Arvielo and Santos Hosted Thrive and Lead Event
Nearly 700 women gathered in Las Vegas this October for a self-funded conference.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Health and Wellness
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Patty Arvielo and Vanessa Santos brought nearly 700 attendees to Las Vegas for the Thrive and Lead conference. The organizers self-funded the event after failing to secure corporate sponsorships.
Why it matters
The conference highlights the challenges of securing backing for independent professional development events. The organizers built the entire program in less than 100 days to prioritize mentorship.
Nearly 700 attendees gathered for the event after organizers spent 100 days developing the conference. The program draws on a 9-year history of the Thrive and Lead mentorship program.
The players
Patty Arvielo
Co-organizer who developed and self-funded the conference.
Vanessa Santos
Co-organizer who collaborated on planning and funding the event.
The details
Speakers from Beautyblender, Cuyana, Primera Sports, and the NFL participated in the sessions. Organizers implemented a no-phone policy for most sessions and provided no advance questions to speakers. The event included an opening dinner held at Carbone.
Timeline
April 2026: Arvielo began planning the conference track.
October 2026: The Thrive and Lead conference occurred.
Beyond the Strip
This conference marks a significant scale-up for the 9-year Thrive and Lead mentorship program. The shift follows a pattern of organizers independently scaling professional initiatives when traditional underwriting is absent.
The conference has concluded, but local participants may see continued activity through the established mentorship network. Future programming updates will be shared through the program's official channels.
The takeaway
Organizers successfully held a large-scale event without corporate underwriting. Residents interested in future mentorship opportunities should watch for updates related to the ongoing Thrive and Lead program.
Further reading
Find more local wellness and professional development news in our Health and Wellness section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Inc..
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