THERE COMES A MOMENT...
When you realize you've spent more time trying to become who everyone else needed you to be than discovering who you were created to become.
Maybe you've learned to second-guess yourself before speaking.
Maybe you've become known as the one who always has it together, while quietly carrying more than anyone realizes.
Maybe you've accomplished more than you ever imagined but still find yourself wondering why success sometimes feels so exhausting.
Or maybe you're a young woman trying to figure out who you are before the world convinces you to become someone else.
If any of that feels familiar... you're not alone.
And you're exactly where you're supposed to be.
WHY THIS EXPERIENCE ... WHY NOW?
You don't have to become someone else to lead.
You don't have to stay silent to keep the peace.
You don't have to shrink yourself to belong, succeed, or be heard.
We are living in a time where women and young ladies are constantly navigating pressure.
Never before have women and young women navigated so many expectations at the same time.
- The pressure to perform.
- The pressure to succeed.
- The pressure to always appear confident.
- The pressure to constantly compare ourselves.
- The pressure to be everything to everyone.
- Lead But don't be intimidating
- Speak up But don't be too direct
- Be confident But stay humble
- Be successful But make sure everyone else is comfortable first
Women often carry years of experiences that taught them to question themselves, over-explain, overperform, and quietly manage everyone else's comfort before their own.
Young women are encountering many of those same pressures much earlier through social media, technology, changing expectations, and constant visibility.
Although the experiences may look different... the impact is often the same.
Self-doubt. Comparison. Silence. Pressure. Exhaustion.
That's why this experience intentionally brings generations together.
Not because one generation has all the answers.
Not because another generation has all the new ideas.
But because both generations have something the other needs.
Women need younger voices. Young women need wisdom.
Both need language, strategy, community, and deserve the opportunity to grow together.
That is the heart of this year's SLAAY Conference.
For FIVE years,
the SLAAY Conference has created space for women and young women to grow in confidence, purpose, leadership, and authentic living and discover what becomes possible when they begin using one of the most powerful gifts they've been given- their voice.
This isn't just another conference.
It's a transformational leadership experience designed to help you stop second-guessing yourself, communicate with greater confidence, lead authentically, and walk away with practical strategies you can use long after the conference ends.
This year, as we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we're inviting women and young women ages 14+ into an experience unlike anything we've done before.
Because today's world is asking different questions.
Women are saying... I wish someone had taught me this years ago.
Young women are saying... I'm trying not to lose myself before I even find myself.
Different generations.
Shared pressures.
One transformational experience.
Your Conference Experience
One Weekend. Three Chapters. Endless Possibilities.
This September, you're invited to step away from the demands of everyday life and into a transformational experience intentionally designed to help you reconnect with your voice, strengthen your confidence, and discover what's possible when women and young women come together to learn, lead, and grow.
Most conferences inspire you.
SLAAY is designed to equip you.
This isn't about becoming louder.
It's about becoming more authentic.
Because your greatest influence begins when your voice reflects who you truly are.
From the moment you arrive on Friday evening through the final reflection on Saturday, every session, conversation, activity, and experience has been thoughtfully designed to build upon the next. You'll celebrate inspiring leaders, hear authentic stories, engage in meaningful conversations, connect across generations, and leave with practical tools you can immediately apply in your life, career, and leadership journey.
Friday | Celebrate. Connect. Begin the Journey.
The weekend begins with an evening of celebration as we honor five years of SLAAY and the incredible women whose voices and leadership continue to create lasting impact. Through inspiring stories, the Betty J. Kyle Legacy Awards, a special Young & Unmuted Artistic Showcase, interactive experiences, and meaningful connections, we'll celebrate legacy while setting the stage for the transformational journey ahead.
Friday Highlights
- Welcome & Opening Message by Dr. Tanika J. Kyle
- Young & Unmuted Artistic Showcase
- Betty J. Kyle Legacy Awards
- Interactive Conference Experiences
- Networking & Community Celebration
Saturday | Experience the Power of Your Voice
Saturday is where transformation takes center stage. Rather than a series of presentations, you'll journey through three intentional chapters - UNMUTED. UNASHAMED. UNSTOPPABLE. Each chapter combines signature SLAAY teaching, dynamic speakers, interactive conversations, reflection, and practical leadership strategies that will challenge how you think, communicate, and lead.
