When Ideas Blossom: Reflections from the 2025 Her Idea Gala

Diya Sharma hosting at the 2025 Her Idea Gala

On Friday, May 16th, we gathered at the beautiful Terra Gallery Events and Venue space to celebrate something truly special: the bold dreams and growth of the young women in our Dare to Dream fellowship program. Our evening featured powerful stories from our fellows and speakers, and networking over a shared passion for uplifting the next generation of women. 

We kicked off the night in style with a VIP Clase Azul tasting experience, featuring rich flavors and a tasty charcuterie board. Guests were also given Her Idea swag bags, generously filled with treats from our amazing sponsors. From skincare goodies to signature Her Idea tees and Passion Planners, there was something for everyone!

As guests trickled in, the space quickly came to life—buzzing with energy, big smiles, and so much love for our fellows. You could feel the excitement as people explored each project booth, swapped stories over Mendocino Farms bites, and grabbed drinks before snapping photos at the photo booth or spotting their name on a personalized water bottle. The vibe was joyful, proud, and honestly just really fun.

While building connections with one another was certainly an impactful part of the night, the heart of the evening was hearing our fellows share the stories behind their passion projects, how each one began as a simple idea and, with time and tenacity, blossomed into something powerful. Our mentors helped plant the seeds, but it was the fellows’ drive and vision that made them grow.

Projects ranged from creating tools for stress management to making nutritional resources more accessible for youth, each a reflection of thoughtful care and impactful innovation. To Lauren, Susanna, Itzel, Sophia, Elsy, Renee, and Jasmine: we are endlessly proud to witness you blossom into leaders, change makers, and entrepreneurs.

A heartfelt thank you to our host, Diya Sharma, a former fellow herself and a shining example of what happens when a dream is nurtured. We’re also deeply grateful to our guest speaker, Rebecca Stone, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Cisco, who shared her own journey of growth with grace and inspired us all to continue investing in the next generation of women leaders.

Due to your support, we’re able to keep offering our program free to the brilliant young women in our community. Every dollar raised helps them build confidence, leadership skills, and the belief that their ideas, when rooted in hope, can truly blossom into action.

Written by: Jayla Curtis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayla-curtis/