As Athena's CEO, Holly supports global STEM companies in the development of their female leaders and male allies, and in their advocacy for gender equality. She successfully led the launch, merger, and financial turnaround of three California companies in the cleantech, biotech and STEM sectors. Previously in Washington DC, she served in President Bush's Administration as a Presidential Appointee to advance his legislative agenda at the U.S. EPA and U.S. State Department and, also served as a federal lobbyist for industry. Smithson began her career in broadcast journalism as a News Director and Anchor for television and all-talk radio stations. She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program and holds a BS degree in broadcast communications from East Carolina University. She is recognized across California as a disruptor and innovative leader including, Inductee in Women's Hall of Fame in 2023, Top 500 Most Influential Leaders, CEO of the Year, and Businesswoman of the Year, by the San Diego Business Journal. In 2013, Holly was appointed a delegate in CA Governor Brown's Cleantech Trade Mission to China.

Jasmine LeFlore, MSE, MBA, is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Greater Than Tech (GTT), a San Diego-based non-profit that brings immersive STEM and business education programs to young girls and students in underserved communities. A powerhouse with purpose, she is also a full-time Advanced Technology Solutions Lead at Collins Aerospace, serving as a real-life example and role model for girls of color looking to engineer their own futures in tech. LeFlore believes she can inspire change and is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in STEM workplaces and classrooms. Her work has been recognized through various entrepreneurship, industry and community service awards, including earning a 2023 NAACP San Diego Branch Freedom Fund Award, the San Diego Magazine Woman Builder of the Year award in 2022, and the 2022 Outstanding Engineering Service Award by the County of San Diego Engineers, and the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Science Spectrum Award. She has received her BSE in Aerospace Engineering from University of Michigan, her MSE in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Purdue University and her MBA from Indiana University. She was born and brought up in Flint, MI.

Jaye Connolly is the Chairman and CEO of RippleNami, Inc., an innovative tech firm in Africa that integrates AI, blockchain, and data visualization providing traceability and transparency to connect unconnected communities. She realizes empowering women and children will make the world a better place. Connolly saw something in RippleNami that she knew would impact the world & wanted to be part of the sea change it had the potential to affect. Connolly travels the globe witnessing circumstances she never dreamed imaginable. Connolly has over 40 years of leadership across finance, technology, and healthcare, leading six publicly traded companies, and facilitating 18 acquisitions that boosted revenues by $2 billion. As a resilient single mother,  she's proud of her daughter, a litigation partner advocating for the voiceless. Connolly chairs three for-profits and two non-profits focused on climate and women's empowerment.

​​Lieutenant Julie Roland is a helicopter aircraft commander who has deployed around the world as a MH-60R helicopter pilot. She is a member of the San Diego Leadership Alliance, League of Women Voters, Women’s Foundation, Truman National Security Project, the Rotary Club, the Young Professionals Council of the San Diego LGBT Center, and serves on the Mission Bay Park Committee. Julie currently attends the University of San Diego School of Law and is Vice President of the Public Interest Law Foundation. In her free time, she started Just Tryna Make Friends, a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to promote the arts and build community through a monthly variety show. The show has been voted a finalist in San Diego Reader Magazine’s Best Neighborhood Event in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and as a result of her efforts, in 2022 and 2023, Julie was named a finalist in San Diego Business Journal Magazine’s Business Women of the Year in the nonprofit category.  *NOTE Julie's talk does not reflect the official views of the US Navy.

Melissa Villagomez is a professional dedicated to raising awareness about the foster care system and the much-needed support for current and former foster youth. Melissa’s passion stems from her personal experience in foster care. Melissa is an avid supporter and role model for all foster youth working towards breaking the cycle of foster care. Melissa is now the Development and Special Events Manager for Walden Family Services, a nationally recognized foster care, adoption, and youth services agency. She has collaborated with various community organizations to develop programs and services that provide opportunities to those currently in foster care, as well as young adults whom the system has impacted. Melissa is a firm believer that there is life after foster care, and there are community members who want to help.

Sarah Hassaine is the Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity, at the digital sleep health company ResMed. She has ten years of experience in the D&I space, starting at Amazon where she helped with recruiting and retaining women in Applied Sciences, and then at Qualcomm where she led their conference engagement, affinity group expansion, and designed trainings and inclusion building solutions.  Sarah started her career as a government contractor with Deloitte, and then in international development supporting democracy building projects, mainly across the Middle East and North Africa. As a San Diego native, she is very devoted to the growth and direction of the city and serves on four organizational boards  championing equity, access and economic inclusion. She also volunteers with inter-faith, refugee assimilation, orphanage support, and health organizations.

Sheila Gujrathi, MD is a biotech entrepreneur and executive, healthcare investor, and drug developer with over 25 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. She has founded, built, and run numerous biotech companies and led the development and approval of life-changing pharmaceutical drugs for patients with immunology and oncology diseases. She currently serves as a chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor and consultant to many start-up companies and investment funds. Dr. Gujrathi has earned multiple biotech leadership awards, including Corporate Directors Forum Director of the Year, Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology, Athena Pinnacle Award, and was named among the Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. She is thrilled to be the 2024 Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering commencement speaker. Dr. Gujrathi is passionate about making the working world safe and inclusive for women and other minority groups. She is co-founder of the Biotech CEO Sisterhood, a group of transformative trailblazing female CEOs.

