We all started 2020 ready to step on necks and let the entire decade know who's boss. But it's also safe to say we can't do it alone.
I've been working from home for a little more than a year now, and it took months before I realized still being in my robe with my hair wrapped when my husband came home from work was not OK. I needed to find a way to link up with other like-minded women, whether it was just to bond over our femininity or just get out there and network.
Fortunately, tons of sheroes (and heroes) are on the same page and offer conferences and events for women to level up, learn, and glow up this year. You seriously need to save the date for these.
Pajamas & Lipstick
xoNecole/Pajamas & Lipstick
This is the ultimate gathering of all things #girlpower. I can personally attest to the power of this event. With super raw conversations and girl talk that has a "What happens at Pajamas & Lipstick stays at Pajamas & Lipsticks" vibe, this event is a must for your travel plans. Fortunately, this year it's set to expand to a three-city tour, making its first stop in Atlanta on March 20. If you're attending solo, you definitely won't feel that way once you arrive. If you're bringing your girl tribe, Pajamas & Lipstick will bring you even closer as you link up with women who will inspire you to become your best self.
CultureCon
CultureCon
CultureCon and The Creative Collective is the brainchild of Imani Ellis and will be taking over ATL on May 16 and NYC on Oct. 10. There, you'll rub elbows and shoulders with nearly 3,000 fellow creatives and leave super inspired to say the least. Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Spike Lee, and John Legend are a handful of the influential superstars who have graced the stage for the conference in the past. From a small business market featuring Black-owned businesses to a job fair, Forbes has called CultureCon an event "every creative should attend."
BYOB – May 22-24 – Miami, FL
BYOB
The catchy name isn't the only thing that will spark your creativity. BYOB (Build Your Own Brand) was launched to not only give you the tools to establish and grow your ventures in the best way, but it also encourages quite a bit of self-care indulgence (anyone who's built their brand knows that self-care is a must). Taking place in Miami on Memorial Day Weekend, this year's speakers and guests are notable entrepreneurs, CEOs, digital creators, music artists, and more to be announced.
#BlogHer20: Parenting – April 24 – Nashville
#BlogHer20
It's not every year you come across a conference for moms in the media. That's exactly who #BlogHer20 will be for this year. For the first time in the history of the conference, more than 300 women are slated to join forces to give and receive tips for the mommy curators, or those with a family-friendly target audience (attendees will also learn how to make money with their blogs, which never hurts).
GirlBoss Rally – April 25 – Los Angeles
GirlBoss Rally
This one-day workshop is for the entrepreneur, working female, and the woman who's on the journey of finding herself through it all. If you have questions about money, your career, or life topics like managing stress and avoiding burnout, GirlBoss has something for anyone who wants to take control of their life. The event features three different types of experiences: The Explorer, The Leader, and The Founder, and I'm convinced all three of them will be a-mazing.
The Great Girlfriends Conference – June 12-14 – NYC
The Great Girlfriends Conference
We all need at least one close girlfriend! Whether you go to the Doers & Disrupters Conference on the hunt for a new group of girlfriends or bring your awesome ones with you, you won't be disappointed with what this one has to offer (from the workshops and panels to the refreshing dance breaks). Ultimately, this was created for you to find your sweet spot in your friendships and relationships, careers, businesses, and more.
AfroTech – Nov. 12 -14 – Oakland, CA
It's never too early to claim your spot for AfroTech. If you're an engineer, venture capitalist, recruiter, technologist or a tech novice, AfroTech should certainly be on your to-do list. You'll be able to bond with people of color in the tech industry and trade unique ideas. With more than 10,000 attendees on the regular, it's one of the largest tech gatherings in the country.
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Featured image by Shutterstock
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The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
