LeadHER aims to empower women professionals through educational sessions, networking opportunities, and motivational speakers, fostering leadership skills, confidence, and professional advancement.
Join us for Influential speakers, fellowship, networking, creativity, and collaboration to help your business soar in the greater Aurora area.
Meet the Committee Attend a LeadHER Event
Join Us for the 2025 LeadHER Socials, Speaker Series, Escape, and Conference
LeadHER presents a power-packed lineup of influential speakers and meaningful connection opportunities in 2025 and beyond.
2025 Empowerment Sponsor: Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation (AWE)
LeadHER Socials
February 20
6–8 pm
HaloHeat Sauna Studios, Aurora
August 21
6–8 pm
The Perch, Aurora
LeadHER Speaker Series
2025 Theme: Harnessing the Power of Influence: Empowering Women to Lead With Impact
April 17
10:30 am–1:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Maria Malayter
Sage Event Space, North Aurora
October 16
5:30–8:30 pm
Speaker: Arella Swan
1222 Private Events, Aurora
LeadHER Escape
June 20
11 am-3 pm
Science of Spirituality
LeadHER Conference
November 7
8 am-2 pm
Location TBD
LeadHER 2024
Title Sponsor: Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation (AWE)
Socials
March 28: Pure Skin Solutions, Aurora
April 18: The Cotton Seed Creative, Aurora
June 20: Aura Holistic & Metaphysical Wellness, Aurora
August 15: Legacy Nutrition & Fitness, Aurora
October 17: Smallcakes Aurora, Aurora
Speaker Series
2024 Theme: The Stories We Tell
May 16: Jenette Jurczyk “Creative Communication—with Improv!” at Two Brothers Roundhouse, Aurora
July 18: Maren Oslac “Embracing the Concept of ‘Enough’” at Nide Jardin, Aurora
September 19: Dr. Susan Rivera-Mills “Leading with Authenticity: How Our Stories Create Value-Centered Leadership” at Casa Santa Maria, Aurora
LeadHER Conference
November 8: Bureau Gravity, Aurora
LeadHER 2023
Sponsor: Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation (AWE)
LeadHER was inspired by Jen Mendoza and Christina Cash following their participation in the Leadercast “Ripple Effect” event hosted by the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce in August 2021. After that event, Jen and Christina expressed their desire to continue the conversation around women in leadership and sustain that “ripple effect.” But it was after Leadercast “Amplify” in November 2022 that Jen and Christina, alongside ARCC Board Member Carolyn Chiovino, laid the foundation for the start of LeadHER in January 2023.
LeadHER Live
March 10: LeadHER Live on Good Morning Aurora
Socials
October 11: The Cotton Seed Creative, Aurora
Speaker Series
January 27: Cheryl O’Donoghue “Authentic Reinvention for a New YOU in the New Year!” at The Bit Theater, Aurora
March 23: Kristin Ziman “Leaving Your Mark” at Society 57, Aurora
June 14: Charity A. Gunn “Inclusion Workshop” at Society 57, Aurora
Book Bites
February 10: Cheryl O’Donoghue “How to Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader” at Java Plus, Aurora
April 14: Kristin Ziman “Reimagining Blue” at Java Plus, Aurora
LeadHER By the Numbers
In the past two years, LeadHER has achieved remarkable milestones! We have partnered with three incredible organizations—SCORE Mentors (Fox Valley), Women Entrepreneurs Secrets of Success (WESOS), and the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)—that have provided additional resources at every LeadHER event. In total, we have hosted 15 events, including our Speaker Series, Book Bites, Socials, and now our very first conference. We have proudly showcased 12 women-owned businesses in Aurora, creating opportunities for attendees to shop, support, and admire what they have to offer. In all, more than 500 attendees have joined us, and 43 women entrepreneurs have exhibited and showcased their businesses and offerings.
Businesses That Have Hosted LeadHER Events
Aura Holistic & Metaphysical Wellness Center
The Bit Theater
Bureau Gravity
Casa Santa Maria
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange
Java Plus
Legacy Nutrition & Fitness
Nide Jardin
Pure Skin Solutions
Smallcakes Aurora
Society 57
Two Brothers Roundhouse
Exhibitors at LeadHER Events
Accurate Personnel Services ● Annie Kinsley-State Farm ● Aura Holistic & Metaphysical Wellness ● Aurora Public Library Foundation ● Aurora University ● Beautifully EmpoweHERed ● Bernicky Law Firm ● Busy Bee Services, Inc. ● Charity White Photography ● Chris Cash Homes ● City of Aurora-Business Equity ● Cloud Mary Paintings ● Compassionate Edge, Inc. ● Crystal Klear Cleaning ● Document The Abuse ● Earth Karma ● Ellá Lash & Brow Bar ● Evelyn Marie Mendoza-Author ● Express Employment Professionals ● HaloHeat Sauna Studios ● HealthSource Chiropractic Aurora ● Leave Me Bee Pest Control, Inc. ● Legacy Nutrition & Fitness ● Maria Nuñez-John Greene Realtor ● The Matrix Club ● Meaningful Letters ● Moveable Feast ● Mrs. Crafty Designs ● Multi Print and Digital ● NuMark Credit Union ● On Point Image Consulting ● Planned By Francis ● Prime Events ● Real Estate Pet Project ● Real Finance Group LLC ● SCORE Mentors (Fox Valley) ● Seven Setting Suns Art Gallery ● The She Said Project ● Tropical Smoothie Café ● Women Entrepreneurs Secrets of Success (WESOS) ● Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) ● Wyckwood House ● Xcelerator Business Summit
Thank You to Our 2025 LeadHER Empowerment Sponsor
The mission of Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation (AWEF) is to elevate and empower Aurora-area women and future women by making grants to tax-exempt nonprofits engaged in meaningful, measurable work that helps women over the hurdles of inequity and exclusion, propelling them forward with life-changing programs and services. For more information about the grants made by AWEF, including our grant guidelines and online application, visit awe-foundation.org.
