Turning obstacles into strength with local women entrepreneurs

Local businesswomen from across the Aiken area gathered for the Leading with Vision: Women in Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by the School of Business Administration held in the Robert E. Alexander Student Activities Center (SAC) on Fri., Oct. 17, 2025. The panel featured women from a variety of industries around Aiken who shared powerful stories of resilience, determination, and growth.

Discussions ranged from navigating male-dominated fields and overcoming self-doubt, to strategies for scaling a business and managing finances effectively. Each speaker offered unique insights from their entrepreneurial journeys, inspiring both students and community members alike.

Valerie Lebron serves as a partner and business director at BlueCrew Construction. While on the panel, Lebron emphasized the struggles she experienced when first entering the industry.

“Construction is an industry built on grit, steel and concrete, but rarely on the voices of women. When I first started, I was often the only woman on site,” Lebron said. “My subcontractors didn’t take me seriously. My ideas were brushed aside, my questions ignored. It was an obstacle that cut deep. However, instead of walking away, I took it as fuel. I decided, I will be better. I will do better. I will make myself visible.”

Maria Conde, founder of Conde Fitness & Recovery, said she was inspired to start her business after watching the show, Extreme Weight Loss. “I remember secretly watching it and wanting to be a personal trainer,” Conde said. “I was an athlete in high school, but I knew I was out of shape…I harbored that vision and desire in my heart.”

Conde shared that while she was making plans to start her own business, she was also helping individuals with disabilities work toward achieving their goals. “I had an awakening one time with a client who was struggling in believing in themselves and I remember telling them to just set a goal and go for it.” In that moment, Conde realized she wasn’t just encouraging her clients, she was motivating herself as well.

Other participants included Tasha Davis, APRN-BC, nurse practitioner and owner of Downtown Hydration & Wellness; Tiffany McGhee, local realtor; and Ashley Elvis and Casey Young, co-owners of Board in Aiken, a business specializing in gourmet cheese and charcuterie boards.

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Liz Stewart, whose expertise and guidance have helped many local entrepreneurs turn their passions into thriving businesses.

Whether in construction, healthcare, real estate, or food service, these women share one thing: they lead with purpose. They’ve faced doubt, bias, exhaustion, and fear, but they’ve turned every obstacle into a steppingstone.

Click here to watch the Women in Entrepreneurship Summit panel online.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.