5th Annual SheisMe Conference

Julie Fingersh is a journalist and the debut author of Stay: A Story of Family, Love & Other Traumas, releasing October 15, 2024, with Bloomsbury. The book has been praised by critics, with NYT bestselling author Gretchen Rubin calling it “Profound, funny, and masterfully told,” and Dr. Edith Eger describing it as “A book of remarkable emotional depth and wisdom for anyone wanting to move past their pain and make the most of their one precious life.” “Stay is so rich, wise, funny, and beautifully written. It’s hard to put down once you start.” — Anne Lamott, #1 NY Times bestselling author. Julie’s keynote will delve into the impact of family secrets around chronic medical or mental illness and trauma, and how confronting these truths can lead to healing and self-actualization. She will explore the tension between our societal roles as caregivers and the pursuit of personal identity. Julie’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Her Substack newsletter, “Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It,” is a midlife sequel to her award-winning humor column for Billboard Publications.

  Lisa Anne Harmon is a distinguished leader, keynote speaker, and author dedicated to empowering professional women. In her keynote, “Empowered Perspectives: Unpacking Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem, and Self-Worth for Professional Women,” Lisa Anne explores the essential distinctions between these concepts and how they influence your professional journey. With practical tools and insights, she guides women to cultivate a healthier self-perception, make empowered decisions, and enhance their leadership skills. Leading a team of 300 women in her organization, Lisa Anne helps them build thriving businesses based on their personal goals. A top achiever in Mary Kay Cosmetics, she led her team to the #1 position in Pennsylvania, generating over a million dollars annually. With degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati, her background spans nursing and business. Passionate about supporting female entrepreneurs, she provides tools, content, and mentorship for growth across all facets of life. Lisa Anne volunteers at a local homeless shelter, is married to Bill, and is a proud mother of two adult daughters. 

 Mary Beth O'Connor is an author, speaker, and advocate dedicated to empowering individuals on their journey to recovery. In her keynote, "From Junkie to Judge: Recovery from Substance Use Disorder and Trauma," Mary Beth shares her personal struggle with addiction and trauma, and how she crafted a recovery plan that led to a fulfilling life. She educates those in recovery and their support systems about diverse, secular recovery paths and addresses trauma and anxiety. Her memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, offers hope and inspiration, available on Amazon and other platforms. 

Kriti Nayyar, a powerful voice in self-love and empowerment, will present her poignant poem, "You Don't Know My Story and Yet You Paint Me as a Villain." In this thought-provoking piece, Kriti explores the harsh judgments women face when they dare to step outside societal expectations. As a single woman in her forties, she draws from her personal experiences, challenging the labels and stereotypes often imposed on women. Join her for an intimate and moving reflection on strength, resilience, and the journey to self-acceptance. 

 In this heartfelt session, Jasmine will guide attendees through a personal letter titled "Starting Over: A Letter to the Woman Ready for Change." Through the power of storytelling, she will offer a raw and honest reflection on the challenges and transformations many women face when they seek a fresh start. The letter, filled with vulnerability and wisdom, invites deep self-reflection and empathy. Jasmine will then share key takeaways designed to help attendees navigate their own journeys with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose. This session promises not only inspiration but practical insights attendees can immediately apply to their everyday lives. 

From the Ground Up: Rebuilding Life and Career

In this presentation, Adriana shares her journey of starting over, emphasizing the importance of embracing change, building resilience, leading with confidence, and persevering to conquer limiting beliefs. Her story aims to inspire women to overcome obstacles and realize their full potential, regardless of the challenges they face. Through her personal experiences, Adriana provides valuable insights for women looking to elevate both their lives and careers to the next level. 

How to Be Resilient Amidst Adversity 

Adriana has survived the death of her child, a fire, a divorce, and a stroke. Despite these adversities, she has overcome them and, from her hospital bed, seeks to inspire those facing similar challenges to persevere. She believes it is crucial to never relinquish one’s dreams or purpose, even when faced with hardship. While life may present unexpected obstacles, Adriana emphasizes the importance of maintaining resilience and determination to achieve goals. With the right mindset, success and thriving are possible. 

From Adversity to Empowerment: My Journey of Resilience and Advocacy

Join Astra Armstrong as she shares her inspiring journey from overcoming adversity in Washington, DC, to becoming a passionate advocate for educational equity. Through the arts, Astra empowers students and dismantles systemic barriers, using her experiences to inspire others to transform challenges into opportunities. Discover how her work in Atlanta’s underserved communities and her commitment to social justice are paving the way for a brighter future. This session is a powerful reminder that resilience and dedication can create lasting change. 

Beauty in my Scars    

 

The most common thing we hear from women after experiencing things such as pregnancy loss, infertility, child loss, a hysterectomy etc. is that they feel less feminine and less beautiful. This may be a hard concept for some to understand, but it is understandable. This talk aims to remind women everywhere that they are beautiful and no less feminine. There is so much beauty in the scars that we carry.

