Young & Empowered Women General Meeting (October)

Theme: "Harvest Your Power: Celebrating the Seasons of Life"

Note: This is an open meeting - community members are welcome!

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming bi-monthly meeting — a powerful evening of growth, connection, and inspiration.

This session’s theme, “Harvest Your Power: Celebrating the Seasons of Life,” invites us to reflect on the many stages we move through personally and professionally — from planting seeds of potential, to growing into our purpose, to letting go and resetting for what’s next.

You’ll hear from empowering female leaders in our community, engage in meaningful reflection, and build new relationships with peers, mentors, and community partners.

Whether you’re in a season of growth, change, or renewal — there’s a place for you in the conversation.

Event Details:
Monday, October 20th
5:30-7:00 PM PT
ASU Skysong

Agenda:

5:30 Welcome & Norms

5:50 Member of the Month/Spotlight

6:00 Breakout Sessions with Keynote Facilitators

6:30 Reflections & Group Activity

6:50 Closing & Next Steps

Keynote Facilitators

Chelsie Bruggeman

Chelsie Bruggeman is the Founder & CEO of MOMentum for Working Moms, a professional development organization designed to advance the leadership and career growth of mothers in the workforce. Through leadership programs, retreats, coaching, and community-building, MOMentum helps women grow in their careers, build confidence, and thrive while raising families.

Chelsie launched MOMentum to address the isolation, burnout, and career challenges many working moms face. Her mission is to normalize matrescence—the physical, emotional, and professional transition into motherhood—while creating spaces where women feel seen, supported, and celebrated. At MOMentum, she leads initiatives such as the MOMentum Leadership Collective, a 9-month leadership program for ambitious working moms; seasonal retreats focused on rest and clarity; and professional coaching that empowers women to make aligned career and life decisions.

Before founding MOMentum, Chelsie spent more than a decade in higher education fundraising at Arizona State University, where she raised over $15 million and established more than 100 scholarships. She has also served the Arizona nonprofit community for more than 16 years, with a focus on expanding educational opportunities for children and families.
Chelsie is a Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and a three-time alumna of Arizona State University, holding a Master’s in Public Administration and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Most importantly, she is a proud mom of two little boys, and her journey into motherhood fuels her passion to build the community, resources, and leadership opportunities she wished existed for working moms.

Amanda Cosme-Reddie

Amanda Cosme-Reddie is a servant leader, visionary founder, and public speaker recognized as one of ALPFA’s Top 50 Latinas to Watch and Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs. As the CEO of TAKe Brand Consulting, The Multifaceted Executive™️, and Co-Founder of Latinas in Tech Arizona, Amanda specializes in helping leaders build strategic brands without compromising their core values and purpose. After being laid off in 2024, she embraced a season of new beginnings, stepping fully into entrepreneurship and creating spaces for underrepresented leaders to thrive. Her journey of resilience and reinvention reflects the theme of planting seeds—from launching a consulting firm that empowers women—to co-founding a chapter that connects and elevates Latinas in the tech-driven workforce. Amanda inspires audiences to honor their values, embrace change, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth. She brings a contagious energy that encourages others to see each season of life as a chance to flourish.

Carrie Masters

Carrie Masters was on her way to becoming a statistic.

Raised by parents who struggled with drug addiction, in an environment where abuse was rampant, Carrie lived a childhood filled with setbacks, heartbreak and challenges. At 14, her parents left her and her three siblings to live alone. Carrie started working as a teenager to ensure her survival and to help support her remaining family. At the young age of 20, she became a single mother to a beautiful daughter.

It would have been easy for her to follow in her parent’s footsteps, to succumb to the pressures of drugs and poverty, to end up in prison or dead as many of her family members did.

But Carrie’s path would be different and would lead her to a successful life filled with an exciting career and a loving family. There wasn’t one moment when she had some sort of epiphany — she just kept moving forward, kept surviving. She eventually found a job as an administrative assistant with LGE Design Build. She kept climbing over the course of 19 years – to office manager, to director of HR, to Chief Operating Officer, to the head of a charitable foundation, to a partner in multiple business ventures.

Carrie Masters could have been a statistic. Instead, she became a leading force for one of the Valley’s top commercial design build firms — and a proud mother as well. After almost 20 years at LGE, Carrie has taken a leap of faith and decided to depart LGE without any real plan other than focusing on what brings her joy, peace and fulfillment. Her combination of perseverance, empathy, life experience and professional experience differentiate her and make her an ideal woman to connect with in the Valley business and philanthropic community.

Carrie is now the CEO of St. Joseph the Worker, a nonprofit in Phoenix and Mesa that empowers unhoused and low-income individuals with pathways to stability through quality employment. Since becoming CEO in March 2023, Masters has led the organization to its most successful fiscal year, expanding client services and strengthening programs like Workforce Development and the 90-day Workforce Housing initiative. Her career began at LGE Design Build, where she rose from receptionist to chief operating officer and she helped start and lead The David R. Sellers Foundation, supporting local nonprofits. Outside of work, Masters is a mentor with New Pathways for Youth and a Homeless ID Project Board Member.

Maria Mwangi

Maria Mwangi is a visionary leader, mentor, and trailblazer with over two decades of experience shaping the event and hospitality industries. As Chief Operating Officer of Warehouse215, a premier event venue in Phoenix, Maria has transformed the organization since taking the helm in May 2022. Under her leadership, the venue has experienced impressive growth, including a 40% increase in revenue and a 78% rise in events hosted—clear evidence of her innovative approach and strategic insight.

Maria’s career includes influential roles with Live Nation at The Van Buren and Arizona Federal Theatre, the Arizona Science Center, and Studios at Fischer, where she honed her skills managing large-scale productions and high-profile events.

A champion of mentorship and inclusivity, Maria is passionate about developing the next generation of event professionals. She is known for empowering her team, many of whom began with limited experience and have since grown into accomplished leaders under her guidance. She has also woven philanthropy into the culture at Warehouse215, reinforcing her belief that community and business success go hand in hand.

Maria’s impact extends well beyond the organizations she leads. She is currently serving as the President of the Board for WISE (Women in Sports and Events) and Board member of the nonprofit All the Way up. She partners with Visit Phoenix, Phoenix NACE, the Phoenix Chamber, and the Hispanic Chamber. She is also a founder of the Antonian Awards and a respected member of ILEA, where she works to elevate industry standards and foster collaboration.

Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including multiple NACEY Awards, the Zonie Award, and the International Esprit Award. Most recently, she received the prestigious 2024 Heart of the Community Award and was named a 2024 & 2025 finalist for the GPCC Impact Award.

Maria’s story is one of resilience, compassion, and bold innovation. As a mentor and advocate for those navigating personal and professional challenges—including grief, loss, and sober living—she inspires others to lead with both strength and heart.

Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Maria Mwangi brings unmatched energy and purpose to everything she does. Attendees can expect to be inspired by her insights on leadership, community impact, and creating lasting change in the industry.

About Young & Empowered Women

Young & Empowered Women is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities to a diverse group of rising female leaders who are passionate about service, career advancement and empowering others. We continually expand our membership to better raise awareness and educate others on women’s rights, empowerment and equity. Learn more at www.yewomen.org.

Y&E October Meeting

By Young & Empowered Women

Y&E October Meeting

Professional Development | Mentorship | Networking