Texas Women’s Foundation’s Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration brought together a sold-out audience of more than 600 attendees on April 29 at Moody Performance Hall for an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating women’s leadership and building #StrongWomenBetterTexas and raising more than $385,000 in support of the foundation’s mission.
Event Leadership: Karen Hughes White (President & CEO, TXWF), Cristal Retana Luna (Co-Chair), Cris Zertuche Wong (TXWF Board Chair), Lynn McBee (Co-Chair)
Co-chaired by Cristal Retana Lule and Lynn McBee, the event highlighted the power of sisterhood and collective philanthropy in removing the barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success and creating a strong and vibrant Texas for all.
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| Young Leader Award Recipients: Karen Hughes White (President & CEO, TXWF), Amanda Valentine, Prisma Garcia, Cris Zertuche Wong (TXWF Board Chair) |
The 2026 Young Leader Award recipients, Prisma Garcia and Amanda Valentine, were recognized for their bold leadership and commitment to creating pathways for others. Garcia’s work in education, mental health access and public service, alongside Valentine’s impact in healthcare operations and systems improvement, exemplify the next generation of changemakers.
The prestigious Maura Women Helping Women Awards honored five exceptional leaders:
- Debra Hunter Johnson for her transformational leadership and advocacy in the corporate and nonprofit sectors;
- Kim Bizor Tolbert for her groundbreaking leadership as Dallas City Manager and commitment to public service;
- Margie Aguilar for amplifying diverse voices through media and storytelling with an emphasis on the Hispanic community;
- Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman for her community-driven work advancing equity and opportunity through Bachman Lake Together;
- Thear Suzuki for her purpose-driven leadership and dedication to inspiring courageous action through mentorship and philanthropy.
The Leadership Forum, presented by Southwest Airlines, emceed by CBS News Anchor Karen Borta, served as a masterclass in leadership, featuring dynamic, micro-learning sessions with award recipients and thought leaders. Borta emphasized the power of collective action and shared purpose in driving meaningful change for women and families across Texas.
The forum opened with “Power, Poise & Purpose,” featuring Kim Bizor Tolbert who shared her insights on leading with intention and navigating leadership at the highest levels of public service. Tolbert shared that the award carries deep meaning, calling it “a mandate to continue to work, swim upstream and focus on what matters.” She emphasized staying grounded in faith amid pressure, noting, “I use my voice to help women find ways forward — not just by opening the door, but by making sure they have the keys.”
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| Karen Borta, Kim Bizor Tolbert |
To close the forum, Thear Suzuki reflected on values-driven leadership, legacy, and the importance of inspiring courageous action in others. “Courage comes from external sources – we have courage to act when we know someone has our back,” she shared.
Following the forum, the foundation presented its Special Recognition Award to High Tech Rising (formerly High Tech High Heels) for its decades-long commitment to advancing girls in STEM. Melendy Lovett and Laura Steffek accepted the honor, sharing that over 25 years, the initiative has reached more than 90,000 girls and invested more than $2 million in STEM education. Fittingly, Texas Instruments sponsored this award as its female leaders were the catalyst for founding the nonprofit 25 years ago.
Concluding the program, the Foundation introduced its inaugural Champion Award, honoring Allen Nye, CEO of Oncor, for his leadership in advancing women in the workplace. Nye thanked Texas Women’s Foundation for opening doors, expanding opportunities and reminding others what is possible when talent is encouraged. “Better decisions are made when there are more perspectives at the table. It’s not just the right thing to do; it’s good business.”
Texas Women’s Foundation President and CEO Karen Hughes White closed the program by thanking attendees, congratulating award recipients, and reflecting on the collective experience, saying, “Friends, I hope you all are feeling as inspired and energized as I am. More importantly, I hope you are feeling hopeful about the future we’re building together.”
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