Sheryl Anjanette Founder & CEO, Parsley360 Sheryl Anjanette is an author, speaker and the founder and CEO of Parsley360 (Parsley), a human centered, AI-enabled performance optimization system for businesses with universal access to an emotionally intelligent pocket coach. Parsley is a unified platform to connect the dots & understand the unique nuances of each organization and individual. Sheryl’s professional journey spanning three decades of experience in leadership, marketing, and performance optimization led her to seek a holistic solution that could benefit all organizations and the stakeholders that empower their success. Sheryl holds advanced certifications in strategy, performance technology, cognitive behavioral neuroscience, and clinical stress, anxiety and emotional regulation. Her insights as the best-selling author of The Imposter Lies Within, a roadmap to living an imposter-free life, reflect her ability to translate complex concepts into actionable strategies.

Dr. Silvia Mah, focused on 'Impact with Integrity', is the Founder & Chairwoman of Stella Foundation, a global conSTELLAtion of organizations & leaders equipping women-led businesses from startup to sale & empowering the funders who champion them. Dr. Mah is a faith-driven leader as the Director of Innovation at Biola University. Since 2010, Dr. Mah has invested in 160+ seed-stage female- or BIPOC-led startups, from medical devices to CPG & from San Diego to Brooklyn. As the inaugural Fund Manager for San Diego Angel Conference Fund I (2019), she has invested in 13 emerging fund managers & been blessed by 6 exits & 1 IPO. Learn more at sheinvests.com, listen to her globally-recognized podcast, She Invests!, & enjoy Dr. Mah's book, The Startup Investor Mindset, on Amazon. Dr. Mah holds a PhD & MBA from UCSD, & a BS from Pepperdine University. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Mah believes in integrating family and work to create a blended lifestyle with a strong cup of integrity.

Introducing Stacey Lauren, a pioneering entrepreneur and the driving force behind Do The Thing, a movement aimed at revolutionizing community building. Stacey's two-decade career peaked when she sold her stake in a leading staffing firm she co-founded in 2001. This pivotal moment in 2022 led her to fully commit to empowering people to embrace life, find their voices, and pursue their dreams. Do The Thing is more than a motto; it's a transformative framework that rallies individuals around shared goals, fostering significant personal and societal change. Stacey's initiative combats the pervasive sense of disconnection in today's society by creating engaging communities where people take action and form meaningful bonds. Recognized for her innovative approach, Stacey’s work is celebrated as a beacon for future community-building efforts. As she prepares to take the TEDx stage, she continues to inspire and push for a world where collective action makes a profound difference.

With over 25 years of experience as an Emmy Award-winning sportscaster, Katy Temple has honed her skills to empower executives, founders, and professional athletes to exude confidence, composure, and control both on camera and in person. Driven by her passion for guiding high-profile leaders toward excellence, Katy established Think Temple, LLC. Leveraging her deep expertise from the big leagues, she enables clients to seize pivotal moments on camera with authority, authenticity, and impact, mirroring their success in every other aspect of life. Katy's renowned "Mastering the Lens Workshop" in San Diego is meticulously crafted for ambitious women who share this profile, offering tailored strategies to amplify their presence and influence. As a former TEDx Coach, Katy brings a wealth of experience to the table and is honored to contribute to this year's event, continuing her mission to empower individuals to shine on stage and beyond.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katytemplemediacoaching/Website: https://www.katytemplemediacoaching.com/

The San Diego Salimpour Collective Dance Ensemble is part of a global network of passionate, certified Salimpour dancers embodying the dynamic fusion of tradition and innovation in the world of belly dance. Rooted in the renowned Salimpour School of Dance founded by the legendary Jamila Salimpour and continued by her daughter Suhaila Salimpour, the Ensemble represents a legacy of excellence and innovation in belly dance education. Composed of talented dancers trained in the Salimpour methodology, the ensemble showcases the intricate choreographies, expressive movements, and cultural richness of belly dance.  As ambassadors of the Salimpour legacy, the ensemble continues to push the boundaries of belly dance, while honoring the traditions of this ancient art form. With each performance, the Salimpour Collective Dance Ensemble invites audiences on a transformative journey, celebrating the beauty, power, and cultural significance of belly dance. Suhaila.com  FB: SalimpourCollectiveSanDiego   FB: SuhailaSalimpourPage, Instagram: @suhailasalimpour, TikTok: @suhailainternational, LinkedIn: suhailasalimpour , YouTube: @Suhailainternational,  Vimeo: suhailasalimpour. Pinterest: suhailadance

Moth Milk was created by Samuel Pierce and Liza Divil a year ago. The music is lyrically affirmation based and is a blend of different genres including r&b, folk and jazz. The artists aim to invoke empowerment and self reflection with their catchy lyrics and tasty riffs. Follow on instagram @mothmilkmusic for more information.