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The 4th annual Empowering Girls for Life (EGFL) convention will take place on Sunday, September 12, 2021 and all the presentations will be viewable online through Sunday, September 26, 2021.
As was the case last year, the EGFL will be a virtual livestream and will be free, meaning those who want to watch and learn from the great lineup of speakers can do so online live and then during the two-week window that follows.
Click HERE to register and receive updates and more as the event approaches; the exact schedule is expected to be released by June 1
The 2018, 2019, and 2020 EGFL events featured Olympic Gold medalists, notable businesswomen, entrepreneurs, educators, motivators and more and this year’s event will also feature several speakers from various industries and backgrounds lined up to share their barrier-breaking stories.
This year’s roster will include Olympic Gold medalists in softball and other sports, media standouts, accomplished scientists, successful business executives and more.
Here is the scheduled list of speakers for the 2021 EGFL session (links provide background on their accomplishments):
- Jessica Mendoza, MLB Analyst & Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist
- Victoria Arlen, Survivor, Gold Medalist & Author
- Ashleigh Johnson, Olympic Gold Medalist in Water Polo & Sportswoman of the Year,
- Gitanjali Rao, Forbes “30 Under 30” & TIMES “Kid of the Year”
- Shree Bose, Google Global Science Fair Winner & co-founder of Piper
- Emily Calandrelli, Host and co-executive producer of Emily’s Wonder Lab
- Cheryl Maletich, SVP of Transmission and Substation at ComEd
- Mary Katherine DuBose, Executive Vice President/Chief Credit Officer at Wells Fargo
- Jennifer Doyle, Head of Asset-Backed Finance Sales at Wells Fargo
- Kristy Fercho, Executive Vice President/Head of Home Lending at Wells Fargo
- Kristin Lesher, Executive Vice President/Head of East Region at Wells Fargo
- Amanda Norton, Chief Risk Officer at Wells Fargo
The Empowering Girls For Life Convention was the brainchild of Bill Conroy, who is a leader in the softball world as a championship winning coach, the head of the Beverly Bandits travel ball organization and a key figure in the development of Premier Girls Fastpitch.
In its first three years under his leadership, Empowering Girls For Life has featured female role models ranging from softball luminaries such as Jennie Finch, Natasha Watley, Jessica Mendoza and college coaches such as Carol Hutchins (Michigan), Kate Drohan (Northwestern), Patty Gasso (Oklahoma) and Yvette Healy (Wisconsin) to world-renowned leaders in business, entertainment and other industries.
Click HERE to see the list of alumna who spoke at the 2018-2020 events
Conroy believes one key to the event’s success has been finding a strong blend of influencers who appeal to the next generation of female leaders.
“I think the event has changed and evolved from being almost exclusively high-end athletes and Olympians to STEM stars and highly-qualified businesswomen who have great stories to relate to a younger generation,” the long-time coach and softball leader says.
He explains that he works hard in two primary areas, securing sponsors and lining up speakers, and is already looking ahead to locking in both for next year’s conference.
“I really try to do my homework on this, sponsorships and finding the right speakers,” Bill continues. “I’m already working on the 2022 presenters, for example.”
“We try to have a balance of those who’ve spoken multiple times, like Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, and Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry in 1967, because of their popularity. We also look to complement them with different voices who go along with the theme of empowering, educating and motivating young girls.”
It’s important, he notes, to find a mix and variety of professions and experiences.
“It’s great to have different voices in telling how they made it to be so successful and their paths are always different so the more stories and paths these young women hear, the better off they are for it.”
Bill also explains that he has a personal reason why EGFL means so much to him and his family.
“I have a 14-year-old daughter, Aubree, who does not play softball,” he begins, “and, for as much time as I put into my businesses and softball, it can be hard to have as much one-on-time with her as I’d like.
“Also, my son was different as I have a wrestling background and spent a lot of time with him in the sport, but for Aubree it’s an opportunity to build something she can relate to and help her on the path to doing something terrific with her life.”
It has increased daughter/daughter time, the Chicago area resident admits, as his youngest has been involved in multiple ways.
“Each year, Aubree’s been involved in some degree—from helping with SWAG bags to this year where she has helped with speakers. She tells me who she thinks is right or wrong and would be good for the listeners. She is definitely not shy in giving her opinions… like most 14-year-olds!”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball