Women Executives marks 40 years of breaking into Charlotte's male-dominated business world. The WINGS scholarship program supports non-traditional students, often single mothers, with mentorship and hope. A tight network of 10-plus members has reshaped who gets a seat at the table.
I can remember the day when we met uptown at that time, and just a few people. And I can remember the day when we looked around and counted and we had 21, and we just all cheered and clapped. It was like coming out of the desert and finding water, to just find other women who were also trying to be upwardly mobile in the business world in the 1970s, which was not all that easy. We sought to do something that wasn't being done in Charlotte. It was sort of fighting our way to find a place at the table. Right away, as soon as I could, I joined Women Executives. Because I just really envied this organization. The biggest thing about our scholarship program is the women are all non-traditional students. You know, they're 25 or older. Many of them are single moms. They're, you know, they're struggling. As a business leader, you want to know what's going on in your community, and to have access to and hear from these people around the community has been very valuable. We all have a lot in common, and that is the fact that We have had or currently have big careers that mean a lot to us, but we're also individuals that have families, that have challenges, that have a passion for Charlotte. Depending on what industry you're in, but there are a lot of industries that are still primarily male-dominated. And you sometimes feel alone. Being in an organization like Women Executives gives you access to people who are not only happy, they're willing, they're willing and able to help you with these issues. We're interesting and we get things done. I've gotten to know people that I otherwise wouldn't meet or have the opportunity to spend time with. And I feel like all of them have added something to my life. I think when Women Executives was formed, the glass ceiling was even higher. That's what I think is really neat about WE. They haven't forgotten about the ways to give, to pay it forward. It really is all the right women and all the best women together in this space. I participate in the Women Executives Forum. And we have, I think we have 4 or 5. It's a group of 10 of us. The forums tend to be small, and we nurture each other on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly basis. It's a very diverse group of women, culturally diverse, it's racially diverse, it's diverse in terms of age and ethnic orientation, and that's something that I find attractive about it. The WINGS has probably 20 scholars. Personally, I believe the WINGS scholarship program restores hope in oneself, belief that God is present, and faith that things are going to get better. I'm actually very humbled because I don't feel worthy of her. I really don't. She has been more of a mentor to me than I feel like I have been for her. They are always extremely networked and they are very wise of what is happening in Charlotte, and they provided significant guidance in helping me to be successful in doing so. This city was built around a very Closed decision-making group. That's no longer effective, and I think WE has the opportunity to blow that wide open and really cause and deliver change. That's why I'm a member, and I hope that others will join me. The most important things are honestly, again, the relationships that I've built with these amazing women. Congratulations on 40 years. The best is yet to come.
