Young & Empowered Women Hosts Record-Breaking 5th Annual Empow[her] Conference to Close the Wage Gap
TEMPE, AZ — On Saturday, June 21st, nearly 300 women and allies gathered at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium for the 5th Annual Empow[her] Conference, hosted by Young & Empowered Women (Y&E). This year’s event marked a milestone for the organization, doubling its attendance from 2024 and raising over $25,000 to fund year-round programming that empowers women to thrive professionally and personally.
Founded in 2020, Young & Empowered Women is a Phoenix-based nonprofit on a mission to close the gender wage gap through professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities. At the center of this year’s conference was a bold call to action: flip the 15-cent wage gap on its head.
“For every dollar a man makes, women make just 85 cents,” said Ashley Kelly, Y&E Board Member and Vice President at JP Morgan Chase, during her closing remarks. “But in this room, we turn that gap into momentum—and into $15 donations that fund mentorship, leadership development, and career advancement for our members.”
The day featured a keynote address from Dr. Adelaida Severson, President & CEO of Bushtex, Inc., who shared her journey from journalist to award-winning satellite communications executive. Dr. Severson’s message centered on legacy, perseverance, and the power of authenticity in leadership.
Y&E Founder Veronica Aguilar opened the program with a moving reflection on the organization’s origins during the COVID-19 pandemic and its evolution into a statewide movement.
“We built Y&E so that women could do more than survive hard times—we built it so we could thrive in every time,” said Aguilar. “And we built it around three pillars: professional development, mentorship, and networking.”
The conference included one-on-one mentorship roundtables with over two dozen Arizona leaders, speaking to vital topics like salary negotiation, personal branding, and leadership, and ended with the announcement of open applications for Cohort 11, Y&E’s next member class.
Y&E's impact continues to grow across Arizona. One in three members have made a career transition since joining the organization, and one in four report they became equipped to negotiate their salary. With 67% of members identifying as BIPOC and 60% as first-generation college graduates, Y&E is reaching and representing the next generation of changemakers—many of whom have long been left out of traditional power structures.
As the organization looks toward the future, it remains focused on equipping women with the tools, mentorship, and connections needed not just to break barriers—but to redefine them entirely.
