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" The Women’s Leadership Summit is the vision of a woman I deeply admire: Helen Giddings. Helen served in the Texas House of Representatives for 26 years, where she was South Africa's Honorary Consul to Texas and became the first woman and first person of color to chair the powerful Business and Industry Committee. She is also a trailblazing entrepreneur; she founded Multiplex, a specialty concessions company that is operating at multiple airports in Texas.

Helen could have done anything with her considerable influence, and we’re very fortunate that she chose to pour into other women through this summit. Represented at the event were women from across the country and across industries, from entrepreneurs to corporate executives, established professionals to rising leaders. The programming included sessions on building wealth, caring for your mental and physical health, leading in an age of emerging technology, learning how to pivot when life demands it, and other dynamic opportunities for attendees.

I have always admired Helen’s ability to galvanize people toward positive impact and change. I loved hearing her talk about her new book, “When There Was No Chair: The Courage to Show Up,” in which she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the chairs she has had to build through her legislative career, her community leadership, and her experience as an entrepreneur.

Having known each other for years, it was touching to be in the audience and hear Helen recount her incredible story and the moments that have shaped her public service and profound impact. Honest conversations like these were a reminder to me and my fellow attendees to continue to have the courage to show up, even when people underestimate us, and of the importance of the collective determination to lift as we climb.

Thank you for your courage, Helen, and for imparting wisdom to the next generation of women leaders."

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