The Women Founder’s Roadmap: Vision, Venture, and Wellness in the PNW
Join us for Day 1 of this essential two-day journey hosted by Women Stories Network & Metro Region innovation Hub. We are moving beyond abstract inspiration to give you a "Tactical Toolkit" for building a resilient business in the Pacific Northwest.
Why You Should Attend
Most founders have a dream, but few have a Roadmap. This two-day series brings together a Navigator, a Deep Tech Founder, and a Wellness Strategist to show you how to balance technical scaling with personal sustainability.
Get the Inside Track: Discover "hidden" Oregon resources specifically for local founders.
Learn Industrial Grit: Hear how to scale in male-dominated, highly regulated sectors like energy and defense.
Innovative Leadership: Understand how wellness-centered leadership drives long-term financial valuation and innovation.
Who Should Attend
Early-Stage Founders: If you have an idea and need to set your first "mile markers".
Scaling Entrepreneurs: Women ready to move from "micropreneur" to a high-impact venture.
Innovators & Engineers: Those looking to bridge the gap between breakthrough research and real-world application.
Mission-Driven Leaders: Anyone committed to equitable growth, sustainability, and resilient leadership.
Lulu Dawson | Innovation Hub Program Navigator Lulu Dawson is a creative strategist, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder with over a decade of experience founding companies, coaching entrepreneurs, and strengthening innovation networks in the Portland metro region. She has launched and exited multiple ventures, co-founded a nonprofit advancing clinical trial access for rare diseases, and served as a coach with Xcelerate Women. Known for her warmth and creativity, Lulu is passionate about connecting founders with the resources, mentorship, and funding they need to thrive.
Dr. Nyah Zarate | CEO & Founder, Continuous Solutions Nyah Zarate is a visionary engineer and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing energy and power distribution through innovation and resilience. As the founder of Continuous Solutions, she leads the development of advanced power systems for the U.S. Navy, Army, Department of Defense, and Department of Energy. With over a decade of experience in federal R&D, Nyah specializes in bridging breakthrough research with real-world applications and leads the Power and Energy Center (PEC-PNW) to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem.
Yemaya Hall-Ruiz | Co-Founder & CEO, AHO! Wellness Tech Yemaya Hall-Ruiz partners with mission-driven organizations and executives to drive transformational change through leadership development and wellness-centered strategies. Her work integrates ancestral wisdom, holistic well-being, and practical leadership tools to strengthen teams and foster sustainable growth. A strategist and wellness advocate with experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Yemaya is dedicated to advancing equitable growth and resilient community impact.
Moderator: Sheikha Aldosary | Founder & CEO, Women Stories Network Sheikha Aldosary is a media entrepreneur, journalist, and senior communications strategist with over 18 years of experience, including work with The New York Times and The Washington Post. After a decade of award-winning work in the Middle East focused on women’s empowerment, she is now based in Portland, leading WSN to bridge the gap between powerful storytelling and impact.