Young & Empowered Women Leadership Conference Addresses the Wage Gap and More

Young & Empowered Women members celebrate together at the Empow[her] Conference

(TEMPE – June 25, 2022) – More than 100 young professionals gathered June 25th for Young & Empowered Women’s second annual Empow[her] Conference.

Y&E Founder and Chair, Veronica Aguilar; Keynote speaker, Jess Morales- Rocketto; Y&E Board of Directors Monica Trejo, Anna Carolina Ortiz, Sandy Martinez

On the anniversary of its founding, the Scottsdale-based nonprofit hosted a free professional development event featuring high-profile guest speakers, including Arizona locals Vanessa Ruiz of Arizona State University and Monica Villalobos of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to address combating the gender gap, imposter syndrome, and salary negotiation. 
Jess Morales-Rocketto, Time 100 Next honoree and founder of the Latino Media Network, gave the keynote address to inspire entrepreneurship and self-advocacy. “As women, we need to get better at saying ‘yes’ to ourselves, because nobody is going to do it for us.”

The afternoon featured a mentorship roundtable where young professionals could solicit career advice from 11 of the Valley’s most high-profile, successful businesswomen representing a variety of industries, and a tabling expo hosting local women-owned businesses.

The conference came on the heels of the controversial supreme court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision weighing heavy on the minds of all in attendance.

“No matter how you look at it, rights were taken away from us yesterday. So today, we’re pouring into ourselves. Because we are worth it,” shared Veronica Aguilar, Y&E Founder.

In addition to the annual conference, benefits for Y&E members include access to a one-on-one mentor, personalized soft and technical skill development, networking, individualized career assessments and service opportunities. Their mission is to directly mentor and bring together diverse women to achieve their personal and professional goals. 

The commitment to join Y&E is $85 per year, with tuition scholarships available. 

Y&E recognizes the strength in diversity of members and encourages membership participation from a variety of sectors. Young professionals interested in joining cohort 5 of Y&E, please email youngandempoweredwomen@gmail.com. 

About Young & Empowered Women

The values of Y&E were first introduced in 2020, a time when networking and career coaching would be redefined. In the past two years, members have been able to expand their networks, be introduced to powerhouse female leaders and receive personalized skill development and coaching. Learn more at www.yewomensassociation.com/ 

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