#HerStory: A Journey in Power: My Experience at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit with Jessica White.

There are moments in life where you don’t just attend something, you feel it. You carry it. You become a part of it.

That’s exactly what this year’s 20th Anniversary Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada was for me.

For over 10 years I’ve known this summit from the inside out! Long days, tight production schedules, storytelling behind the scenes… I helped bring the experience to life for others. But this time, I arrived differently.

I arrived as a woman ready to receive. A woman ready to get poured into. A woman whose crown needed polished.

Representing Women of Toledo, I stepped into a space filled with more than 1,500 women; brilliant, bold, evolving women. For the first time, I allowed myself to simply be amongst them. Not managing moments, but living in them.

And what a full-circle moment it was.

This summit was birthed from the vision of senior and junior level, women executives at the company who saw a need for creating space—sacred, intentional space—for women in business to gather, grow, and empower one another. Beautifully championed by Black Enterprise Magazine founder’s wife, Barbara Graves, this conference has been celebrating 20 years of Legacy. 

This year’s theme, “Momentum: Our Future, Our Promise, Our Power!”, didn’t just sit on banners or programs; it lived in every room I walked into.

Jessica with Caroline Clarke (left) & Sonia Alleyne (right), the founding co-editorial directors of the Women of Power Summit.

Our Future. I saw it on the 40 & Under faces of women stepping boldly into new chapters, pivoting career fields, leading, and dreaming bigger.

Our Promise. I felt it in the ahh haa moments during sessions and in keynote speeches—taking notes, reflecting, making internal commitments to not just hear the wisdom, but to apply it.

Our Power. I experienced it in the black girl magic energy. It was unspoken and undeniable. The kind of power that only exists when women gather in truth, vulnerability, and excellence.

The summit opens with the Legacy Awards; a night that always holds a special place in my heart. In my previous role, I produced the tribute videos that honored these phenomenal women. But sitting in the audience this time, watching their stories unfold, I felt something deeper. Pride. Gratitude. And a renewed understanding of what it means to walk in purpose. That night didn’t just kick off the conference—it set the tone: to honor those who’ve paved the way, while stepping boldly into our own paths.

Jessica at the Activation Podcast Booth "Artfully P@id."

Each morning greeted us with keynotes and fireside chats that felt less like presentations and more like conversations with purpose. These were the moments that filled our cups before we poured into breakout sessions, coaching experiences, and curated conversations designed to sharpen us both personally and professionally.

From career and financial coaching led by Fortune 500 leaders, to intimate sessions centered on growth, leadership, and connection—every space I entered offered something different, yet equally valuable. But what stayed with me most wasn’t just the information, it was the alignment. The gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) reminders that I am exactly where I need to be, with everything I need to grow into what’s next.

And then there were the in-between moments. The laughter in hallways, the selfies exchanged between new friends, the “let’s stay connected” conversations that didn’t feel transactional…but intentional. The summit wasn’t just about sessions. It was about sisterhood.

We closed in a way that only the Women of Power Summit can—with celebration, reflection, and release. A powerful message from motivational speaker, Lisa Nichols, poured into us one last time to remind us to straighten our crowns before heading back to our normal work routine. Followed by a dynamic and honest conversation with Bozoma Saint John. Then, dressed in all white, we gathered, one last time, not just to celebrate the end of a conference, but to honor who we had become in those few short days.

There was joy. There was lightness. There was connection. There was a quiet understanding that what we experienced there didn’t end in that room… it travels with us.

As I reflect on this journey, I don’t just see it as a moment. I see it as a responsibility to bring this same energy, intention, and excellence back to Toledo.

Back to Women of Toledo; who afforded me the luxury to tap into professional development opportunities such as this. I will continue creating spaces where women feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Because this wasn’t just a trip to a conference.

This was a return to self.

A reminder of purpose.

And a reaffirmation that I, too, am a Woman of Power! 

Jessica with the Women of Toledo task team for the 2026 International Women's Day Signature Luncheon.

Jessica White is currently our Program Manager, supporting our organization's mission goals through creative program planning and coordination with the community, including being a part of our lead program committee, with our program board chairs, Maria White and Mona Shousher on our recent International Women's Day Luncheon. Jessica is passionate about community, celebration, and inclusivity, creating spaces where new opportunities and connections thrive.

We are grateful for Jessica's sunny personality, leadership, and smooth beats she brings to the office!

Get in touch with Jessica at jessica@womenoftoledo.org.