Arizona Foundation for Women (AFW), a not-for-profit agency that advocates for women’s causes in Arizona, graduated 36 local women from the SHE Leads!™ women’s leadership development program.
Throughout the past nine months, SHE Leads!™ participants raised over $89,117 for non-profits focused on helping Arizona women. The cohort is proud to fund the following organizations as grantees: Cihuapactli Collective, Defenders of Children, Homicide Survivors, Inc., Legal Services for Crime Victims in AZ and Live & Learn. Additionally, a portion of the funds raised will support the SHE Leads!™ program moving forward.
The program included a curriculum with topics covering growth mindset, diversity & inclusion, building strategic partnerships and more. Graduates worked one-on-one with personal mentors, completed personal strength assessments, built strong relationships through after- hours networking and workshop sessions and developed a toolkit to advance themselves personally and professionally.
“The true measure of SHE Leads! success lies in the remarkable achievements of our graduates, as they rise to positions of influence, shatter glass ceilings, and lead with unwavering strength,” said Tracy DeSoto, SHE Leads!™ program chair and AFW board member. “Their journeys epitomize the indomitable spirit of women leaders, inspiring generations to come.”
The following women, representing a diverse body of work and community experience, make up the 2023 SHE Leads!™ graduates:
- Maya Blake
- Sedona Bostick
- Lorraine Botha
- Jenny Castro
- Christina Crawford
- Denisse Delos Santos
- Linda Driscoll Lopez
- Lindsey Dryer
- Andrea Gilbert
- Patricia Gonzalez
- Neha Gupta
- Julie Heineking
- Erica Johnson
- Erica Kern O’Neill
- Kaylee Kilgore
- Marlaina Larsen Thorslev
- Andrea Longoria
- Ashwini Mahajan
- Jennifer Maine
- Rebbecca Mayo
- Charnissa Moore
- Dilcy Perez-Aceves
- Shelly Phillips
- Ashley Plum
- Monica Reyes-Lacey
- Ashley Saucedo
- Laura Schonberger
- Tra’chelle Simon
- Jennifer Smith
- Andrea Stroud
- Laura Suarez
- Summer Thompson
- Kayla Vucinich
- Karie Warfield
- Lia Wilson
- Jacqueline Worden
“SHE Leads!™ has shaped me into a leader,” said 2023 graduate Marlaina Larsen Thorslev. “When I entered the program, I was not in a leadership role. I figured the program would provide me with largely theoretical information. However, now that I am in a leadership role, I am actively utilizing what I have learned. I wish my teenage self could see me now. I never thought I would blossom as I have.”
The graduation event occurred on June 16, 2023 at the University of Phoenix. Doris Savron, vice provost at University of Phoenix, shared a commencement address and Sherri Stevens, owner and ceo of Women’s Executive Network, spoke on her executive leadership experience. Following the speakers, each graduate delivered a speech sharing what they gained from the program.
“Our SHE Leaders embraced new perspectives and gained new knowledge so they can make the greatest impact as a leader in their community. The themes that emerged from their graduation speeches are a stronger belief in themselves, greater confidence in their abilities, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, taking new risks, showing up as their authentic self, and a stronger connection with each other,” said Tricia Livermore, AFW program director. “I’m so proud of each of these 36 women for investing in themselves for a greater purpose.”
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