BLVCK Success Symposium 2025 | April 26
IT'S BACK! IT'S BIGGER! IT'S BETTER!
Get ready to ignite your potential at the 2nd Annual BLVCK Success Symposium! Building on the incredible energy of our inaugural event, 2025 promises an even more impactful experience, connecting visionaries, trailblazers, and rising stars in tech for a day of unparalleled inspiration, learning, and empowerment. This isn't just an event; it's a movement, a celebration of the power, innovation, and boundless potential within the BLVCK in Tech community.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Check-in & Networking Breakfast
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:10 AM - 10:50 AM | Trailblazers Panel: Lessons from the Top
10:50 AM - 11:30 AM | Power Workshop: Build, Grow, Thrive
11:30 AM - 11:40 AM | Break
11:40 AM - 12:30 PM | Networking Elevated: Curated Connections
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM | Closing Keynote & Call to Action
FEATURED PANELISTS
MODERATOR
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Baylor, Scott & White Health
Meet Shalana
Shalana Brooks is a proud East Texas native. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Before entering the healthcare field, she worked in both the mortgage and property tax industries. She later made a career pivot into the nonprofit sector and accepted a position with a Dallas-area transitional housing agency as the Director of Donor Relations. This career opportunity ignited her passion for philanthropy and led her to the world of healthcare philanthropy at Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas.
Currently, Shalana is the Business Development and Fundraising Consultant for the Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center at the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center. In this role, Shalana leads business development efforts for the clinic and oversees the center’s two largest fundraising events: the Chef Cookoff and Healthy Harvest Festival. Before this, Shalana served as the Officer of Annual Giving for the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation. In this role, she had the privilege of aiding in the advancement of the healthcare system’s philanthropic efforts by securing funds through various annual giving strategies. In 2023, Shalana became the foundation’s first-ever African-American gift officer.
Shalana values professional development. She has completed both the Fundraising Certificate Program from The University of Texas at Austin and the Management and Leadership Certificate Program from Louisiana State University. She is currently working towards her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. Shalana’s commitment to community impact goes beyond her 9-5 duties. Shalana is also an active member of Dallas’ Junior League chapter where she serves on the Kids in the Kitchen committee, a program created to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and reverse the trend of childhood obesity. Shalana was also selected to be a member of the 2024-2025 Communities Foundation of Texas Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Cohort.
In Shalana’s spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, attending concerts, and hanging out with family and friends.