A New Era of Leadership: She Shines Summit and the Women Behind It

There was a time when success was defined in rigid terms — titles, salaries, the illusion of having it all. But as the founders of Leading Ladies have proven, true success is about something far greater: building a life that aligns with your values and lifting others along the way.

What began as a late-night phone call between two entrepreneurs — Cat Ilacad, founder and CEO of Posh Nails Inc., and Rachelle Stern, CEO of Alphabetsoup Inc. — has evolved into a movement of over 10,000 women, each rewriting the rules of leadership, ambition, and community. Joined by celebrity and digital entrepreneur Rica Peralejo, the trio has transformed Leading Ladies into a powerhouse of empowerment, connection, and unapologetic ambition. Their annual summit, She Shines, has become the defining event for women who are ready to lead on their own terms.

Leadership, as Ilacad once saw it, was about being the most knowledgeable person in the room. It was about control, about having all the answers. Over time, she realized it was about something else entirely. True leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about creating space, making room for others to thrive, and understanding that power isn’t about holding on, but about knowing when to let go. Peralejo shares a similar evolution, reflecting on the way women have been conditioned to downplay ambition, to make themselves smaller in rooms where they belong. “You don’t need to have it all figured out to take up space,” she says. “You grow because you show up.” And that, in many ways, is the very ethos of She Shines—a space where women can arrive as they are, whether they are at the beginning of something or in the midst of reinvention, and find themselves reflected in the stories around them.

The event itself is as dynamic as the women it gathers. Beyond the keynotes and panel discussions, She Shines unfolds as an intricate ecosystem of mentorship, networking, and self-reflection. It is not merely a conference; it is an experience meticulously designed to challenge perspectives, forge meaningful alliances, and equip women with the tools to shape their futures. Every detail, from the speakers to the structure of the day, is curated with the understanding that success is not linear, nor is it singular. The aim is not just inspiration, but transformation — subtle or seismic, as each woman requires. One moment, a woman is deep in a strategy session on scaling a business, untangling the complexities of growth and sustainability.

The myth that women must do it all, have it all, and look effortless in the process is one that Ilacad, Stern, and Peralejo are determined to dismantle. Success, they argue, is not a universal metric — it is deeply personal. “Many women feel like they have to ‘have it all’ at once,” Stern explains. “But success isn’t about someone else’s checklist — it’s about building a life that feels right for you.” This is why She Shines is as much about professional ambition as it is about personal fulfillment. The event doesn’t just acknowledge the multidimensional nature of women’s lives — it celebrates it.

Beyond the grandeur of the summit, the real impact of Leading Ladies unfolds in quieter moments. It is in the message from a woman who finally took the leap to start her own business, in the email from someone who left She Shines feeling seen for the first time. “The messages we receive from women who tell us they felt inspired, motivated, or ready to take action — that’s the real impact,” Ilacad says. Whether it’s a first-time founder finding her voice or an established leader rediscovering her purpose, the summit is not just an event. It is a catalyst.

Women’s leadership has long been undervalued, often seen as secondary to more traditional models of power. But the reality is that women lead differently — not with dominance, but with emotional intelligence, connection, and an ability to nurture growth in those around them. “Women’s leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room,” Stern says. “It’s about the long game, the kind of leadership that builds something lasting.”