2023 Speakers

Gay Gaddis
Gay Gaddis: Founder. Author. Artist. Trailblazer
Gay Gaddis is an entrepreneur, author, artist and trailblazer. She’s the founder of T3, an innovative digital and marketing agency that grew into the largest woman-owned independent advertising agency in the U.S, under Gay’s leadership for over 30 years. Gay focuses her always-on energy to empower entrepreneurs and the next generation of business leaders to take big leaps in their careers and lives. She is an active speaker on women’s leadership, company culture and entrepreneurship. Her book, Cowgirl Power, released in January 2018, shares insights and examples for women to develop personal power and lead like fearless cowgirls. Gay is also a regular contributor to Forbes and a part of Fortune’s Powerful Women Insider Network. Gay is the first female Chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council and is former Chairman of The Committee of 200 (C200), a leading organization that advances women’s leadership in business, and is on the Board of Directors of the Texas Cultural Trust. She’s also an immediate past board member for Monotype Imaging Holdings, Inc.
Through her speaking career on women’s leadership, company culture and entrepreneurship, her book Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business & Life, board work and leadership training, Gay focuses her always-on energy to empower the next generation of business leaders to take big leaps in their careers and lives. She is a contributor to Forbes and recently founded and launched Women Who Mean Business, a women’s development program that she co-teaches at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.
Gay has received numerous awards including the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Texas, 2021 Hall of Fame Award by the McCombs School of Business, the Liz Carpenter Lifetime Achievement Award, Fast Company’s Top 25 Women Business Builders, Inc. Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the Year and C200’s Luminary Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
As an artist, Gay’s bold and vibrant paintings have been shown in several prestigious galleries around the country including New York City and Santa Fe, and Texas Monthly magazine naming Gay as one of “10 Artists to Collect Now.” Gay and her husband own and operate the historic Double Heart Ranch in the Texas Hill Country, home to Gay’s private art studio and gallery, Fossil Ridge.
- Self-awareness and confidence building while instilling personal accountability for professional growth.
- How to build kick ass corporate culture.
- Cultivating a strong network for meaningful lifelong connections.
- The differences and value in Mentors, Sponsors, and Circles.
- The power of reinvention and goal setting for endless opportunities at any stage of life.
LinkedIn: GayGaddis
Instagram: @GayGaddis
Facebook: @Gay.Gaddis
gaygaddis.com

Sandra Lilia Velasquez
CEO & FOUNDER OF NOPALERA
Born and raised by Mexican immigrant parents near the US/ MEX border, Sandra Velasquez is a strong Latina role model that uses her platform to celebrate and elevate Latino culture while providing access and mentorship to her community.
She launched Nopalera, a Mexican Botanical Bath & Body brand, during the pandemic with no outside funding or savings, while working three jobs, being a single mother, at the age of 44. The brand is now sold in Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Free People and over 400 independent retailers nationwide. In 2022 she raised 2.7 Million in Series Seed funding and won Latino StartUp Of The Year at the L’Attitude Conference. In 2023 she appeared on Shark Tank where she infamously turned down two offers, rallying the Latino community to stand in their worth. Prior to Nopalera, she worked as a sales and distribution manager for several CPG brands across multiple categories. She is the host of The Nopalera Podcast which documents the journey of building her company in real time. Sandra was also the founder and bandleader of Pistolera, a Latin Alternative band that toured internationally and was featured on the NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
KEYNOTE: Empowerment Unleashed: Cultivating Your Greatest Asset – Yourself!
Sandra is passionate about leveling the playing field and inspiring others to stand in their worth. It is why she speaks, mentors and why she created Nopalera.
Key Takeaways:
* You are never too old or broke to have an idea and change your life
* Courage or comfort: You can’t have both
* Standing in your worth: Why Sandra turned down two offers from Shark Tank
* Be your authentic self – and all that implies
* How your level of self worth impacts your negotiations
Contact her:
LinkedIn: sandraliliavelasquez
Instagram: @nopalera.co /@officialSLV
www.nopalera.co


