Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute
The mission of CWLI is to increase the leadership capabilities and influences of women in the Chattanooga community.
The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute (CWLI) is comprised of a dynamic group of women actively participating in our community to bring about change, broaden perspectives and develop strong women leaders.
CWLI was officially established in 1998 by a group of local leaders who believed more women should be in positions of true leadership. Since that time, CWLI has become one of the premier organizations in our area providing training and networking opportunities for women leaders.
As Chattanooga women leaders, it is our goal to show other woman the way, to “Model, Teach, Inspire.”
The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute (CWLI) is instilled with its seven founders’ belief that women bring a broad range of talents and perspectives to our community, which will contribute to its growth and stability. Since 1998, CWLI has instituted a wide range of outreach programs for women in all walks of life, in order to cultivate fertile ground for:
- Identifying women leaders who would assist in the development of other potential leaders
- Providing women with skills and appropriate opportunities to assume leadership roles
- Increasing the number of women in leadership roles within the community
CWLI has grown into a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization actively pursuing quality programs, educational opportunities and leadership development in areas of politics, community service, business, entrepreneurship and the arts. Now, more than ever, CWLI can attest to the value of developing strategies to position capable women to assume positions of leadership where they contribute fully to shaping Chattanooga’s future.
View a short video about Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute (CWLI).
For our Women Impacting Policy Blog Site please click here!
How has CWLI impacted its members?
“My involvement with CWLI began when I was recruited by a friend to work on the Registration team at the annual event. It was such fun and I saw so many friends and acquaintances that I volunteered the next year and then joined the organization as a small business owner.
I have attended several of the Leadership Lunches, the networking events, the annual meeting and the big events, but there are two things in particular that have made this a good fit.
First, I participated in the “Finance in the Board Room” series because I work with non-profits and am not a numbers lover. It was excellent, easy to understand, with input from real life executive directors and small enough class size to give one the opportunity to get to know the other participants. Really well done!
Second, this has been an excellent opportunity to meet other women in business with the intention of building personal and professional relationships. We are referring business to each other and having brainstorming sessions over lunch or coffee. I have learned so much about the large corporations and women-owned businesses in Chattanooga, and it has held great benefit for my fundraising & marketing consulting business.
Many thanks to CWLI for such a great variety of interactive and on target programs!”
-Barb Bowen
“As a newcomer in the community, CWLI provided a network of professional women which was surprisingly inclusive, passionate about their purposes, and willing to step beyond traditional social limitations. Working on committees has helped me feel a part of the group and opened relationships for me. CWLI members have met with me to review job offers, to practice negotiation strategies, to discuss acceptable work place practices, and just to enjoy one another’s company and, in turn, I have met with other women to do the same. “Model, teach, inspire…”
I love observing CWLI women hosting tables at our leadership luncheons …putting women at ease, making them feel included and valued. In our competitive, ego-centric world, this small kindness affirms the women we want to be: caring, intelligent, proactive, successful, and vision-casters. “Model, teach, inspire…” So true.”
– Suzanne Burrell, CFP®
To see other women’s testimonials click here to see our membership spotlight page!