You'll also experience:
- Inspiring keynote moments
- Expert speakers
- Moderated panel discussions
- The signature Intergenerational Conversation- UNMUTED Across Generations
- Interactive leadership experiences
- Guided reflection activities
- Practical leadership tools you can use immediately
- New connections, encouragement, and community
- SLAAY Gift Bags, Giveaways, Food, & Vendors
You'll leave not only inspired but equipped with the confidence, language, and strategies to continue showing up, speaking up, and leading authentically long after the conference ends.
This experience is for you if you're ready to:
✓ Stop shrinking.
✓ Build lasting confidence.
✓ Strengthen your leadership.
✓ Navigate difficult conversations with clarity.
✓ Connect with women who understand your journey.
✓ Invest in your personal and professional growth.
✓ Discover practical strategies you can immediately apply.
✓ Experience a weekend that will challenge, encourage, and equip you.
✓ Leave UNMUTED. UNASHAMED. UNSTOPPABLE.
TRANSFORMATION BEGINS HERE. Three Chapters. One Powerful Journey.
Your voice isn't built in a single moment. It grows through experiences that challenge how you think, strengthen how you lead, and transform how you see yourself. Throughout the day, you'll journey through three powerful chapters that build upon one another.
Each chapter combines signature SLAAY teaching from Dr. Tanika J. Kyle, inspiring speakers, authentic conversations, intentional moments of reflection, interactive activities, moderated discussions, and practical leadership strategies designed to help you confidently use your voice in every area of your life.
Together, they create a transformational experience that equips you to navigate life's challenges, communicate with confidence, and lead authentically without losing yourself in the process.
CHAPTER ONE: UNMUTED- Finding Your Voice
Before you can confidently use your voice, you must first understand what has been shaping it. This chapter explores the pressures, expectations, and experiences that often leave women feeling exhausted, unheard, or disconnected from who they truly are. Through honest conversations and practical strategies, you'll begin recognizing the beliefs and behaviors that have quietly muted your confidence and discover how to show up more authentically.
Featured Topics
- The Exhaustion of Always Having to Be "On"
- Navigating Pressure Authentically
CHAPTER TWO: UNASHAMED - Owning Your Voice
Finding your voice is only the beginning. This chapter challenges you to release the pressure to become who others expect and embrace the woman you were created to be. Together, we'll explore how comparison, perfectionism, social expectations, and survival patterns shape our identity and how to redefine success without losing ourselves in the process.
Featured Topics:
- The Version of Me I Created to Survive
- Success Without Self-Abandonment
- How Social Media Changed the Way We See Ourselves
CHAPTER THREE: UNSTOPPABLE- Leading Through Your Voice
When you find your voice and learn to own it, you're ready to lead through it. Leadership isn't reserved for a title or a future season of life it begins every time you choose to show up with courage, purpose, and authenticity. This chapter will inspire you to use your voice to influence, advocate, create change, and make room for others to do the same.
Featured Topics:
- You're Never Too Young to Lead
- Owning Your Voice in Every Room
EXPERIENCES YOU'LL ONLY FIND AT SLAAY
Some moments can't be recreated. Throughout the conference you'll participate in signature experiences created exclusively for the SLAAY community, including:
The Betty J. Kyle Legacy Awards Honoring Voices That Inspire
Celebrate extraordinary women whose leadership, service, and impact have strengthened their communities and inspired others to lead with purpose. This special celebration honors a lasting legacy while recognizing the power of using your voice to create meaningful change.
Young & Unmuted A Featured Artistic Showcase
Experience the conference theme brought to life through a powerful artistic showcase celebrates the power of authentic expression through a moving artistic showcase that reminds us our voices can be heard in many ways. This inspiring experience reminds us that courage, creativity, and authenticity all have the power to move, connect, and inspire.
UNMUTED ACROSS GENERATIONS: A SIGNATURE INTERGENERATIONAL CONVERSATION
Experience one of the conference's most powerful moments as women and young women come together for an honest, interactive conversation about finding, owning, and using their voices. Through authentic stories and audience participation, you'll gain fresh perspectives, bridge generational divides, and discover how every voice has the power to shape the future.
