Women's SYMPOSIUM

The Hope Is Here

Almost a decade ago, Dr. Lauren Lek brought a unique forum to the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Modeled after speaker panels at leading universities, the OLP Women’s Symposium brings together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success with our students and the community. Through dialogue and modeling, these female leaders empower young women to stand up for themselves and fearlessly chase their dreams. This is the only event of its kind for students in Southern California and is a reimagined approach to the traditional “career day.”

Many students and alumnae have shared that the women’s symposium was a transformative moment in their personal development. Alumna Jimena Villasenor ‘16 reflects, “at the (Women's Symposium) public policy panel during my senior year at OLP, Paola Avila, former Vice President of International Business Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, shared her insight of the Chamber's international work and advocacy on global policies that boost the economy and foster crossborder commerce. As a student who lived south of the border, this had a great impact on my perspective of our binational region and how the economic success of one city can positively impact the other. Further, during my sophomore year of college, when I was looking for an internship experience,

I remembered the representation of the business community on behalf of the Chamber and decided to apply as an intern. The experience that I gained during this four month internship and the work that I delivered, motivated me later on to become the International Business Affairs Coordinator at the Chamber after my college graduation. (OLP) Senior-year “me” would be very fulfilled to hear that I am following in one of the panelist’s footsteps as I am planning and implement quarterly International Business Affairs Forums, assist in the coordination of annual delegation trips to Washington D.C. and Mexico City, and serve as liaison with government officials and industry leaders in Mexico.”

Anne Holland ‘15 shares, “I remember being so enthralled that women were capable of pursuing and being a part of any field they wanted to be in. I really enjoyed listening to the woman from Facebook. Although I don’t work in the STEM field, she encouraged me to try coding, so I took a computer science course in college and actually did fine. If it weren’t for her, maybe I wouldn’t have tried it.”

As we celebrate the 9th annual Women’s Symposium in March 2023, our students are benefitting from a model created by Dr. Lek in which “empowered women, empower women” and the high school students of OLP and many guests, have the opportunity to collectively glean from top female leaders, consider entrepeneurial pusuits and experience the comraderie. Please mark your calendars to attend on Friday, March 24, 2023, and join us!

THE HOPE IS HERE