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2025 Spectrum Circle Awards...

About The Spectrum Circle

Where ambitious women come to grow, connect, and lead. Founded in 2015, The Spectrum Circle is a platform and community for high-achieving women, executives, entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers. Women who are building bold careers, redefining leadership, and shaping what's next.

We create transformative experiences from intimate events to dynamic conversations and leadership development for women ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Our work is rooted in storytelling, strategy, and access because we believe when women share their real journeys, it inspires others to step into their own power.

Our community includes founders, executives, leaders, disruptors, and innovators across industries. Women who are shaping culture and commanding boardrooms. Whether you're scaling a business or navigating a powerful pivot, you'll find insight, support, and community here.

Inspired by the Marvel™ superhero Spectrum, a Black woman who channels energy into extraordinary impact, The Spectrum Circle exists to help women activate their full potential.

We are also the creators of Vetta Privé: Conference and Retreat, an exclusive, invite-only experience born from the vision of our Founder, Karen Maria Alston. Vetta Privé is where legacy meets luxury, a high-level space for vetted, transformational connection among the world's most dynamic women.

This is where possibility lives.
Not just another community but your strategic advantage.

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2025 Spectrum Circle Awards - Tickets On Sale Now!

The Spectrum Circle Awards Luncheon is the signature annual event hosted by The Spectrum Circle, bringing together trailblazing women from across the U.S. This gathering celebrates innovation, leadership, and impact, uniting influential women from industries such as business, technology, media, finance, policy, health, sports, and the arts. Join us Friday, May 16, 2025, from noon until 3:00 pm at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC.

Purchase Tickets! | Learn More...

Engage. Belong. Listen.

Participate

Attend

You can attend The Spectrum Circle panel events on line via Google Hangout or in person at Google DC. Prior to an announced event we will update our social media sites and the website with a link for registration. Also make sure you have signed up to receive updates of upcoming panels, Google Hangouts and events. And make sure you follow us on social media.

Featured Industries

Each quarter, The Spectrum Circle will choose an industry to feature at the panel series. Topics will range based on industry and current national events. We love to hear from you on topics or questions that should be asked of our panelist. Planned industries for 2015-2016 include:

Politics and Policy
Technology
Healthcare
Entrepreneurship/Small Business
Creative Economy
Social Impact: Non-Profits
Venture Capitol/Private Equity
Corporate America/Executive Leadership
Entertainment, Sports and Media
Hospitality, Fashion and Tourism
Education

Feel free to suggest industries or speakers email We are happy to hear from you.

Refer a Speaker

We are always on the lookout for dynamic, innovative and talented women who want to share their authentic stories of how they use their superhero power’s to navigate their careers, life and home. If you are or know of such a woman please refer a speaker by emailing the following to:

Speakers Name
Bio
Organization/Company
Please add a few sentences on why your nomination is a Spectrum Circle woman.

Sponsors, Partners and Angels

We are thankful to each of our sponsors. Take a moment to learn about our sponsors and their products/services.

Accelerate with Google
RLJ Entertainment. UMC Urban Movie Channel.
Heart & Soul
Giants Of Africa
AT&T
Giant Foods
Greystone
Women’s Global Initiative
Blunt Group Strategies
TV One
The Spectrum Circle

Partner with Us

The Spectrum Circle is growing via grassroots and word of mouth and appeals to men and women of all ages in need of guidance, career advice, life skills, and networking opportunities. We need partners, sponsors and angels who believe in the vision to assist us with growth.

We welcome your company to join us in The Spectrum Circle movement. Companies can showcase their brand, products and services to our audience. To receive a copy of our sponsorship materials or to discuss a custom sponsorship package please email or call (202) 930-1760.

Discuss and Share

We love to hear from you! Please follow us on social media. Share with us interesting articles or information. Share your authentic story of how you navigate your life, career and use your superhero power to change the world.

About The Founder

Photo: Karen Alston, Founder of The Spectrum Circle
Photo: Karen Maria Alston

About The Founder

Karen Maria Alston is a visionary brand strategist, dynamic entrepreneur, award-winning filmmaker, and accomplished executive leader. Renowned for crafting impactful branding and outreach campaigns, she excels at creating meaningful narratives that resonate widely. Her expertise as a storyteller has solidified her reputation as a trusted authority in the field.

