the S.O. What! Foundation Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What! https://summerowens.com/category/the-s-o-what-foundation/ S.O. What! Sun, 10 May 2026 16:10:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://i0.wp.com/summerowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-Summer-Owens-S.O.-What.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 the S.O. What! Foundation Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What! https://summerowens.com/category/the-s-o-what-foundation/ 32 32 152051023 Transformative Leadership and Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Rose Flenorl https://summerowens.com/transformative-leadership-and-breaking-barriers-rose-flenorl-journey/ https://summerowens.com/transformative-leadership-and-breaking-barriers-rose-flenorl-journey/#respond Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:18 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24852 What Does It Take to Break Barriers? Rose Flenorl’s story is a powerful example of transformative leadership in action. Growing up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as the oldest of four, Rose was determined to make her mark. Her ambitious goal? To become the first African American woman inducted into the Ole Miss Student Hall of Fame. […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/transformative-leadership-and-breaking-barriers-rose-flenorl-journey/feed/ 0 24852 A Life of Service, Faith, and Purpose: Cary E. Vaughn’s Inspiring Journey https://summerowens.com/faith-centered-leadership-and-community-service-cary-vaughn-journey/ https://summerowens.com/faith-centered-leadership-and-community-service-cary-vaughn-journey/#respond Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:30:50 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24845 A Story of Faith-Centered Leadership and Community Service Growing up in North Memphis, Cary Vaughn faced adversity early in life. Raised in the shadow of his father’s alcoholism and the pain of losing him at a young age, Cary could have allowed these challenges to define his life. But instead, they became the driving force […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/faith-centered-leadership-and-community-service-cary-vaughn-journey/feed/ 0 24845 Leading With Faith and Responsibility: A Leadership Journey That Redefines Success https://summerowens.com/leading-with-faith-and-responsibility-leadership-journey/ https://summerowens.com/leading-with-faith-and-responsibility-leadership-journey/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:45 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24829 A Conversation That Makes You Think Some conversations leave you thinking, and that is exactly what happened during my recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Mickell Lowery. Yes, he has the titles. Yes, he has built a strong and credible career across corporate America and public service. But what stood out to me most […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/leading-with-faith-and-responsibility-leadership-journey/feed/ 0 24829 Choosing Purpose and Resilience with Laurie Powell https://summerowens.com/laurie-powell-leadership-resilience/ https://summerowens.com/laurie-powell-leadership-resilience/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:28 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24818 Some conversations stay with me because they press on something I know many of us are working through, even if we don’t always say it out loud. My recent S.O. What! Success Stories conversation with Laurie Powell was one of those moments. It made me think about what leadership really looks like when things feel […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/laurie-powell-leadership-resilience/feed/ 0 24818 From Teen Mom to Purpose-Driven Leader: A Success Journey That Redefines the Narrative https://summerowens.com/chanielle-talbird-teen-mom-success-journey/ https://summerowens.com/chanielle-talbird-teen-mom-success-journey/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:33 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24805 People love to label you by your lowest moment. Teen mom. Statistic. Setback. But when I sat down with Chanielle Talbird, I did not see a label. I saw leadership. And what stood out most in her teen mom success journey was not her brand, her books, or her growing influence in Memphis. It was […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/chanielle-talbird-teen-mom-success-journey/feed/ 0 24805 Love Yourself: When Purpose Becomes Personal https://summerowens.com/love-yourself-when-purpose-becomes-personal/ https://summerowens.com/love-yourself-when-purpose-becomes-personal/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:50:33 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24781 Over a decade ago, I created the Love Yourself Event because I saw a need. During Valentine’s season, while many celebrate romance, others quietly struggle. Some feel lonely. Others question their worth. Many carry silent battles. So, I decided to create a space that focused on self-worth instead of relationship status. And that helps to […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/love-yourself-when-purpose-becomes-personal/feed/ 0 24781 From Pain to Power: 15 Years After My Memoir, Here’s What Confidence and Resilience Created https://summerowens.com/from-pain-to-power-15-years-after-my-memoir-heres-what-confidence-and-resilience-created/ https://summerowens.com/from-pain-to-power-15-years-after-my-memoir-heres-what-confidence-and-resilience-created/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 04:42:14 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24247 The number 15 has defined two of the biggest turning points in my life. I was 15 when I became a mother—unprepared, afraid, but determined.And my son was 15 when I published my memoir—an unfiltered story of my journey, my mistakes, and my fight to become the woman and mother I wanted to be. Now, […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/from-pain-to-power-15-years-after-my-memoir-heres-what-confidence-and-resilience-created/feed/ 0 24247 A Night of Resilience, Reflection, and Scholarship Awards for Resilient Students: My Heartfelt Reflections https://summerowens.com/a-night-of-resilience-reflection-and-scholarship-awards-for-resilient-students-my-heartfelt-reflections/ https://summerowens.com/a-night-of-resilience-reflection-and-scholarship-awards-for-resilient-students-my-heartfelt-reflections/#respond Wed, 07 May 2025 21:00:41 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24169 I’m still feeling the impact of the 3rd Annual S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree, and I can honestly say it was one of the most powerful nights of my life. Standing on that stage, looking out at a room filled with people who believe in the power of resilience, transformation, and hope—it reminded me […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/a-night-of-resilience-reflection-and-scholarship-awards-for-resilient-students-my-heartfelt-reflections/feed/ 0 24169 Overcoming Generational Trauma: Dr. Stacy Spencer Resilience in Ministry and Life https://summerowens.com/overcoming-generational-trauma-dr-stacy-spencer-resilience-in-ministry-and-life/ https://summerowens.com/overcoming-generational-trauma-dr-stacy-spencer-resilience-in-ministry-and-life/#respond Sat, 12 Apr 2025 06:00:16 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24123 Dr. Stacy Spencer journey is a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the ability to turn pain into purpose. Through his life’s challenges—growing up in a single-parent household, experiencing trauma, and facing the struggles of generational curses—Dr. Stacy Spencer has lived out the S.O. What! Success System, choosing to Overcome Obstacles, Eliminate Excuses, […]

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