Far too often, the stories of everyday women who do extraordinary things are left untold. Girls Inc. of Chicago is changing that narrative. Through She Shines, our signature leadership recognition program, we want to shine a bright light on Chicago’s strong, smart, and bold female leaders.
She Shines celebrates women making a difference in the lives of Chicago women and girls. In partnership with our Associate Board, we recognize these extraordinary women at a celebration during Women’s History Month.
2024 She Shines Keynote Speaker:
Felecia Pryor, Sr. Vice President and Chief People Officer, John Deer
Felecia Pryor joined John Deere as Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer in August 2022. She is a member of the senior management team and has responsibility for the company’s human resources, labor relations, enterprise security, aviation, and brand and communications functions.
Pryor has almost two decades of experience in human resources and related fields at other major industrial companies. Her previous positions included executive vice president and chief human resources officer at BorgWarner, Inc. and vice president of human resources at the company’s Morse business unit. She also spent 16 years at Ford Motor Company, where she was global human resources director and served in executive roles in Thailand and China. She earlier held human resources and labor relations positions at various Ford assembly plants and at the company’s financial-services unit.
Over the course of her career, Pryor has compiled a record of achievement in a range of HR-related areas and is known for her expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion, talent development, executive compensation, performance management, succession planning, and employment law. Her extensive background has been complemented by experience in leadership roles at other industrial companies and time working in international assignments. A native of Florida, Pryor holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Valdosta State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University, and a law degree from Western Michigan University. She is licensed to practice law in the state of Michigan. She serves on the board of directors of Lincoln Educational Services.
2024 She Shines Award Winners
Girls Inc. of Chicago celebrates the resilience and achievements of women worldwide. At Girls Inc. of Chicago, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible stories of everyday women who inspire us all.
Through She Shines, our distinguished leadership recognition program, we aim to shine a bright light on Chicago’s strong, smart, and bold female leaders. She Shines celebrates the women who make a tangible difference in the lives of Chicago women and girls.
In collaboration with our Associate Board, we were thrilled to honor 12 remarkable individuals at our annual event on March 23rd, during Women’s History Month. These women embody courage, vision, and determination.
2024 She Shines Awards: A message from Girls Inc. of Chicago CEO, Yani Mason
Thank you for helping to make the Girls Inc. of Chicago’s 4th Annual She Shines Awards Brunch our biggest, boldest, and best event yet!
From the keynote speech to the performance and, most importantly, the outstanding women honored, the She Shines Awards showcased the talent, resilience, and innovation within our community. We’re proud of the honorees who demonstrated dedication, leadership, and passion, inspiring us to recognize women and girls in every sphere of life.
Special thanks to our Associate Board, emcee Lindsey Petlak, board member Kenyatta Beverly, keynote speaker Felecia Pryor, our Girl Ambassadors, and the Girls Inc. of Chicago team for their dedication.
We also want to thank our sponsors for their unwavering support in making this event possible: John Deere; United Airlines; Dwight & Felecia Pryor; Turner Haus Brewery; Whiner Beer Company; The Davey Tree Expert Company; Epsilon Economics; Ignite Spot Accounting; and Taft Law.
Let’s carry forward the spirit of celebration and empowerment every day. Visit www.girlsincofchicago.org/she-shines to learn more.
