DC Like A Girl: Hosted by Axon and Work Like A Girl
DC Like A Girl! 🏛️✨
Join the DC community at the Axon Office for an evening of real talk with women who've built careers in some of Washington's most competitive — and male-dominated — spaces. DC Like A Girl is hosted by Erika Ayers Badan, Founder of Work Like a Girl and seasoned former CEO of Barstool Sports.
This event will feature:
🌟 A candid conversation with women navigating the intersections of law, geopolitics, federal sales, and the C-suite — sharing what it actually takes to earn your seat at the table.
💡 Honest insights on the challenges, strategies, and moments that shaped their careers — whether you're just starting out, pivoting, or pushing through a ceiling of your own.
🙌 Networking with a community of like-minded women who are serious about learning, sharing, and growing together in the DC professional world.
6PM - 6:45PM: Registration + Networking Happy Hour
6:45PM - 8PM: DC Like A Girl Panel + Q&A
$12 Ticket includes admission + a networking happy hour with drinks & snacks!
Featured Speakers
Erika Ayers Badan, Former CEO, Barstool Sports and Founder of Work Like a Girl
Erika is a media executive, digital disruptor, and founder of Work Like A Girl — the community behind tonight's event. After traditional marketing roles at Microsoft and AOL, she became the first-ever CEO of Barstool Sports and transformed it from a regional blog into a $550 million media juggernaut with 5 billion monthly video views and 225 million followers — launching franchises like Call Her Daddy and Pat McAfee along the way. She is the host of the WORK podcast and author of Nobody Cares About Your Career — a no-nonsense guide to how work really works. Fast Company, Forbes, and Adweek have all recognized her as one of the most powerful women in business and sports.
Elizabeth S. Justison, Partner, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Liz is a corporate restructuring and bankruptcy attorney at Young Conaway, known for navigating complex Chapter 11 cases with creative, practical solutions. A magna cum laude graduate of Villanova Law, she has represented debtors, lenders, and creditors at the highest levels — and built a formidable career in one of law's most demanding fields.
Claudia Davidson, SVP Federal, Axon
Claudia is SVP of Federal Sales at Axon, bringing deep expertise in the federal technology space. Before joining Axon in late 2025, she spent over seven years at Palantir Technologies leading federal civilian growth — building relationships and closing deals at the highest levels of government. Earlier in her career, she helped launch Uber Eats across the Mid-Atlantic and built out their enterprise team, giving her a rare blend of scrappy startup instincts and sophisticated government market experience.
Phoenix Ricks, CEO, Girl Friday
Phoenix is the CEO of Girl Friday, a Washington, DC-based global affairs firm helping corporations navigate the intersection of business, government, and geopolitics. A former U.S. Department of State diplomat and veteran of PepsiCo and SHEIN, she brings rare public and private sector expertise to high-stakes negotiations, trade strategy, and political communications. She is also the host of The Friday Brief podcast and author — making complex global issues accessible and actionable.