LEADERSHIP FORUM & AWARDS CELEBRATION

2023 Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration

 Texas Women’s Foundation celebrates and elevates the voices of women leaders across Texas through our Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader Awards.

For the first time, we are expanding this day of leadership to be an all-day event. The first half of the day will include 200 young girls from the Dallas/Fort Worth area during our #BestSelf segment. Originally a stand-alone program separate from Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration, this day will unite and energize girls and women leadership celebration.

Program

#BESTSELF: 11:30AM-3:00PM (for pre-registered group of girls ages 13-16)
Leadership Forums: 3:30PM – 5:45PM
Cocktail Reception: 5:45PM – 6:30PM
Leadership Awards Celebration: 6:30 – 8:00PM

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Moderator | Speaker
Best-Selling Author • Co-Host, NBC’s TODAY

Jenna Bush Hager is the cohost of the fourth hour of the Today show with Hoda Kotb and the founder of the Today book club, Read with Jenna. She is the coauthor of the #1 New York Times best seller Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, which she wrote after traveling to Latin America in 2006 as an intern with UNICEF. Ana’s Story is based on the life of a 17-
year-old single mother with HIV, who struggles to shield her child from the life she had of abuse and neglect. Jenna remains involved with UNICEF and is currently the chair of its Next Generation initiative, which is dedicated to reducing childhood deaths around the world.

Jenna is also the coauthor of two #1 New York Times bestselling children’s books that she wrote with her mother, Laura—Our Great Big Backyard and Read All About It—as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Sisters First, written with her sister, Barbara, in both adult and children’s editions. Jenna’s most recent book, Everything Beautiful in Time, shares moving, funny stories about her beloved grandparents and the wisdom they passed on that has shaped her life.

Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin.
She is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. In 2008, she married Henry Hager. Jenna and Henry are the proud parents of their three children, Margaret Laura “Mila,” Poppy Louise Hager, and Henry Harold “Hal” Hager.

Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Ph.D. (Dallas, TX)
Soulstice Consultancy, LLC

Dr. Booker-Drew is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC providing DEI, leadership training, community engagement strategies and philanthropic/partnership guidance for institutions. She is also the CEO of R2 Foundation (Restoration and Reconciliation Foundation) providing support for Black led nonprofits. As a network weaver, she has been a catalyst for building partnerships supporting growth for organizations led by people of color.

WATCH BREAKING ECONOMIC BARRIERS FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Texas Capital Bank

Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, Ed.D (Houston, TX)
Houston Community College System

Dr. Burillo-Hopkins is the Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction for the Houston Community College System and College President where she has been an advocate for workforce education, diversity and equity. She has been passionate in bringing innovative educational workforce programs and partnerships to enhance upper economic mobility for underserved communities. She has also been instrumental in developing technology summer camps for girls and increasing female participation in computer science and non-traditional areas.

WATCH BUILDING POTENTIAL FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Comerica Bank

Aimee Cunningham (Austin, TX)
Boone Family Foundation

Cunningham is the President and CEO of The Boone Family Foundation and a highly experienced principal in the progressive movement. She leads its mission to create equity for women and girls to drive innovation and justice for students in public schools; and to steward and create accessible green spaces. She has led the charge supporting policies that impact women and families.

WATCH AMPLIFYING ACTIVISM FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Cecilia and Garrett Boone

Mary Pat Higgins (Dallas, TX)
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Higgins is the President and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum where she leads its mission to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Under her leadership, the Museum opened a new state-of-the-art facility on September 18, 2019, accommodating an expanded core exhibit focused on the Holocaust, other genocides and human and civil rights in the U.S.

WATCH CHAMPIONING UPSTANDERS FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Haynes and Boone, LLP

Jill Louis (Dallas, TX)
Perkins Coie

Louis is Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Dallas office, a member of the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice, and co-chair of the Infrastructure Development practice. Her practice focuses on advising companies with growth-oriented, liquidity-creating and transformational strategies. She is also the host of RelevantNOW, an environmental, social and corporate governance-focused podcast examining the intersection of business and public interest.

WATCH ELEVATING REPRESENTATION FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Thrivent

Professor “Bee” Nance (Katy, TX)
Generation Teach

Nance is the COO of Generation Teach, a multi-million-dollar educational non-profit whose vision is to end racial injustice and inequity in education. She is also the author of a children’s financial literacy book called “Sunny Gets Money,” and the founder of The Rising Sunny, an organization that teaches families how to build wealth.

WATCH TEACHING FINANCIAL FREEDOM FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Amazon

Ann Sheu (Dallas, TX)
Mpowered Families

Sheu is the founder of Mpowered Families, a training and coaching company with a unique approach to empowering individuals with tools to have a family life filled with purpose, alignment and connection. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, she is known for her ability to inspire audiences to create a tactical plan toward achieving their Decade Dream.

WATCH BUILDING COMMUNITY FORUM VIDEO sponsored by Amazon