We Are Girls Conference Featured Speakers Announced
This year at We Are Girls we have THREE featured conference speakers, and we’re thrilled to share their details with you! Check out this awesome, incredible and exhilarating line up, and get to know our speakers a little bit better by reading their interviews below.
Ragen Chastain
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I started blogging seriously about self-esteem and body image after a ballroom dance competition when a judge told me that she couldn’t stand to look at me. I left a successful career as a business operations consultant to speak and write about this full-time after I started meeting more and more women and girls who hated their bodies because they didn’t know that there was any other option, and who went on dangerous diets because they didn’t know there was any other way to pursue health. I focus my work on helping women and girls love and appreciate their bodies, and make choices about taking care of those bodies.
What made you want to get involved with the We Are Girls Conference?
I have always had tremendous respect for the amazing work that GENaustin does, including the We Are Girls Conference. I wanted to get involved because I think that messages about self-esteem and body image are so important to girls who live in a society where it is incredibly profitable to convince them to hate themselves. I don’t think that my generation has done enough to combat the dangerous messages that are harming girls and I think one of the best ways to support girls is to empower them to combat the messages themselves, and this conference helps them do that.
Looking back on your adolescence as an adult, what is one piece of advice or wisdom you wish you could give yourself?
Your body is amazing! Focus on taking care of it with healthy habits and from a place of love and appreciation.
SaulPaul
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I am a Musician with a Message. I rap, sing and play my guitar to express myself. That’s the musician part. I want to change the world and inspire people to live their dreams. That’s the message part.
By the way…I’m living my dream. So I practice what I preach. I’m definitely living my dream!
Here is little bit more about SaulPaul to ensure that you have the full dish; for the last decade, SaulPaul has earned an international reputation as a “Musician with a Message” who has traveled the world entertaining, equipping and inspiring audiences. He’s performed at some of the world’s most esteemed music festivals and lectured at some of America’s top universities. SaulPaul is the author of the book Dream in 3D and has influenced nearly a million audience members through his work. His universally accessible story of tragedy to triumph has been told on screen through the film Tower to Tower.
What made you want to get involved with the We Are Girls Conference?
Why wouldn’t I want to be involved?! GENaustin and the folks at the We Are Girls conference are doing cool stuff and empowering girls to take the lead and do great things. That’s exciting to me! I’m excited to play my part and share some of what I’ve learned. And share some music!
Looking back on your adolescence as an adult, what is one piece of advice or wisdom you wish you could give yourself?
If I only had one piece of advice to share, the NOW me would tell the TEEN Me…RISE.
Rise to the moment
Rise to the occasion
Open your eyes,
Recognize there is greatness
Within your reach
You should seize it, you should take it
Can you see it, can you taste…
Destiny!
Jaime Horn
A little bit about Jaime’s background; Jaime Horn has over 14 years of experience in communications, politics and international development. In January 2013, she co-launched The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women (ALI) which seeks to give young women the necessary skills to become leaders in their own communities. Previously she has worked for The Institute for Inclusive Security and for the UN Women’s South Asia Regional Office in Delhi, in the anti-human trafficking and women, peace and security division. Jaime currently works for Blue Engine Message & Media.
What made you want to get involved with the We Are Girls Conference?
I wanted to get involved with the We Are Girls Conference because I believe that our future is in the hands of young people and that young girls and women in particular can and will solve many of our world’s problems; but we must first give them the support, tools and resources they need to help them evolve into confident young adults. Each young girl should realize how special and unique she is and that no other girl exists like her and that it is her differences that will help her succeed in life and help change the world. I’m a part of the We Are Girls Conference because I believe every young girl can make a positive difference in this world and I want all young girls to know that.
Looking back on your adolescence as an adult, what is one piece of advice or wisdom you wish you could give yourself?
I think I would tell myself to enjoy the process of growing a bit more and not to rush to get to the finish line with every goal I set for myself, to enjoy being young and not rush to be an adult, that the journey is much richer than arriving at your final destination. I would also tell myself it is okay not to follow a straight and narrow path and that even if when I thought I might have been off course in achieving my dreams, every experience I had contributed to the woman I am today. It is the journey in life that makes us who we are.
We hope to see you at the We Are Girls Conference on Saturday, November 15 at Austin High School!