On Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena hosted the third annual ‘She LEADS’ Women’s Empowerment Summit at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, the official practice and training facility of the team, in Brookhaven, Ga.

The all-day program welcomed more than 50 early-career leaders for immersive programming featuring professional development, leadership growth, and networking activities centered around nurturing, empowering, and honoring women leaders in our community. This year brought exciting new elements to the summit including mentor-mentee special announcements, professional headshots, and a video booth to record messages to their future self. 
 
The summit served as a kick-off event for the ‘She LEADS’ initiative, designed to support the advancement and growth opportunities of the next generation of leaders in Atlanta. Throughout the day, participants heard from influential leaders across sports, business, entertainment, and STEAM during panels and fireside chats. Speakers discussed their personal career journeys, pivotal lessons learned, and tips on navigating challenges, building confidence, and leading with purpose.
 
“Now in it’s third year, She LEADS continues to be a powerful platform for investing in the next generation of leadership in Atlanta,” said Camye Mackey, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer for the Hawks and State Farm Arena. “By creating intentional access to mentorship, resources, and community, we are able to help women envision what is possible and take steps towards building successful careers.”
 
This year’s featured speakers and panelists include: Amanda Battle (Senior Manager, Belonging & Internal Communications, Hawks and State Farm Arena), Jai Ferrell (CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta), Chris Holdsworth (Senior Vice President, Venue Strategy & Enterprise Project Management, Hawks and State Farm Arena), Dr. Morgan Jones (Vice President of Learning Innovation, Talent & Belonging), Camye Mackey (Executive Vice President and Chief People, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Hawks and State Farm Arena), Melissa Proctor (Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Hawks and State Farm Arena), Onsi Saleh (General Manager, Hawks) and Will Stephens (Vice President of Premium and Suite Sales, Hawks and State Farm Arena).