Living the Good Life

In a world transformed by the events of 2020, many are finding themselves navigating the unsettled landscape around them. The demands of work, home, family, and relationships continue to grow, often overwhelming individuals with the pressure to prioritize others over themselves. The urge to constantly fill everyone else's cup while neglecting their own is evident and relentless. True fulfillment, however, comes from paying attention to the woman in the mirror, truly seeing her, and acknowledging that she has yet to reach her full potential. Mastering self-awareness and personal growth is essential to living a fulfilling life, rather than merely surviving each day with bottled-up emotions that weigh heavily on her mental well-being. 

From Perfectionist to Pleasure Expert

From Perfectionist To Pleasure Expert is a workshop where we look at any stories that we may have around our pleasure. Maybe we feel it’s unnecessary, dirty or indulgent. We take those old stories and learn why pleasure is actually such a potent and powerful healing modality. From there, we create a new story around pleasure and leave with tools and tricks on how we can start to integrate more joy, juice and pleasure into our daily lives. meaningful connections that can lead to valuable partnerships.

Empowering Women to Advocate for Their Healthcare Needs 

Dr. Bagley is dedicated to teaching women how to empower themselves and advocate for their own health, especially in a system that often overlooks their concerns. Despite being a healthcare professional, her own healthcare team dismissed her classic symptoms of endometriosis, revealing the critical need for women to trust their instincts, persist in seeking answers, and take control of their health journey.

Uncensored Women

Women’s rights have been and remain historically under attack in the United States and around the world. Why do we continue to see such resistance to liberating women and hearing their voices? This workshop will address that question and will motivate women to use their stories to find their voices, it will inspire them to build their resilience through their challenges, and it will empower them to affirm their rights in a society that seeks to censor and silence their triumphs. Using storytelling, reflection, and dialogue, this workshop is an uncensored space where women can safely address the many barriers they face and feel encouraged to stand in the spotlight of their own lives.

From  Pain to Passion and Profit: Building Meaningful Relationships in Your 30s     

In this presentation, Jasveena shares her journey from relationship struggles to building a thriving blog. Discover how she turned personal challenges in finding meaningful connections into a profitable platform. Learn practical strategies for building fulfilling relationships in your 30s while transforming difficulties into opportunities for both personal and financial growth. 

Finding Your Voice    

Jonelle Marie is excited to present "Finding Your Voice," where participants will explore what it truly means to discover and embrace their authentic selves. She will share her insights on how finding one's voice can serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and inspiration. It’s about more than simply speaking up; it’s about using one's unique perspective to uplift others. Together, participants will explore how everyone can harness their voice to make a meaningful difference. 

Finding Your Voice

During this presentation, participants will:
- Reflect on how their own experiences and cultural events have shaped their present life.

-Understand where grace and empathy is needed as they envision how they may want to shift cultural narratives in their own life and business

-Create strategies that will empower them to create a life/business that honors their culture and builds upon their legacy

Win From Within: Mental Wellness Practices for Women

Kenisha Nichelle will be sharing her journey of freedom and empowerment, mirroring the core values of breaking barriers and embracing authenticity. Through her Game Changers United project, she has empowered countless women, and her story perfectly aligns with the values of She Is Me. In this session, she will offer the audience valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiration drawn from her personal journey and professional experience, all aimed at empowering and uplifting women to break free and shine brightly. 

Saving ME: A Strengths-based Approach to Suicide Prevention and Support

13% of teens attempt suicide in America. Suicide is roughly the 2nd leading cause of death with teen girls being most prevalent. A strengths-based approach to prevention and support helps young ladies (and their support networks) identify inner sources of resilience to help navigate emotional impacts of trauma including prolonged sadness. This presentation provides a 5-step method for activating resilience and helping young women save themselves.

Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee, Raise Like a Phoenix: Grace, Resilience, and Power

Krithika's life has taught her that the world is a family, a place where humans are meant to add value to one another. In this presentation, she will share how she adds value through the teachings of her beloved nation, India, and how those principles inspire her vision for the world. She will emphasize the importance of striving beyond mediocrity to serve humankind and contribute meaningfully, encouraging others to do the same. meaningful connections that can lead to valuable partnerships.

Find Clarity Within: Decode Your Body's Messages in 3 Powerful Steps

Ever felt your body trying to tell you something? Discover how your body’s signals can reveal hidden insights. This workshop will teach you to decode these messages, helping you overcome burnout, chronic stress and unfulfillment. Align your inner wisdom with your goals to achieve clarity, confidence, and true success. Your body’s been trying to guide you—let’s listen.businesses to the next level.

Unbroken: Empowering Strategies for Healing After Sexual Assault

This transformative presentation is designed to provide survivors with practical tools and insights for their healing journey. Participants will explore evidence-based strategies for coping with trauma, building resilience, and fostering self-empowerment. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and leave with actionable steps to reclaim their strength and well-being.

Keep Marching: Finding Strength and Inspiration in Our Shared Legacy of Transformational Change Makers and Trailblazers

From Cleopatra and Amelia Earhart to Malala Yousafzai, HerStory reveals that today’s women and girls are part of a powerful tradition of changemakers. Through narrative storytelling and visualization techniques, I’ll help attendees tap into this inspiring legacy and guide them in harnessing that generational strength to achieve their personal goals.

