“Today’s Girls: Tomorrow’s Leaders” ……..Roadmap to High School

Saturday, December 1, 2012 7:30AM-4:00PM

Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center 6500 Rookin , TX 77074 Chairs’ Welcome

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You have taken the first step in setting yourself apart from the average. You are here, 7:30am on a Saturday morning, and that is a task in and of itself.

 You are special  You are rare  You are absolutely beautiful  You are in control of your future

- Young Women’s Leadership Symposium was created with you in mind; therefore, take this opportunity to ask your mentors any and everything.

- Take the information you will receive and put in a safe place. What you do not understand now you will in years to come.

- Please thank your mentors, your parents, the hostesses, and the volunteers you will see today.

- HAVE FUN!!

Love,

Chatama McFarland Event Chair

Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~ Angela Jackson Christina Forman Head Attorney, Settlement Department Bilingual Account Manager Mostyn Law Firm Cigna Healthcare 1. God because he is always with me and is my 1. Get involved! In high school and college I strength and comfort no matter what situation I was involved in a wide range of clubs; High face. School - Theater, dance team, orchestra, and 2. My mother, because she was is my "shero". In EDGE club (religious affiliated club). College my eyes there was nothing she couldn't do and - Spanish club, Chinese club, Disciplemakers she made me want to be like her. (religious), and professional clubs. 3. My experience at Fisk University, taught me the 2. Be a leader! I was a leader in high school many strengths of my heritage. for my dance team and EDGE club. In col- 4. My husband because he lives the principle of lege, I was the president of Spanish club and a supervisor at my part time job. sowing into so many people's lives unselfishly. 3. Diversify your friends! I hung out with 5. My children because they create a desire in me to friends from all types of backgrounds with all be my best at all times so that I may lead them by kinds of interests. This helped me later with example. success in sales, to be able to relate to differ- ent types of people and even sell to them! Angelia McDaniel 4. Stick to it! One of the biggest mistakes I see Realtor young people in high school and college Realm Professionals make is switching jobs every couple months 1. Bishop I.V. Hilliard teaching me how to use my or even weeks. You have to hold a job down faith for a long period of time to be trusted by fu- 2. My mother for always believing I could do any- ture employers! thing  It shows loyalty  You will not be able to learn every- 3. My willingness to embrace change thing and move up if you don't 4. I read incessantly stay put. 5. A full and powerful imagination (by it, anything In high school, I worked at Pier 1 for almost can be brought into concrete form) 2 years at minimum wage. In college, I worked at Penn State's telemarketing organi- zation all 4 years for minimum wage (which Breia Fisher was less in Pennsylvania than ) and Senior Associate fundraising bonuses. The last 2 years I was Employee Benefit Solutions, Inc. promoted to supervisor. 1. Having a personal relationship with God 5. Don't demise small beginnings! Take 2. Having a strong family support system advantage of them and excel! In college many students get lost in their efforts to find 3. Setting personal as well as professional goals for a "big name" internship. I was not able to get myself any of those; but what I was given, I worked 4. Venturing outside of my comfort zone and chal- hard and excelled. lenging myself to go beyond set expectations 5. Being willing to assist others Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~ Dr. Chieu Y. Foo Cynthia DeGraff Physician Configuration Management Specialist Memorial Hermann Medical Group Bastion Technologies (NASA Contractor) 1. Mother 1. Jesus Christ 2. Husband 2. Support of My Family 3. Hard work 3. My Children (Laramie, Nicholas, Eugene, and 4. Opportunities Rachel) 5. Family 4. My Husband (Geoffrey DeGraff) 5. Ambition – Reaching for the Stars in Heaven.

Dr. Diana Pino Iman Victoria Haynes Vice Chancellor for Student Service Client Strategy Specialist Houston Community College Cigna Corporation 1. Mom 1. My Parents 2. Dad 2. Self Discipline/Strong work ethic 3. Brother 3. Charisma 4. Graduate School Department Chair 4. Embracing and running with challenges 5. Self 5. Persistency

