Behind the Scenes: How BECOME Was Born & Why St. Louis Needed an Event Like This
When you walk into BECOME, you can feel it before you see it — the hum of connection, the spark of possibility, the energy of women who are ready for more. But long before the lights, the speakers, or the sold-out seats, BECOME started as a quiet realization in the heart of one woman who saw a need and refused to ignore it.
BECOME was born from a simple but powerful realization. As the Little Black Book community of strong, driven women in business expanded across the region, we needed a way to bring all of those women together under one roof. Founder Angel Magasano envisioned an experience rooted in inspiration—one that would allow women to connect deeply, learn intentionally, and walk away empowered to make bold, confident decisions in their businesses and lives. Too many women are playing small, waiting for permission, or navigating their success in isolation. BECOME was created to interrupt that pattern and provide a space where ambition is celebrated, courage is cultivated, and each woman is reminded that she already has everything she needs to rise.
That vision resonated immediately because St. Louis is full of extraordinary women—entrepreneurs, executives, creators, innovators, and leaders. Yet many of them are moving in parallel paths, rarely crossing, rarely collaborating, and rarely seeing the full scope of the powerhouse community surrounding them. St. Louis needed an event that didn’t just gather women…it needed one that activated them.
Why St. Louis Needed BECOME
St. Louis needs an event like this because our region is powered by women—entrepreneurs, executives, community leaders, and emerging visionaries—yet too often their paths don’t cross. BECOME creates the bridge. It’s an opportunity for women in corporate leadership to step outside their office bubbles and network with the women who are building, scaling, and sustaining the businesses that make our region work. And it’s a chance for entrepreneurs to learn from powerhouse leaders who have reached an admirable pinnacle of success. Our keynote speakers and workshop educators are women who have paved the way with grit and brilliance, offering stories that inspire and strategies that elevate. At its core, BECOME is designed to make every woman feel seen, understood, and supported as she steps into the next, bolder version of herself.
And that’s exactly what we’ve seen — ripple effects that continue long after attendees leave the venue.
The Ripple Effect: What Happens When Women Are Really Seen
One attendee from the inaugural event said, “I didn’t realize how lonely I’d been until I walked into a room where everyone understood the weight I carry as a woman leading a business.” She left BECOME with a new accountability partner, a referral partnership that doubled her visibility, and a burst of confidence that made her finally raise her rates after three years.
Another woman shared that she arrived unsure if she even belonged in a space filled with such accomplished leaders. By the end of the day, she had signed up for a new certification, pitched herself for a media opportunity on the spot, and told us, “BECOME didn’t just inspire me — it gave me permission to stop playing small.”
And then there are stories like this one from Kelly Allen, owner of The Mercantile — a testament to how powerful a single day can be:
“Become is now one of my favorite days of the year, I am counting down the days until March. Each year, the format, speakers and programming surpass the prior year’s accomplishments. I can honestly say, it has been the best professional growth and networking opportunity I have invested in to date.
After Become in 2023, a fire was lit and within weeks I had fully drafted a business plan, mocked up sample products and chose to take the scariest leap of my life to launch The Mercantile. I am so excited that this platform not only encouraged me to launch my business, but has continued to support its growth and success. I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2026!”
Kelly’s story is the heartbeat of BECOME. It’s not just inspiration — it’s ignition.
And it’s not just individual breakthroughs. Entire businesses have transformed:
- A boutique owner who met her future marketing partner at the conference
- A financial advisor who walked away with three new centers of influence
- A corporate leader who brought BECOME back to her company, launching an internal women’s mentorship initiative inspired by what she experienced
These stories aren’t exceptions — they’re the standard. When you place hundreds of ambitious, wholehearted, creative women in the same room and give them tools, inspiration, and community…everything shifts.
BECOME Isn’t Just an Event — It’s a Movement
The mission has always been bigger than one stage, one day, or one speaker lineup.
BECOME was built to create a ripple effect that reaches:
- Women in leadership who feel unseen
- Entrepreneurs who feel overwhelmed
- Mothers who feel stretched thin
- Visionaries who feel like they’re the only ones dreaming this big
- Creatives who feel misunderstood
- Emerging leaders who need guidance, community, and someone to believe in them
BECOME is the reminder that none of us rise alone.
It’s the spark that helps a woman reinvent herself.
It’s the strategy that helps her scale.
It’s the community that helps her stay the course.
“BECOME has become one of the highlights of my year. I have attended for the last 2 years and every time I leave filled up in a way that is hard to put into words. The connections I have made and the relationships I have strengthened have meant so much to me. The keynote speakers have genuinely shifted the way I think about my life and my business. Their wisdom and vulnerability always seems to land exactly where I need it. And of course, the shopping and boutique experience at a little spark of fun to the day. BECOME is where I go to grow, reconnect with myself, and surround myself with the kind of women who want to see each other win.” Kimberly Beckley, Owner, Simplifying Beauty
And it’s happening right here in St. Louis because our city is full of women who are ready to lead boldly — they simply needed a place to gather, grow, and rise together.
Join us for the 2026 BECOME: Women’s Day of Inspiration on March 12th–13th, 2026 at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis. The next ripple starts with you.