Untangled: A Discovery into Black Hair"

Untangled: A Discovery into Black Hair" is a workshop designed to educate on diversity, equity, and inclusion through the lens of women and Black hair education, dispelling common myths and misconceptions surrounding women and their hair. The workshop also includes interactive audience activities that foster breakout discussions, offering opportunities to explore topics such as women’s empowerment, supporting those in need, and addressing trauma and mental health issues.

The 3 Steps to Transforming your Fatal Flaw into your Fabulous Future

Who doesn’t have that flaw? That blemish, that imperfection that stopped you from showing up fully, from achieving your goals in life? The flaw that you hated? Well, your flaw was not meant to stop you, to trip you up, or to slow you down. Your flaw was to point you in the direction of your purpose. To make you unstoppable! Are you ready to Face your Flaw? Are you ready to become unstoppable? This presentation shares the 3 things you MUST do to become Unstoppable!

The Adoptive Mother's Gestational Process

The adopted mother is often looked upon as a pseudo-mother or not a “real” mother, due to not giving birth physically to the child that she is raising and caring for.  Natural/birth mothers experience the pregnancy and then the birth/labor pains with the birth of the child; adoptive mothers experience the birth/labor pains first as the child is already here but having to be healed from the deconstruction of their original identity and then experience a spiritual pregnancy of sorts, as they carry the child into adulthood.  This workshop gives a different perspective to what adoption really means for an adoptive mother.

Don't Suffer in Silence: Resources and Strategies to Address Past Trauma 

This presentation will provide an overview of the Push Past Past Pain Support Group, a mental health resource that provides mental and emotional support to address trauma and change the narrative of silent suffering by empowering and equipping women with the tools they need to speak their truth and thrive in their communities.  

Empowering Growth: Turning Adversity into Advantage

Discover practical strategies and personal insights for overcoming adversity and leveraging your unique experiences to fuel growth. This talk focuses on empowering women to break through systemic barriers, build resilience, and drive meaningful change in their lives and communities. Gain actionable tools to challenge the status quo and lead with confidence.

 The Power We Hold   

Despite facing childhood trauma and becoming a mother at 16, she persevered to become a first-generation college graduate and successful business owner. As a seven-time published author, transformational speaker, and host of "Soul Food with Sadie," she inspires high-achieving individuals to unlock their potential. Through her initiative, Be IMPACTFUL, she guides others to embrace their inner strength and design lives filled with purpose and fulfillment. 

Master Your Mind to Create the Life You Would LOVE!

During the darkest time of her life, she realized she had given up her power and allowed someone else to determine her worth. By mastering her thoughts and actions, she reclaimed her power and manifested the life she truly desired. In her presentations, she speaks about what prompted her to change her mindset, how she escaped her abuser, and how she transformed her life into one filled with love, happiness, and fulfillment. 

From Tragedy to Working Strategies (Turning Traumatic Events into Empowering Moments)

As a caregiver the remainder of your life is depended upon how you navigate the untimely events that occur.  Your ability to persevere after being thrust into bleak circumstances and uncertain outcomes is the most valuable trait you must absorb.  In this engaging talk, participants will be empowered and learn how to care for a loved one while managing their own emotional and physical stressors of caregiving as they embark upon their new journey of becoming the strategist of their own destiny!

Managing Life’s Chaos, Relationships and Setbacks 

Dr. Wendy will share tools on “how to shift your burn out into a peaceful and productive turnout.” As women many of us operate in high functioning roles or wear multiple hats on a daily basis. Wendy will walk you through how to identify your need for a reset and the specific type of reset that is an applicable to your situation. She will share tools that will help you manage life’s chaos, relationships and setbacks. Allowing you to balance and regather your healthy space.  

Expanding Women's Health: A New Paradigm for Transformation

Our healthcare paradigm fails to honor the dynamic and cyclical nature inherent to women. We cannot be contained within reductionistic, segmented models—nor should we be! This misalignment, this push for women to conform to rigid structures, is leading to a profound disconnection and sacrifice of our true selves, ultimately contributing to our dis-ease. In this talk, I will illuminate the pitfalls of the current model, exposing the ways it diminishes our wholeness. But more importantly, I will offer a vision of hope—a path forward to a vibrant and thriving life, fully aligned with our intrinsic wisdom and rhythms.

Structuring An Independent Business Correctly  

Sharing insight on how to correctly outline a business plan, fine-tune your businesses continuity (staying prepared) and the importance of having a strong community

I've always desired to own a business. My "A-HA" moment hit me when I saw an under-representation in fashion for everyday tall women and teens. That lead me to create a niche publication highlighting the void.

My goal is to share my knowledge with other women who are seeking to become business owners or looking for growth in their established entity. Also, making certain to note the importance of embracing the infancy stages, where it's often times the most challenging and you may want to give up due to seeing minimal results. 

Ten Tips to Turn Triggers into a Power   

 In this empowering talk, you’ll learn practical strategies to transform emotional triggers into sources of strength and growth. Discover how to shift from reaction to reflection, harness the energy of triggers, and use them as tools for personal empowerment and resilience. These 10 actionable tips will help you turn challenges into opportunities for deeper self-awareness and lasting change