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Young Women’s Leadership Society

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On Monday, we kicked off the week by welcoming Charniece J. Martin, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CRCR to our Young Women's Leadership Society Lunch With a Leader series, and what a gift it was for our girls.

When we asked the students what stood out most about their conversation, their responses weren't about job titles or resumes. Instead, they said:

"She asked us what we wanted to be."

"She wanted to know what we're doing now to get there."

"We talked about the women we want to become."

That's what makes these moments so powerful.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give a young person isn't advice—it's our curiosity. It's asking the kinds of questions that invite them to dream bigger, think deeper, and see themselves in the future they are working toward.

Thank you, Charniece, for spending your lunch with us and for reminding our girls that success isn't just about choosing a career. It's about intentionally becoming the kind of woman they want to be.

The future is in good hands, and we're grateful for leaders who are willing to invest their time, wisdom, and presence into the next generation. 💜

#YWLS #LeadWithYWLS by @ywlsleads

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3 days ago

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5 days ago

We had our biggest summer cohort EVER. 🤭💜

Sorry, Ms. Strong… we may have underestimated our own impact. We told our summer instructor to expect about 15 girls.

32 young leaders showed up!

After the initial shock (LOL), we couldn’t be more proud. Seeing so many girls choose YWLS and watching them grow into confident, curious, and courageous leaders is exactly why we do this work.

Now excuse us while we prepare for our Netflix documentary: “Surviving 32 Teen Girls in One Summer.”

The demand is real. The impact is even bigger. 🖤
LeadWithYWLS by @ywlsleads

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5 days ago

This week, our Young Women’s Leadership Society Summer Apprenticeship students had the opportunity to spend the day with the incredible team at G2!

Throughout the day, students met with executives, learned about G2’s business and culture, networked with college interns, and practiced their personal pitches in a professional setting. It was an immersive experience designed to help them build confidence, strengthen their communication skills, and envision themselves as future leaders.

For many of our students, this was their first time inside a corporate office. Access matters. Exposure matters. Representation matters. Creating opportunities for young women to experience professional environments early helps expand their networks, increase their confidence, and broaden their vision for what’s possible in their own careers.

We are deeply grateful to the G2 team for investing your time, expertise, and encouragement in our students. Partnerships like this are essential to developing the next generation of talent, and we’re proud to work alongside organizations that are committed to opening doors and creating meaningful opportunities for young people.

A special thank you to Alyssa Crance for spearheading this experience for us and the G2 team, Tim Handorf, Priti Patel, Alaina Reed, Naoka Shin (Tanaka) and Laura Ledesma - this experience will have a lasting impact on our girls!

#LeadWithYWLS by @ywlsleads

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15 days ago

“Who are you?” 👀

“I’m the owner of this house.” 💜✨

Okay, maybe not literally… but that’s exactly the kind of energy we love around here.

Today, our YWLS alumni met the newest members of our sisterhood, and it was such a full-circle moment. The young women who once walked through these doors as freshmen are now coming back to welcome, encourage, and inspire the next generation.

At YWLS, leadership doesn’t end when you graduate. You always have a place here. You become the example, the mentor, the big sister, and the reminder of what’s possible.

To our newest girls: Welcome home.

And to our alumni: Thank you for continuing to show what leadership looks like. The house is in good hands. 💜🏡 #YWLSLeads #SisterhoodInAction #LeadershipLivesHere #OnceYWLSAlwaysYWLS by @ywlsleads

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18 days ago

There’s something special about finally meeting partners in person after years of cheering each other on.

It was such a joy to spend time with our friends at @kovaldistillery, one of the largest independent, female-owned craft distilleries in the country. Their commitment to building a bold, values-driven business reflects so much of what we believe at YWLS—that when women lead, entire communities benefit.

We’re incredibly grateful for KOVAL’s support of Little Black Dress Night over the years and are already looking forward to partnering again for our 2027 event.

