She Speaks CEO Closes Out CES Week 2026 in Style at F1 Arcade Las Vegas
- Priscilla Nakane
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
From a Small Room to the Fast Lane: She Speaks CEO Scales Its CES Week Experience Year Over Year x 3.
Three years ago, She Speaks CEO hosted its very first CES gathering in a downtown Las Vegas community space, generously supported by the City of Las Vegas. It was intimate, grassroots, and purpose-driven. A panel discussion for women in tech women who simply wanted to find each other in the middle of one of the biggest tech conferences in the world.
Year two took us a step further. We leveled up to the Hard Rock Cafe, atop their third story penthouse event space overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, we expanded the guest list, and proved that there was a real appetite for women-led connection during CES week.
Then came CES Week 2026.
This year, She Speaks CEO closed out CES Week with its most energized event yet: the Women in Tech + Leadership Reception at the all-new F1 Arcade Las Vegas. The engagement saw over 300 RSVPs pour in from our curated guest list, representing a powerful cross-section of industry-agnostic, multi-generational leaders spanning tech, media, business, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Women were front and center, joined by allies who understood the value of being in the room.
What surprised us most was that this was our least technically programmed event to date, and hands down, the most talked about.
Three Years of Consistently Showing Up at CES For Our Community of Women in Tech + Leadership
Looking back, the evolution of our CES Week presence mirrors the growth of our community. What began as a small, intentional gathering to support our women in leadership network has steadily grown into a signature moment that women attending CES look forward to.
Each year, the space has grown. The audience has expanded. The energy has intensified. Yet the purpose has remained the same: to create a place where women can connect meaningfully, be seen, and feel grounded amid the intensity of a global tech conference.
CES 2026 marked a turning point. Validation that what we are building is needed, wanted, and relevant. Person after person praised the event, the experience, and showed a hunger for more, as well as joining us for our inaugural 3-day conference in Denver. Sentiment that we've taken to heart to continue - in spite of.
An Evening Designed to Breathe
We intentionally paused heavier programming for this CES Week event. Instead of panels, packed agendas, or rigid schedules, this year’s reception was intentionally designed to breathe. We wanted our guests to enjoy the freedom to recharge, relax, and mingle at their own pace.
Guests arrived to a paparazzi-style step-and-repeat entrance, instantly setting the tone for a fun and elevated evening. Inside, the venue buzzed with energy as attendees sipped handcrafted cocktails and enjoyed gourmet bites, made possible by our partnership with F1 Arcade Las Vegas. The space did what great spaces do. It invited people to relax, open up, and connect without pressure.
When the Room Comes Alive
Midway through the evening, we gathered everyone briefly to make a few announcements and gently guide the experience. On each table, guests found curated icebreaker cards featuring three to four thoughtful prompts.
No forced networking.No awkward introductions.
Just an invitation to choose a question and let everyone at the table answer.
As founder and producer, stepping back and watching the room come alive was one of those rare moments that reminds you why you do this work. Conversations deepened. Laughter carried across the space. Business cards were exchanged, but more importantly, authentic relationships began forming in real time.
Guests leaned fully into the experience. Some gravitated toward the high-octane Formula 1 racing simulators. Others stayed rooted in conversation, drawn in by the diversity of industries, backgrounds, and lived experiences represented in the room. It was a true melting pot of cultures, generations, and perspectives, all coexisting effortlessly.
Not Just a Mixer: Why These Moments Matter
These micro-experiences, especially when hosted during large, often male-dominated industry events like CES, are intentionally designed for connection. And they do exactly that.
They create moments where people feel seen, welcomed, and energized. They introduce a high-level demographic to the She Speaks CEO brand, our partners, and our broader ecosystem. They open doors to future collaborations, sponsorships, and shared growth.
Perhaps most importantly, they remind us that sometimes the most impactful experiences happen when we give people the space to simply be present.
With Gratitude
Events like this don’t come to life without an incredible team behind the scenes. I am deeply grateful to the She Speaks CEO team, our collaborators, and our partners who helped bring this experience to life.
Special thanks as well to our photography and videography partners for capturing the energy, emotion, and authenticity of the evening so beautifully.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for She Speaks CEO
As She Speaks CEO continues to grow its national presence, these curated micro-experiences remain a cornerstone of how we build community and connection within larger industry moments.
We look forward to continuing this momentum with upcoming experiences around SXSW, as well as our inaugural She Speaks CEO Women in Leadership Conference in Denver. More cities, more connection, and more intentional spaces designed to bring people together in meaningful ways.
From a small downtown room to the fast lane of F1 Arcade, the journey continues.
We’re just getting started.
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