The 14th Annual Inspired Women Luncheon (IWL), presented by Chase and hosted by the Women’s Alliance of the Greater Arlington Chamber, was an event to remember.
This year’s theme, “Gamechanger: Beyond the Playbook,” celebrates the courage to innovate, the confidence to persevere, the vision to lead, and the power to go beyond the playbook. Gamechangers don’t set out to rewrite the rules—they push their limits, master their craft, and transform the world around them.
Keynote speaker Charean Williams is an accomplished sports journalist and the first woman to receive the prestigious Dick McCann Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, honoring her contributions to football reporting. She’s covered 30 Super Bowls and seven Olympic Games.
Williams shared how her heroes growing up were the Dallas Cowboys and how that love and passion led her to where she is today.
“I really had no idea that sports journalism was a man’s job,” Williams said of her eight-year-old self’s dreams. “I just knew what I wanted to do, so I set out to do it. Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean that it can’t be done.”
Williams told three behind-the-scenes stories from her career, featuring Arlington athletes and teams. She ended by encouraging the women in the room to celebrate small wins and to courageously follow their dreams.
“We have the tendency to focus on the championship game, the end goal, but the winners’ celebration and the losers’ heavy-headed walk back to the locker room isn’t why people turn on the TV. It’s certainly not why people brave the elements and wear embarrassing costumes to the games,” Williams said. “It’s the accumulation of small gains in every play that put points on the board, and the magic and the chemistry that we create with the people around us. It’s one play at a time, one game at a time, one season at a time, year after year after year, another chapter in the story of our lives.”
A special thank you to our speaker sponsor, the Dallas Wings.
The morning kicked off with a professional development panel of gamechangers in their own right. 
Carmenza Moreno, born in Colombia and moved to the United States in 1986, started her career at Chick-fil-A as a kitchen employee to now owning one of the highest grossing stores in the U.S. Peggy Esparza went from a teller at Texas Trust Credit Union to now CFO. Lastly, Jeannie Deakyne, an active member of our community, served 12 years in the U.S. Army including two deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom in high-level leadership positions.
Moderated by Monique Winfree with JP Morgan Chase, each panelist shared how they overcame challenges and went beyond the playbook.
A special thank you to our professional development sponsor, Sargent Investments.
As part of the Inspired Women Luncheon, the Greater Arlington Chamber’s Women’s Alliance bestows two honors on individuals who walk in an unmatched commitment to making a difference in Arlington. These women represent some of the best in our community. They are strong leaders who put others’ needs above their own to bring people together and facilitate change.
The Hero Award is given to honor women who have dedicated their lives to making a lasting impact in our community. Our Hero Award recipients have created a legacy through tenured, consistent contributions. This year’s recipient, Karen Williams, has been a dedicated member of the community working towards a better future for all the children of Arlington with a focus on education and community development since moving to the city in 1984.
The Rising Star Award is given to recognize women who are paving the way for significant community impact. Although they may be early in their career or involvement, these women exemplify strong leadership with a commitment to positive change. This year’s recipient, Stephanie Buduhan grew up in Arlington and is committed to nurture the next generation of leaders in our community.
Read more about Williams and Buduhan HERE.
As part of the Inspired Women Luncheon, the Greater Arlington Chamber’s Women’s Alliance awarded three Small Business Grants to women-owned businesses in the greater Arlington area that have operated for five years or less, with a cash award, gifts, professional and business services to encourage the growth of their businesses. This year’s recipients are Salyer Counseling, DivaDance Arlington Metroplex and Main Event Boutique. A special thank you to our small business grant presentation sponsors: First Rate, Wells Fargo and Frost Bank.
At the first IWL, the Chamber awarded one $1,000 scholarship donated by Dr. Judith J Carrier, former President of TTC-SE and the first-ever Chairwoman of the Chamber Board. Dedicated to cultivating and developing the next generation of women leaders, The Dr. Judith J. Carrier Scholarship Program awarded $19,500 in scholarships this year to eleven local students.
Read more about this year’s grant and scholarship recipients HERE.
Beyond empowering speakers and recognizing gamechangers, there was no shortage of activities to enjoy, including the OverRidge Wealth Advisors Mimosa Bar, the Texas Trust Credit Union Photobooth, the Official Luxury Vehicle from Park Place Motorcars of Arlington, Keep It Local Plinko sponsored by Chick-fil-A North Collins St. and so much more!
The Greater Arlington Chamber’s Women’s Alliance is focused on empowering and uniting women through business and community endeavors. The Women’s Alliance pledges to offer leadership, mentoring, and direction to its devoted members and is committed to strengthening women as professional, business, community and civic leaders.