With decades of experience as a senior executive and entrepreneur, Karen is celebrated for her authentic leadership, strategic innovation, and ability to drive scalable impact. As a proven thought leader and technology advocate, she blends intellectual curiosity with futurist thinking, seamlessly integrating emerging technologies to foster growth, build connections, and drive results.

Karen currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Eagle Academy, a network of charter schools in Washington, DC, where she leads communications, marketing, community outreach, and public affairs. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Spectrum Circle, a professional platform empowering women through leadership, wellness, and purpose-driven development.

A 3rd-generation entrepreneur, Karen began her career in the tech and financial services sectors at JP Morgan Chase, AOL, and MBNA (now Bank of America). She later founded Alston Marketing Group, a boutique agency delivering innovative branding solutions since 2002.

Karen is an internationally recognized speaker and media contributor, featured on The Today Show, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, and BOLD TV. She is also the executive producer of Destiny Concealed, an award-winning documentary highlighting the impact of Eagle Academy. Karen holds a BBA in Finance from Howard University and executive education credentials from Columbia Business School, Harvard, and Northwestern. Her many honors include the Modern Feminist Award, the Top 50 Women of Power (2023), and her role as a Global Ambassador for Wisdom and Wealth (2023-2025).

karenalston.com | linkedin.com/in/KarenMariaAlston

"I want a world where a girl can be what she wants to be." - Anima Yusuf

The world needs that special gift that only you have. ~ Marie Forleo Marie Forleo Photo Credit: TheCopyCure.com
Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher. ~ Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey Photo Credit: Hollywood Reporter
You can be your own worst critic or your biggest supporter ~ Cameka Smith, BOSS Network Cameka Smith, BOSS Network Photo Credit: JonniaCondra.com
Take risks now... ~ Amy Poehler Amy Poehler Photo Credit: MStarz.com
A #GIRLBOSS is in charge of her own life... ~ Sophia Amoruso Sophia Amoruso Photo Credit: Styleblazer.com
Once you find something that everybody wants... ~ Christen Rochon Christen Rochon Photo Credit: MadameNoire.com
Tech-life balance is all about redistributing our attention to what matters most... ~ Randi Zuckerberg Randi Zuckerberg Photo Credit: Entrepreneur.com
Your heart will tell you where to go... ~ Carla Hall Carla Hall Photo Credit: Jet Mag
You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. ~ Serena Williams Serena Williams Photo Credit: SerenaWilliams.com
I've lived a life full of things I never thought I could achieve... ~ Sofia Vergara Sofia Vergara Photo Credit: Cosmo
Sometimes it takes a little tough love to remind women that we can be strong... ~ Barbara Corcoran Barbara Corcoran Photo Credit: Parade
We began our adventure with the idea that we could bring a product with integrity, style and relevance... ~ The McBride Sisters McBride Sisters Photo Credit: McBrideSisters.com
Write your own part. It is the only way I've gotten anywhere.. ~ Mindy Kaling Mindy Kaling Photo Credit: People.com
We must continue to trial blaze, we must continue to break glass ceilings... ~ Beverly Bond Beverly Bond Photo Credit: BET
Never be ashamed of what you feel... ~ Demi Lovato Demi Lovato Photo Credit: Cosmopolitan
Find something that works for you and be persistent... ~ Angela Benton Angela Benton Photo Credit: Angela Benton's Twitter
If you want something, go after it... ~ Mara Brock Akil Mara Brock Akil Photo Credit: Pinterest.com
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. ~ Maya Angelou Maya Angelou Photo Credit: Google Images

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Join us in DC for the 2025 Spectrum Circle Awards Luncheon for Innovative Women

This year, up to ten extraordinary women will receive The Spectrum Circle Award for Innovation, honoring their bold contributions, visionary leadership, and powerful influence across industries. Their inspiring journeys will spark meaningful conversations, challenge perspectives, and motivate attendees to pursue their own paths to success.

Why You Need to Be in the Room: The Spectrum Circle Awards Luncheon is more than an event—it's a transformative opportunity to elevate, connect, and grow. Join over 200 high-achieving professionals from across the country to exchange ideas, build your network, and be inspired by stories of resilience, innovation, and trailblazing leadership. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere of empowerment, learning, and collaboration as we celebrate groundbreaking achievements and witness history in the making. Held in Washington, DC, this elegant gathering features a curated dining experience designed for deep connection and impactful discussion.

Seats are limited, and this event will sell out. Secure your ticket today to guarantee your place in the room.

Posted: April 11, 2025