As we work to ensure every young woman has the opportunity to discover her voice, develop her leadership, and build the future she deserves, partnerships with women-owned, local businesses like KOVAL remind us that the village is strong—and growing.

Here’s to continuing to invest in women, celebrate women, and create even more impact together. 🖤 by @ywlsleads

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22 days ago

Last night, YWLS had the honor of attending and hosting a table at the @chicago_innovation Celebration of Women in Innovation—and it was a joy-filled evening. 💜

We reconnected with longtime friends, met new champions of our mission, and shared the work of YWLS with so many incredible people.

The highlight? Watching our staff, ambassadors, and alumni confidently tell the YWLS story. Seeing the young women we once served now serve as leaders and ambassadors for the next generation is exactly why we do this work.

We left inspired by a room full of innovators, dreamers, and changemakers, and even more committed to ensuring every young woman is prepared for her seat at the table.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect. by @ywlsleads

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23 days ago

There will always be people who misunderstand your journey, question your growth, or feel uncomfortable with your light. Don't let that change who you are.

At YWLS, we believe true leadership isn't just about how you show up when things are easy—it's about how you respond when they're not. Choose excellence over comparison. Choose kindness over bitterness. Choose purpose over distraction.

Your character is revealed not by how you treat people who support you, but by how you treat those who don't.

Keep growing. Keep leading. Keep shining anyway. ✨

#YWLS #LeadWithYWLS by @ywlsleads

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a month ago

The Countdown Is On!

Next Monday, we officially kick off the YWLS Summer Apprenticeship Program!

For the next few weeks, a group of incredible young women will come together to explore leadership, entrepreneurship, career pathways, identity, and sisterhood—all while building the skills and confidence to lead in their schools, communities, and beyond.

We're excited for the conversations, the growth, the laughter, the field experiences, and the moments that will shape this summer's journey.

The future is bright, and we're ready to get started.

See you Monday. by @ywlsleads

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a month ago

Are you still reliving #LBDN2026 like we are?

Last month’s LBDN gathering was filled with everything we love about this community—meaningful connections, inspiring conversations, engaging activations, warm hugs, genuine smiles, and a room full of leaders showing up as their authentic selves.

From reconnecting with familiar faces to building new relationships, every moment was a reminder that there is something special about being in the room with people who challenge, support, and celebrate one another.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create such an unforgettable evening. We’re still smiling, still reflecting, and still energized by all that was shared.

Tag someone you spotted in the room and tell us your favorite moment from the night! 🖤

#LBDN #LeadWithYWLS by @ywlsleads

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2 months ago

LAST CALL! Applications close THIS FRIDAY! Spend your summer building confidence, community, and leadership through a paid YWLS summer apprenticeship filled with sisterhood, hands-on learning, and joy. Apply at https://afterschoolmatters.org/apply/ by @ywlsleads

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2 months ago

Last month, our YWLS girls had the opportunity to spend time with the Women in Tech ERG at @tms_worldwide — and we are still incredibly grateful. 💜

As we prepared for #LBDN2026, the team at tms poured into our girls in meaningful ways: helping them strengthen their elevator pitches, offering resume support, sharing insights about careers and leadership, and yes… making time for a little crafting too (because what’s a girls’ day without it? 😊)

What stayed with us most was the care. TMS created a space where our girls felt seen, heard, encouraged, and reminded that they belong in rooms where innovation, leadership, and possibility are happening.

We are deeply thankful for partners like TMS who intentionally create pathways for women and girls to imagine themselves in tech, leadership, and beyond. The exposure matters. The mentorship matters. And moments like these help our girls dream even bigger.

Thank you to the incredible leaders at tms for for investing in our girls and helping them see what’s possible: Madeline Pochowicz, Brooke White, Olivia Moran

#WomenInTech #YWLS #LBDN2026 #GirlsInSTEM by @ywlsleads

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2 months ago