We recently connected with Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator and have shared our conversation below.
Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump into the story of starting your own firm – what should we know?
The Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator was born out of a decade-long conversation between three working mothers about the challenges and inequalities women in the workplace face. Our shared experiences—navigating male-dominated fields and confronting the glaring absence of female representation in leadership—drove us to take action.
The annual Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn highlights a persistent gender leadership gap. While there has been some progress, women remain underrepresented across all levels of the corporate pipeline, particularly in leadership roles. Systemic gender bias and entrenched stereotypes create significant barriers, making it an uphill battle for women striving to advance their careers. According to the most recent data, women comprise only 1 in 4 C-suite leaders, and women of color represent just 1 in 16—a stark reminder of the inequities that remain. The biggest barrier occurs early: for every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager, only 87 women receive the same promotion. This “broken rung” early in their careers leaves women at a distinct disadvantage, making it almost impossible to catch up.
When Roe vs. Wade was overturned in the summer of 2022, we, like many women, felt disempowered and disheartened. As women in our 40s, it was our first experience feeling a systemic loss of power. It was a sobering realization that the social progress women’s rights activists worked tirelessly to achieve was being reversed. The decision also illuminated the broader, longstanding inequalities women continue to face in the workplace, from the gender wage gap to the “mommy penalty” and the enduring gender leadership gap.
We decided to take action. We knew we could empower women with real skills. As seasoned professionals committed to women’s leadership development, we understood that providing accessible, actionable professional development was key to equipping women to navigate gender bias and strengthen their leadership capabilities. We channeled our expertise into creating a day of impactful leadership development designed to equip women with the knowledge and tools to advance their careers and help narrow the gender leadership gap.
In October 2022, we hosted the inaugural Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The event was a resounding success, demonstrating the need women have for this kind of targeted leadership development. The CWLA has since become a bi-yearly gathering where career-driven women can learn, share, and build community. Born from a deep need to see more women in leadership, our desire to uplift and elevate women has never been more needed. Since its inception, we have hosted four conferences, elevating over 200 women leaders.
Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator (CWLA) is a dynamic, interactive one-day leadership conference designed to equip women-identifying leaders with the essential knowledge, skills, and tools they need to become effective, impactful, and empowering leaders. Featuring three in-depth workshops on emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and innovation, the CWLA provides a unique opportunity for participants to grow as leaders in a supportive, community-focused environment. A highlight of the day includes a lunch panel where recognized women business leaders share their insights and experiences.
In addition to the workshops, CWLA participants benefit from professional headshots, enjoy nourishing meals throughout the day, and conclude the experience with a community-building happy hour.
What sets CWLA apart is its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. This conference brings together women of various ages, races, sexual orientations, abilities, and industries, fostering an environment where participants can learn from one another and grow together. Our goal is to empower women with the impactful and actionable professional development they need to accelerate the path to their full potential.
CWLA is a grassroots initiative led by passionate Chicago women leaders with deep expertise in leadership development. Recognizing the barriers that many women face in accessing quality professional development, we are committed to providing an accessible and impactful experience that helps advance careers, unlocks leadership potential, and helps increase representation of women in the workplace.
The CWLA’s guiding mantra is inspired by W.E.B. DuBois: “In this world, there is no force equal to the strength of a woman determined to rise.” Despite the long-standing inequalities and challenges that persist in the workplace, we believe that empowering career driven women who are determined to rise with applicable leadership skills and tools can increase representation of women leaders, create inclusive workplace cultures, and drive meaningful change.
Any advice for managing a team?
1. Foster Open Communication and Promote Team Psychological Safety
Create a culture of transparency where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, mistakes, concerns, and feedback. Regularly check in with your team, both as a group and individually, to ensure everyone feels heard and valued.
2. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements
Acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of your team members. Employees share their time, talent, and energy to help our organizations become successful and it is important to recognize this. Recognition doesn’t always have to be formal; a simple, sincere “thank you” or public praise during a meeting can go a long way.
3. Provide Opportunities for Growth
Invest in your team’s development by offering opportunities for learning and growth. Professional development is a gift that unlocks potential and demonstrates your commitment to helping employees grow professionally.
4. Lead with Emotional Intelligence
Leading with emotional intelligence (EQ) fosters strong relationships, improves communication, and helps resolve conflicts. By understanding and managing emotions—both our own and others’—emotionally intelligent leaders inspire greater trust, motivate teams, and create a positive, collaborative work environment.
5. Work to create a culture of belonging
Be intentional in cultivating a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone regardless of social identity, feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. A sense of belonging boosts employee morale and retention!
6. Move between the balcony and the dance floor to better understand how your direct reports experience the organization
As a leader, it’s important to periodically step down from the strategic overview (the balcony) and engage with your team on the ground level (the dance floor). Understanding how employees at different levels experience the organization will give you a holistic view of the workplace culture and help you address any issues that may affect morale.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
CWLA Alumnae are integral to the success and growth of our conference. Their enthusiasm, word-of-mouth recommendations, and the ongoing support from senior leaders who share our mission have been key in allowing us to continue offering this impactful day of leadership development. As an independently run conference without a marketing budget, we are deeply grateful for the trust and support we’ve received from those who believe in the CWLA and empowering women leaders.
We invite you to join us in our mission to uplift and empower the next generation of women leaders. Hear directly from our CWLA Alumnae about their transformative experiences below, and visit our website to learn more about how you can be part of this inspiring journey!
“What an incredible event! The workshops were all thought-provoking and impactful sessions. The organizers created a special type of space that I have never been a part of -one that allowed and welcomed each of us to be honest, open and vulnerable. The CWLA encouraged us to focus on ways that we can be our best and most authentic selves while considering our personal strengths and areas needing improvement. It was an eye-opening event which taught me so many valuable things. As an added mention, the sessions were also quite fun, the day flew by with delicious catered food. We were truly treated as honored guests. Highly recommend!”
-Carolyn H.
Heitman
“I’ve attended many women’s leadership conferences in my twenty plus year career, and the CWLA was by far the most valuable one I’ve experienced. I left with invaluable knowledge and tools that I was able to put into action immediately. I highly recommend the CWLA to any woman who is looking to level up her leadership skills. “
-Denise L.
Informed Group
“My experience at the CWLA was an extremely valuable one. The sessions were engaging, informative, and inspiring. The facilitators brought their wealth of knowledge and expertise in their respective fields to empower us to be more courageous and effective leaders. I highly recommend the CWLA for any senior, emerging, or inspiring leaders.”
-Christy C.
Goldman Sachs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.womensleadershipaccelerator.net/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-women-s-leadership-accelerator
- Other: CWLA promotional video
Image Credits
image credit: Tembo Tones