The Women’s Empowerment Network (WEN) annual conference inspired leadership, confidence, and empowerment among women, offering a platform for students and faculty to engage in meaningful discussions and skill-building sessions. The event took place on March 7 at the Mountain View Campus of Dallas College, welcoming students from all seven Dallas College campuses. There were 65 students in attendance.
The conference started with opening remarks from Dr. Stephanie Hill, who set an uplifting tone for the event. The conference presented workshops in the areas of leadership, self-growth and personal branding.
The first of three workshops, Own Your Journey: Building Leadership and Community for Success was presented by Muñeca Torres-Rivera. This session encouraged self-reflection and leadership development. Attendees explored how personal and cultural values shape professional life, developed leadership skills, and learned to advocate for themselves. The session concluded with an interactive activity where participants shared personal dreams and challenges through anonymous cards, creating a collective art piece that visualized their journeys.
Nia Cottonham presented the Lead Yourself to Lead Others workshop, emphasizing self-awareness as a fundamental trait of effective leaders. Participants defined leadership, explored how their personal values and skills shaped their leadership, and worked on personal development through identifying core values, character, and passions. This session highlighted the power of self-development.
The third workshop, Branding You: Unlocking the Power of Your Personal Identity, was presented by Danielle Ross. It focused on the importance of personal branding in the professional world. Attendees learned how their skills, reputation, and values contribute to their professional identity and how to build strong relationships and grow their careers. A key takeaway from this session was creating a professional brand statement and understanding its role in personal and professional success.
In addition to the breakout sessions, attendees engaged in the Pulse Project, an activity to encourage small-group discussions on leadership and career challenges. Each table was guided by a mentor who led conversations on role models, defining success and overcoming leadership challenges, providing valuable networking and personal growth opportunities.
Thereafter, Student Success Panel, moderated by Dr. Victoria McWilliams, featured Dallas College students and alumni, including Pamela A. Davis, Quonjahlia Murphy, and Nathalie Lopez. They shared their experiences and overcoming various challenges as students. Panelists discussed what being an empowered woman means to them, the on-campus resources that helped them succeed, and organizations that provided valuable opportunities for growth. Their insights offered inspiration and practical advice for making the most of the college experience.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Erin Lewis, who emphasized the importance of networking and self-empowerment. The WEN Conference was a big success. Students learned new skills, gained confidence, and found ways to grow as individuals. The event inspired everyone to keep improving and believing in themselves.