THE UNMUTED WALL
Share a truth you've been carrying, a breakthrough you've experienced, or words of encouragement that may become someone else's reminder to keep going.
PASS THE WISDOM
Women and young women exchange handwritten words of encouragement, advice, and life lessons creating meaningful intergenerational connections that often become one of the most memorable parts of the conference.
THE VOICE VAULT
Every voice has the power to inspire. Record a message of encouragement, wisdom, reflection, or testimonial and become part of a lasting collection of voices that remind others they don't have to shrink themselves to be heard.
A LEGACY OF IMPACT. A FUTURE OF POSSIBILITY.
The Betty J. Kyle Legacy Awards were established to honor the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Betty J. Kyle a woman whose life reflected the heart of what SLAAY represents.
Through decades of leadership, community service, mentoring, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to others, Betty J. Kyle demonstrated what it means to lead authentically, serve intentionally, and create opportunities that outlive you.
Her legacy continues through the women and young ladies who choose courage over comfort, authenticity over performance, and impact over recognition.
Each year, we proudly recognize individuals who embody these same values as our: 2026 SLAAY Impact Leaders
WHO ARE SLAAY IMPACT LEADERS?
SLAAY Impact Leaders are women and emerging young leaders who intentionally use their voices, leadership, and influence to create meaningful change. They don't simply achieve success. They create opportunities. They build community. They encourage others. They advocate. They mentor. They lead authentically. They refuse to shrink themselves and in doing so, they make space for others to rise.
AWARD CATEGORIES
SLAAY Award – Unmuted Voice
Recognizing a woman leader who courageously uses her voice to advocate, inspire, educate, empower others, and create meaningful change. This recipient demonstrates courage, authenticity, and a willingness to speak with purpose even when doing so requires strength and perseverance.
Selection Criteria
Nominees should demonstrate:
• Courageous leadership
• Authentic communication
• Community influence
• Advocacy for others
• Integrity and professionalism
SLAAY Award – Unashamed Leadership
Recognizing a woman leader who leads authentically with integrity, confidence, and purpose while empowering others to do the same and without compromising who she is. This award recognizes individuals who inspire others through both their personal journey and their commitment to helping others grow.
Selection Criteria
Nominees should demonstrate:
• Authentic leadership
• Personal resilience
• Mentorship and encouragement
• Positive influence
• Meaningful community engagement
SLAAY Award – Unstoppable Legacy
Recognizing a woman leader whose lifetime of leadership, impact, service, mentorship, and commitment continue to open doors for others and extends across generations. This individual has consistently invested in others while leaving a legacy that will continue long after individual accomplishments are forgotten.
Selection Criteria
Nominees should demonstrate:
• Long-term leadership
• Sustained community impact
• Service
• Mentorship
• Legacy-building
SLAAY Award – Next Generation Leader
Recognizing a young lady (14- 29) who demonstrates exceptional leadership, courage, service, and purpose while inspiring the next generation to use their voice with confidence. She is committed to creating positive change within her school, organization, or community. This award celebrates emerging leadership while encouraging continued growth and influence.
Selection Criteria
Nominees should demonstrate:
• Leadership potential
• Initiative
• Academic or community involvement
• Service
• Positive influence among peers
WHO MAY BE NOMINATED?
Nominees may include:
Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Educators, Community leaders, Nonprofit leaders, Advocates, Creatives, Mentors, Students, Emerging young women leaders (14- 29), and Women making meaningful impact in any field.
Individuals may:
✔ Nominate themselves
✔ Be nominated by someone else
IF SELECTED AS A 2026 SLAAY IMPACT LEADER
Being selected is more than receiving an award. It is an invitation to become part of the Friday Evening Legacy Experience and inspire generations of women and young ladies.
Selected Honorees agree to:
- Attend the Friday evening conference experience in person.
- Accept their award on stage.
- Share a 2–3 minute reflection in response to their assigned Legacy Question.
- Participate in a brief moderated Legacy Conversation led by Dr. Tanika J. Kyle.
- Submit requested photos and materials for the conference tribute presentation.
