I received compensation in exchange for posting about Women Driving Excellence. All opinions expressed are my own.
This past week, I had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Auto Show through the Women Driving Excellence event. Put together by the powerhouses of ChicagonistaLIVE , Nissan and the Chicago Tribune, Women Driving Excellence is all about honoring women who start, accelerate, fuel and steer others to excellence. The day brought together some of the most influential women and coupled it with entertainment and audience interaction.
A full day’s agenda!
The morning began with a beautiful performance and ribbon dancing from the St. Therese Chinese Catholic School of Chicago. Beautiful colors and vibrant music made this opening act engaging and a perfect start to the day.
We then had an opportunity to peruse the Auto Show and connect with some of the Nissan models on the floor. I think I found one I liked…
Say it with Chicago Pride!
This car was roped off. I’m 99% sure I met my car soulmate. If that was a thing.
On to the Presentation!
Emceed by Anupy Singla, a 2013 WDE Honoree, we heard from women like Karyn Calabrese, restaurater and book author, Natalie Martinez, a reporter with NBC Chicago, and Elisa Camahort Page, co-founder of BlogHer, Inc. Each women was honored as a trailblazer for women everywhere, were presented with an award for their achievement and were given a few minutes to address the audience.
The fact that Karyn Calabrese was sixty-seven and had a better body than I have ever had was astounding! A beacon of health, light, and hope, she inspired, encouraged, and talked about reaching for the best person we could be health and wellness-wise.
Not the best shot, but did I mention she is SIXTY-SEVEN?! And that her thighs are probably slightly thinner than my ARMS?!
Natalie Martinez talked a bit about her experience as a reporter and knew how to engage with the audience while also sharing just what being a trailblazer meant to her. Finally, one of my favorite moments came from Elisa Camahort Page when she talked about leaving a soul-sucking life behind and going for everything you’ve dreamed of. It epitomized the journey that I think I’ve been on for the last year or so as I worked to continue to create the life I always knew I could have.
The rest of the day continued with magic from the likes of Andrea Metcalf, a performance from The Phantom of the Opera in Chicago, and a Frozen delight from Miss Lori and culminating in the ChicagonisaLIVE show featuring former Olympian Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr.
Coinciding with Women’s Day at the Chicago Auto Show, Women Driving Excellence sets the stage for women everywhere to pursue and inspire. From the stories and encouragement from the honorees to the continued commitment to encouraging women everywhere, the enter event captured the them of fueling others to excellence.
Looks like a fun day!