Fierce Lab
College Tour
October 11, 2024
University of Texas at Arlington
Central Library, 6th Floor
Blaze Toward Your Future
Join the Fierce Lab College Tour and jumpstart your career. Dive into a full day of inspired discussion with leaders who have lived and learned, while gathering essential tools to navigate the professional landscape on your own terms. From sessions on career development and financial intelligence to mental wellness and risk taking, you'll leave with what you need to be career-ready on Day One.
The Fierce Lab College Tour, with female empowerment at its core, is FREE to attend and open to ALL students.
Discover The Impact
Listen. Interact. Explore.
We’re gathering strong women with unique stories.
They’ve been there, done that, and are willing to share what worked—and what didn’t. Check back for more speaker announcements soon.
Keisha
Allen
Financial Inclusion Leader & Assistant Vice President, Truist
Keisha is a motivating and collaborative leader with a vast amount of experience in the Retail and Financial Services industry. Her experience includes: Retail banking, Home Equity, Mortgage Operations/Originations and Financial Wellness. Over the years, Keisha has utilized her training and coaching techniques to create platforms to inform members in the community on topics such as budgeting, saving, home ownership and entrepreneurship. Her passion for helping others ultimately lead her to her current role as a Financial Inclusion Leader with Truist. In her current role, she’s able to live out her passion of coaching, training, motivating and inspiring others by helping members in the community accomplish their best with financial literacy.
Dr. Olusola
Balogun
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Dr. Olusola Balogun (Dr. B) is a seasoned emergency medicine physician with over 12 years of experience, dedicated to delivering patient-centered care directly to the patient. She is the founder and treating physician of XPRESSDOC DFW, concierge mobile urgent/acute care practice. XPRESSDOC DFW bridges the gap between long waits for primary care and overcrowded ERs with a mission to provide timely, comprehensive, and personalized acute medical care.
Dr. Balogun earned her MD from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed her emergency medicine residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center, gaining a robust foundation in acute care and critical decision-making.
Dr. Balogun’s expertise spans various healthcare environments, including county and state hospitals, rural and community hospitals, academic research centers, and concierge facilities. Her experience in these diverse settings has honed her ability to manage complex cases and provide personalized, high-quality care.
Outside of her medical career, Dr. Balogun is passionate about community health, often participating in wellness programs and local health events. She is known for her lighthearted yet intentional approach to patient care. She is committed to promoting health and wellness by actively sharing valuable information across her various social media platforms. Through these channels, she ensures that individuals of all age groups gain access to essential health literacy, empowering them to make informed decisions about their well-being. In her personal life, Dr. Balogun enjoys gardening, recreational tennis, traveling, and is a self-proclaimed foodie. She also finds immense joy in dance parties with her two young daughters.
Demetra
Bradley
CEO & Chief Self Defense Instructor, Foxy Defense and Protection, LLC
Demetra began her law enforcement career as a student studying criminal justice at Sam Houston State University by working as a Jailer in Walker County. She also served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army as a Civil Affairs Specialist. Later, she transitioned to the Fort Worth Police Department, where she currently serves as a Detective assigned to the Professional Standards command. While serving as a patrol officer, Demetra encountered women who didn't know how to physically and mentally protect themselves in dangerous situations - Foxy Defense and Protection, LLC was born. As CEO and Chief Self Defense Instructor, Demetra focuses on teaching young girls and women simple self defense techniques, providing awareness tips and strategies, and making non-lethal aids of opportunity available for purchase. She is also a Certified Professional Speaker, delivering engaging and impactful presentations on topics such as personal safety, cultivating confidence, and superwoman syndrome. In her spare time, Demetra likes to bake delicious cakes, roller skate, and spend time with her husband and 3 children. Her favorite quote is, "Be the change you wish to see in the world" by Gandhi.
Dr. Brenda
Carter
Organizational Psychologist & Executive Leader
Dr. Brenda is a renowned business psychologist, executive coach, and author of 'Why Not Me: The Journey to Unlocking the Leader in Me.' With over a decade of experience in corporate leadership, she specializes in guiding leaders through strategic career development, talent management, and organizational growth. Dr. Brenda's expertise extends to fostering inclusive cultures and empowering emerging leaders with the tools to succeed in today's dynamic workplace. Her unique approach to career strategy has helped countless individuals unlock their potential and thrive.
Cameron
Dinkins
PGA WORKS Leader, The PGA of America
Cameron Dinkins currently serves as the PGA WORKS Leader. She oversees the PGA WORKS initiative under PGA REACH, the Charitable arm of the PGA of America, and is passionate about diversifying the workforce. PGA WORKS is a workforce inclusion effort that aims to provide opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to work in the golf industry and beyond. Cameron is proud to oversee various pillars under the initiative, such as the PGA WORKS Fellowship, John and Tamara Lundgren PGA WORKS Scholarship, and Beyond the Green.
Being in this role is a full-circle moment for Cameron, as she was introduced to the golf industry through the PGA WORKS Fellowship. This experience has inspired her to strive for impactful work that will positively impact those who come after her. Cameron hopes to provide opportunities for those who may have yet to have a chance to work in the golf industry, giving them a seat at the table.
