The She Leads Conference was an insightful opportunity to meet new people and develop the vital skills needed for networking and life. Throughout the day we engaged in many interactive sessions and heard from speakers about their successes and how they reached their goals.

My favourite keynote speaker was Ebony May. I was intrigued by how she started her business so young and turned something she loved into a productive and profitable enterprise. Her story was relatable — she began early and still navigated the struggles of school and teenage life while growing her business. I most enjoyed the “Unite to Ignite” interactive session by Han Worsley; it taught us how to communicate with our peers through shared values and experiences, and how to stand by our own values while respectfully disagreeing with others. My biggest takeaway about leadership from the day was to create opportunities for yourself. While opportunities sometimes come to you, creating them yourself gives you more control over what you want to achieve and how you will get there. For future students attending, this program allows you to explore leadership in unconventional ways and inspires you to chase your dreams effectively.

— Brenda Nwakor

The She Leads Conference was a wonderful experience that showed me what it means to unite and make a difference in the world. Ebony May, a 21-year-old student and entrepreneur, was the most inspiring keynote speaker for me. With youthful energy, she spoke about falling down and getting up again, and about not fearing what lies ahead — all grounded in real-life experience. Her insight into media helped us see the difference between how the media frames fear and each individual’s lived experience, and how that framing does not have to limit what we can achieve. Overall, it was an eye-opening day that highlighted the transformative power of diverse voices and created a strong sense of unity and purpose.

— Ella Horrigan

Cheryl Jones
Religious Education, Philosophy and Food Technology