Ida Hood Dr. Irishea Hilliard Health Instructor Chief Operating Officer Barbara Jordan High School New Light Church 1. I had to learn how to chase my dreams no mat- 1. God ter what obstacles came my way 2. Parents 2. I had to have a confidence and resilience that 3. Great Team far exceeded the rest with following my passion 4. Avid seeker of information which required a lot of courage 5. I like to learn from others experiences and ex- In moving forward I found it was vital to have 3. ample goals and move towards them at all cost to make something of myself even when others doubted my abilities 4. Coming up with my own definition of success, so I could take full ownership 5. Lastly, in chasing after success I had to have outstanding role models who wouldn't let me settle for mediocrity Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~ Karen Guzman Lee Ling Hospital Program Coordinator Operations Specialist Houston's Ronald McDonald House Cigna Healthcare 1. Three strong women who were leaders in the 1. My parents companies and organizations I have worked in. 2. My siblings 2. My parents, who in their own way shaped my 3. Determination views of what success means to me. 4. Education 3. The students I met while going to school, all 5. Opportunity working while earning their degrees and over- coming their own challenges.

Latisha Brown Lauren Guillen Author and Motivational Speaker Associate 1. Celeta Moore - Affectionately Called Mother of Employee Benefit Solutions Life - mom 1. My Parents: they have been such huge role 2. Gary Brown - Husband models for me in my career. They both have 3. Bill Walton - Coach taught me the meaning of hard work and dedi- cation. 4. Jacquetta Smith - Friend and Mentor 2. My Education: My education has allowed me 5. Zach and Taby - children (The most inspira- to think out of the box and has given me the tional people) technical skills to be successful.

3. Networks: Knowing people from my schools, family and friends has given me career oppor- tunities and has allowed me to educate myself Leah Davis in what others do. President 4. Dedication: Dedication and hard work is This Rock Entertainment what will get you farther in life. The dedication 1. God and willingness to learn more and be the best 2. Prayer in what you do. 3. Perseverance 5. Positive Attitude: I have always prided my- 4. Faith self in looking at the glass half full! By having 5. Focus this positive attitude it will spread to others around you and make your career and days much more fulfilling!

Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~ LaShonda Johnson 2. My husband, David Cole….. being married to Certified Financial Educator David is a HUGE blessing. David is always World Financial Group & Heartland Institute of there for me whenever I need him; he is my Financial Education biggest cheerleader. He loves me being at home 1. Her trust & faith in God for our boys. He treats me like a QUEEN! Be- 2. Her parents Dorothy Johnson & Willie Mitch- fore we got married, David asked me what I ell wanted to do. I told him what I really wanted to 3. My experience at Fisk University, taught me be was a wife and a mom. His response, "that's the many strengths of my heritage. what I wanted". My amazing husband is an 4. Perseverance awesome man of God who is a great father to our children and an awesome husband to me! 5. A host of supportive family and friends 3. My mom….. although when I was younger we would have our disagreements, I now know how hard her job was as a single mother. She Magaly Chocano worked hard raising three young ladies in an Chief Executive Officer effort to provide what we wanted and needed. Sweb Development She taught me, being a woman meant I could do anything. She taught me I am never without 1. Persistence hope and the absence of a father didn't make 2. Hard work me different than anyone who had one else. 3. An incredible team 4. Great Educators..... I am very fortunate, God 4. My husband always put great teachers and principals in my 5. Taking things lightly life, steering me back in the right direction. Many times when I started to stray the wrong way a teacher was always their to guide me back on the right path, reminding me of my potential, taking me under their wings and en- Nichole Cole suring trouble was far from me. Wife and Mother 5. My 3 Kings….. my boys are a huge part of my 1. God….. my relationship with God has made success. I learn new things from them every- me successful. I pray and talk with God daily day. My boys make me laugh and remind me to about everything going on in my life. He is my have fun. They remind me it's important to father and my dependence is always on Him. It make memories and saying I love you should is God who has guided my every step and be said often. My Kings are constant reminders blessed my every plan. that the world can be a better place. They know their mom is, "raising men, not boys" so learn- ing how to clean up after themselves, cleaning a toilet, doing dishes, and handling business be- fore play time are all important things to learn. Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~ Mary-Ann C. Ball, MS, CCDP/AP Dr. Shanta Proctor Diversity Programs Educational Specialist Director The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer National Women's Council Center and School of Health Professions 1. The favor of God 1. Believe in Yourself 2. A strong and supportive family 2. Education = Independence 3. An unwavering work ethic which will not allow for laziness 3. Expect and Extent Trust and Respect 4. Stubbornness which translated into tenacity 4. Know how to Assess Options and Risks 5. Shining role models, mentors, and women 5. Positive Outlook and Determination who've inspired me

Michelle Nguyen Shavorrian Mitchell Director, Client Management Manager, Accounting and Human Resource Cigna Global Health Benefits National Diversity Council 1. Always maintaining a positive "can do" attitude 1. Spirituality & Morals and thinking of the glass half full rather than 2. Parents half empty. 3. Professors 2. Amazing mentors/managers that dedicated 4. Faith & Self-Confidence time to my personal and professional growth. 5. Mentors 3. My faith/God. 4. Always remaining professional and persistent. 5. Personal dedication/hard work and never giving up.