Honoree Benefits:
Each 2026 SLAAY Impact Leader will receive:
✔ Complimentary Conference Registration
✔ Recognition during the Betty J. Kyle Legacy Awards
✔ Customized SLAAY Award
✔ Professional event photography
✔ Recognition across conference marketing platforms
✔ Membership in the community of SLAAY Impact Leaders
Young & Unmuted: The Power of Expression
Featuring the talented young performer
Shaelyn Devonne
who will provide a powerful artistic performance where dance, acting, and spoken word will be used to bring UNMUTED. UNASHAMED. UNSTOPPABLE to life.
Through movement, storytelling, and creative expression, she will remind us that finding your voice isn't only about what you say. It's also about having the courage to show up authentically, express yourself boldly, and inspire others to do the same.
This memorable showcase reminds us that our voices can be heard in many ways and sets the stage for our transformational journey.
About Shaelyn: Actress, Performing Artist, Writer, and Community Volunteer. A graduate of Spelman College and the British American Drama Academy (BADA), she has built a career in theatre and film while serving refugee families through the International Rescue Committee. She is passionate about storytelling, creative expression, holistic wellness, and using the arts to inspire and uplift others.
The Vision Behind SLAAY
For more than 25 years, I've had the privilege of helping leaders, organizations, women, and young women maximize their gifts, navigate complexity, and lead with confidence and purpose.
Throughout my career as a leadership strategist, speaker, coach, facilitator, author, and Founder & CEO of TB & J Solutions, I noticed a common thread. I noticed that many talented women weren't struggling because they lacked ability. They had simply learned to question their voice, shrink their presence, or silence parts of themselves.
That realization became the foundation of the SLAAY movement, Strategically Living Authentically As Yourself, and this annual conference to equip women and young women to own their voice, communicate with purpose, lead authentically, and confidently become who they were created to be.
This year's theme, UNMUTED. UNASHAMED. UNSTOPPABLE. The Power of Your Voice, was inspired by my upcoming book, UNMUTED: Showing Up, Speaking Up, and Being Heard Without Losing Yourself.
While writing it, I realized becoming "unmuted" isn't about speaking louder. It's about having the courage to stop shrinking, embrace who you are, and use your voice with confidence and purpose.
My hope is that every attendee leaves this conference with practical strategies, meaningful connections, and the confidence to live, lead, and SLAAY in every area of life.
Let's SLAAY!
Dr. Tanika
WOMEN WHO SLAAY!
Empowering ourselves to SLAAY involves more than just inspiring words.
It requires actionable knowledge and transformative experiences.
That's why we purposefully selected a group of women who have not only excelled
in their respective fields but have also triumphed over personal challenges to become strong advocates for change.
Come join us in the realm where powerful women come together to share wisdom, elevate each other and embrace
their true selves!
SLAAY Speakers
Dr. Mekeya Blake
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mental/Behavioral Health Professional, Owner- Conscious Renewing Therapy, Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Grief Counseling. She is passionate about mental health and has received three Higher Ed degrees, including her doctorate, in Social Work and holds clinical licenses in several states.
Tawana Cherie Miller, MHA
Founder of Selym Snacks, Food & Health Strategist, Speaker, and Health & Wellness Advocate. Holding a Master of Health Administration, plant-based nutrition certification, and professional chef training, she helps families and executives make healthier food choices through practical, sustainable strategies. She is passionate about improving health outcomes, simplifying wellness, and supporting families navigating food-related health challenges.
Dr. Barbara Nwaehi
Executive Leadership Strategist, Organizational Transformation Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Founder & CEO of Vizyon Consulting, and Founder of Vizyon for Girls. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across nonprofit, healthcare, education, philanthropy, and corporate sectors, she helps organizations align strategy, leadership, and operations to achieve lasting impact. She is passionate about developing transformational leaders, strengthening organizations, and empowering girls and young women to lead with confidence.
Judge Sunny Mullins
Associate Magistrate Judge, Attorney, Community Leader, and Mentor. Serving Rockdale County, Judge Mullins brings experience in criminal and civil law, business law, and community advocacy. She is passionate about ensuring fairness, integrity, and equal access to justice while mentoring young people interested in careers in law and public service.
Dr. Sonya Strider
Grief Coach, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, Public Health Leader, Speaker, Founder of A Place 4 The Heart, LLC, and Founder of Ginny's P.O.R.C.H. Foundation. With more than 30 years of experience in education, health promotion, and community service, she is passionate about helping individuals heal from loss, build resilience, and rediscover hope while creating compassionate spaces for healing and personal growth.
