The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the team’s Women’s History Month initiatives at the Perot Museum in Dallas on March 4 with the fourth annual Women’s Symposium.
Hosted by the Women of Mavs Empowering Network (W.O.M.E.N.) Employee Resource Group, in partnership with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, the sold-out event united thought leaders and professionals from all backgrounds for a day of impactful conversation and networking.
Guided by this year’s theme, “empowerHER: Leading with Purpose,” attendees gained valuable insight from a lineup of noteworthy speakers and engaging panel discussions:
The “Championing Women” discussion with former Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall.
An “Empowering Women” fireside chat with Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first female pilot for American Airlines, and Emmy Award-winning MavsTV broadcaster Dana Larson.
The “Balancing Purpose with Self-Care” panel, moderated by Mavericks SVP of corporate sponsorships Brittanie Boyd, with Averie Bishop, Miss Texas 2022 and Zeal IT Consultants, Jessica Jesse, CEO and creative director of BuDhaGirl, and Melinda Jones, founder and creator of Read Between the Lines.
And a “Networking with Purpose: The Power of the Ask” fireside chat with the founder of Boss Women Media & Elle Olivia, Marty McDonald, and Mavs in-arena host Ivy Winfrey.
Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to self-reflect, engage in thoughtful conversation, and explore techniques for personal and professional growth.
“I think the highlight of my experience at the Women’s Symposium this year was the breadth of how many diverse women were in the room,” said McDonald. “It was multiple generations in the room. It was all cultures and backgrounds in the room. And I think it showcased a unity of what the world looks like when dynamic women come together, no matter their background, no matter their race, no matter their position in life.”
The Mavericks also used the event to recognize several difference-makers in the community.
With the team’s former CEO on-site, female leaders within the Mavs took the opportunity to thank Marshall for empowering women across the organization while leading the team with purpose throughout her tenure.
The Mavs also recognized Roland Parrish, CEO of Parrish Restaurants, LTD, with the SupportHER Award. VR Small, founder and CEO of Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center, was honored with the Unsung Hero Award. And Jennifer Bartkowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, received the Diamond Award.
“This is really humbling— I feel very honored and blessed to do the work that I do,” said Small after accepting her award. “We don’t do it to be seen or to be heard. We do it to serve our sisters in arms, but when other people take notice of that and recognize that we are doing work that’s impactful and making a difference, that’s exciting. We’re really grateful for the opportunity to be recognized by the Mavs of all organizations, which we have a great deal of respect for.”
There was no shortage of feel-good moments at Tuesday’s event, from well-earned recognitions and the forging of meaningful connections to a crowning moment for everyone in the room, this year’s Women’s Symposium left a lasting impact on all who attended.