen your leadership, build resilience,
spark creativity, and connect with purpose.
Featuring authors, TEDx speakers, business owners, global leaders, mothers, scientists, educators, and more, this summit is a celebration of the diverse expertise and shared experiences of women from all walks of life. Over the course of five engaging sessions, you’ll gain practical insights and inspiration in leadership, resilience, connection, innovation, and empowerment.
This isn’t just a series of talks—it’s a dynamic platform for growth, meaningful connections, and actionable change. Whether you’re a leader in your community, workplace, or family, this summit is your opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your perspective, and step into your full potential.
Why Attend This Summit?
This isn’t just another event—it’s your gateway to powerful insights and transformative tools shared by courageous authors, TEDx speakers, educators, business leaders, and global change-makers.
Expert Insights
Discover strategies from thought leaders in resilience, leadership, innovation, and mentorship.
Meaningful Connections
Network with a diverse and supportive community of women from around the world.
Actionable Takeaways
Walk away with tools, frameworks, and inspiration to elevate your personal and professional life.
Affordable & Accessible
Gain access to all five sessions for just $100—or choose individual sessions for $25 each. Scholarships and group discounts are available.
This summit is held in partnership with Athena
Summit Details
Dates: Fridays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST (March 14th runs until 2:00 PM PST)
Format: Live Zoom sessions with dynamic presentations, interactive discussions, and Q&A
Cost: $25 per session | $100 for all five sessions
Extras: Recorded sessions available for attendees (for 30 days post session)
Scholarships & Group Discounts
Scholarships:
25 full scholarships available for women - Apply here.
Group Discount:
Groups of 5+ receive 20% off. Email yogi@yogipateltte.com for details.
Pay It Forward:
Sponsor another woman’s participation with a $25 donation, by adding it to your cart during registration.
Transform Yourself. Inspire Others. Create Change.
Transform Yourself. Inspire Others. Create Change.
Summit Agenda
March 7, 2025:
Women in Leadership and Resilience
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Join Jaye Connolly-LaBelle in an empowering session, “Disrupting the Narrative: Leading Without Limits or Labels,” where she shares her bold journey of leadership, resilience, and breaking through stereotypes in male-dominated industries. Through humor, real-world experiences, and actionable insights, Jaye will inspire women to lead with confidence, redefine success, and foster impactful collaboration. Whether you’re aspiring to leadership or looking to expand your influence, this session will provide valuable strategies to lead without limits and empower others along the way.
Talk Outline:
1. Introduction: Breaking Barriers with Results
• Personal journey of overcoming skepticism and proving leadership through action
• Setting a fresh, bold tone for leadership beyond stereotypes
2. A Proven Path to Leadership
• How a results-driven approach shaped her career as a CEO and M&A leader across continents
• Humorous boardroom anecdotes from billion-dollar deals
3. Redefining Success in Technology
• Thriving in tech by focusing on strategy and execution
• Deploying tech solutions to tackle global challenges
4. Empowering Others Through Example
• Inspiring future leaders with vision, resilience, and confidence
• Mentoring women in STEM and leadership roles
5. Breaking Free of Stereotypes
• Shattering labels through action and results
• A lighthearted take on defying expectations in male-dominated industries
6. Driving Results Through Collaboration
• Building impactful partnerships that deliver real results
• Insights on cross-cultural collaboration infused with humor
7. Closing: Lead Without Limits
• Final reflections on rewriting the rules of leadership
• Call to action: Empower others and focus on results, not labels
Duration: 1 hour (including Q&A)
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10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Let's be real – you're a force to be reckoned with. You've overcome challenges, proven your worth time and again, and shown up ready to lead. But something's missing. Despite your track record of excellence, you're still not getting the recognition, compensation, or opportunities you deserve.
Here's the thing: there's a crucial piece of the leadership puzzle that no one's talking about. And once you discover it, everything changes.
