She-EO isn’t shying away from the tough topics

In creating She-EO, Tope Fajingbesi Balgoun set out to give women in the African diaspora space to network, talk about issues they’re facing and ultimately grow. And the topics aren’t only professional.
The event series, which debuted in Columbia last year, looks to get the conversation going through talk-show style sessions with guests.
Later this month, She-EO is coming to Baltimore. The July 28 event will be held at the University of Baltimore H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons. It runs from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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Featured speakers during the 30-minute talk show sessions include:

• Funmi Williamson, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Risk Officer at Constellation and Exelon Generation.
• Funlayo Alabi, CEO of Ellicott City–based Shea Radiance, which makes hair and skin products from fairly sourced shea butter.
• Mayor Catherine Pugh, the mayor of Baltimore.

Fajingbesi, who is Nigerian American and identifies with both cultures, saw the strength of a network of women during time at the University of Oxford, and set out to bring women of African descent together for empowerment and growth. After success at its first event in Columbia in 2017, the second edition was held in Lagos, Nigeria, in January.
The topics of conversation range from career matters and personal finance, to love and relationships. Fajingbesi, who started the event after organizing for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, wants to provide a safe space to address barriers, whether they’re related to mental health, going through a divorce or career issues.
The idea “is not to lament,” the host said, “but to listen and share with women who know what we are going through and who have overcome.”
The theme for the conference is Be More – “pun intended,” she said. Addressing those barriers can empower women to be change agents in a community or grow in their careers.
“I just want to give women strength to move forward,” Fajingbesi said.
Technical.ly is giving away a free ticket. If you become a Technical.ly Member by Tuesday, July 24, at 1 p.m., you’ll be entered into a giveaway for a She-EO ticket. We’ll select the winner at random and notify you later that day.