The Texas Conference for Women recently celebrated its 25th annual gathering, uniting over 7,500 attendees under the inspiring theme, “Together in Unity.” This milestone event was a vibrant showcase of empowerment, connection, and personal growth.

With Keynote Speakers, panels, interactive halls, workshops, networking zones, and more, the conference was set up to allow each person to get exactly what they wanted from it.

Elayna Fernandez, CEO of The Positive Mom and 10-year attendee, shared her enthusiasm for the conference’s transformative impact. Each year, she walks away with invaluable skills that spark real change in her life — ranging from establishing a bedtime to recognizing the importance of asking for help and building her own support system or “village.”

“Here in this space, I always find someone that I can add to my village and be like, ‘We are in this together, and we’re gonna thrive together,’ ” Fernandez said. 

Elayna appreciates the sense of community at the conference, where everyone is on a quest for growth.

“I love the community, of course, especially because everyone is searching for the same thing, so you feel like you’re amongst your people,” she said. “So, I love that energy and that feeling of community, but at the same time, because I meet people of so many walks of life, we all gain amazing tools.”

Among the stellar lineup of speakers was Christie Smith Ph.D., the Founder of The Humanity Studio™, C-Suite Advisor and Author, who led a workshop on “Human-Centered Leadership in Rapidly Changing Workplaces.”

“I am a big believer that it takes connection and it takes, to use an overused phrase, it takes a village if we are really going to create a different world that is much more about who we are, not what we are,” said Smith.

Pooja Lakshmin, Psychiatrist & Best-Selling Author of Real Self-Care, also made waves with her workshop on “Essential Boundaries: The Key to Real Self-Care and Burnout Prevention.” She shared her personal journey and offered practical advice on avoiding burnout.

“It takes time to actually reflect on what your team is going through, what each person is experiencing, and then how to put in place small gestures that show you are thinking about your coworkers as actual human beings,” said Lakshmin.

Gloria Chan Packer, Founder of Recalibrate and Workplace Mental Health & Wellness TED Speaker, led an engaging panel discussion on “How to be Engaged, Productive and Happier at Work.” When asked about advice for those facing mental health challenges, she encouraged introspection.

“I’m going to encourage people to try to start with themselves first,” said Chan Packer. “Instead of starting with an external solution, kind of take some time to tune into yourself and ask what you want, what you need, what season of life you’re in, and to take on advice and solutions based on that. Know that there’s no one size fits all for you. You’re going to be different from someone else, but you’re also going to be different depending on what season of life you’re into.”

The conference featured Award Winning Novelist, Isabel Allende, as a keynote speaker who passionately urged women to embrace their power and take up space.

“You don’t have to put a label on yourself, but just do the work,” said Allende. “The work is being defiant, successful, independent, and most of all united–because women alone are very vulnerable. Women together are invincible. And that’s the whole point, to be conscious of our strength, and we can only feel that when we are together.”

This year’s Texas Conference for Women was one for the books, filled with wisdom from remarkable women dedicated to fostering unity and empowerment. If you like what you’re reading there is still time to get virtual tickets to the National Conference for Women on March 5, 2025! Tickets are available here.

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Cover photo Marla Aufmuth.

Khalila Gonzales is the social media intern at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a senior at Baylor University. In her free time she enjoys going on adventures, photography, and trying new foods.