Stacy Mayer is on a mission to change the face of the leadership table by doubling the number of women promoted to higher leadership worldwide. In this transformative session, she will reveal the strategic shifts that help brilliant women leaders command the promotions, compensation, and influence they deserve – on their terms. Skip the leadership lectures – you're already an excellent leader. Stacy will show you exactly how to transform that excellence into the recognition, compensation, and impact you deserve.
You'll discover how to:
Command Recognition at Every Level: Step into your power and get recognized as the leader you already are.
Lead with Impact: Transform from the expert who gets stuff done to the visionary leader who shapes what's possible.
Build Your Promotion Ecosystem: Create an army of supporters across your organization who actively champion your advancement to higher leadership levels.
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11:35 AM – 12:45 PM
We've all heard the expression that life can be a winding road. Many of us don't follow straight paths in our personal or professional lives. But knowing facts and statistics is one thing, accepting them is another. It doesn't make it any easier to take decisions, especially in the face of uncertainty. I will discuss some of the guiding principles I've cultivated for myself in navigating my own journey from student, to wife and mother, to nonprofit founder, to academic and author. Each identity opens new doors and strengthens the others.
Shermin de Silva is a professor in the Ecology Behavior and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego, where she leads the HumaNature Lab. She obtained her Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania and directs the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project in Sri Lanka, which she initiated in 2005. She is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. She is originally from Sri Lanka, where she holds dual citizenship, and grew up in the United States.
March 14, 2025
Creating Connection
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Belonging is a fundamental human need, and life tends to go well when we feel our presence and contributions matter. This session will explore how good leaders create safe spaces for others to feel connected, capable, and valued. You’ll identify how you pursue belonging and learn methods to create it for yourself and others.Dr. Susan Belangee is a professional consultant who specializes in Leveled Leadership(SM), assisting individuals, businesses, and organizations to gain the deeper insight required to create lasting success. She regularly presents and offers trainings in the US and internationally on mental health topics and leadership-related issues. Susan is excited to be involved with the 2025 Women's Empowerment Summit.
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10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Looking to create meaningful change in your organization? Join inclusive workplace strategist and community building expert Lola Adeyemo for an impactful session on leveraging diverse perspectives. With insights drawn from Fortune 500 companies and building global professional communities, discover how to transform intersectional identities and diverse experiences into organizational advantages. Learn practical strategies for developing influential networks, fostering authentic leadership, and creating spaces where diverse talent thrives. Perfect for professionals ready to move beyond individual success to drive lasting organizational transformation.
Through this dynamic session, participants will discover:
Identity as Innovation: Transform intersectional experiences into strategic advantages that pioneer new approaches to leadership and connection-building
The Ripple Effect: Learn proven methods for expanding your influence from individual relationships to organization-wide networks
Building Bridges: Master techniques for creating authentic connections that transcend organizational levels and cultural boundaries
Sustainable Leadership: Develop practical approaches to nurturing communities that amplify diverse voices while driving business results
This session is ideal for:
Leaders seeking to create more inclusive and innovative organizations
Professionals navigating multiple identity dimensions in the workplace
Change agents looking to build sustainable, impactful communities
Anyone passionate about transforming workplace culture through authentic leadership. Bio.
Lola Adeyemo is a TEDx speaker, author, and workplace inclusion consultant who transforms how organizations leverage diversity for innovation and growth. As the CEO of EQImindset, she partners with Fortune 500 companies to build inclusive cultures through effective employee resource groups (ERGs) and internal communities, driving both employee engagement and business results.
She is the author of "Thriving in Intersectionality: Immigrants, Belonging, and Corporate America" and hosts the "Thriving in Intersectionality" podcast, where she amplifies diverse voices and shares practical strategies for workplace transformation.
As the founder of the nonprofit Immigrants in Corporate Inc., Lola has developed pioneering programs that support professionals with intersectional identities, helping them navigate corporate environments while creating lasting organizational change. Her methodology combines authentic leadership development, strategic network building, and sustainable community engagement to create workplaces where diverse talent thrives.
