Take The Lead, a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to achieving gender parity in leadership, will celebrate Women’s Equality Day by hosting its third annual Power Up Concert and Conference on August 25 and 26 with a theme of “The Big RE”. The event is hybrid, with the in-person sessions taking place in the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ. Starting at $297, early bird ticket packages can be purchased here: taketheleadwomen.com/events/power-up-conference-the-big-re. Each package level has special offerings for the buyer, including opportunities to get deeply discounted Take The Lead courses. A free musical concert – celebrating Take The Lead’s eighth anniversary and the 80th birthday of Gloria Feldt, its co-founder and women’s advocate– is a conference highlight; additional information can be found here: https://lead.taketheleadwomen.com/event/power-up-concert-2022/e413126.
The Why: The Power Up Conference Mission
Tapping into the zeitgeist after a pandemic that has caused many to REthink, REwire, REcreate their lives and careers, the Power Up Concert and Conference starts with the question: “What’s your Big RE?” and will address effective civic engagement, innovative DEI leadership practices, modern motherhood, and creating the workplace of the future through talks, panels, and participatory roundtables. In addition, Take The Lead will recognize individuals and companies who are blazing a trail in gender and diversity parity.
August 26th – Women’s Equality Day – was specifically chosen for its significance as it commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment giving American women the right to vote. “‘The Big RE’ features distinguished keynoters and speakers on the front lines in business, racial and social justice, and workplace equity who will speak from their own diverse experiences to motivate, challenge, and inspire action,” notes Conference Chair and Speaker Kim Tarnopolski, founder and chief community builder of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun. “In this moment when so many women’s rights are being rolled back, Take The Lead’s bold mission is more relevant than ever.”
In addition to Feldt and Tarnopolski, the to-date speaker roster includes:
- Carla Harris: Author and senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley. In addition to speaking, Harris will receive Take The Lead’s coveted Leading Woman Award
- Katica Roy, CEO of Pipeline Equity
- Lisa Mae Brunson: Chief Visionary and Founder of Wonder Women Tech
- Felicia Davis: Branding Consultant and Founder of The Black Women’s Collective
- Dr. Nancy O’Reilly: Author, Philanthropist, and Founder of Connect4Good, Inc
- Tara Jaye Frank: Equity Strategist and author of the groundbreaking new book, The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence.
- Jeannette Ceja: Award-winning travel journalist and CEO of Jet Set with Jeanette
Leading Man and Leading Company Awards will be given as well.
Powerful Music
The best-selling musical artists scheduled to headline Power Up’s celebratory concert thus far are:
- Dierks Bentley: Country music platinum artist with 17 number one songs on the Billboard Charts
- Marina Arsenijevic: Emmy-nominated concert pianist and composer, and headlining artist from Take the Lead’s 2021 Equality Day Concert
- Carmela y Mas: A Latin jazz ensemble headlined by community activist Carmela Ramirez
- BETTY: Indie pop trip of long-time artists and activists on a mission to dismantle racist patriarchy
Proceeds from sponsors and donors to the concert and conference will further fund Take the Lead’s in-person and virtual training, coaching, and consulting offerings, including its “50 Women Who can Change the World” movement with 25 leadership cohorts that leverage their power to accelerate parity in key sectors.
“The time for cautious action is over,” says Take The Lead’s President and Co-Founder Gloria Feldt, who is also a conference keynoter. “The Power Up Conference will help us face head-on the ongoing rollbacks of racial and women’s rights in a measured and results-focused manner.”
“Our goal,” she continues, “is to move forward together to share and develop concrete steps to achieve Take The Lead’s mission – equality for all women+ in a society and workplace where everyone can thrive.”
About Take The Lead
Co-founded by Gloria Feldt, Take The Lead, is a 501 (c) (3) that prepares, develops, inspires, and propels all women of all diversities and intersectionalities to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions across all sectors by 2025. The organization’s programs and services for companies and individuals include the 9 Leadership Power Tools online course, 50 Women Can Change the World cohorts, “Creating a Culture of Change DEI” training, Power to Change Stories, Premier Coaching Program, and The Movement Blog, among others.
