We women have had to fight our way to top jobs and positions and sometimes need help to reach our career goals. Thanks to Women Rising Leadership Academy, many more women are gaining the knowledge and confidence to compete successfully in the workforce and achieve their career goals.
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WRLA was founded in 2022 by Brea Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Lacy Schoen to help women succeed. Schoen previously taught at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, where a similar program there started more than 10 years ago and has more than 1,000 graduates.
WRLA, in four years, has had more than 500 graduates.
“I still teach part of the program there as well,” said Schoen. She added that students in CSUF’s Women’s Leadership Program attend one of the WRLA sessions to learn from and interface with their career-level counterparts.
WRLA participants attend sessions once a month for eight months.
Successful women executives present each session. Schoen noted that the attendees learn insights from these women, including about salary negotiations for women, navigating gender culture on the job, developing an executive presence and learning the mindset, habits and behaviors of successful people.
Participants take part in group coaching, mentoring, plus bonus sessions on various topics. They also receive follow-up group support after graduation.
Schoen said the participants are mainly in their early- to mid-careers, and are employees, business owners or in transition. Attendees range in age from 25 to 44, but women 18 to 75 years old have completed the course.
“When a woman comes to us,” said Schoen, “their goal is to overcome barriers and get to a higher level.”
That seems to be the case with Realtor Lisa Bryant, who said she spent a lot of time second-guessing herself, especially with difficult clients. She worried about being nice and thought it meant she had to keep the peace, even if it resulted in her backing down or doubting her own voice. WRLA taught her that she doesn’t have to choose between being nice and being a strong, confident leader, she said.
“Learning to stand my ground was a massive turning point,” said Bryant. “I still bring warmth and kindness to my interactions, but there’s a real strength behind it now.”
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She finally trusts her own judgment, she said.
“WRLA didn’t just give me tools for my career, “ said Bryant, “ it gave me my voice back. I speak up now without holding back, knowing I am more than capable of handling whatever comes my way, at work and at home.”
Tanya Huynh is office manager at the Brea chamber and also a WRLA graduate. What aspects of the program benefitted her the most?
“The conversations around executive presence, influence and the mindset of successful people really stayed with me,” she said, adding that she gained practical tools she could immediately apply at work and in her personal life.
“WRLA has shown me that investing in yourself is never wasted, and the growth goes far beyond the workplace,” she said. “You don’t have to already see yourself as a leader to become one. It was also inspiring to hear the stories of other women, and the impact WRLA has had on them.”
Rita Morones said that through WRLA she learned how to improve each day and gain confidence. She was especially impressed, she said, with the presenters and how what she learned helped her prepare for an interview for a job promotion that she got.
The next session is Oct. 9 to May 14 at The Cause Church, 959 Beacon St., Brea. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30.
Tuition is $447, but only $247 if you use this discount code, WILC200, that Schoen gave us at a recent Soroptimist of Brea/La Habra meeting.
Apply at womenrisingleadershipacademy.com.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].
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