“Seize every opportunity you can to advocate for the women who are advocating for everyone else.” – Melinda Gates
When we invest in women, we empower communities and build the foundation for a brighter future. Around the world, women reinvest more of their earnings into creating a better future for themselves and the next generation. Empowering women leads to greater peace and shared prosperity.
That is what many people believe and advocate, and we’re 100% with them. At Prosperity Candle, we’ve been investing in women in places like Haiti, Iraq and refugees here in the U.S. for the past 8 years because we believe it leads to a brighter future for everyone, everywhere.
Today people all over the world are focusing on the power of women to create big and lasting change. And for good reason. Check out Time Magazine’s recently published series Firsts: Women Who Are Changing the World that showcases inspiring women who are indeed making big and lasting change happen.
Want to get involved? Great! Reach out to women’s groups in your area to connect with like-minded people, and take a look at this list of upcoming events across the U.S. and in London that have inspired us. They take place every year, so if one has already passed, mark your calendar for the next one!
Upcoming Events
IWF World Leadership Conference: The Global Citizen (Oct. 25-27): This conference draws women from over 30 countries, connecting leaders and innovators to create a more equitable world. The International Women’s Forum holds global events, and this year’s IWF World Leadership Conference is in Houston, Texas on October 25th to 27th. The conference will focus on energy, health, space exploration, and more. Connect with IWF on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
TEDWomen 2017: Bridges (Nov. 1-3): This inspiring event focuses on women and girls as 
powerful innovators, creators, and change-makers. The 3 day conference in New Orleans November 1-3 is centered around women sharing powerful ideas and making connections. Some of this year’s bold speakers include social activist Valarie Kaur, leading international soccer scorer Abby Wambach, her activist wife Glennon Doyle, feminist actor Justin Baldoni, and author/poet Cleo Wade, who are all doing amazing work to propel women and girls forward. Connect with them on Twitter and Facebook. This one sells out quickly, so be sure to get on the list for next year!
WDN Connect (Nov. 9-12): The Women Donors Network is a network of women philanthropists who invest in progressive change for a more fair world through grantmaking and advocacy. WDN Connect started in 2013 as a way to connect women change-makers and progressive speakers and engage with local and national leaders. This year’s conference takes place November 9-12 in Atlanta and will focus on issues of race, equity, and gender. There will be conversations and workshops around building inclusive communities, protest and power, and the role of women donors during a time of resistance. Sally Yates kicks off the event with a talk. Join the community on Twitter and Facebook.
8th Womensphere Emerging Leaders Global Summit: The Next Generation of Women Leaders Creating the Future (Nov. 10-11): Womensphere is an organization that invests in women innovation and leadership development to empower women to create a better future and world. This year’s Emerging Leaders Global Summit is held in New York City November 10-11th. The event celebrates and connects women who are transforming the world through leadership, innovation, creativity, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and math), entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Connect with them on Twitter and Facebook for inspiring news and updates.
Tech Up for Women Conference (Nov. 14): This exciting event is about empowering 
women in technology, and it is launching this November 14th in New York City. Women in tech, this is not an event to miss! Connect with them on Facebook.
Trust Conference (Nov. 15-16): The Trust Conference is an event that started in 2012 as Trust Women, where global corporations, world leaders, lawyers, and change-makers come together to discuss advancing women’s rights and ending slavery. The conference takes place in London November 15-16 and focuses on taking action. It has expanded this year to also include larger global human rights issues. Join the community on Twitter.
The Massachusetts Conference for Women (Dec. 7): This is a sell-out one-day annual 
event where women in the workplace gather to talk about entrepreneurship, personal finance, business, and health. We’ve been many times, and even participated! This year features inspirational speakers Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, and Adam Grant. The one-day conference takes place on December 7th in Boston, MA. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for inspirational content and news.
Create & Cultivate LA (Feb 24): A one-day event for women looking to create and cultivate 
the career of their dreams. Feel inspired, enhance your business, mix, mingle and cultivate new friendships. At Create & Cultivate you are destined to meet other talented, like-minded women, including our incredible and inspiring partners Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla who will be the keynote speakers! Join the next generation of curious creatives, entrepreneurs and bosses to spark conversation around the topics they are passionate about from influencer marketing and brand building to raising money. Connect on Facebook and Twitter.
Mark Your Calendar For Next Year
Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (Oct. 4-6): This October 4-6th is the world’s largest gathering of women in computing in Orlando, FL, produced by the Anita Borg Institute. Attendees will hear from women leaders in computing and network with a community of women technologists. Keynote speakers include philanthropist Melinda Gates, Dr. Ayanna Howard, Dr. Fei-Fei Li, and Mary Spio, CEO and President of CEEK VR INC. Follow GHC on Twitter and Facebook for inspiring updates on women in tech. (Last year we made custom candles for attendees)
Emerging Women Live: Changing the World (Oct. 5-8): This inspiring event brings engaging speakers to talk about creative entrepreneurship, courage, self-compassion, and leadership from a woman’s lens. This year’s Emerging Women Live is held in Denver, CO on October 5th to October 8th, and features speaker Alicia Garza, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. Connect with Emerging Women on Facebook and Twitter.
Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit (Oct. 9-11): Every year, Fortune Magazine partners with large businesses to host a three-day Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit to highlight today’s women leaders in business. The summit is October 9-11 in Washington, D.C., and includes networking opportunities, one-on-one interviews, and panels to inspire participants. Some of this year’s speakers are Sheryl Sandberg, Co-founder of LeanIn.Org and Facebook COO, Sally Yates, U.S. Department of Justice and Former Deputy Attorney General, and Gretchen Carlson, Journalist and Women’s Empowerment Advocate. Connect with the community of women business leaders on Facebook and Twitter.
Women in the Workplace (Oct. 10): Women in the Workplace was started in 2015 by The Wall Street Journal as an annual event to discuss the current state of women in the workplace and address challenges and successes. This year the dinner will be held on October 10 in New York City. Speakers Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, and Dominic Barton, McKinsey & Company global managing director, will talk about the Women in the Workplace 2017 survey findings and what they mean. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for news and updates on the event.
What Did We Miss?
OK, that was actually 12 not 10, but there are so many great ways that amazing women are joining forces… which inspiring events did we miss? We’d love feedback and to hear your thoughts on any you’ve attended. Please let us know in the comments below!
