Women of the Mavs Hosts Second Annual Dallas Mavericks Women’s Symposium

The Mavs Women’s Support Network (WOMEN) hosted the second annual Mavs Women’s Symposium at the Dallas Arboretum on March 9, encouraging men and women to “Be That Diamond” by focusing on four elements: character, compassion, championAnd clarity.

March is Women’s History Month, and the Dallas Mavs join other NBA professional sports teams in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of women today and throughout history. The symposium was an extension of the monthly Mavs program, designed to celebrate and honor local girls and women throughout the month.

The franchise held a GEM Celebration of Girls event earlier this week.

The 2023 Mavs Women’s Symposium brought together men and women to discuss the importance of taking care of yourself, nurturing future leaders, finding your purpose, discovering your passion, and leading with values.

[Related: to view photos of the event, click here]

The event featured prominent figures in sports and business, including the three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer. Troy Aikman (and the girl’s proud dad), and Sint MarshallCEO of the Dallas Mavs and 2023 NAACP Image Award nominee.

Amazon bestselling author, visionary and executive coach Marsha Clark was the keynote speaker.

A group of other entrepreneurs and respected members of the community rotated throughout the day and spoke on a variety of topics related to the diamond theme.

“A champion is really important to me,” said the Dallas Mavs HR director. Tarsha LaCourwhen she opened the symposium. Her inspirational message set the tone for the day.

“A champion is defined as a person who has beaten or overtaken all opponents in a competition,” LeCour told the public. “This man not only survived the hardships of life, but also thrived despite these negative experiences. A champion also fights for a cause or on behalf of someone else. We defend or protect each other by speaking for each other. Diamonds are indestructible. Only a diamond can scratch another diamond. This is a reminder to all of us women and sisters that we don’t want to do this to each other. We want to protect, defend and support each other.”

Aikman: “I love being a father to a girl”

One man who knows a lot about championships and diamonds – do it three of these, encrusted on the three giant Super Bowl rings, is Aikman.

It’s been a great year for the former quarterback and proud father.

After 20 years at Fox Sports, the Pro Football Hall of Fame moved to ESPN, and the 56-year-old also became an entrepreneur with his EIGHT beer, named after his Dallas Cowboys jersey number. Aikman’s EIGHT Elite Light Lager has become the fastest-selling independent beer in Texas, and the company is moving out of state this year. Aikman worked as a beer distributor while in college, so he says everything about the business side of his life is in full swing.

However, nothing fires him up more than talking about his daughters.

Aikman spoke on the first panel with three other fathers, and their session focused on the nature and importance of instilling self-respect in their daughters. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has two daughters, Jordan and Alexa.

His eldest (Jordan) is in her third year of college and studying abroad in Florence, and his youngest (Ellie) is a sophomore at SMU.

While the girls were growing up, Aikman said he read a lot of books and learned during his studies that women get self-confidence at an early age from their fathers. He set out to make sure his girls always knew they were loved and dedicated himself to boosting their self-esteem.

“I am very happy to be the father of a girl,” Aikman said. “When my [then] wife was pregnant with Jordan, I probably was, like many fathers, and represented the son and did things with him like baseball, football and things like that. I had a wonderful Jordan, and Ellie was born eleven months later. I hoped that someday I would have a son. Then I had two girls and never felt the need to have more. And now I’m 56 years old and I don’t have any more children, but if I had another one, I would tell you that without any reservations I would like another girl. It really was the most amazing thing. I raised my girls as a single parent and hopefully I did well in that regard. They have a lot of self-confidence. But I love being the father of a girl.”

Clarke: “MY WISH IS FOR YOU TO BE A CHAMPION FOR YOURSELF”

Before dinner, Clark took the stage with an exciting message that inspired many in attendance. She is the author Embracing Your Power: A Woman’s Path to Authentic Leadership and Meaningful Relationships.

Clark was a corporate employee at Fortune 50 and has spent over twenty years supporting women around the world through coaching and leadership development programs.

“Your character represents our ethical, moral and social views,” Clarke said, “and your beliefs. In a way, this represents your personality – how you see yourself from an internal and external perspective. You can think of it as your brand.”

Clarke later said she would like to change the word “champion”.

“I want you to become a champion for yourself,” she said. “There is significant research that says it’s hard to be around someone else when we feel depleted or diminished, when we put the benefit and convenience of others over our own. In 52 years of work and 70 years of life, I believe with all my heart that it is very useful to take care of yourself in order to be able to support and protect others.”

FROM PASSION TO GOAL

Another highlight of the Mavs Symposium was the story Tracey Hermanwho spoke during the clarity panel. She owns the Cake Bar in Trinity Groves and her business was born out of feeling. She remembered the looks and smiles on people’s faces when her mother served special treats to people. From these memories, Cake Bar was born.

“My mother was the best baker I have ever seen,” Herman said. “She didn’t follow the recipe. Somehow she always did it her way.”

Herman’s messaging was important because she taught to really focus on one big talent or skill and grow the business from there. She also reminded others that life isn’t always wrapped up in the perfect bow.

In 2005, Herman was fired from her job, and she began baking cakes at her home and selling pieces to beauty salons and factories around Arlington. She then discovered that Trinity Grove was opening an incubation program and it took her a year to close the deal. Soon her business took off. Then the pandemic hit. Herman came up with the brilliant idea to install a cake vending machine on the street because people didn’t want to interact with others.

“It just went crazy,” she said. “There was a line on the sidewalk.”

Soon people started calling from all over the country who wanted to franchise her business. Cake Bar has become very successful and now has a seat in Terminal D at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Herman delivered wise words to the audience.

“People ask me if I bake cakes, but I make cakes,” she said as the audience laughed and applauded. “Another piece of advice I would give is to have a support network because I had to learn it myself. You cannot do everything yourself; some people want to help you.”

Each participant of the 2023 Mavs Symposium received three books, diamond-themed notebooks, and other gifts. BuDhaGirl also gave away two free bracelets to those in attendance, and the members left with a sense of unity, purpose, and hope.

“At the end of the day, each of us as human beings wants to be seen, heard and appreciated,” Clarke said. “This is true compassion. I see you. I hear you. I cherish you.”

The Dallas Mavs will host a month-long program celebrating Women’s History Month.

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