Symposium
The inspiring impact of the Women's Symposium
Carys Cheshire '24
Editor-in-Chief of Content
Friday, February 23, 2024 held Louisville’s first ever Women Who Shape the World Symposium. This event was organized by the administration as a way to remind Louisville students, and a selection of local middle school girls, that as women, we have the ability to make an impact. The Symposium theme, “Belonging and Mattering: You Are Enough,” perfectly sums up the overall message of the day
The event included 17 accomplished female speakers, majority of whom graduated here at Louisville, who came to share their career journeys and overall life experiences. The speakers traveled long and far to attend the conference, some coming all the way from Boston and Washington DC. Each of these women had their own inspiring stories to tell and advice to give us students on overcoming challenges and discovering your path.
The event began in the gym with a keynote speaker heard by all of the students and visitors, Mallika Chopra. Chopra is a media entrepreneur and the CEO of her company, Chopra Global, as well as an author of eight books. Chopra’s talk was centered around the importance of finding balance and taking time to calm one’s mind during our busy lives. She guided the entire audience in a relaxing meditation, encouraging us to clear our minds and repeat the phrase “I am” to keep the students’ minds centered and grounded.
“The meditation really set the mood for the day. It was extremely inspiring,” commented Ila Kreischer ’24.
Following the opening talk, students broke off into their first sessions in which they heard from speakers that they selected based on what they were interested in. From news anchors to a U.S. Space Force First Lieutenant, each woman had a beautifully impactful story to tell that left listeners feeling empowered. Students then moved to their second session where they got to hear new perspectives on what “belonging and mattering” looks like to the inspiring speakers.
The incredible speakers of thee symposium posed on the steps of Senior lawn, taken by Mr. Peatok
To bring the day to a close, Andratesha Fritzgerald, founder of Building Blocks of Brilliance Educational Consulting Firm, gave a speech about breaking barriers and building bridges to discover the things that you are capable of. She had the crowd play a game that was meant to emphasize the importance of trying new things and putting ourselves out there, and especially to not be afraid of failure. Her talk had an ideal combination of humor and valuable lessons, making it the perfect way to end the day.
“It was a great experience and it inspired me to reflect on the importance of forgiving myself for the things that I can’t control,” stated Alexa Burr ’25 following the symposium.
The symposium allowed all of us to reflect on what it really means to “shape the world” and get a glimpse into what we, as young women, are truly capable of. While this was just the first Women Who Shape the World Symposium at Louisville, everyone can agree that it should certainly not be the last.