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11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Learn to identify your distinctive strengths, develop your unique personal brand , and creative ways to leverage your leadership presence while maintaining your authentic voice and style.
Gemini is a creative brand force who's spent two decades making magic at some of the world's most beloved brands – Google, YouTube, Qualcomm, Nokia, and Sony. But don't let that impressive lineup fool you – she's still the same curious storyteller who believes that great brands can change the world for the better. She currently leads Global Brand Marketing at Intuit Quickbooks.As a brand and creative marketing leader, she's mastered the art of blending data-driven insights with pure creative spark. Her superpower? Building phenomenal teams and rallying them around bold visions that don't just drive business growth – they shift culture. Whether she's launching groundbreaking global campaigns or reimagining how brands connect with their audiences in the age of AI, Gemini brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and creative fearlessness to everything she touches.
When she's not championing innovative marketing strategies or exploring the possibilities of AI, you’ll find Gemini mentoring women in the workplace or teaching marketing at USC. But what really gets her up in the morning? Creating brand stories that don't just reach people – they move them.
Her mission is simple: use the power of storytelling to drive meaningful change, all while having a bit of fun along the way. Because in Gemini's world, the best ideas often come with a side of joy.
March 21, 2025
Empowering the Next Generation
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
In a rapidly evolving world, empathetic leadership is no longer a soft skill it’s a transformative force for driving innovation and inclusivity. This session explores how women leaders in STEM and creative industries can embrace empathy to lead with authenticity and harness the potential of AI for good. Through inspiring stories, actionable insights, and practical frameworks, you’ll discover how empathetic leadership can foster connection, inspire innovation, and transform challenges into opportunities. Learn how emotionally intelligent AI can be a powerful tool for creating inclusive spaces, amplifying unique strengths, and addressing systemic challenges, positioning you as a trailblazer for meaningful change in your industry.
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10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Most large organizations have mentoring programs, but few have been found to be effective. Mentoring is such an invaluable part of leadership development, succession planning and encouragement of employees at all stages of contribution. In this session, Leadership Coach, Dina Emser, will give you a framework for evaluating your effectiveness and an opportunity to expand your vision and invest in a mentor millionaire mindset.
Dina Emser is a Certified Positive Discipline Lead Trainer and Certified Professional Coach, with over 30 years of experience in education. She served as the principal of a Corsini 4-R school in Bloomington, IL founded by Dr. Al Milliren. She has presented training in Positive Discipline on four continents and was an Adjunct Professor at Adler University in Chicago. Dina has served on the Positive Discipline Association Board, as well as other non-profit organizations. She co-created Empowering People in the Workplace, with Positive Discipline founder, Dr. Jane Nelsen which focuses on Adlerian psychology principles in business, available in 5 languages.
Dina wrote an article in the Journal of Individual Psychology, Summer 2023, Volume 79 no. 2 entitled Positive Discipline Cross-Cultural Examples for Transforming Collaborative Teams in the Workplace. Currently Dina works as a Leadership Coach with individuals and teams who want to improve their leadership and work together effectively.
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11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
is a transformative keynote that will inspire you to step out of the shadows of fear and into the spotlight of your potential. Fear only holds power when it’s unnamed and untamed—when you confront it, you conquer it.
In this actionable talk, you’ll learn how to harness your voice as a tool for influence, connection, and leadership. Whether you’re presenting to your team, pitching to a client, or addressing a crowd, this keynote equips you with the mindset and strategies to own the stage with confidence and clarity. Your voice is your greatest asset—it’s time to embrace it, elevate it, and let it command the room. Because when you own your voice, you own your power.
March 28, 2025
Innovation and Creativity
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
How is connection helpful for adults at work and in the adult learner classroom? Why should you start team meetings and training workshops with connection activities that relate to the learning topic? In this 1-hour session, you’ll gain insight into planning connection activities that serve a purpose and activities that build cohesion and trust among group members. Expand your ideas for offering connection among group members via Zoom conferencing by engaging in connection activities online and discovering the key components of building a learning community or working community.
