When Cassandra Burnett greets you with a warm “Hey Girl,” you feel it. Not just the words, but the energy behind them.
It’s the kind of greeting that instantly wraps you in sisterhood. It’s ultimately the heartbeat of the Hey Girl! Conference, a soulful gathering created to hold space for women to breathe, feel, and simply be.
Burnett, an attorney and visionary behind the annual event, created the space after realizing how much she and the women around her needed it. “We needed a space to just be— beyond all the titles, positions, and responsibilities,” she shares with BrownStyle Magazine exclusively. “A space to combat the isolation, loneliness, and mistrust we often carry.”
The spark for the movement came from the joy she felt during real, unfiltered moments with her close circle of friends, affectionately known as her Sister Angel Friends. After every gathering, there was a longing. “We needed more,” she says.
So, she built it.
And that “Hey Girl” greeting? It means I see you. I got you. You’re not alone. “It’s a universal affirmation,” Burnett explains. “It boosts your mood and reminds you that while everything may not be perfect, it will work out for your good.”
Hey Girl! Conference 2025
This year’s theme, “Love, Me” came from a powerful moment at last year’s event when women were asked to close their eyes, hug themselves, and say out loud, “I love me.”
Some couldn’t do it. Some had never even thought to.
“That moment stayed with me,” says Burnett. “This world tells us so many lies about who we are. It’s time we start loving ourselves with no strings attached. That’s what this theme is calling us to do.”
The women’s empowerment conference held in May was both encouraging and inspiring. It truly felt like a place where you could let go of needing to be perfect and instead just be real.
Planning The Hey Girl! Conference With Intention
Preparing for a gathering this special takes planning, patience, and presence. For Burnett, that means prayer. “No matter how long my to-do list is, I make time to talk to God. That’s how I stay grounded and clear on the mission,” she notes.
It also means trusting her support system. “I had to lean into delegation. I’m so thankful for a team of volunteers who understand the vision and help bring it to life. I love big ideas, but I’ve learned to let go and let others lead with me.”
And the ripple effect is undeniable. From panelists to partners, every part of the Hey Girl! Conference is purposeful. “We pray over every decision,” she reveals. “Every person who touches this experience has a purpose.”
It’s this purpose-driven approach that makes Hey Girl! Conference an event that BrownStyle believes in so deeply. It’s self-care, opulence, unity, and love all rolled up in one.
“We’re building noise-canceling spaces in a clamorous world where women and girls can simply breathe,” Burnett says.
Creating A Legacy
When asked about legacy, her answer is simple and beautiful: “I want Hey Girl! to be remembered as a springboard. A community that inspired women to show up as they are, live fully, and answer the call given by God.”
At BrownStyle Magazine, we were honored to be a media sponsor this year. Our partnership is rooted in the same mission: to celebrate women and expand the reach of messages that heal.
“With BrownStyle’s support, we reach more women who’ve been looking for a community like this,” Burnett shares. “It helps amplify voices that have too often been silenced.”
So, hey girl, if no one has told you today, your voice matters!
To learn more about the Hey Girl! Conference, visit heygirlconference.com.
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
