The Five Principles of Leadership: Principle #5 is Pay-It-Forward
Wing 2 Wing co-founder Alys Smith is set to hold the first inaugural Women Warriors Summit (WWS) in October 2023 at Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. The one-day gathering will follow a theme of empowerment, giving women “the power to say ‘no’ and the courage to say ‘yes.’” The event will include inspirational talks from trailblazing women, serving as an opportunity for women to build meaningful relationships, discuss inequality issues and learn from one another in a safe learning environment.
Encouraging Empowerment Through Conversation
A highlight of the WWS agenda is sure to be keynotes from selected guest speakers who will share tangible advice on how attendees can feel empowered to bring their voices forward. Guest speakers include actress and producer, Nicole Kidman, and co-author of ‘Crucial Conversations,’ Emily Gregory. The WWS will be emceed by award-winning journalist and entrepreneur Soledad O’Brien. Additional speakers will be announced in the months leading up to the summit.
WWS will host panel discussions, breakout sessions and educational training to enable participants to connect with one another and further their conversational skills in a supportive, collaborative space. These sessions will also give participants the opportunity to learn from industry experts, receiving instructions and insights to help them achieve better results through their conversations both in the workplace and at home.
Alys Smith: The Woman Behind the Summit
“In a world that has determined the woman’s role for centuries, my biggest hope is to bring our shared experiences together and empower summit attendees to have the courageous conversations that will enable them to go after the career and personal accomplishments they deserve,” said Alys Smith on the creation of WWS.
WWS Founder Alys Smith has long championed women’s equality and empowerment in West Virginia and beyond, and has used her various roles and experiences as a platform to do so.
Aside from founding the Women Warriors Summit, she is also a co-founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, which she created with her husband Brad D. Smith to uplift Appalachia. Through her role as co-founder, Alys facilitates many of Wing 2 Wing’s philanthropic efforts centered around expanding access to education, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and promoting the preservation of West Virginia’s environment.
Alys is also a mediator, former attorney and founder of Better2Mediate, a mediation service that helps individuals avoid litigation in conflict resolution. She also serves alongside Brad at Marshall University where he presides over the university as president and she as first lady.
Learn More About WWS
This first-of-its-kind summit is a premium opportunity for women across Appalachia to engage in meaningful learning and work on important conversational skills to help them live their life to their fullest potential. As the event day approaches, participants can learn more about featured speakers, the summit agenda and other activities by visiting the official Women Warriors Summit website.
Don’t miss out – get tickets for the Women Warriors Summit here.