2023 Tampa Bay Young Women's Leadership Symposium

About Us

Our Mission

The mission of the Young Women's Leadership Symposium is to inspire and develop our future women leaders by giving them access to and leveraging the successes of current women leaders.
This Symposium is backed by a community of influential and successful women as well as sponsor organizations who are dedicated to encouraging all women to be outstanding, be brilliant, and be true.

Symposium Location

1207 S Howard Ave, Epicurean Hotel, Tampa, Fl 33606 & Nationally Live-streamed

What is the Young Women's Leadership Symposium

The Symposium will help young women power up their life, level up their leadership skills, learn about self-care/wellness, and evolve their personal brand while being connected to a community of a community of business leaders. The speakers are experienced leaders with collective wisdom who will share stories on how they leveraged adversity and overcame barriers.

Who Should Attend

The Symposium is open to any high school-aged young woman. Attendees have the option to attend in person or virtually from any location around the United States.

This is a unique opportunity for personal growth.

Read our Founder's Welcome

Keynote Speaker

Jane Castor

Mayor
City of Tampa

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Jane Castor

Mayor
City of Tampa

In 2019, the Tampa community elected Jane Castor to serve as the city’s 59th Mayor. This longtime public servant and former Tampa Police Chief remains laser-focused on her vision for “Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow”—a five-pillar strategic plan centered around strengthening community-centric services, enhancing workforce development, increasing housing affordability, improving transportation, and fostering sustainability and resilience. Under Mayor Jane Castor’s visionary leadership, her administration passed the most extensive water/wastewater infrastructure plan in the city’s history, in addition to the first budget starting in the black since the great recession. Her key achievements within the past two years also include helping secure more than $90 million for transportation and mobility improvements, hiring the City’s first Sustainability and Resilience Officer, and launching various strategic initiatives to support prosperous and equitable job growth, economic developments, and housing opportunities. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Jane graduated from Chamberlain High School and attended the University of Tampa on an athletic scholarship.

Panelists

Ashaa Russell

Certified Athletic Trainer, Founder
Bam Athletics, Inc.

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Ashaa Russell

Certified Athletic Trainer, Founder
Bam Athletics, Inc.

Ashaa M Russell, LAT, CSCS, CWPC Owner of B.A.M. Athletics, LLC Young Women’s Symposium Bio Ashaa M Russell is an Certified Athletic Trainer and business owner. Prior to making the transition into College Athletics and entrepreneurship, she was a Strength and Conditioning Coach for High School Athletics and a personal trainer within the corporate and private sector for seven years. She has contributed to the success of many athletes across all levels, from elementary school to NBA G-League. She is a third degree black belt and has competed in Mixed Martial Arts Sparring tournaments and Brazilian Jim jitsu receiving second and 1st place trophies. Ashaa was also a walk-on and became a starter for Acrobatics and tumbling as well as Women’s Rugby at Quinnipiac University while in undergrad and grad school. She was a positive influence for both teams on and off the field. Ashaa continues to strive to support all people and all athletes in their journey towards their life goals. In addition she aims to shed light on mental health and advocate for physical as well as mental well being for all people.

Katie McGill

Executive Director
Dress for Success SW Florida

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Katie McGill

Executive Director
Dress for Success SW Florida

For more than 25 years, Katie McGill has provided unparalleled opportunity and resources to thousands of women in Tampa Bay. We know her best as the driving force behind Dress for Success Tampa Bay, first as a volunteer and then as Executive Director, helping more than 35,000 women get back on their feet with a new outlook on life. Prior to that, she spent 10 years working with the Centre for Women, 9 years volunteering with the Hillsborough County Women’s Correctional facility, and 20 years volunteering with the Crisis Center of Tampa. At each juncture, empowering women to accept personal responsibility and gain economic independence. Her dedication has earned numerous awards, including Black G.I.R.L.S. Rock Tampa bay 2016, WEDU Be More Awards 2015, Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers from the Tampa Bay Rays, TBBJ’s 2013 Non-Profit of the Year and The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Katie with its distinguished Lightning Community Hero award, and her accolades continue on even to this day being honored by many other agencies and organizations.