News & Updates

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.

Congratulations to the YEA! Chicago Class of 2024!