BYU and Big 12’s women's empowerment event brings women TogetHER

PROVO, Utah – BYU and the Big 12 Conference hosted a women's empowerment event in the Marriott Center on Oct. 19. The event was part of the Cougars’ homecoming week, and more than 1,800 people attended the event.

The event was branded “Lean into Light TogetHER,” an extension of BYU’s homecoming theme, and highlighted the opportunity to come together as women from inside and outside of BYU and what might be our typical circles of influence.

Students, faculty and other members of the BYU community participated in activities designed to empower and bring women together, including a bouquet bar, a photo booth, a taco bar, Nike headband customization, makeovers and friendship bracelet making. There were also various informational booths featuring campus and community resources.

The BYU Cougarettes, BYU Afro Dance Ensemble and Miss Utah 2023 Sarah Sun, who is also a BYU student, performed at the event. There were also two panel discussions and inspirational messages from members of the BYU community.

Camille Johnson, general president of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Liz Darger, BYU Athletics senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator; and Diljeet Taylor, BYU’s women’s cross country head coach and associate director of track and field, joined Whitney Johnson Catt, BYU associate athletic director for student-athlete development, diversity and inclusion on stage for a panel focused on strengthening and uplifting women.

"We all have been blessed with gifts and talents and skills and abilities,” Darger said. "We have a responsibility to cultivate those gifts and then to use them to bless the world.”

A common theme in the panel discussion was how empowered women empower other women.

"Shining a light on others doesn't dim your own; it makes you shine even brighter,” Taylor said. "My daily self-check is, did I empower someone? If I can't think of someone that I built up when I pull into my driveway, I sit in my car and either send a message or make a quick phone call, because that's really just my favorite self-check.”

The panel also discussed the need for personal revelation and the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, especially as women navigate career and family choices.

“Do you know how to receive personal revelation?" Johnson asked. "If you don’t, get to the bottom of that first. Know how the Spirit speaks to you and then prayerfully consider the path forward for you and your family. Be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost that will come, not just once, but over and over again, if you ask.”

Sometimes we try to go at it alone, Johnson also said. But “empowered women allow other people to help them, including the Savior.”

The other panel at the event, moderated by Big 12 chief impact officer Jenn Hunter, included Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Jasmine Sanders, Mady Dewey and Berkleigh Wright. Sanders is a full-time high fashion model, while along with modeling, Dewey is a tech entrepreneur and head of product marking and Wright is a Denver Broncos cheerleader and account manager at Oracle. Their panel focused on mental health, navigating the complexities of social media culture and the importance of connection with God. 

“With my own spirituality, water is the most cleansing thing that I feel like God put on this earth," Hunter said. "If you sit at a beach and watch the waves, they come and they go. And they are cleansing for me.”

Hunter described moments in nature as she observes water as instances of “God’s personal peace for me.”

"With God, you are always enough,” Wright said. "The second you know you are enough for yourself is when you win the battle.”

The panelists all discussed different strategies for balancing social media use and prioritizing mental heath, including taking time for self care.

"You have to find ways to balance it all,” Sanders said. “Sundays are huge days for me. I love church, and I love the farmer’s market. Those are two things that no one will stop me from doing on a Sunday. Select a day to take time for yourself, and stand by it.”

Sanders also talked about dealing with anxiety, especially when speaking in front of loud crowds, doing hard things and finding joy.

“I think joy for me looks like spending less time overthinking and stressing about what’s in my life and spending more time present with the people that really make life beautiful,” Dewey said. For her, prioritizing family and her loved ones makes her the best she can be and brings her the most joy.

Other speakers at the event included BYU Marriott School of Business Dean Brigitte Madrian, BYU women’s tennis student-athlete Bitsy Tullis, BYU associate vice president of belonging Lita Little Giddins, BYU dance instructor and found of "Let's Talk Sis" Chante Stutznegger and BYU cheer head coach Jocelyn Allan. Each delivered TED talk-style addresses focused on confidence, advocating for yourself, individual worth, personal unique abilities, lifting and cheering on others, developing faith in Jesus Christ and being unified. 

“I am so grateful for a prophet’s reminder of the need to become a united people," Little Giddins said. "Because when I see you, despite all the things that are currently happening in the world that gives us cause to mourn, I see an assured hope for Zion’s future.”

View more of the addresses here.

Read more about the event from the following news media coverage: