ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
In June 2015, WILMA magazine launched its Women to Watch Leadership Initiative with the mission to help develop more women leaders in Wilmington-area businesses, nonprofits, government bodies and boards of directors.
Components of the leadership initiative include:
Coverage of leadership topics – Branded Women to Watch stories, including profiling local women leaders, featuring up-and-coming women in the community, delving into opportunities and obstacles to women assuming more leadership roles, and highlighting relevant events and initiatives appears in the monthly print publication, its WILMA Weekly email newsletter, and on its website.
Women to Watch Awards – The annual awards program, started in 2012, spotlights finalists and winners in seven categories: Arts, Education, Health Care, Business, Public Service, Nonprofit/Volunteer, and Rising Star (The Rising Star category is for women under the age of 30). Nominations for the awards run from June 1 through July 2 and the winners are announced at an awards party in October. To nominate yourself or apply visit www.W2WAward.com
Large events – WILMA’s Women to Watch holds three large events annually to bring together women leaders and up-and-coming women to have fun, connect, and learn.
Niche groups – Women to Watch will help women connect in smaller groups tied to a particular industry or interest. For example, Cape Fear Women in Tech will pull together women in technology careers to benefit their companies, careers, and leadership development.
WILMA Leadership Institute – The Leadership Institute gives up-and-coming leaders a unique opportunity to learn from top leaders in the region, visit a range of local companies, and serve as each others’ personal board of directors. A new Institute class begins each January and applications for the following year open up in the fall.
Mentors – Up-and-coming women in the community will be matched with women and men mentors to assist with their leadership development as part of a mentoring program. WILMA holds quarterly group mentoring events open to all readers and not just those in the formal program. Applications for the yearlong mentoring program will be open through the month of August and the program will run from October to September.
Board preparation – The “Get on Board” program will help match women with board of director opportunities on area nonprofit, government, and business boards. Women to Watch is partnering with the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s QENO (Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations) and United Way of the Cape Fear Area on the program.
WILMA Network – The WILMA Network is a place where women can find each other online and through the magazine.
For more information or to learn more about how to get involved in the various programs, click here, or email estelz@wilmingtonbiz.com.
WILMA Women to Watch Leadership Initiative Co-Directors
Maggi Apel
WILMA magazine/Greater Wilmington Business Journal senior marketing consultant
(910) 343-6086/mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com
Vicky Janowski
WILMA magazine/Greater Wilmington Business Journal editor
(910) 375-7295/vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com
