Dawn Dickson, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and
investor, headlined the event with her keynote address, sharing her
personal journey in creating her tech and retail companies, PopCom
and Flat Out of Heels, respectively.
Other speakers at the event included:
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Leandra Nisbet — A 2018 selection for Crain’s Grand
Rapids 40 Under 40 list, Nisbet has more than a decade of
experience providing strategic consulting and marketing support to
entrepreneurs in West Michigan.
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Paola Mendivil — A 2024 member of Crain’s 40 Under 40
list, Mendivil is a business development officer for Grand Rapids
Opportunities for Women and serves on the board of directors of
the Arts Marketplace and the City of Grand Rapids Master Plan Committee.
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Jeanette Hoyer — The president and CEO of Goodwill
Industries of West Michigan, Hoyer has spent her career building
support networks for women and families, including mental health services.
Attendees also engaged with fellow entrepreneurs during
breakout sessions focused on building and amplifying their ventures.
In the afternoon, the summit transitioned into a
marketplace, giving 20 women-owned businesses the opportunity to
showcase their products and increase brand visibility.
"Sparkle & Soar was more than an event — it
was a reminder of what’s possible when entrepreneurs come together
to learn, encourage one another, and build meaningful connections,”
said the event’s emcee Marisol Garcia Linstrom of Michigan Women
Forward, a Detroit-based nonprofit committed to the economic
development of women.
“I truly believe that one conversation can change
everything, and Sparkle & Soar created countless opportunities
for those conversations to happen.”
