TEDxSt Pete Women

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Angela Vassallo

  Entrepreneur, Author & Founder

  Angela Vassallo is an award-winning Australian entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of The Resourceful Leader™. She famously built and sold a seven-figure restaurant brand from scratch, proving her core philosophy: resourcefulness is your ultimate competitive advantage. A proud wife and mother, and a former champion athlete, Angela’s journey is a masterclass in resilience. Her bestselling book, The Second Wives’ Guide, supports women globally, and her leadership insights have been featured in the Huffington Post and on major TV in the US and Australia. She also hosts the Harmony in the Hustle podcast. Angela inspires audiences to leverage their unique experiences, guiding them to lead with vision and unlock their full potential.

• Dr. Forbes Riley

  Queen of pitch

  Dr. Forbes Riley is an award-winning TV host, best-selling author, and one of the world’s top female motivational speakers. Known as the “Queen of Pitch,” she’s generated over $2.5 billion in sales and empowered thousands to find their voice, own their story, and sell with authenticity. She has shared the stage with transformational leaders like Les Brown, Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, and Mel Robbins, and her signature training programs have impacted millions of entrepreneurs around the globe. A pioneer in live selling and media influence, Forbes has recently been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary doctorate for her innovation and global impact. Today, she shares the mindset shifts that turn obstacles into opportunities and dreams into action.

• Makenna Riley

  Co-Founder

  Makenna Riley is a powerhouse entrepreneur, speaker, and co-founder of The GSD Software—an all-in-one platform helping everyday people build profitable online businesses. At 17, she scaled an education company to 7 figures in under a year and has since helped over 5,000 students grow and automate their businesses. Known for her sharp systems, bold strategies, and no-fluff mindset, Makenna makes business simple, scalable, and wildly successful.

• Myeshia Jefferson

  Founder

  Myeshia is an award-winning visionary at the forefront of beauty, wellness, and technology. As the founder of Beauty Makes Cents, LLC and the co-owner of a 5-star med spa, she created the PETALS™ Framework Suite to help individuals and organizations to heal from the inside out. After courageously navigating a near-fatal childbirth experience, Myeshia emerged with an even fiercer dedication to championing health for all. With community at the core of her mission, Myeshia developed a mobile care app and a specialized supplement line. These innovations were specifically designed to bridge critical gaps in wellness access, reaching those consistently overlooked by traditional healthcare systems. Based in the California Bay Area, Myeshia is a devoted wife and mother of two sons.

• Sandra Bean

  Founder, Author and Belonging Strategist

  Sandra “Sandy” Bean is an award-winning business and visibility strategist, community builder, and systems innovator, helping entrepreneurs, leaders, and teams grow with connection and confidence. She’s the founder of St. Pete Girl Boss, a 9,000-member ecosystem for feminist entrepreneurship, and the editor of The Girl Boss Effect, a collaborative anthology on healing-centered business. With roots in education and neurodiversity advocacy, Sandy blends strategy with soul, building frameworks and programs that make success more accessible, human, and sustainable. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Bloom TV, Tampa Bay Times, and on local and national stages, where she champions relationships, compassion, and nervous system awareness as tools for equity, growth, and collective power.

• Sis. Nayyirah Muhammad

  Founder, CEO and Author

  Sister Nayyirah Muhammad is a visionary leader and the Founder of Repair of The Black Family. A dynamic speaker, spiritual advisor, transformational life coach, and 3x international bestselling author, she is deeply committed to the healing and upliftment of Black families and all communities. A highly trained practitioner in alternative solutions to healthy relationships, Coach Nayyirah specializes in eradicating generational trauma and limiting beliefs, providing transformational tools for Mindset, Family, and Business. Trained by world-renowned motivational speaker Les Brown, she has spoken to thousands globally and received distinguished honors, including the President’s Volunteer Gold Service Award from President Barack Obama (2015). Her motto: “Heal on Purpose.” Her favorite quote: “When passion meets purpose, it’s there where you find love.” Sister Nayyirah resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, 5 children, and 9 grandchildren.

• Tonya Stout

  Co-Founder

  Tonya Stout is a powerhouse speaker, has written songs for Grammy winning artists, and is an expert in brand messaging known as the “Soundbite Queen.” As co-founder of Conquerpreneur™ and The Conquer Club Podcast, she helps high-impact entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their message with confidence and conversion. Her proprietary “Hit Message” Framework turns ideas into income by blending storytelling, strategy, and soul. Tonya has been married to her husband Kevin for 31 years, and together they’re proud parents to three beautiful daughters and one amazing son-in-love. From Nashville stages to global platforms, she empowers leaders to shift culture, build legacy, and scale purpose-driven brands that change lives.