The Global Motherhood Leadership Summit was founded by Dr. Yanli He, who holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Yanli He’s scholarship focuses on leadership traits, virtual team leadership, women’s leadership, and organizational longevity. Her doctoral research, “A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Influence of Leadership Traits on Virtual Teams’ Performance & Sustainability to Achieve Longevity in Silicon Valley,” identified 16 specific leadership traits that correlate with virtual teams’ longevity, offering a systematic and empirical bridge between traditional leadership theory and modern digital/AI‑driven workplaces.
In 2024, Dr. Yanli He applied these 16 leadership traits to the context of motherhood. Dr. Yanli He highlighted the unique traits and perspectives that mothers contribute to their families, workplaces, and communities. Likewise, leadership behaviors and skills developed in professional environments empower mothers to resolve family conflicts, nurture healthy relationships, and lead with wisdom at home.
In that same year, Dr. Yanli He transformed her work into real-world impact by launching the inaugural Global Motherhood Leadership Summit (GMLS), held from September 28–30 in Miami, Florida. GMLS 2024 centered on five foundational themes:
(1) Leadership Traits for Mothers
(2) Motherhood Leadership Behaviors
(3) Motherhood Leadership Dynamics in the AI-Driven Era
(4) Virtual Team Leadership for Mothers
(5) Conflict Resolution & Family Relationships Building
Continued Development from 2024-2027
Unlike traditional leadership conferences that primarily focus on corporate, executive, or board-level leadership, GMLS distinguishes itself by integrating leadership, motherhood, caregiving, next generation, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and ethical values through the original themes, educational curriculum, keynote presentations, and panel discussions. Led by Dr. Yanli He, GMLS has continued to develop into an annual premier leadership initiative, beginning with its inaugural summit in Miami (2024), expanding to Boston (2025), advancing its interdisciplinary vision in San Francisco (2026), and continuing its growth through the planned Las Vegas Summit and the inaugural Global Motherhood Leadership Awards (2027). Each annual summit expanded upon the previous year’s framework by introducing additional themes in response to emerging social, ethical, and community challenges.
(6) Extending Love Beyond Roles and Loss— Contributed by Dr. Yanli He
(7) The Impact of Mothers’ Ethical Education on Children— Contributed by Yuyan Yang
(8) Finding Missing Kids— Contributed by Dr. Anita Chen
(9) Preventing Irregular Migration and Human Exploitation— Contributed by Rita Oyoku
(10) Motherhood Leadership Awards— Contributed by Dr. Yanli He
International Participation and Distinguished Speakers
Since 2024, GMLS has attracted government officials, elected leaders, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, researchers, nonprofit leaders, educators, small business owners, community advocates, and participants from the United States and other countries and regions, including China, India, Russia, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, and countries in Africa.
Representative mother speakers have included Yan Zhao, Saratoga City Council Member and former two-term Mayor; Dr. Lorna Michel Wright, LWFD Division Director of Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Tetyana Didenko, Miss Worldwide 2024; Neetu Rishi, Mrs. Indian Universe 2023; Weiwei Sun, Head of Sales Operations for Asia Pacific and the Americas in the Ultrasound Division at Siemens Healthineers; Lilian Xu, Vice President of East West Bank; Professor Yufang Liu, First Place Winner of the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition (Spring 2025), and many small business owners, among other speakers identified in the Summit’s official agendas.
In addition, the participation of Dr. Anita Chen, Strategic Officer of Finding Kids, expanded the themes of GMLS 2026 by extending its leadership framework beyond motherhood and family leadership to broader issues of child protection, community engagement, and humanitarian service. Through the introduction of the Finding Missing Children initiative, GMLS demonstrated how organizational leadership principles can be applied to address real-world social challenges affecting children and families. This expansion reflects the continued evolution of GMLS as an interdisciplinary leadership platform that integrates leadership development with ethical responsibility, community collaboration, and humanitarian action.
Furthermore, the participation of Rita Oyoku, Ambassador for the Jena Declaration for Africa and Beyond, expanded the interdisciplinary scope of GMLS by introducing the theme of preventing illegal migration. Her presentation examined the underlying social, economic, and humanitarian factors contributing to irregular migration and emphasized that mothers play a pivotal role in preventing it. By incorporating this global humanitarian topic into the Summit, GMLS extended the practical application of organizational leadership principles beyond motherhood and family leadership to broader issues affecting vulnerable populations and sustainable social development.
Governmental Recognition
On May 10, 2026 (Mother’s Day), on behalf of the State of California, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, in her official capacity as State Treasurer, awarded Certificates of Recognition to Dr. Yanli He and the 3rd Annual Global Motherhood Leadership Summit. The certificates recognized Dr. He and GMLS’s contribution in advancing leadership development, research-informed initiatives, community engagement, and empowerment efforts for mothers and women in California.
The 4th Annual Global Motherhood Leadership Summit (GMLS) is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas on Mother’s Day 2027. Recognizing and appreciating contributions is an important dimension of effective leadership. Inspired by Fiona Ma’s honorary Certificate of Recognition, GMLS 2027 will introduce the Global Motherhood Leadership Awards to recognize mothers whose leadership has generated meaningful impact within their families, professions, organizations, and broader society, while continuing its established leadership themes, keynote sessions, and panel discussions.
