Meet Lucia Novara, Lindsey Bratton, Allie Edgar and Annie Seighman of Lady Killas in Denver Metro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucia Novara, Lindsey Bratton, Allie Edgar and Annie Seighman.

Lucia, Lindsey, Allie and Annie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Lady Killas Denver was founded by Lindsey Bratton, Angie Pascale, Allie Edgar, Annie Seighman and Lucia Novara. The organization started in San Diego, where a fabulous young killa named Courtney Wall developed the brand and concept. Lindsey knew she wanted to start a women’s leadership group here in Denver, and when she found such a dialed-in concept already developed, she reached out to Courtney. With her blessing, Lady Killas came to Denver in the fall of 2017.

Our board is an intentional mix of skillset, styles and ages. Everyone has a full-time job in media, so we use Lady Killas as our opportunity to try out new ideas and let our creativity and strategy skills loose (without any pesky clients telling us to dial it back)! Our first speaker event drew exactly the type of crowd we were hoping for a diverse mix of intelligent, driven and fun Denver women. Over the past two years that audience has grown organically and our events have expanded from the speaker series to also include themed happy hours and a semi-annual Makers Market.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our board puts a lot of hustle, energy and love into each event. We have chosen not to pursue a 501c(3) designation, so event spaces do not consider us a non-profit. We’ve had a lot of support from local bars (especially Fort Greene) but it’s a challenge to find space where our entire audience can hear and see the presentation clearly. We also all have demanding jobs so it’s always a challenge to carve out the time for status calls, speaker solicitations, social media calendars, event logistics and newsletter creation. Like any grassroots group, we struggle to get all the small tasks done while still thinking strategically and growing our vision for this organization.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Lady Killas is a female owned-and-operated organization devoted to the growth of female leadership in the workplace. We create a platform around education and opportunity through monthly networking and speaker events a product line and content striving to empower women in their everyday lives. We raise awareness of the wage gap, assist in the growth and promotion of female-owned business and bring together an amazing and positive community devoted to the cause.

There are many excellent leadership groups in Denver, but a Lady Killas event is a different experience than a typical network-and-learn setup. First, our community is a wonderfully diverse mix of ages, industries, outlooks and footwear. The only common denominator is our member’s drive to keep growing and advancing in whatever they do. Second, we create an environment where people learn from each other, not only the speaker. Our Q&A sessions often lead to participants answering each other’s questions and sparking connections they wouldn’t have made otherwise. Finally…it’s fun. There’s no pretense, no pressure, no power points. Everyone’s there to learn a little something while enjoying their Thursday night.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Credit for Courtney Wall for establishing a solid brand. She did a lot of hard up-front work (brand guides, email templates, merchandising) so we could jump in and start hosting events. We so appreciate every local bar that has hosted our events for free: The Hornet, Lola’s, The Irish Snug, Improper City, and especially Fort Greene in Globeville.

Also, our group is our own mentors and cheerleaders. There’s no way anyone of us could do all this on our own. We all pick up the slack when one member has to tap out for a bit. Our Party of five functions as a microcosim of what we want Lady Killas to be for the wider community: a place where women have your back, are always ready to help (or simply listen), the group chat you go to when you need support asking for a bigger raise or a longer maternity leave.

Pricing:

• Membership is free
• Most events cost $5 or are free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ladykillas.com
• Email: heybabe@ladykillas.com
• Instagram: ladykillas_denver

Image Credit:
Photo Credit: Lady Killas Denver

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.