Bitcoin Bay Foundation, in partnership with the International Institute of Leadership & Sustainable Management (IILSM) and Maiden Explorations, is bringing a first-of-its-kind professional certification to the Tampa Bay region. SHE LEADS: Executive Leadership Certification will take place May 27–28, 2026 at the ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg — a two-day immersive program designed to credential women at the intersection of human rights, economic sustainability, and the emerging digital economy.
The program arrives at a critical moment. Women represent one of the most underserved populations in the Bitcoin and blockchain economy, despite being among the most active builders of community economic infrastructure. Bitcoin Bay Foundation's economic inclusion mission centers on closing that gap — not through awareness alone, but through credentialed education, cross-sector networks, and frameworks that connect women to the Sustainable Development Goals reshaping global finance.
SHE LEADS is co-facilitated by two women who bring both international reach and deep Tampa Bay roots to the work. Ambassador Jeannette Matta, Founder of IILSM, is a globally recognized authority on human rights education and sustainable leadership who has trained leaders across multiple countries. Connie Davis, Future of Money Strategist and Founder of Maiden Explorations, brings over 30 years of financial infrastructure expertise — including payments, blockchain, and digital commerce — alongside a commitment to trauma-informed, community-centered economic development. Together they represent the kind of leadership the next economy requires: credentialed, connected, and built for impact.
Participants will leave the two-day certification with a recognized professional credential, proven frameworks for building economically sustainable communities, and a cross-sector network of mission-aligned women leaders from nonprofit, business, government, and grassroots organizing. The curriculum moves women from inspired to authorized — equipping them with the language, tools, and legitimacy to lead in any room, including the ones where financial and policy decisions are made.
The event is hosted at the ARK Innovation Center, 1101 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, on May 27–28, 2026 from 9:00am to 3:00pm each day. Registration is $399 for the full two-day certification. Seating is limited. To register or learn more, visit eventbrite.com/e/1986566234083.