Still on a High: Elevate & Empower LIVE 2025 Recap

Summary

Social Media Decoded – "Still on a High: Elevate & Empower LIVE 2025 Recap"

Host: Michelle Thames
Date: November 3, 2025

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Episode Overview

This vibrant episode of Social Media Decoded captures host Michelle Thames’ effusive recap of her signature event, Elevate & Empower Live 2025. Michelle shares behind-the-scenes stories, key moments, and the spirit of transformation that defined the conference. The focus: how intentional gatherings build legacy, foster collaboration, and empower women entrepreneurs to claim their visibility and unlock business growth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Vision and Purpose of the Event

• Michelle’s Motivation:

  • Created Elevate & Empower Live as the space she wished existed at the start of her journey.

  • Targets “ambitious, multi-passionate women” seeking more than just inspiration—real results and momentum.

    “Not just notes, not just motivation, but momentum. This year’s theme was intention, because we’re not moving frantic anymore. We’re moving with grace and clarity.” – Michelle Thames [02:37]

• Theme:

  • Intention over hustle. Building businesses that “feel good and pay well.”
  • Designed to end hiding/shrinking and promote visibility.

VIP Dinner & Friday Night Vibes

• Setting the Scene:

  • Elegant dinner with 16 women, “candles, laughter, and energy that you could feel.”
  • Guests included women from Florida adjusting to Chicago’s cold.

• Emcee & Guest Speaker:

  • Coco, “the voice architect,” emceed and championed stepping into your “Elevate Era.”
  • Sponsors like Shine Pages, I ChooseMe Movement, and legacy sponsor American Family Insurance were in attendance.

• Key Moments:

  • “We broke bread, we masterminded, and we set intentions. Women were sharing dreams, their struggles, and their next level visions. Over dinner, you could literally feel the breakthroughs happening at the table.” – Michelle Thames [04:55]

Saturday: Energy, Programming, and Impact

• Morning Kickoff:

  • Coffee by Chicago French Press; beautiful decor by Tina of QCookies.
  • Icebreaker: “Visibility bingo” to foster fast connections.

• Michelle’s Keynote:

  • Title: “Build the Brand, Get the Bag”

  • Visibility is essential, not optional

  • Expanding reach through event strategies, collaborations, podcasts, and moving beyond follower-counts.

    “Followers are cute, but strategy is what pays.” – Michelle Thames [06:35]

• Partner & Speaker Highlights:

  • Shine Pages: Shared digital legacy strategies and Michelle announced moving her business ecosystem to Shine Pages.
  • WDB Marketing: Encouragement to invest in visual branding.
  • Candice Janae: Tactics on crafting content that converts, prompting a flurry of note-taking.
  • Taylor Smith (PowerTable Live): “Community is the new currency.”
  • Jordan Gill: How intentional collaborations propel brands.

The Aftermath — Transformation & Community

• Post-event, the sense of community persisted:

  • DMs and group chats brimming with gratitude, excitement, and actionable feedback.

    “Michelle, I’m so full. I got exactly what I didn’t know I needed.” [08:26]
    “Such an elevated event. I’m leaving with new ideas, goals and friends. You did your thing.” [08:48]

• Transformation Over Event Planning:

  • The true goal: witnessing women move “from self-doubt to full confidence right there in real time.”

Special Thanks and Acknowledgments

• Recognition of her content, photography, and volunteer team (Amber Renee, Bria).

• Heartfelt gratitude for sponsors, family, and every collaborator—seen as integral to the event’s excellence.

  “Every brand and person involved poured in with excellence and I thank you.” [10:35]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Building Momentum:

  “We’re building businesses that feel good and pay well. So from the VIP dinner to the Saturday sessions, everything about this weekend was designed to make women stop hiding, stop shrinking, and start owning our visibility.” – Michelle Thames [03:23]

• On the Power of Gathering:

  “When I looked around that room, 40 powerful women entrepreneurs, all with different stories, gifts, and goals, but the same mission. To be seen, to be heard, and to leave a legacy.” – Michelle Thames [03:47]

• On Actionable Impact:

  “It’s not about hosting an event. It’s about creating transformation. It’s about watching women go from self-doubt to full confidence right there in real time.” – Michelle Thames [09:13]