Kelly Pfeiffer is a Positive Discipline Lead Trainer and a Training from the Back of the Room Trainer. Since 1999, she has been designing and delivering group workshops and multi-day conferences both face to face and online. Kelly lives in Greenville, SC and has offered training workshops in the U.S., Europe and Asia. She loves studying human development, brain science and human-centered design and applying it to teaching adult learners. Her latest creations are “Warm-ups, Reflections and Reviews to Activate the Learning Brain”, an online course for instructors and “Women Teaching Women”, a facebook group supporting female leaders who offer educational learning events to groups of women.
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10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Robyn Rourick is an accomplished leader in outsourcing portfolio management at Genentech, where she oversees strategic partnerships to drive innovation and operational efficiency. With extensive experience in project management and vendor relations, she is dedicated to optimizing processes that support groundbreaking research and development.
As a passionate advocate for mentorship, inclusion, and professional growth, Robyn is committed to empowering women in leadership and fostering diverse, equitable workplaces. Her insights on strategic collaboration and leadership excellence will provide valuable perspectives at the Women’s Empowerment Summit.
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11:40 AM - 12:50 PM
In our time together I will share 3 segments of my activism history and lessons learned from those times. First will be Raw Organizing, a deep dive into moral duty to stop something that presents clear and present danger to the public. I will discuss the role nonviolent direct action based on the work of Mahatma Gandhi and many US leaders involved in civil rights movement. As part of my Community Studies Degree at UCSC, I worked to stop the building of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
Secondly, I will recount the endeavor of running for and serving in public office as a City Councilmember and Mayor of Santa Cruz. In this segment I will discuss the notion of “Thinking Globally and Acting Locally” with examples of local initiatives from the ‘town square’ and delegations I led to the USSR to establish a Sister City and to El Salvador to curb human rights abuses occurring with US government aid.
Thirdly, I will recount my experience as a trainer with Positive Discipline for the last 28 years working with parents, teachers, medical professionals and in jails to empower people to establish healthy, respectful relationships that transform how people realize their worth, establish deep and loving relationships, find belonging and significance, solve problems, and with connection and compassion, be whole.
April 4, 2025
Empowering Educators and Parents: Building Bridges Between Home, Classroom, and Workplace
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9:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Drawing from her work with pilots, astronauts and surgeons, Dr. Iya Whiteley reveals how women can move from overwhelm to embodied wisdom. Through studying high-performance environments and motherhood, she discovered that managing attention - not multitasking - is key to navigating life's complexities. Learn how children naturally demonstrate this wisdom, and discover practical tools for accessing your innate powers of attention and intuition. Transform daily challenges into opportunities for profound growth while honoring exactly who you are.
Featured on BBC Science, National Geographic, FOX and PBS, Dr. Iya Whiteley developed training for astronauts, psychological tools for Mars missions, designed pilot cockpits, and worked with surgeons in peak performance. Her groundbreaking work bridges scientific precision with spiritual wisdom.
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10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Discover how education, a growth mindset, and leadership skills can help turn your dreams into reality. In this empowering talk, we will explore practical strategies for setting meaningful goals, overcoming obstacles with confidence, and finding the leader within you. Whether you’re pursuing personal or professional aspirations, this session will equip you with the tools to take charge of your future and inspire those around you.
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11:40 AM - 12:50 PM
This talk will define self-compassion and its two sides: tender and fierce action. Cheryl will discuss managing caregiver fatigue with self-compassion when caring for others professionally and personally. The talk will also discuss the research behind self-compassion, the difference between emotional empathy and compassion, and experiential practices participants can practice daily when caring for others.
Women's Empowerment Summit
The Women’s Empowerment Summit with Yogi Patel - Transformation Through Empowerment is your opportunity to rise, connect, and lead. Join us this March for an inspiring series of live, interactive sessions designed to equip you with actionable strategies, global networking opportunities, and empowering insights from trailblazing leaders. Transform your leadership potential and fuel your journey to success with expert guidance and a supportive community.