I met Alexa Carlin last year in Washington, D.C. After hearing about her conference, WEX — short for Women Empower Expo — I wanted to see it for myself. I admit, having attended many conferences in the past, I was dubious about the value I would get as an entrepreneur.

Damn, was I wrong.

Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go: WEX is a conference for any woman who wants actionable, affordable advice on starting or improving her business or her mission.

WEX’s tickets range from $30 to $99, priced by design to be inclusive, and I have never been to a one-day conference that represents such racial, socio-economic, and age diversity. I spoke with teenpreneurs, women in their 60s, and everyone in between. The panel topics I attended were immediately relevant to my business.

My only critique is that I left fully charged, but I wanted more. Also, I’d love to see Carlin expand locations. Travel can be a big expense for entrepreneurs, especially those of us who are bootstrapping. I know she is aware of this and is announcing a third location for 2019 somewhere west of the Mississippi. Think NYC for your fourth!

At WEX, Carlin spoke authentically and vulnerably about her near-death experience without feeling an ounce of victimhood, about her excitement when five people attended her first event, and about how her success is very much about showing up and not letting fear stop her. I was impressed.

Carlin is charismatic, confident, and a natural leader. She carries herself well as a public speaker because she speaks passionately about what she loves: helping other women and girls make a difference, all while being an entrepreneur herself.

It’s also appropriate that Carlin is the first episode of SheVentures because she made a difference in my own career and in this project.

I’ve always had a moribund fear of public speaking, though I would do it when my previous jobs demanded it of me, whether on TV, on the radio, or in front of a group of people. But when I saw Carlin speak so effortlessly, I realized my silence was, in fact, harming me. I wasn’t telling my own story. Nor was I doing what I desired, which was to host in-depth interviews of other women to inspire and build community.

Carlin’s course on public speaking can be found on her site, and I highly recommend it. Our interaction speaks to how women can help each other through community, networking, and support.

Here’s SheVentures’ first episode. Listen to Alexa Carlin share her journey from a teenpreneur to the founder of a national conference that attracts thousands of women and counting. We’ve also picked out some of our favorite moments below.

I’d love your feedback and any ideas for future guests. Venture on!

Best,

Doria Lavagnino