TWEF Sold Out International Women’s Leadership Summit with Special Guest Tyra Banks Raises More Than $300,000 for Scholarships

The Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation (TWEF) along with its founder and visionary leader, Deavra Daughtry and Reggie Van Lee, a philanthropist, successful business executive and arts advocate, welcomed more than 600 guests to the sold-out 20th Annual International Women’s Leadership Summit featuring renowned Supermodel and Business Leader Tyra Banks on April 22, 2024 at Hotel ZaZa – Museum District.

The Summit featured Leadership Workshops, a private VIP reception to recognize Men Who Empower Her, a VIP Business Soiree hosted by Harvard University Alumni and Friends along with CEO of a 150-year Japanese company Orime Fujita, global entrepreneur and executive Marko Kovacevic, television producer known for American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance Ron DeShay, and Managing Director of Live Nation Philippines Rhiza Pascua.

Lee joined Collins on stage to introduce the portion of the luncheon everyone had been waiting for: the fireside chat conducted by Fox Houston’s Damali Keith with the incomparable Tyra Banks, an entrepreneur, Supermodel, and Emmy award-winning television producer & personality.

As one of the most iconic models in the history of fashion, Banks has collected a long list of “firsts” as she broke down multiple barriers in the modeling industry. Banks shared many personal stories of how she had to “pivot” both on the runway and off, and how she went from supermodel to super-mogul, entrepreneur, and businesswoman.

Daughtry then presented Banks with the 2024 International Leadership Award and Rhiza Pascua, Managing Director of Live Nation Philippines, with the 2024 International Business Leadership Award. She also thanked the many sponsors that made the Summit possible before closing the luncheon with a surprise check presentation of $10,000 to one of TWEF’s Eagle Scholars Emarion Miller.

The Summit raised more than $300,000 of which 100% will directly benefit the TWEF Eagle Scholar Program scholarships. During the luncheon, TWEF Eagle Scholars Charles Wiltz, Alexandria Moffett, and Emarion Miller shared their stories with the crowd. To date, TWEF has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to college bound students.

For more than two decades, the TWEF International Women’s Leadership Summit has become an annual influential gathering of networking and inspiration by highlighting exception women and men global leaders, CEOs, and accomplished entrepreneurs.

For more information, visit www.TWEF.org.

Photos: Grady Carter