Cameron is a proud alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a Minor in Marketing. She has a strong passion for HBCUs and enjoys giving back to girls and women who aspire to work in sports. Cameron's dedication to diversity and inclusivity in the golf industry is truly inspiring, and her leadership will continue for years.
Jaime
Harry
LCSW, Founder, True Essence Wellness PLLC
Jaime Harry is a native of Dallas, Texas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Duke Certified Health and Wellness Coach with over 10+ years of experience in supporting marginalized groups in the healthcare field. . Jaime started her career at UT Southwestern 9 years ago working in the Clements Emergency Room. Jaime now serves as Head of Faculty Counseling and Supportive Services for the Office of Faculty Wellness where she serves as a liaison between faculty and the administration helping coordinate resources and outreach to faculty to help advocate and support faculty so they can be professionally fulfilled and meet their wellness goals. In addition to her work with UTSW Employees, Jaime being deeply committed to advancing Minority Mental Health awareness and fostering inclusivity within marginalized communities, she opened her own mental health private practice to serve her community and decrease the stigma of mental health. Jaime continues to work tirelessly striving for health equity and social justice.
Chels
Holmes
Astrologer, Tarot Reader, Podcaster, This Woo Woo Stuff
Hello! My name is Chels Holmes, I am an intuitive astrologer, tarot reader, and podcaster offering readings and workshops online and in Dallas, Texas. I have worked with many facets of woo for years. Readings with me are validation for your lived experience, they’re often future focused but not fortune telling, they help you feel empowered and more connected to your decision making and wellbeing, all through this woo woo stuff.
I offer readings one on one as well as for private events and pop ups. I provide the Weekly Woo with Chels podcast every Sunday covering an astrological forecast for the week ahead, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
This Woo Woo Stuff is astrology, tarot, ritual work, recipes, crystals, journaling exercises, energy clearing and more. Woo encompasses anything you do with intention to call in a desired outcome, woo is magick. Woo’s etymology is from the Chinese word Wu, meaning a mystic.
My mission is to help people to feel truly seen and understood for who they are, learn how they can create their most aligned lifestyle, and accomplish their goals using the tools of astrology and tarot.
Lindsay
Malhotra
Social Worker & Assistant Professor, UTA - School of Social Work
Lindsay Malhotra is a committed professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), blending her academic role with a deep passion for community issues and public policy. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from UTA and is licensed as both a Clinical Social Worker and a Chemical Dependency Counselor. Her career began with significant contributions at UT Southwestern in Dallas, where she worked extensively with pregnant and parenting women battling substance use disorders.
Lindsay joined Nexus in 2018, where she quickly became an integral part of the leadership team. She oversees key programs such as the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Recovery Support Services (RSS), and the Generations programs, all of which have flourished under her guidance. Additionally, she serves as a peer specialist supervisor, championing the development of peer specialists and recovery coaches. Her expertise extends to program development, HHSC grants, and team leadership, driving the success and growth of these initiatives.
Beyond her work at Nexus, Lindsay manages her own private practice, Cornerstone Counseling Center, in Plano. Through Cornerstone, she continues her commitment to personal growth and recovery, providing tailored therapeutic services to meet her clients' unique needs.
Lindsay is also deeply involved in her community, being a part of the cohort for Engage Dallas and actively serving on several community boards across various sectors in Dallas. Her professional journey reflects her dedication to leading with empathy, expertise, and a strong commitment to empowering individuals and communities, making a lasting impact through her multifaceted roles at UTA, Nexus, Cornerstone Counseling Center, and beyond.
Jessica
Sánchez
PhD, Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Social Work
With over 8 years of experience in the fields of social justice, advocacy, and education, Dr. Sánchez prioritizes inclusive excellence to ensure that every space she occupies, human beings are seen, heard, and recognized. Her innovative curriculum development not only transforms academic classrooms, but entire university settings. Her leadership roles within student affairs and as a faculty member, allows her to combat food and housing insecurity, serve victims and/or survivors of sexual violence, and lead inclusive allyship to accomplice efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. Her dedication and passion to serve streamlined Jessica’s success with opening the inaugural Maverick Food Pantry at UT Arlington, where she secured a $250,000 grant to fight against food insecurity. Additionally, she launched the first ever Maverick Rainbow Scholarship for LGBTQ+ students.
Dr. Sánchez is a practicing licensed clinical sexologist where she is advocating, empowering, and restoring, women of color sexual autonomy and agency. Her doctoral research, Chingonas & Sex: A qualitative study examining how Mexican American women experience sexual subjectivity, is her forever passion project as she is currently converting her research into a sexual wellness book for Chingonas.
