STA Announces Women’s Symposium Keynote Speaker

March 21, 2023

STA is eagerly anticipating this year’s Women’s Symposium, which takes place Friday, March 25. This annual all-day event engages students in learning experiences that are both inspiring and engaging. Speakers present throughout the day, sharing their wisdom and insights on a variety of theme-based topics. This year’s theme focuses on STA’s mission: to educate young women to think critically, encourage them through Catholic values to love the dear neighbor without distinction, and empower them to change the world.

We are pleased to announce this year’s keynote speaker, Becky Blades. She describes herself as “writer, artist, strategist, stARTist,” and recently authored a book titled Start More Than You Can Finish. In this thought-provoking book, Blades draws on hundreds of interviews with stARTists, as well as research in neuroscience, creativity and behavioral science to arrive at a fresh take on starting and finishing.

Real-life examples from creators of all stripes — inventors, artists, chefs, writers, business innovators, teachers, song writers, speakers, gardeners and more — inspire hard-hitting observations about how we get and move ideas.

Blades’ discoveries tee up a simple four-part starting process — a framework to shift our thinking from a one-at-a-time, finish-as-planned model to a shame-free, start-where-you-are mindset that lets ideas lead the way.

She earned her Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and studied art at the Kansas City Art Institute.

We are grateful to all of our esteemed speakers for spending their day with us and lending inspiration to our campus community.

“When we act on an idea, it shows us the way — to the next step, to unknown finishes, to new ideas and to personal fulfillment we cannot fathom until we begin.”