Nearly 900 high school students from across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will gather at Northern Kentucky University Monday and Tuesday for Young Women LEAD, the daylong conference to empower young women in the areas of leadership, education, and development.
The conference connects young women with nationally-recognized female leaders, who share their own experiences about overcoming obstacles to achieve successful and meaningful careers. Due to the popularity of the event, the daylong program will be offered twice to accommodate more participants.
Julia Garcia
“We are proud to welcome these remarkable young women to our campus. By creating this space and place for these talented teens and providing them with leadership-focused skills and experiences, we know that they will be better prepared to embrace their strengths and achieve their full potential. A goal of the conference is to help inspire them to become the next generation of leaders and we are proud to be involved,” said Dr. Cynthia J. Reed, dean of NKU’s College of Education and Human Services.
Young Women LEAD is presented by SOAR, a professional leadership development program for young women. It is sponsored by Toyota and NKU’s College of Education and Human Services, and offered free of charge.
The conference features breakout sessions on topics such as self-confidence, careers, money management, self-defense, and attending college. The conference also provides an opportunity for teens to connect with and learn from local female business leaders.
The keynote speaker is Julia Garcia, founder and president of the TRU Movement, a nonprofit organization that uses storytelling and performance art to break down walls, stereotypes, and labels that keep young people from being “The Real U.”
Young Women LEAD will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18 in the James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union and in the University Center on NKU’s Highland Heights campus. For more information or to attend, please visit youngwomenlead.com.
