Marlen Esparza

Speaker Marlen Esparza was the first US female boxer to qualify for London 2012 in an Olympic sport that didn't even allow women to compete until 2009. A pioneer in the industry, Esparza not only opened the door to all other women wanting to get into boxing, but as the first US female boxer to medal with a bronze, she proved that they could excel in the sport. Esparza shares her journey -- candidly admitting that it wasn't always easy and glamorous, as there were days when she simply did not want to train and had to drag herself out of bed -- and motivates all women to follow their dreams, no matter how daunting they might seem.