Lisa Carrington Firmin is a combat vet, writer, and poet. Founder/CEO of Carrington Firmin LLC where she provides writing and consulting services in Leadership, Veterans, Transitions, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Diversity and Inclusion. Her poetry is an intimate reflection into the invisible wounds of MST, PTSD, trauma, hardship, and combat. She is the author of the best selling book: Stories from the Front: Pain, Betrayal, and Resilience on the MST Battlefield. She has been featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine and her poems were featured in a national art exhibit at the Military Women’s Memorial in Washington, DC.
Carrington Firmin retired from the United States Air Force as its most senior ranking Latina officer, after leading UTSA’s AF ROTC program to the best in the nation. She was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for her efforts in combat as an Expeditionary Mission Support Group Commander in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle, and has received many honors and accolades.
Carrington Firmin currently serves as a member of the inaugural Department of Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, a member of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville University’s Foundation Board of Trustees, the first woman board member of the Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance, member of the Veterans Healthy Minds Advisory Council – South Texas, the Military Officers Association of America, the Military Writing Society of America and is a life member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Women Veterans Alliance.
Keynote TItle – Leadership: The Warrior Way
Lisa Carrington Firmin will showcase leadership principles and demonstrate how they can be adapted and transferred to any environment. Lisa will share how she led successfully across the distinctly varied ecosystems of the military (to include combat), higher education and as an entrepreneur. What makes the presentation even more powerful is that the presenter navigated these institutions/systems as an underrepresented woman, as a Latina who experienced both sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender and ethnic discrimination. Utilizing her own lived experiences in an engaging, humorous, and inspirational manner, the audience will come away with the understanding that leadership principles are timeless.
Key Takeaways:
– An understanding of how timeless leadership principles were adapted across organizations
– How to be an effective leader while navigating intersectionality as a minority
– Examples of leading with an inclusionary mindset
– The importance of leading with a servant’s heart to lift and amplify others
– The strength of doing the work, becoming and staying competent in your field
– The imperative of truly knowing oneself to become a better leader
LinkedIn: lisa-firmin-97584a12
lisacarringtonfirmin.com

Estela Casas

Betsy Keller
role, she oversees the County’s 21 non-elected, non-appointed departments and coordinates with over 60 elected or appointed official departments. Betsy administers a budget of over $700 Million with service to the county population of over 900,000 people through the County’s 3,000
dedicated employees. She is proud to work on the US Mexico border where her community is enriched by the binational culture and opportunities that living on the border provides.
Aliana Apodaca
Aliana Apodaca is known for providing fast paced, inspiring and humorous programs with useful content that makes her a sought after speaker worldwide. With 30 years of experience she has jazzed up thousands of people throughout the United States, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Spain. She is known as an authority on change management, energizing employees, increasing teamwork, and developing effective leaders. Some of her clients include Deloitte Consulting, Marriott Hotels, Dept of Labor, Dept of Housing, Raytheon to name a few. Among her many presentations Aliana was asked by the American Embassy in Bolivia to travel the country providing empowerment training and motivation to the women of that country.
Born in El Paso, Texas Aliana grew up as the oldest of seven children in the Barrio de Ysleta. From these humble beginnings, Aliana overcame an abusive childhood and evolved from being a single mother on welfare to becoming a much sought after inspirational speaker, business consultant, trainer, coach, and writer.
Aliana is a gifted speaker who connects with her audiences through humor and real life stories filled with inspiration and practical tips. Audiences connect with her warm style and can relate to her experiences, struggles and lessons. Her powerful teachings have moved audiences to profoundly change their lives and to take the action steps necessary for success. Aliana combines a down-to-earth attitude with a “splash of salsa” to help you develop the attributes to your personal power!
As a business owner and advocate for women, Aliana has been recognized by the Small Business Administration as the District – Women in Business Advocate of the Year and was named Business Woman of the Year; and one of 13 Latinas across the State of Texas as a Woman of Distinction by TAMACC (Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce). In 2018 Aliana received the 1st Annual Woman In Business Lifetime Achievement Award by the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. She was honored to be chosen as part of a group of small business owners invited to meet with the President at the White House. Aliana has hosted several local TV programs and for over 20 years was a featured Business columnist with the El Paso Times. Her column provided advice and guidance to readers on workplace issues. She has been featured in Hispanic Magazine, LatinaStyle Magazine and was named as one of “1000 Women for the Nineties” by Mirabella Magazine. She is a Fellow of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, one of twenty-five women chosen from throughout the United States for outstanding leadership and community service. Active community involvement has been a priority for Aliana. Her civic and professional involvement is at the local, state and national levels. She has served on the Board of Directors of: Latinas 100, Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce; University Medical Center; National Hispana Leadership Institute-Alumni; Texas Workforce Development Network; National Association of Private Industry Councils; Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, Loretto Academy Board of Trustees; El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Upper Rio Grande Private Industry Council; El Paso Child Guidance, CEDARS—Center for Entrepreneurial Development, Advancement, Research and Support at the University of Texas at El Paso; and is a founding member of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She is currently serving on the Board of Community En Accion and the Gifford Foundation.
Aliana is also the founder of the Southwest Women’s Leadership Institute and Latinas 100; two organizations dedicated to furthering the leadership capabilities of women and providing them tools for networking and professional development. Her personal style and approach have been warmly received at many conferences where she has appeared with Jane Fonda, Maya Angelou, Sally Field, Gloria Steinem, President Clinton, and Christina Saralegui to name a few.
Aliana lives in El Paso, Texas with her beloved husband.
13TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Changing Perspective. Changing Lives.
Changing us. Changing the world––
2024© THE SOUTHWEST WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE