Thursday, August 21, 2025
8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City

The Los Angeles Business Journal: Inside The Valley Women’s Leadership Symposium & Awards was a half-day event of inspiration, education, and recognition. The top businesswomen in Los Angeles shared their wisdom through a series of dynamic discussions during the breakfast symposium, covering topics such as the pressures of leadership roles, the importance of mentorship, work/life balance, getting on boards and supporting our nonprofit community, uplifting other businesswomen, and much more.

It was a morning that championed leadership and community while honoring the remarkable women shaping our region.

Read more about the finalists and honorees here: 

SPEAKERS & TOPICS

The 'Yes' That Changed My Career

Patrice Bening
Wealth Advisor
Morton Wealth

Patrice Bening, with 19 years of banking experience, joined Morton Capital in 2019, focusing on client relationships and utilizing alternative investment strategies for risk management, diversification, and cash flow.

The Risk That Redefined Everything

Vera Quinn
CEO
Cydcor

Vera Quinn is CEO of Cydcor, where she has more than doubled revenue in the past two years, breaking records and securing a place on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Vera’s also Executive Director of Liberty Children’s Home, a sanctuary supporting at-risk children in Belize.

How I Built Trust in a Room Full of Strangers

Geovanny Ragsdale
President and CEO
Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley

Geovanny Ragsdale, MIB, CFRE, is CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley. In her four years, the Club’s annual income rose from $1.2M to $4.1M in 2024. She is passionate about education and serving as a connector.

The Power of People:
Building Relationships that Elevate Your Career

New Era of Leadership:
Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow