Student athletes and female leaders in Asheville gathered for Power of Women, a panel and networking event designed to celebrate women’s leadership, resilience, and success across athletics and professional careers on April 14.
The event featured guest speakers Lauren Tamayo, Olympic silver medalist and owner of LMT Homes, and Kate Miller, Clemson Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and current director of learning and leadership for Lululemon Athletica.
The evening highlighted the evolving role of women in sports and leadership while providing attendees with opportunities to network and learn from accomplished professionals whose careers extend beyond athletics.
Tamayo reflected on the significant progress women’s sports have made over the past decade.
“I retired in 2016 so a lot has changed in the past 10 years for women’s sports,” Tamayo said. “I think it’s amazing to see the support that women get now in athletics all across the board. The 2028 Olympics will be the first time there’s more women than men so it’s really exciting to see that growth.”
Her comments emphasized the increasing visibility and investment in women’s athletics, inspiring attendees to recognize the historic momentum currently shaping sports culture.
Miller focused on identity, confidence and integrity in both athletic and professional spaces. She spoke about the importance of self-definition in environments where coaches, managers and supervisors often hold authority.
“When you’re in the world you’re gonna have a boss or a manager—there’s always going to be someone. There is always a coach,” Miller said. “But it’s remembering that their opinion of me does not define me.”
She encouraged students to remain grounded in their values and character, explaining that consistency and integrity ultimately speak louder than external judgment.
“My consistency of my character and living that consistency every day defines me and living through my values,” Miller said. “When I’m true to myself and when I’m living with that level of integrity and my words and my actions match, the boss or coach will see it.”
Drawing on her athletic background, Miller discussed how the discipline learned through sports translates directly into the workplace.
“As someone who will always say I’m an athlete, everything I’ve learned on the court or field, with a team or individual athletics, all those characteristics transcend into the professional world,” Miller said. “When I see people that were athletes, I already know there’s something in them that I want to know and experience because they’re coming from strength already.”
Toward the close of the panel, Miller shared advice she would give her younger self, urging students to trust their instincts and embrace failure as part of growth.
“Hindsight is easy. It’s always 20/20 for me,” Miller said. “Listen to the whispers, listen for the things that set your soul on fire. Just listen for the things that really wake you up.”
She continued by reminding attendees that setbacks are essential to personal and professional development.
“You’re going to mess up, you’re going to fail and fall, and you’re going to learn more from that than anything else,” Miller said. “Stay on your path and do it for yourself and trust that it’ll come.”
The event’s impact was also evident in the reactions of student-athletes in attendance. Albertine van der Goot, a member of the UNCA volleyball team, shared her thoughts on the experience.
“I thought it was very interesting and loved the setup of the panel first followed by a networking opportunity,” van der Goot said. “The panel leader herself had some great things to say and the two speakers were amazing, powerful women. It was a great experience to get to learn from them.”
Her reflection captured the value of the event’s format, which combined meaningful discussion with the opportunity for students to personally connect with accomplished women leaders.
Guest speakers and their accolades welcoming attendees on the projector
The Power of Women event left attendees with not only practical advice for leadership and career growth but also a renewed sense of confidence in pursuing their own paths. Through honest reflections and empowering stories, Tamayo and Miller reinforced the strength, resilience and opportunity that come from embracing one’s identity and values.