Shelley Jourdan Harrison Associate Attorney Poornima Swaminathan Kean Miller, Attorneys at Law Director of Public Relations 1. God United States Professional Tennis Association 2. Parental Support and Guidance (USPTA) 3. Networking 1. My parents 4. Hard Work 2. Willing to constantly work hard 5. Honesty 3. Unwilling to listen to naysayers 4. Self confidence/belief in my self 5. Alison Bogli (mentor from Los Angeles Lakers) Mentors and the Secrets to Their Success ~~~~~

Shelley Wade Trinita Semien National Account Manager, Central Region Director of Human Resources Cigna Global Health Benefits CenterPoint Energy – Regulated Operations 1. Almighty God and my faith in Him 1. Strong Faith - that shows her God is in control 2. Mom & Dad – each taught me or instilled in me of all. a different attribute 2. Mother - taught her a strong sense of inde- 3. Attitude of determination pendence. 4. Supportive husband (through all these long 3. Love for the arts and diversity. hours….) 4. Volunteering/community involvement. 5. Willingness and ability to learn from my mis- 5. Passion for travel and learning about different takes (and there have been many along the cultures. way)

Dr. Shunda Thompson Price Tyler Bowes Orthodontist Client Account Support Associate Just Braces Cigna Global Health Benefits 1. God 1. Experiences abroad 2. Mom 2. College Degree 3. Hard work 3. Strong female mentors in the workplace 4. Faith 4. Work/life balance 5. Great Self-Esteem 5. Varied work experience

Skywan Glaze Dr. Zenithe Pierre Early Childhood Educator Physician Houston Independent School District Memorial Hermann Medical Group – West Pear- 1. God land 2. Love of Family 1. Parents (Ron and Carolyn Pierre) 3. Support of Close Friends 2. Prayer 4. Love of Close Friends 3. College Mentor (Dr. Jacqueline Brown) 5. Support of Family 4. Focus 5. Hard work

Special Thanks

Committee: Chatama McFarland, Cigna Global Health Benefits Tyler Bowes, Cigna Global Health Benefits Alyssa Randall-Sam, Cigna Global Health Benefits Mae Marshall, Texas Diversity Council Trent Smith, Texas Diversity Council

Hostesses: Taylor M. Hill, Ridgepoint High School Hailee Ammons, Ridgepoint High School Courtney Washington, Prairie View A & M University Rachel Lopez, National Diversity Council Jasmine Bloom, Sam Houston State University Stacy Lopez, Northbrook Senior High School Ebony Sadberry, Sam Houston State University Ashlyn Outler, National Diversity Council Ashia Sellers, Sam Houston Tania Mejia, Northbrook High School Linh Ngu Andrea Ngu, University of Houston Trystan Delce, Langham Creek High School Maya Mosley-Walker, Lakeview Centennial High School

Volunteers: Elizabeth Cody, Luby’s/Fudruckers Pat Boudreaux, Luby’s/Fudruckers Xuan Ngu, Luby’s/Fudruckers Gracie Royall, Luby’s/Fudruckers Erik McFarland, United Parcel Service Erika Horton, City of Houston Fredreka Levingston, 5000 Generations

Special Thanks

Participating Colleges: Baylor University Houston Community College Rice University University of Houston

Participating Middle Schools: Albright Middle School Baines Middle School Bleyl Middle School Cornerstone Academy Fleming Middle School Kipp Academy Middle School Kipp Sharpstown College Preparatory Lamar Middle School Lanier Middle School Las Americas Middle School McDonald Junior High School Northbrook Middle School Spring Branch Middle School Spring Forest Middle School Spring Oaks Middle School Westchester Academy for International Studies YES Prep Gulfton