Her recent accomplishments are earning her doctorate in August of 2022 and receiving the following awards:
- Ford Motor Company, Mujer Legendaria, November 2022
- Outstanding Service to the Division of Student Affairs, UTA, May 2022
- Outstanding Adjunct Award for Excellence in Teaching, UTA, School of Social Work, August 2021
- Outstanding New Employee, Division of Student Affairs, UTA, May 2020
Isis
Young
Reporter, Analyst, Founder & CEO, Your World Enterprises
Isis "Ice" Young is an NBA, WNBA and college basketball analyst across various networks mainly working for Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports. She is also a soccer analyst, having covered the Big East on Fox. Before getting into the media, Young played college basketball for the Florida Gators, Syracuse Orange, Fordham Rams, and Siena Saints. She also played professionally in Germany, Greece, and Australia. Ice developed her love for broadcasting after graduating with a master's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2019 at Syracuse. In 2022, Young founded Your World Enterprises, designed to provide media training to athletes, coaches & teams and broadcasting coaching services for aspiring sports broadcasters. As she climbs in her basketball and broadcasting careers, she aims to empower her clients through education and application to live out their dreams!
Program Agenda
Coffee & Networking
Your Fierce Future Starts Here
Welcome by Tara Wilson, Founder of Fierce Lab
Break
Break
Break
It's Your Life, Be Fierce With It!
Closing by Tara Wilson, Fierce Lab Founder
Schedule is subject to change.
Our Partners Help You Shine
Supporting Partners
Discover the latest in electronic and smart appliance technology with Samsung. Find the next big thing from smartphones and tablets to laptops and TVs and more.
Welcome to your ultimate small space decorating destination. We simplify the decor shopping experience for college students and post-grads by creating exclusive products specifically designed for small space living without sacrificing style.
Fierce Moment Partners
Your journey to better banking starts with Truist. Checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, small business, commercial banking, and more.
Jumpstart Your Career
Fierce Lab is an empowerment platform dedicated to helping women own their future. We believe knowledge is our strength and community our champion, which is why we curate personal and informative content to help courageous people blaze a bold path forward.
By providing access to on-demand resources, and the diverse experiences of individuals who have lived and learned, we’re creating a world where women and our allies can access tools to realize our greatest potential.
Build Community
Fierce Lab welcomes participants from all walks of life, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation and physical or mental disability, in the hopes of fostering a supportive and inclusive community committed to personal growth and positive experiences.
Get The Scoop
Contact
How Can I Contact The Organizer With Any Questions?
We're available at info@fierce-lab.com to address any questions or concerns.
I Am A Member Of The Media, How Can I Get In Touch With Fierce Lab?
Please direct all media inquiries to Paige Hegedus at paige@tarawilson.com.
Attendees
Who Is The Fierce Lab College Tour For?
Fierce Lab is for any college student looking to level up at work and in life. If you're looking to be inspired, learn from experts, connect with your community, and challenge yourself to grow, Fierce Lab is for you.
Is Fierce Lab Only for Female Students?
No! We welcome students of all genders to attend our event. While our content is tailored from a woman’s perspective, everyone will walk away with valuable career and life advice, will engage in professional development activities such as workshops and networking opportunities, and will gain new skills to boost their confidence.
Registration
Is there a fee to attend the event?
No! The Fierce Lab College Tour is free for all current students, faculty, and recent alumni at participating campuses.
Is registering for the event mandatory?
Yes! We require all students to register for the event.
Event Day
Where is the event being held at the University of Texas at Arlington?
Central Library - 6th Floor
Where Do I Park?
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) offers free parking with validation in the College Park District. UTA campus parking garages are also available for public parking for an hourly fee. Free bike racks are located throughout Downtown and UTA.
Do I have to attend the whole day?
No! We understand a college student’s day is very busy. If you can stay the whole day, we’d love to have you. If not, feel free to pop in and out throughout the day as your schedule allows. You are still required to register regardless of how many sessions you plan to attend.
Do I Need To Print My Ticket In Advance?
We will be able to scan the ticket on your phone for entry or can verify using your government-issued photo ID.
I Can’t Find My Reservation Email, Can I Still Come?
Yes, we captured your name and information when you purchased your ticket, but be sure to have your government-issued photo ID handy.
What Do I Need To Bring With Me?
Please bring a government-issued photo ID. You may also want to bring some resumes and/or business cards!
Will There Be Food?
Yes. Make sure to check your campuses’ program schedule to confirm which stops include coffee/breakfast and lunch.
I Have A Food Allergy, How Can I Make Sure There Is Safe Food For Me?
Please email info@fierce-lab.com with details.
What Do I Wear To Fierce Lab?
Dress to impress, but be comfortable! You will be sitting and standing throughout the event. Some venues may get chilly so a sweater may be needed.
Partner With Us
Are You A College/University Who Is Interested In Fierce Lab Coming To Your Campus?
We are actively scheduling tour stops for the Spring and Fall of 2025.
If you are interested in learning more, reach out to Paige Hegedus at paige@tarawilson.com.
Are You A Brand Who Is Interested In Partnering With Us?
We seek to create fully-integrated partnership packages that expose your brand to our passionate community through unique activations. Fierce Lab offers a wide range of partnership opportunities across a variety of channels - live events, social media, editorial, corporate engagement, and more!
Interested in learning more? Reach out to Paige Hegedus at paige@tarawilson.com.
Do You Offer Influencer Collaborations with Fierce Lab Live?
Yes! If you're interested in collaborating with us, please reach out to Paige Hegedus at paige@tarawilson.com.