Dr. Corinthia Myrick
Assistant Principal, Educational Leader, Author, Curriculum Writer, and Speaker. With more than a decade of experience in education, she is recognized for transforming underperforming schools through instructional leadership, teacher development, and strategic school improvement. She is passionate about creating opportunities for students, mentoring future educators, and inspiring young readers through her children's books.
Nylah Richburg
Civil Engineering Student, Engineering Leader, and President of Pamoja Dance Company. As a senior at the University of Georgia with engineering experience at Georgia Transmission Corporation and Georgia Power, she combines technical excellence with servant leadership. She is passionate about developing future leaders, fostering inclusive communities, and empowering young people through mentorship, engineering, and the arts.
Tyler Stodghill
Educator, Mentor, Youth Leader, and Community Advocate. Tyler is passionate about empowering children and helping them grow academically, socially, and personally through education, mentorship, and service. Drawing from her experiences in youth leadership and community engagement, she is committed to creating positive, inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Minister Erika Smith
Minister, Speaker, Leadership & Community Development Consultant, Executive Leader, Founder of Your Community Connect, LLC, and Founder of Purpose Chronicles. Serving in ministry, higher education, and nonprofit leadership, she equips individuals, churches, and organizations through leadership development, mentoring, and community engagement. She is passionate about helping people discover their purpose, strengthen communities, and lead lives of faith, impact, and service.
Sherry Stodghill
Human Resources Leader, Data Services Manager, and Customer Experience Professional. With more than 20 years of Human Resources experience, Sherry serves as the Data Services Manager at Emory University, where she leads data processing operations, Hr trainings, and spearheads institutional welcome sessions for new employees. She is passionate about delivering exceptional customer service, developing others, and creating systems and experiences that help people and organizations succeed.
What Slaayers Are Saying
Shae Mullins
"I really enjoyed Dr. Tanika's conference and give her 5/5 stars. I figured there would be a lot of rich insight on how to uplift yourself as a woman in this very chaotic world. I enjoyed learning the motto. S.L.A.A.Y... Strategically Living Authentically As Yourself!!! I am going to be carrying this gem with me throughout the rest of my life. These five words in themselves have strongly empowered me to continue to be unapologetically me, even in the most uncomfortable situations, This conference is something that every woman should have the privilege of experiencing."
Karyn Gayle
"I was blown away by the quality of the speakers and how engaged the group was in the sessions.
Dr. Tanika captures the minds and attention of any audience - inspiring, captivating and engaging everyone in the rooms she’s in. Much of it comes down to preparation and the full command she has of the subjects she speaks on. More than that, it truly comes down to the respect and empathy she has for the people who she’s speaking to, making any forum feel like a conversation - connecting in authentic, relevant and profound ways. ”Dr. Tanika is a masterful facilitator and coach, leaving audiences inspired and empowered with new tools, insights, and strategies."
Meosha C. Kimbrough
"The SLAAY conference was awesome! From health and wellness advise from a Certified Plant Based Personal Lifestyle Chef to intimacy advice from an intimacy therapist, we were thoroughly rejuvenated and prepared to SLAAY in our lane! I especially enjoyed the transparent testimonial from Attorney and Judge LaTasha Barnes. Time well spent for sure! I can't wait to attend the next conference."
READY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE?
Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
Your leadership matters.
And the world doesn't need a smaller version of who you are.
It needs the fullest expression of the gifts, the voice, and the purpose you've been given.
Hit that Button and Come SLAAY with us at:
Mirrors Creative Studio
2179 Lawrenceville Hwy Ste K
Decatur, GA
Fri. 9/25 ~7:00pm- 9pm
Sat. 9/26~10:30am- 5pm
Imagine what could change if you stopped shrinking, started trusting your voice, and embraced the woman you were created to be.
Your voice matters. Your story matters. And the gifts you've been given deserve to be shared with the world.
Join us as we celebrate five years of empowering women and young women to live, lead, SLAAY with confidence and write their next chapter together.
Your seat is waiting and so is your next level.
We can't wait to welcome you to an unforgettable weekend of connection, growth, and transformation.
