College Women
on the Rise
As Florida’s premier statewide women’s conference, the 2024 Women’s Conference of Florida and its College Women on the Rise program will be held in person on Thursday, December 12, and Friday, December 13, 2024.
This year’s College Women on the Rise program will benefit low-income, academically qualified students who, despite their unique circumstances, have persevered and remained dedicated to their future success.
Founded in 2015, the Women’s Conference of Florida offers professional women from across the state a platform to address the most important issues facing women. Our conference features widely respected thought leaders, exhibits, networking, and panel discussions, all designed to empower women to positively influence the world around them.
In 2017, the College Women on the Rise program was founded as a philanthropic arm of the Women’s Conference of Florida. In its inaugural year, 20 college women were selected from across the state of Florida to participate in the program. Since then, 450 college women have taken part in sessions catered specifically to them (focused on career readiness, leadership, financial literacy, mental health, and more) in addition to attending the Women’s Conference of Florida. This program has given more than $96,000 in educational scholarships to College Women on the Rise participants thanks to the investment of generous sponsors.
Girl Rise
As Florida’s premier statewide women’s conference, the 2024 Women’s Conference of Florida and its Girl Rise program will be held in person on Friday, December 13, 2024.
Recognizing the importance of ongoing support and education, the Girl Rise program is expanding its reach with the Class of 2024-2025. This year, the program will specifically serve forty academically qualified junior and senior girls from low-income households at King High School and Hillsborough High School. These students have demonstrated perseverance and a commitment to their future success despite challenging circumstances.
The new cohort will embark on a transformative six-month journey, beginning with the conference on Friday, December 13th, followed by monthly sessions held one Saturday a month at Embarc Collective from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each session is designed to equip these young women with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive academically and professionally.
The curriculum will cover key areas such as financial management, including college preparation and understanding student loans, professional social media branding, digital citizenship, mental health, leadership, and confidence-building. These valuable sessions will be led by accomplished women from local companies, providing both mentorship and real-world insights to inspire and empower participants.
Established in 2022 as a philanthropic initiative under the Women’s Conference of Florida (WCOFFL), the Girl Rise program was created with a clear mission: to provide young women with the tools, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed as they prepare to take their next steps in life. Since its inception, Girl Rise has significantly impacted the lives of young women across Hillsborough County.
In its inaugural year, 50 high school girls were carefully selected to participate in the program. These young women engaged in a series of tailored sessions focused on essential topics such as financial literacy, mental health, social media awareness, and more. Additionally, they had the unique opportunity to attend the Women’s Conference of Florida, where they were inspired by leading women from various industries.