WILMA Leadership Initiative Updates
The latest on WILMA’s winter leadership programs
RECAP: The latest on the WILMA Leadership Initiative and its mission to empower women to lead with confidence and purpose
WOMEN TO WATCH AWARDS: This year’s awards event in September drew a sell-out crowd to honor this year’s finalists and announce winners in the Arts, Business, Education, Health, Nonprofit/Volunteer, Public Sector, Rising Star, and WILMA Icon categories. For a list of award winners, click here.
MENTORING: As a part of WILMA’s mentoring program, women in the community are matched with mentors to assist with their leadership development. Participation in the program is limited to those who went through a WILMA Leadership program in the past year, and the mentorship runs through September 2026. This year’s group of thirty mentees, selected from an application process, went through orientation in October and began meeting with their mentors.
GET ON BOARD: Sarah Daniels, director of UNCW’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO), held a training session for women wanting to join local boards of directors and committees on November 4. Yasmin Tomkinson, executive director of the Cape Fear Literacy Council, was a guest speaker to share advice to potential nonprofit committee and board members. WILMA offers the Get on Board workshops in conjunction with QENO.
UP NEXT: How to connect with WILMA’s leadership programs
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: This year’s WILMA’s Leadership Institute class graduates in December, closing out its nine-month program. The group met for leadership skills training, peer mentorship, and interactions with community leaders. Recent session topics included public speaking and negotiating techniques at sites including Live Oak Bank and Corning. Learn more about next year’s applications, which open December 1 at wilmamag.com/women-to-watch/wilmas-leadership-institute.
WILMA NETWORK: The WILMA Network, made up of supporting members of the Leadership Initiative, continues to hold monthly meetups.
IN THE LOOP: Keep up to date with these and other Leadership Initiative programs as well as application announcements by going to WILMAmag.com or signing up for the WILMA Leadership email at WILMAmag.com/email-newsletter.
To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.
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