On Wednesday, October 16, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) hosted its seventh annual Women in Industry event\u2014an inspiring experience aimed at empowering the next generation of leaders and preparing them for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A diverse crowd of students, staff, families, and community members gathered at the PYLUSD Performing Arts Center to hear from this year\u2019s esteemed panel of seven female professionals, each representing a wide range of industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event began with the presentation of colors by Esperanza High School\u2019s all-female Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) color guard. Emily Lira and Laila Youssef from Esperanza\u2019s American Sign Language program, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Will Gray, Executive Director of College & Career Readiness, then took the stage to welcome attendees and recognize honored guests, including Executive Cabinet members, district administrators, and school site leaders. He also highlighted the district’s 15 academy pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, Dr. Olivia Yaung, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, introduced the evening\u2019s keynote speaker, Leila Armand, a senior at Valencia High School and dual-diploma candidate in the Val Tech and International Baccalaureate programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leila\u2019s keynote was both personal and inspiring. She spoke about overcoming self-doubt, particularly as a young Black girl aspiring to succeed in the tech field, where representation was limited. She credited her growth to mentors and teachers who believed in her potential, helping her to gain the confidence to pursue her passions. Leila reflected, \u201cWhen people believe in you, it\u2019s easier to start believing in yourself. And when you believe in yourself, you can achieve things you never thought possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following her speech, Dr. Yaung invited the panelists and student moderators to join the stage for introductions before commencing the highly anticipated question-and-answer session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ten students, representing various Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in the district, served as moderators for the evening. They included Priscilla Hernandez from El Camino High School, Jaden Lum and Sage Oudin from El Dorado High School, Nyeema Forrester and Lana Marques from Esperanza High School, Simran Vaswani from Parkview High School, Cora Winger and Leila Armand from Valencia High School, and Isabella McNais and Grace Peng from Yorba Linda High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accomplished panel featured:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Q&A session kicked off with insightful questions, including: \u201cWhat did you want to be when you were a child?\u201d \u201cWhat advice do you have for young women on building self-confidence and assertiveness?\u201d and \u201cWhat is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each panelist responded with thoughtfulness, sharing personal experiences and valuable guidance, which resonated with the audience. The session concluded with enthusiastic applause and cheers for the panelists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To close the event, Dr. Yaung returned to express gratitude to the panelists, student moderators, and all individuals who contributed to making the evening a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the audience exited the auditorium, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Attendees had the chance to meet the panelists in person and reflect on the event\u2019s inspiring impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This memorable event was sponsored by The Reach Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can watch the full event on the district\u2019s YouTube channel at the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n