Arizona Foundation for Women Graduates SHE Leads!™ Class of 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 22, 2023
Arizona Foundation for Women Graduates
SHE Leads!™ Class of 2023
PHOENIX — 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."
This program would not be possible without the support of the following sponsors – Carstens Family Funds, Achieve, Scottsdale Industrial Development Authority, Freeport McMoRan, University of Phoenix, AT&T of AZ, Corporate Caterers Phoenix, Dermody Properties and Salt River Project.
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.”
To learn more about SHE Leads!™, please visit azfw.org/sheleads. Applications for the 2024 cohort will open on July 17, 2023. For more information about AFW, visit azfw.org.
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About Arizona Foundation for Women
Arizona Foundation for Women’s (AFW) mission is to advance the status of Arizona’s women through research, advocacy and philanthropy to ensure their safety, health and economic independence. We believe SHE Counts!®
Arizona Foundation for Women not only conducts research, but also helps women gain control of their health by providing grants to health organizations that serve women and their families. The Foundation also hosts She Talks, a series of free presentations and discussions to increase awareness and educate the community about various important women’s issues.
Visit our website at azfw.org and follow us Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.