Powerful Tools Leaders Need: AI, Courage, Authentic Stories & Intergenerational Connection
At the recent Power Up Conference, (L to R): Ellie Artone; Martiana Castro; Bayly Hoehne; and Haley Lickstein.
The latest innovations, updates and insights from and for leaders in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, community building, early career efforts and founding organizations shaped the recent close to the Take The Lead Power Up Conference 2025 in Washington, D.C. on Women’s Equality Day.
Read more in Take The Lead on Power Up 2025
Developing a positive relationship with AI is on most every leader’s mind—and needs to be.
“In this AI era, the data is the land and the ownership is the gold rush,” Stacey Engle, CEO of Twin Protocol, founder of Authority Lab, and Take The Lead board member, said at the 2025 Power Up with the theme, Courage To Lead.
Read more in Take The Lead on Power Up 2025
Partnering with Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead, Engle’s team helped create Feldt’s digital twin, a process that many can choose to assist with messaging.
“Anyone who has books, podcasts or knowledge,” can have an AI self-duplicate, to answer questions, offer solutions and even create content, Engle said.
Read more in Take The Lead on Stacey Engle
“The plan for data is what women will have the opportunity for in AI,” she told the audience. And while AI has rightfully been criticized for bias and misinformation, errors and mishaps, Engle added, “Hopefully AI can be amplified just as much for good.”
“Hopefully AI can be amplified just as much for good,” said @StaceyEngle, CEO Twin Protocol, founder Authority Lab, @TakeLeadwomen board member #PowerUp #AI #Leadership #women”
Read more in Take The Lead on women and AI
Taking to the stage after introductions by Felicia Davis, CEO & Founder of Haus of Vocal Empowerment, and Take The Lead Leadership ambassador, were the Power Tool Champions explaining their journeys as leaders.
“I challenge us all to keep sending down the elevators to send women up,” said Dr. Winter Okoth, infectious disease scientist and founder of the non-profit, Pamoja Kenya Mentorship Alliance, that offers mentorship to children and youth in her native Kenya, earned the Trailblazer Power Tool Award.
Read more in Take The Lead on Winter Okoth
“Buffoonery deserves to be interrupted,” said Joy Donnell, who was given the Disruptor award. “I am devoted to telling the stories to build the society we deserve. My work is about narrative change.” She added, “Thanks to Take The Lead for showing us how to show up in the best ways.”
“ “I am devoted to telling the stories to build the society we deserve. My work is about narrative change,” said Joy Donnell, co-founder, Center for Intersectional Media & Entertainment, #PowerTool Champion @takeleadwomen #leadership”
Read more from Gloria Feldt on Power Tool Champions
Truth Seeker Award winner Tanu Ghosh, PhD., founder of HerRights, Inc., Intel Director and author said, “Whatever you believe in, start with whatever you have.”
Tammy Bosse, vice president of Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce, eco-entrepreneur and Scottsdale Environmental Advisory Commissioner, and winner of the Movement Maker award, said, “Be the light that guides others to stay strong and carry on. Do one thing to reduce your carbon footprint.”
Read more from Take The Lead on Power Up Conference
Telling the audience how important it is to “make a fuss,” Michelle Genece Patterson, award-winning TV broadcast creator, producer at ABC News and CNN for decades, and the co-founder of MindFire Productions, received the Influencer Award. “Remember who you are, what only you have done and lead with the story only you can tell,” she said.
Read more in Take The Lead on Patterson
The founder of Walk By Faith Productions, Anise Fuller, lauded as The Activator Power Tool Champion, said, “Don’t let your pain or struggle determine your purpose.”
In a panel on women founding and building their businesses, Vada Manager, Take The Lead board member and founder/Ceo of Manager Global Consulting Group, served as facilitator.
