‘Tis the season when women worldwide visualize how they will rebrand themselves in the new year. The girls are brainstorming at coffee shops and sifting through Pinterest to get a picture of who they see themselves becoming. Our feeds are flooded with recommendations, positivity and encouragement for the rebrand.
Seeing yourself as THAT girl and creating a vision board is just the beginning. The challenging (and most important) part of achieving your goals is developing a strategy and system. The vision board just serves as a daily reminder to stick to the plan. So, how do you execute a plan? The truth is, you need accountability. Whether a new mentor who’s walked in your footsteps or friends with the same drive. It’s essential to connect with like-minded people. That’s why attending conferences and networking events is rewarding! They are opportunities to find people with the same interests. Therefore, include in your strategy to attend a few conferences and build relationships with the right people in 2025.
If you’re looking for conferences and seminars, check out these events, which consistently include a powerful lineup of dynamic women to learn from and attendees to connect with:
ESSENCE GU SUMMIT
Gen Z Black women are DIFFERENT! We are genuinely incomparable to any other generation or race. That’s why the Essence GU summit is one of a kind. It’s an opportunity for Gen Z Black women from around the globe to unite and converse about issues that matter to us most. The summit addresses everything from social media trends to landing a new role. The speakers are Gen Z/ Millenials, just a short distance from the age of the attendees, and they understand the culture, speak to our needs, and provide tangible advice.
ENVSN FESTIVAL
A creative’s utopia is the perfect way to describe ENVSN FESTIVAL. The days are packed with hands-on sessions for all aspiring fashion and beauty moguls. The latest festival’s workshops included designing sketches with GAP, nail art, hair braiding and beauty tutorials. All the panels featured leading women in the fashion and beauty industry who advised attendees on breaking out in the space. Add this festival to your list if becoming a beauty or fashion icon is your goal!
SIP N SLAY
Have you ever walked into a room with an aura of elegance, confidence, and luxury? That’s the feeling of attending SIP N SLAY, a conference designed for women who want to enter fashion, media and the intersection of those industries. The lineup usually consists of the hottest influencers at the moment. Last year, they had conversations with Jordyn Woods, Clarke Peoples, Sabrina Elba and more. SIP N SLAY feels less like a conference of elevated speakers and more like a sister-to-sister conversation with access to the many influencers in the room. It’s the perfect place to network!
AFROTECH
Don’t let the name fool you! AFROTECH is open to all who are in tech or want to learn how tech will impact their industry. Tech rules everything around us, so whether you’re a journalist, teacher, or astronaut, tech will (if it hasn’t already) consume your day-to-day. Therefore, attending AFROTECH is a great way to stay ahead of the curve and learn how the ‘not so sexy stuff’ will shape the jobs in your industry. Not only that, their organizers are very intentional about having opportunities to work and play. There’s space to network with people from leading companies like Meta and Apple, as well as attend conference-adjacent parties and activations.
ESSENCE FESTIVAL
ESSENCE FEST is not just for the aunties but for every age group—and not just any age group but any interest. The Black female diaspora is so broad and diverse, and the Essence team ensures that every Black woman can relate to and feel that she belongs at the conference. From enjoyment in politics to wellness to sports to punk, an activation or seminar is planned. All of the stars pop out for this legacy event, which is another reason it’s so popular!
CULTURECON
If you’re an artist, creative, or visionary, CultureCon is for you. The best of the best across the creative arts industry—actors, musicians, designers, influencers, and more—come to CultureCon to learn and connect with others who share their interests and are making their mark in the field. Past speakers include Issa Rae, Will Smith, Law Roach, Tems and more.
ZCON is the first conference by Gen Z to feature all Gen Z speakers. Have you heard the saying, ‘It’s better to network across than up?’ Well, that rings true at ZCON. It’s an opportunity to network with the ‘next’ most prominent stars, Fortune 500 leaders, and innovators, as everyone is on the same level now and will work their way up together. You never know who you’ll meet as you network across the room at ZCON. It’s also the perfect space to connect with folks just as driven as you and your age.
About the Author: Shelby Denise Smith is a Social Media Editor and Freelance Writer. She’s passionate about lifestyle, wellness, travel, and culture. Smith enjoys packaging the insight she receives into stories that can positively impact the livelihood of others.