News & Updates
Female Strong’s camp at Eisenhower High School, themed “Turn Your Passion into Action and Share it with the World!”, was a day of creativity, self-discovery, and empowerment. As our first-ever camp held at a high school during a school day—rather than a corporate location—it provided a unique opportunity to engage with a group of young girls who already had connections with one another. This familiar setting fostered deeper conversations and collaboration as participants explored the meaning of confidence, reflected on their strengths, and learned strategies to assert themselves in various situations. Through interactive discussions and role-playing exercises, they tackled real-world challenges, gaining valuable tools to navigate conflict with self-assurance and empathy. The camp also encouraged entrepreneurial thinking, as students worked together to develop innovative solutions to everyday problems. They brought their ideas to life by designing products and services, refining their concepts, and presenting them to their peers. The hands-on approach fostered collaboration, critical thinking, and a sense of ownership over their ideas. Beyond business and leadership skills, the day emphasized personal growth. Students created vision boards to represent their aspirations, mapping out their goals in a tangible and inspiring way. Through every activity, the camp provided a supportive space for young women to embrace their voices, step into leadership, and turn their passions into action. A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated volunteers, the Female Strong team, and board member Jen Tadin for their leadership and support throughout the day. We are also grateful to Eisenhower High School for hosting this inspiring event and for their commitment to empowering the next generation of female leaders.
We’re excited to share that Female Strong has been selected as a 2025 charity partner by both ARCO/Murray and Heidrick & Struggles . These collaborations will further support our efforts to equip young girls with the skills, confidence, and mentorship they need to thrive as future leaders. ARCO/Murray will begin their partnership on March 6 with the WIC 2025 Women in Construction Celebration event , which will explore ways to support women in the construction and engineering industries. All proceeds from the event will benefit Female Strong. On July 30, they will host their third Female Strong Camp for girls aged 8 to 12. A consistent advocate for our mission, ARCO/Murray raised over $20,000 in 2023, significantly contributing to the expansion of our programming.
On behalf of the Female Strong and YEA! Chicago team, we extend our heartfelt thanks for making this year’s CEO Roundtable an engaging, inspiring, and unforgettable experience. This year’s panel centered on Women in Finance, exploring themes of resilience, self-advocacy, and leadership while highlighting the evolving role of women and their growing influence on innovation and decision-making in the industry. Powerful takeaways included believing in yourself when others do and leaning into opportunities, seeking game-changing mentors, and advocating for yourself even when results take time. Attendees were reminded to know their value, always make the ask, and lead with delegation, vulnerability, and accountability. Perhaps most importantly, they were encouraged to accept that an unfinished to-do list is part of the journey—and that’s okay. We are especially grateful to Dawn, Melissa, Brittany, and Brenda for sharing their invaluable insights and to our generous sponsors— BMO , JSI , and LevelReps —for making this impactful event possible! Special thanks to our amazing photographer Caitlyn Welty , who perfectly captured the energy of the evening. Find her on Instagram @brain.pets .
Raising $8,000+ for Female Strong: Veronica Beard Gives Back
Congratulations to Erica Williams, YEA! Chicago Class of 2019!
Celebrating Success: Female Strong Scholar Shines at National Student Leadership Conference
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Female Strong co-founder and Board President Emily Smith and Sophia Mariconda, a Female Strong camp participant, joined ABC7 Chicago to talk about Female Strong Camp and upcoming camp opportunities in the Chicagoland area. Read more about our Female Strong Camp for 8-12 year old girls HERE and our Entrepreneurship Program for girls 11-18 HERE . Watch Emily and Sophia on ABC7 HERE: ‘Female Strong’ organization offers free summer camp for local girls
On August 10 we celebrated the the release of Jessica Zweig’s newest book, THE LIGHT WORK: Reclaim Your Feminine Power, Live Your Cosmic Truth, and Illuminate the World. Guests enjoyed a private brunch at BIAN, a book reading from Jessica, and participated in an author Q&A moderated by Female Strong founder, Emily Smith. The event was pure magic! 💫 The room was charged with the incredible energy that grows when female leaders come together to celebrate and support each other. In the days that followed the event, The Light Work officially hit the bestseller’s list, making Jessica a two-time bestselling author! We couldn’t be more proud. Thank you to Jessica Zweig, her team, and BIAN for making this event so special.
On behalf of the team at Female Strong and YEA! Chicago, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for making this year’s CEO Roundtable lively, fun, and unforgettable. The panel discussion underscored the value of communication, empathy, and trust as critical elements of the future of work. A special thank you goes to Christy, Suzet, Desiree, and Caralynn for their thoughtful conversation and to our generous sponsors at Sweet Briar College , JSI , & LevelReps for making this event possible!
Spark Your Curiosity, Build Your Confidence and Soar You’re probably familiar with Benjamin Franklin’s famous declaration, “the only two certainties in life are death and taxes.” Conspicuously missing are the inescapable certainties of life’s transitions. Some transitions are more challenging than others, and a few fortunate people seem to take them in stride, but for the rest of us, they can be daunting. Topping the list of formidable passages is the journey through adolescence. Surviving those hormone-addled, angst-ridden chaotic years is a testament to human resilience. As if dealing with puberty’s physical and emotional consequences wasn’t perplexing enough, adolescents suddenly encounter changing expectations and social norms based on their body parts because puberty also changes the rules of gender. Research shows that ubiquitous and harmful gender norms and beliefs shape children’s expectations as young as ten years of age. Another study traced significant restrictive gender norms to children as young as six. We dedicated a great deal of effort to changing gender biases. In the 1970s and early 80s, “ Free to Be… You and Me ” blasted stereotypes reassuring girls that they didn’t have to be traditionally feminine. For decades, we’ve highlighted female role models. And today, many young people recognize that there are dozens of options for gender identity, yet pervasive gender biases persist. We’re left with the question: How Can We Help Girls Evolve From Confusion and Chaos to Capable, Strong, Compassionate Women?
