This Sunday, April 30, Santa Clara University will host a number of powerful, influential women to take part in a day-long conference and networking event. The summit, which is open to students and staff of SCU, will host more than a dozen women and men who are outstanding in their respective career paths. These innovators/professionals/trailblazers come from all sorts of career and life backgrounds and their presence on campus is something you won't want to miss.

The day will be lively and exciting, with a number of opportunities to grab some free food. It’ll consist of presentations by keynote speakers Blye Faust (Producer of Spotlight) and Sandra Spagnoli (Chief of Police, Beverly Hills) as well as breakout sessions that attendees can choose based on their personal interests. The breakout sessions will cover topics such as asking for a raise, finding your voice, destressing your life, being resilient, building your network, developing inner confidence, and several other matters that are particularly pertinent to young leaders on the cusp of entering the professional world.

I, for one, cannot wait for the Summit. I am beyond excited to spend a day with other college students that hold some of the same values as I do and I am thankful to the conference for providing me with the opportunity to get to know some female role models and to be able to pick their brains for a day. My hope for the SCU Women’s Own It Summit is that it will empower strong, courageous, passionate young women to find their voices and to provide them with the skills they need to excel, not only in business, but in life. I am thrilled to be a part of a university community that takes the advancement of women so seriously that we are dedicating an entire day to talking about it. The movement for female empowerment in the world we live in is far from over but, with a qualified, motivated group of people such as this one, I believe that we can move mountains.