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Power Trip® Well-Being and Leadership Summit for Women District Leaders, hosted by Big Deal Media (BDM), is a one-of-a-kind boutique event in the K–12 education arena. It has received accolades for excellence since its inception in 2019, most recently a gold Stevie® from the Women in Business awards for “Event of the Year.” The Summit is designed to address the unique challenges of female education leaders to achieve personal and professional balance, while effectively driving curriculum and cultural change districtwide. The inaugural event took place at Lake Austin Spa Resort (LASR) in 2019 and most recently (2023) at Miraval Austin Resort & Spa. The Power Trip® Well-Being and Leadership Summit for Women District Leaders is a relatively small gathering of 50 leaders and nine sponsors.
New in 2023 was a “Big Sister” program where returning attendees mentored newcomers; Leap-of-Faith Gratitude awards, which honored both the first superintendent to register for the inaugural Power Trip and the first sponsor to step up in support of the event; and a fall “marquee” live, online interview with author Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project).
Based on 2018 research of 947 female district leaders as well as informal conversations with major stakeholders, BDM identified the need to create an experience that addressed the impact of well-being on effective leadership and to provide a setting in which to understand what it can look like. Research respondents identified a need for a “safe” place in which to share their challenges and to network with peers, and to develop their physical and spiritual well-being while working to address daily challenges: transforming modern learning environments, managing interoperability of technology, and addressing the social-emotional needs of teachers and students to improve student outcomes.
During a four-day, three-night event, educators and sponsors have mornings to engage in a range of wellness activities followed by professional development sessions in the afternoon. The experience provides an opportunity for industry leaders and district administrators to form lasting bonds and meaningful long-term relationships. Follow-up surveys have shown that 100 percent of attendees would recommend the experience to colleagues, and more than 90 percent say the event exceeded their expectations. For sponsors, the Power Trip provides year-long visibility via a follow-up eBook summarizing themes and participation in a “marquee” live, online event.
Kudos from Educators:
••The best professional development experience of my life!
••The collective power of caring, supportive female leaders inspired me.
••This experience has brought me so many moments of joy—of new experiences, meaningful friendships, beautiful spaces—and I want to continue to find joy and bring joy moving forward.
••Every element of the Power Trip gave me the gift of reflection, introspection, and action.
Kudos from Sponsors:
••You made your sponsors feel appreciated in a way that I have not experienced to date.
••Arrived as a sponsor, left transformed and awed by the generosity of spirit, power, and purpose embodied by these amazing women leaders.
••Best event of the year!
••A magical four days of community, ally squad building, partnership, vulnerability, grace, mentorship, laughter, and self-care.
Nomination Title: Power Trip® Well-Being and Leadership Summit for Women District Leaders