• Call to Action:

  “Your visibility is your responsibility. The world needs what you have. So don’t wait for permission. Keep showing up, keep shining and keep building your legacy.” – Michelle Thames [11:15]

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Key Timestamps and Segments

• [01:48] – Michelle opens with post-event reflections, conference vision, and the meaning behind the theme of “intention.”
• [04:20] – Recap of the VIP dinner: energy, first breakthroughs.
• [05:30] – Saturday’s programming: coffee, icebreakers, Michelle’s keynote, the value of visibility.
• [06:45] – Highlights from speaker partners: Shine Pages, WDB Marketing, Candice Janae, Taylor Smith, and Jordan Gill.
• [08:20] – Community feedback and ongoing post-event connection (“I’m so full. I got exactly what I didn’t know I needed.”)
• [09:10] – Focus on transformation and confidence-building.
• [09:50] – Acknowledgements: photographers, volunteers, sponsors, family.
• [10:50] – Announcement of the upcoming January Elevate and Align Retreat in Chicago; next steps for the movement.
• [11:10] – Michelle’s final message: Own your visibility and keep building your legacy.

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What’s Next?

• Upcoming Event:
  • Elevate and Align Retreat (Chicago, January, MLK Weekend)
  • Limited spots available; contact via Instagram and email list for details.

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Tone and Takeaway

This episode radiates gratitude, pride, and empowerment. Michelle’s storytelling is energetic, personal, and laden with actionable encouragement. The event recap doubles as a rallying cry: for women to invest in community, visibility, and sustainable growth—together and with intention.

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Final Words:

“Until next time, stay visible, stay confident and keep shining. I’ll talk to you in the next episode.” – Michelle Thames [11:19]

Transcript

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[Michelle Thames]

