1. BiMonthly Classes

Fifteen 2.5 hour sessions, bimonthly, held over 8 months

Live Instructor Led Training

Cohorts of 8-10 women each

Virtual and In person cohorts

Topics

Deconstructing Your Inner Patriarchy: Religion, Media, Government, Parents, Industry, Culture

Feminist Leadership - Values, Principles, Behaviors

Feminist Leadership - Courage, Creativity, Power Sharing, Network Leadership

Deconstructing Power Systems/How to Conduct a Power Analysis

Building Self-Confidence + Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Shattering Glass Ceilings

Strengths Based Leadership

Meeting Your Team's Psychological Needs

Speaking Truth To Power

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Your Intrinsic Power Map: Exploring Your Strengths, Personality, Talents, Values

Designing Your Leadership Narrative - Who are You as a Leader?

Organizing For Change

Creating Institutional Change

Systems Change Leadership

Building Your Own Damn Table

Failing Fabulously

Cross-Cultural Leadership

Building + Refining Your Leadership Mission and Vision

Life 2.0: Your Next Steps Forward

CERTIFICATE AWARDED IN 21ST CENTURY FEMINIST LEADERSHIP

LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB? A MENTOR? AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics concludes that 85 percent of jobs are filled by networking. Yet most people underestimate the importance of networking, continuing to apply to jobs online that enter into a black hole.

Members are intentionally paired with other members of the Empower community for regular 1:1 networking meetings based on what they want to achieve in their lives, to explore new opportunities, to expand their world views, to gain clients, and to foster collaboration opportunities.

Participants have found mentors, sponsors, mentees. They have embarked on collaborative projects together. They have hired one another or referred one another for new jobs.

Women in the community come from tech, impact investing, non-profits, government, human rights, finance, public relations, real estate.

Wherever you want to go, we will help you get there.

YOU NET WORTH IS YOUR NETWORK

Cohort K, Julia Gillard: begins March 2023, in person- hybrid,

Washington, DC; one evening 7-9:30 pm EST (every other week) (FULL!)

Cohort L, Hasina Kharbhih: begins late April 2023, virtual,

2.5 hours every other week (3 Spots Left!)

(exact time determined by cohort members)

Cohort M, Lucille Ball: begins October 2023, in person-hybrid,

Washington, DC, M or T evening, 2.5 hrs (every other week)

Cohort N, Morgan Dixon: begins October 2023, virtual,

Washington, DC; 2.5 hrs (every other week)

"How often in life does an opportunity arise where one’s world is transformed?

That is what happened to me when I became part of the ‘Women’s Leadership Challenge’ run by Samantha Karlin of Empower Global."  - Lesley Zafran

Every applicant develops A FEMINIST CHANGE INITIATIVE PROJECT. 

The Feminist change initiative is an opportunity to deeply analyze a problem you care about - human trafficking, poverty in American, girls mental health, utilizing the framework and analyses that are taught during class.

Some students choose to pick themselves as their feminist change initative, and some choose a problem in the world that they care about.

This may be something you've always dreamed about but need a kick in the butt to pursue.

It may be the nonprofit or organization you already run.

It may be a gender specific issue you want to more deeply understand.

It may be an intrapreneurship plan, or designing the plan for a new managerial position that you've just attained.

It may be an ever more built out map of your purpose and future as a feminist leader.

Some examples of past projects have included:

- ANALYSIS OF FUTURE CHALLENGES GOING INTO A NEW CHIEF OF STAFF POSITION AND HOW TO GET BUY IN FROM COMPANY LEADERS

- A DOCUMENTARY SERIES ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

- AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S BLOCKING PASSAGE OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

- A PLAN FOR A RESTAURANT OWNED AND OPERATED BY FEMALE REFUGEES

- A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN STEM

- AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY FOR SINGLE MOTHERS IN CHICAGO

- DESIGN OF A POSSIBLE GENDER STUDIES CURRICULUM FOR USE IN SIERRA LEONE

WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THEIR GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM...

The Entrepreneurs - 100% of the entrepreneurs in the group gained new clients - many clients are women whom they met through the Women's Leadership Challenge and Community. 100% are charging MORE than when they entered

The NonProfit Leaders - 80% of nonprofit leaders gained significant new funding

The Rising Star - 80% of women in full time jobs negotiated pay raises/promotions or new positions with higher pay

The Speakers - 50% of women have gotten speaking engagements

The Aspiring Entrepreneurs - 10 women have quit their full time toxic jobs and started their own businesses/consultancies/nonprofits

The Transitioners - 10 women have entirely changed industries

The Aspiring Authors - 8 women have published books

The Funemployed - 90 percent of those who entered unemployed were able to find new roles, pivotally by networking with participants and alumni

WOMEN ALSO REPORT

• Increased confidence levels
• Higher levels of well being
• Better negotiation skills
• Increase in self-esteem
• Increase in self-awareness
• Increased capacity to lead teams
• Increased ability to speak truth to power
• Greater ability to create social change
• Greater ability to change the cultures of their companies
• Greater ability to advance DEI efforts
• Greater work/life balance
• New Friends
• Mentors
• Better understanding of who they are
• A robust network of women to support them
• Leaving toxic romantic relationships
• Better ability to set boundaries
• Greater levels of happiness
• Finding Their Voices

What do you want????

It's closer than you think :)

WHAT DO OUR GRADUATES SAY ABOUT THE CHALLENGE?

"How often in life does an opportunity arise where one’s world is transformed?

That is what happened to me when I became part of the ‘Women’s Leadership Challenge’ run by Samantha Karlin of Empower Global. I joined the cohort with quite a bit of uncertainty. I was worried both about the work involved and also whether I was ‘good enough’ to be involved in such a group. From the very first meeting I was hooked.

Samantha uses a multi-media approach to learning that always kept us interested. She creates a safe space that leads to forming strong and close bonds between cohort members that last beyond her course. She challenged each of us to find an initiative that we would bring to life. She offered tools to help, including her amazing coaching skills which are both practical and encouraging. She brings out what each of us individually needs to learn to be our best selves. I published three children's books as a result of the program. I also gained several new clients for my nonprofit strategy practice, and I am comfortably charging much more than I used to. I am busier than ever. It was the most important thing I have done for myself in many years."

- Lesley Zafran, Strategic Nonprofit Consultant

"A lot of us started this because we were feeling burnout, disempowered in our professional lives. The thing that’s stuck with me is I do have power, I do have agency. I don’t have to settle. I can ask for the things that I want and not be afraid of the consequences. I’ve learned to say no more - because when you say yes it means so much more.

The group is so open about personal struggles, it allows us to tie that back to our own experiences. Having that framework and a diverse group of women makes you realize we are not alone, we are all experiencing really similar struggles, and dealing with the patriarchy.

I’ve now become the voice of self-care. If people are feeling burned out, I always say, how can we take a step back. Vis a vis the strengths assessment and other exercises that we’ve done in the class, I’ve realized that my current role, while challenging, isn’t utilizing my top strengths. I’ve made the decision to transfer laterally to a completely different part of the company. The Women’s Leadership Challenge has been a monumental turning point in my life, and I’m so grateful to Samantha and the amazing women I now call friends. " - Mariel Montuori, Product Manager, Amazon

SEE MORE TESTIMONIALS ON OUR TESTIMONIALS PAGE

JOIN THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP LABORATORY ON FACEBOOK