Meet Your Speakers: Women's Leadership Conference & Expo 2023

Women have played a key part in the growth and opportunity in Livingston Parish, and until 2017, there was no mechanism for recognizing that. That is, until Livingston Parish Chamber launched Women's Leadership Awards and Women's programming via the Women's Leadership Special Event. In just a few short years, even with a 2-year hiatus, the event outgrew its original venue in 2022 and continues to be a sell-out and 29 women leaders have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to Livingston Parish.

The event offers an Expo to learn about products and services available to women in LP, plus it allows for networking with other successful women in a fun, energetic setting. And that's just in the first hour! Dynamic speakers will have attendees feeling invigorated, empowered, and motivated to live their best life today. Previous speakers have included LSU Women's Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey, Judge Blair Edwards, Wendy Rodrigue Magnus, LSU Gymnastics Coach D-D Breaux and more. Get to know this year's lineup here. 


LAUREN HAYDEL | Fleurty Girl

Fleurty Girl was born out of a vision of New Orleans-native, Lauren LeBlanc Haydel in 2009. Using just $2,000, this single mother of three put everything she had into printing t-shirts for women that celebrated New Orleans. Just six months after launching her online store, she opened her first retail store on historic Oak Street and moved herself and her family in the back of the old shotgun house. "We all crammed in the back of that house in order to see if this would work. We went from 2,000 square feet to just under 1,000. My kids went from each having their own rooms to having to all share one room together. People said I was crazy, but I believed in this."

Today, Lauren now has nine Fleurty Girl retail stores and has gotten her kids back to having their own rooms again. In fact, they're all headed to college now. "I'm glad I was able to show them what it takes to believe in something, make sacrifices and succeed, and to do it all in the most amazing city in the world." 

Fleurty Girl has over 60 employees and has become one of the most beloved brands in the city of New Orleans. "People put us up there with stopping at Cafe du Monde for beignets," adds Lauren, "this was never a part of the plan but I am so glad people embraced and enjoy what we've built." 

Lauren and her staff share a love of New Orleans and a lust for life. All of the items that Fleurty Girl carries are inspired by New Orleans. Many items are inspired by the city and made by local New Orleanians while also offering a large selection of nationally-loved brands.

The roots of Fleurty Girl go deep in the southern soil of New Orleans as Lauren was the face of GoNOLA's newscast where she covered local culture, events and venues in televised segments for many years.  Reporting on topics such as How to Eat Crawfish and giving audiences a guide to restaurants, nightlife, and festivals, Fleurty Girl established a name for herself in front of the camera as her entrepreneurship flourished at her retail shop.

See More About Fleurty Girl Here

AIMEE GOWLAND | ALG Style

Aimée Gowland, the owner and founder of ALG Style, is a personal stylist and image consultant based in New Orleans. Established in 2007, ALG Style’s mission is to empower everyone to "dress their best self." Clothing is seen as an extension of one's personality, and when you look good, you feel good; that positive energy projects and enhances a confident self-image.

Aimée completed her undergraduate degree at LSU, obtained a Master’s degree in Education at St. Peter’s College (New Jersey), and pursued graduate coursework in trend forecasting and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York). Her fashion career began as a sales associate and stylist at a prominent East Coast women’s boutique, where she swiftly became a top earner and earned a promotion to lead buyer. Upon returning to New Orleans, Aimée took on a corporate stylist position at Anthropologie and quickly became the top-grossing stylist in the Southeast. After gaining extensive experience in boutique and large retail fashion, Aimée was ready to venture out on her own and founded ALG Style in 2007.

From conducting corporate seminars to providing personalized one-on-one assistance to clients in refining their personal style, Aimée Gowland understands that fashion is not one-size-fits-all; her job is to determine what is right for each individual. This has allowed Aimée to dress hundreds of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 executives and Grammy artists to Beauty and Drag Queens.

Aimée Gowland is an active member of the New Orleans community and volunteers for Dress For Success and the Legacy Donor Foundation. She resides in the Bayou St. John area of New Orleans with her twin girls and her husband, Ken Gowland, who is the owner of MetroStudio Architects.

Whether you're seeking a significant change or simply looking to refresh your personal or professional image, consider giving Aimée Gowland of ALG Style a call.
 
Conceived in 2007, ALG Style’s mission is to teach men and women to “dress their best self.” Clothing is an extension of your personality and when you look good, you consequentially feel good, and that projects and enhances a confident self-image. Whether it is conducting corporate seminars or assisting a client with refining his or her personal style, ALG understands that fashion is not universal; their job is to aid in defining what is right for the individual.
Founder Aimée Gowland brings varied fashion experiences to the company; her distinctive viewpoints collectively provide intelligent, personal, insightful and on-trend information to clients both corporate and individual.

See More About ALG Style Here

MICHELLE SOUTHERN | Eagle 98.1 fm

Michelle Southern, a seasoned presence in Louisiana's radio broadcast landscape, has been a compelling voice since 1998. Currently serving as the Creative Services Director at Guaranty Media in Baton Rouge, she also takes the reins as Program Director and Afternoon Drive Host for Eagle 98.1, the eminent heritage rock station under the group's umbrella.
 
From 2001 onward, Michelle's illustrious career has woven through every significant radio broadcast group in greater Baton Rouge. This includes a remarkable 7-year tenure as a radio news anchor for the Louisiana Radio Network. Across the years, she's garnered a rich collection of accolades, a testament to her prowess both on and off the air. Notably, she's secured the title of Best Radio Personality in the State by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters for three consecutive years. Additionally, in 2023, she was honored with the esteemed Service To America Award by the National Association of Broadcasters for her exceptional community initiative in collaboration with The Big Buddy Program.
 
Michelle's footprint extends beyond recognition. She is acknowledged for her contributions in reshaping radio operations at a local level, ensuring a seamless integration with the ever-evolving broadcast technology landscape.
 
Proudly rooted in Denham Springs, Michelle is not only an accomplished professional but also a fervent ambassador for Livingston Parish. To experience her dynamic energy, tune in to Eagle 98.1 during your afternoon drive home – an invitation to truly "get your face rocked off."

See More About Eagle 98.1 Here