Tremphyaradio.Com Hey y', all, it's your girl Michelle, Thames and Woo. I am still on a high. I'm recording this episode just a couple of days after elevated empowered live 2025 and I honestly don't even have all the words yet. That's how powerful this weekend was. This was more than a conference. It was a move of alignment. A weekend full of legacy, collaboration, clarity and pure energy. So today I just want to take you behind the scenes to share the real, raw, beautiful moments that made this year's event unforgettable. We're talking connections, community sponsors who showed up, big speakers who poured their hearts out, and women who left saying I'm full so grab your coffee or maybe your mimosa if you're still in celebration mode like me. And let's talk about what happens when women come together with purpose. Yes. So let's get right into it. I. I want to share a little bit of the vision behind the event. So, you know, I created Elevate and Empower Live because I wanted to build the kind of space I wish existed when I was just starting. A place where ambitious, multi, passionate women could come learn, connect, and actually leave with results. Not just notes, not just motivation, but momentum. This year's theme was intention, because we're not moving frantic anymore. We're moving with grace and clarity. We're building businesses that feel good and pay well. So from the VIP dinner to the Saturday sessions, everything about this weekend was designed to make women stop hiding, stop shrinking, and start owning our visibility. And when I looked around that room, 40 powerful women entrepreneurs, all with different stories, gifts, and goals, but the same mission. To be seen, to be heard, and to leave a legacy. And that is what Elevate and Empower is all about. So picture this. It's Friday night. I know I had some ladies coming in from Florida that were like, ooh, this is cold. But 16 incredible women walked into the VIP dinner hosted in an elegant space filled with. Filled with candles, laughter, and energy that you could feel. Coco, who is the voice architect, was our emcee, and she brought us with an amazing talk about really stepping into our Elevate era and what that looks like. We had incredible sponsors like Shine Pages, I ChooseMe, Movement, QCookies, and our legacy sponsor, American Family Insurance, represented. We broke bread, we masterminded, and we set intentions. Women were sharing their dreams, their struggles, and their next level visions. Over dinner, you could literally feel the breakthroughs happening at the table. Then Saturday, Ooh, the energy when those doors opened were electric. Coffee from Coffee. Coffee from the one and only Chicago French Press, Beautiful decor by Tina of QCookies, and so much love in that room. So we kicked off the day with coffee and connections. Bingo. A little visibility bingo to break the ice. And y' all showed up ready. And once the session started, it was on. I gave my keynote. Build the brand, get the bag. That was all about why visibility is not optional. We talked eventbrite strategies, collaborations, podcasts, and ways to get seen beyond social media. Because, listen, followers are cute, but strategy is what pays. Then ShinePages took the stage to share about building a digital legacy. And I got to tell the audience that I'm officially moving my entire ecosystem over to ShinePages. That partnership means a lot to me because it represents growth and sustainability. Then WDB Marketing reminded us what it looks like to invest in how you show up visually. Candice Janae came dropping gems on our content that actually converts. And when I tell you people were scribbling notes, honey, they were scribbling all the notes. Taylor Smith, my girl from powertable Live, then came and talked about her strong message about community being the new currency. My girl, Jordan Gill came and talked about the collaborations that we need in our lives and how we can move forward with intentional collaborations with partners. Every talk led to action, journaling, reflecting and connecting. And I'm so grateful for every woman, every sponsor, every partner that was in that room. And after the event, my DMs have been blowing up. It's been so amazing. We have a group chat going and the women are in there still connecting. They're saying, michelle, I'm so full. I got exactly what I didn't know I needed. They even left saying, I feel inspired, seen and ready to move. Another message said, michelle, thank you for creating this space. The speakers were right on time and I left feeling full. And one of my favorites. Such an elevated event. I'm leaving with new ideas, goals and friends. You did your thing. That right there, that's the win. It's not about hosting an event. It's about creating transformation. It's about watching women go from self doubt to full confidence right there in real time. And I have to shout out my incredible photographer and videography content creation team. Amber Renee from Amber Renee for Photography did her thing. She captured every moment perfectly. My girl Bria came through at the last minute and volunteered to help me create content, video content. Thank you, Bria. You were so amazing and I'm so appreciative of both of you. Every smile, every hug, every speaker passion. And y', all, we're going to be reliving this for months. Okay, you about to get tired of me. And I have to take a second to honor our sponsors because this event would not have been possible without them. American Family Insurance, our legacy sponsors supporting women entrepreneurs building their dreams. Shine Pages, our presenting sponsor, helping us to all create digital legacies. That last Dream Rental Chicago, who hosted me and my amazing speakers for the weekend. That place was a dream. Pacomb Chicago, our luxury skincare brand rooted in nature and heritage. Creative Blend Studio, who created our custom VIP luggage tags. I choose Me movement for reminding us that self care is the foundation of success. Cute cookies because that dessert table, the food and the decor stole the show. WDB Marketing for our gorgeous print and design materials and Chicago French Press for keeping us energized and caffeinated press teens for making sure our nails are getting right. Okay honey Legacy Blends for some giveaways of amazing tea blends. The Elevate Box for an amazing giveaway of a amazing Elevate box. Thank you so much to each and every sponsor that helped with Elevate and Empower Live. I'm so so grateful for you for being in the room. Super appreciative of my mother in law for sponsoring some of the giveaway gifts for my amazing husband and daughter for working the event. I am so proud that this event reflected true collaboration over competition. Every brand and person involved poured in with excellence and I thank you. So here's what's next. If you missed this year, don't worry, the movement isn't stopping there. In January, I am hosting the Elevate in Align Retreat in Chicago. I have seven spots available if you're interested. DM me on Instagram and let's talk about it. I will be posting more information and sharing more via email, so make sure you check your emails. So yes, the next stop is the Elevate and Align Retreat happening in January. Martin Luther King Weekend. I'm taking that same energy from this weekend straight back to Chicago. Okay. So if you're ready to build with intention, connect deeply and actually make moves in your business, this is your moment. Okay. You can also find out more about all of my events on my Instagram page or by joining my email list. All right. Make sure you join my email list at the link in the show notes As I close this episode, I just want to say this to every woman who showed up. Thank you to every sponsor, speaker and partner. Thank you for believing in the vision. To every person listening right now, your visibility is your responsibility. The world needs what you have. So don't wait for permission. Keep showing up, keep shining and keep building your legacy. This was elevating Empower Live 2025 and I'm already dreaming about 2026. Until next time, stay visible, stay confident and keep shining. I'll talk to you in the next episode.

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[Michelle Thames]

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[Michelle Thames]

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