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Celebrating 30 Years

30 Years of

Women Empowering Women

Leadership Fellows Program alumnae and the IWF members who launched and sustained this this one-of-a-kind initiative to advance women’s leadership gathered October 16-17, 2024, in Washington, DC, for an extraordinary 30th Anniversary celebration.

Leadership Fellows Program 30th Anniversary Celebration & Awards Gala

The International Women’s Forum celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Leadership Fellows Program at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The largest library in the world, this beautiful and iconic building is the perfect setting for an evening of connection and reflection on the success of the alumnae and the impact of the program around the world. For the first time we will bring together alumnae from every class with the IWF members who launched and sustained this one-of-a-kind initiative to advance women’s leadership. As a part of the year long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of founding of IWF, we presented the inaugural Leadership Fellows Alumna Award to Chanel’s Global CEO & 2013 IWF Fellow Leena Nair. She is received the award as an alumna whose exemplary achievements are both inspirational and aspirational for future women leaders.
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Highlights from Leadership Fellows Program 30th Anniversary

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Marty Wikstrom, Founder, Atelier Fund; Former Board Director, IWF and Leadership Foundation, IWF United Kingdom; Leena Nair, Global CEO, CHANEL, Leadership Fellows Class of 2013-2014
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Inaugural Distinguished Alumna Award honoree Leena Nair, Global CEO, CHANEL
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30th Anniversary Fellows Program Gala Reception, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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Tribute performance by Victoria Williams, Soprano
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30th Anniversary Fellows Program Symposium, Opening Remarks by Stephanie Mathews O’Keefe, IWF CEO
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Carol Cox Wait, President, Boggs, Atkinson, Inc. (Former Board President, IWF and Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF Washington, D.C.) and Karyl Innis, CEO and Founder, The Innis Company (Former Board President, Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF Dallas)
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Fran Streets, Former Banking Executive; Director, San Francisco Ballet (Former Board President, IWF and Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF Northern California) and Alexandra Armstrong, Chairman Emeritus and Founder, Armstrong, Fleming & Moore, Inc. (Former Chair, Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF Florida Suncoast)
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Anne-Marie Dunn, Board Director, Executive Coach, and former Senior Vice President, Human Resources, CIBC (LF 2012-2013, Member of IWF Canada); Totsie Memela, CEO, South African Social Security Agency (LF 2000-2001, Former Board Director, IWF Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF South Africa); Mariana Sanz, CEO Latin America & General Manager Mexico, Edelman (LF 2022-2023, Member of IWF Mexico) and Marsha Sampson Johnson, (LF 2000-2001, Former IWF Board Director, Member of IWF Georgia)
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Anne-Marie Dunn, Board Director, Executive Coach, and former Senior Vice President, Human Resources, CIBC (LF 2012-2013, Member of IWF Canada); Totsie Memela, CEO, South African Social Security Agency (LF 2000-2001, Former Board Director, IWF Leadership Foundation, Member of IWF South Africa)
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Today and The Vision For The Future: Molly Tschang, CEO and Founder, Abella Consulting (LF 2002-2003)
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First 1994 Fellows Program Class Alumnae Linda de Mello,  Susan Dykstra, Katharine Fong, Phyllis Farragut
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Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large, Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State

World-Class Speakers and Topics

included

30 Years Advancing Women’s Leadership: A Vision to Change the World

A conversation with IWF members whose commitment to mission led to the creation of the Leadership Fellows Program.

Speakers: 

  • Alexandra Armstrong, Chairman Emeritus and Founder, Armstrong, Fleming & Moore Inc. (IWF Florida Suncoast)
  • Carol Cox Wait, President, Boggs, Atkinson, Inc. (IWF Washington, DC)
  • Karyl Innis, CEO and Founder, The Innis Company (IWF Dallas)
  • Fran Streets, former banking executive; Director, San Francisco Ballet (IWF Northern California)

Moderator:

  • Marsha Sampson Johnson, (LF 2000-2001, former IWF global board member, and member, IWF Georgia)

30 Years of Women Empowering Women

The Fellows Program has been a game changer since its inception providing unique leadership development, mentoring and a peer group of trusted advisors and friends.  Fellows Program alumnae will discuss the impact the program has had on their lives and leadership.

Speakers: 

  • Totsie Memela, CEO, South African Social Security Agency (LF 2000-2001, IWF South Africa)
  • Anne-Marie Dunn, Board Director, Executive Coach, and former Senior Vice President, Human Resources, CIBC (LF 2012-2013, IWF Canada)
  • Mariana Sanz, CEO Latin America & General Manager Mexico, Edelman (LF 2022-2023)

Moderator:

  • Marsha Sampson Johnson, (LF 2000-2001, former IWF global board member, and member, IWF Georgia)

Today and The Vision For The Future

Over the course of 30 years, the Fellows Program has grown in size, diversity and globality.  While many of the challenges that women leaders faced in 1994 still confront us, the needs of women leaders have changed. The program has evolved its curriculum to ensure its continuing relevance.  Molly Tschang, who is the Fellows Program Content Consultant & Facilitator and an alumna of the program, will lead us through the program initiation experienced by today’s Fellows.

Speaker: 

  • Molly Tschang, (LF 2002-2003), CEO and Founder, Abella Consulting; Fellows Program Content Consultant & Facilitator

The Legacy of the Glass Ceiling Commission and its Global Impact Today

Speaker: 

  • Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large, Office of Global Women’s Issues for the U.S. Department of State

30 Years Advancing Women’s Leadership:
A Vision to Change the World

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