"She's In The Lead" - a She Speaks CEO Women in Leadership Panel + Mixer presented by F1 Arcade Reved It Up @ SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas.
She Speaks CEO celebrated the overwhelming success of its "She’s In the Lead" Women in Leadership Panel + Mixer, presented by F1 Arcade USA, during SXSW 2025. Held at the Cabana Club outside the immediate downtown Austin footprint, the event defied the competitive programming landscape of SXSW’s opening weekend and attracted over 200+ high-achieving women in business and leadership, with an additional 1,200+ registered attendees expressing interest. The success of this event underscores the strong demand for authentic, vulnerable discussions about career scaling, leadership challenges, and meaningful networking opportunities in an environment that is both inspiring and engaging.
Within the trendy atmosphere that offered crafted cocktails, a dynamic panel discussion, and brand activations, attendees were able to connect deeply, share insights, and build strategic alliances in an exclusive, high-touch setting.The event was sponsored by F1 Arcade USA, a brand expansion of Formula 1 Motorsports offering socially competitive entertainment with its high touch dining and entertainemnt venues launching across the U.S. F1 Arcade is redefining the motorsport and entertainment landscape with venues featuring high-performance gaming with F1 racing simulators, elevated dining, and hand crafted cocktails in a high touch atmosphere.
As the brand continues its North American expansion, the alignment with She Speaks CEO provided a unique opportunity to engage more women in higher brackets of consumer spending power and business leadership, while supporting the empowerment of underserved women in leadership and business.
The Deep Dive:
According to the National Women’s Business Council’s 2023 Annual Report, women-owned employer firms generated $2.3 trillion in revenue, representing 5.1% of all U.S. employer firm revenue. Additionally, women are the primary drivers of consumer purchasing power, accounting for up to 80% of all consumer spending. However, despite their economic influence, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions.
As of 2023, only 10.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs are held by women, with women occupying just 25.1% of senior management roles. The success of She Speaks CEO’s “She’s In the Lead” event, presented by F1 Arcade, reinforces the urgency for more initiatives aimed at closing this leadership gap and providing women with the resources and networks to advance their careers.
She Speaks CEO was founded to provide a space where women can gather, elevate, and support each other through mentorship, opportunity-sharing, and executive-level conversations. The event’s success reaffirms the demand for spaces where women in leadership can have meaningful discourse and develop relationships that foster growth.
Following the success of this event, She Speaks CEO is set to expand its membership association into key markets across the U.S., with a focus on hosting high-impact events, leadership development conferences, and mentorship initiatives that cater to women in C-suite, executive, and entrepreneurial roles. The association is actively seeking partnerships with enterprise brands such as Google, Microsoft, and Dell (along with business and lifestyle trailblazers) to enhance opportunities for women in business, especially from marginalized and underrepresented communities.
The growing economic impact of women in business leadership is undeniable. Organizations like She Speaks CEO play a critical role in closing these gaps by creating opportunities for women to advance and lead in industries traditionally dominated by men.
To learn more about our events, conferences, and initiatives, become a member or sponsor today!
Product Sponsors