“Founder of Walk By Faith Productions, Anise Fuller, The Activator #PowerTool #Champion, said, “Don’t let your pain or struggle determine your purpose.” #leadership #struggles @takeleadwomen”
APCO Founder and Executive Chairman Margery Kraus, who turns 80 this year, was given the Leading Woman Award. She created the largest majority woman-owned company of its kind in 1984, now with 1,200 employees in 80 markets around the world. “Never underestimate the power of being underestimated,” Kraus said. “If I wasn’t optimistic there would be no business,” she said.
“ Never underestimate the power of being underestimated,” said Margery Kraus, @APCOWorldwide founder, executive chairman #leadership #powerful #genderequity #LeadingWoman @takeleadwoman”
Suzanne Lerner, co-founder and CEO of Michael Starz, said of the company she and her late husband began in 1986 has 100 employees. More than 70% of the clothing products for the company are produced in Los Angeles and she has a foundation that funds grassroots women’s organizations.
“My life is work and my work is personal,” said Lerner.
Read more in Take The Lead on Suzanne Lerner
Hather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest, said her two sons are now in business with her. Her business has grown 1500% since she founded it, and she said, “My heart said, ‘follow your beliefs.’ That’s what brings you success in the end.”
Kraus added, “Follow your values. Authenticity is one of the greatest characteristics of a leader. Being vulnerable is an important part of leadership.”
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, Take The Lead board member, and founder and president of Women Connect4Good, introduced the panel of youth leaders and demonstrated with a passing of the baton.
Read more in Take The Lead on Nancy O’Reilly
“The urgency is now,” O’Reilly said. “We need strong women’s leadership and we are missing the youth cohort.” To that end, O’Reilly created Connect For Impact, a movement to assist every organization to have a youth cohort.
“We need strong women’s leadership and we are missing the youth cohort,” said Dr. Nancy D. O’Reilly, @WomenConnect4Good founder, @takeleadwomen #boardmember #leadership #intergenerational”
Ellie Artone, co-founder and chief creator officer of Social Currant, said she works with 4,000 content creators and influencers and organizations to connect with them. With misinformation and disinformation as key concerns, Artone said, “A lot of bad actors uise information to hurt people. A lot of times we play defense, but we need to play offense. Education is a big part of stopping disinformation.”
Read more in Take The Lead on youth advocacy
As founder of Action for Access, Haley Lickstein said, “Democratization of voice can create change and mobilize people.” She added that generational myths about digital awareness can be updated. “Digitally native doesn’t mean digitally literate. We need to combat misinformation.”
As chief of staff of Voters of Tomorrow, Bayly Hoehne, who was in her first week of college at 18, said, “You have to break through messaging by putting out
“Digitally native doesn’t mean digitally literate. We need to combat misinformation,” said Haley Lickstein, @ActionforAccess #youthleaders #misinforamtion #socialmedia”
With many voters saying that social media such as TikTok is their main source of information, working to maintain accuracy and facts is crucial.
“People are traumatized by misinformation,” said Mariana Castro, leader of Trending Up. “People are looking to youth for information, we there is a responsibility to inform our own communities.”
It is essential for companies “to invest money in longterm partnerships and trust the youth for what is coming up for them,” Castro said. “Pairing up content creators with experts is important.”
Creating intergenerational alignments and mentorships is crucial.
“I don’t know if the world is ready for this, but they better be,” Artone said.
Closing out the day with a call for Commitment to Dare, Feldt introduced the musical trio, BETTY, that includes Aly Palmer, Elizabeth Ziff and Amy Ziff. In an interactive, live collaboration on lyrics, the audience of close to 200 particpants came up with the lyrics to the Courage To Lead song that BETTY performed.
Read more in Take The Lead on BETTY
The room erupted in the original, imaginative, collaborative song:
“On the metro/ feeling hopeful/so much to look forward to.
Trudging, anticipating, cogitating. What am I gonna do?
Give me a big glass of wine.
Take The Lead, Take The Lead. Courage to use your power.
Take the Lead, Take The Lead. A lioness isn’t a flower. Take The Lead.”
