“Women who flee domestic violence situations often have no money and minimal job skills. Our programs give women and their families the support services they need to escape their violent living situation. Now with the Speak for Success Women’s Leadership Institute, we can take our support to the next level and insure that these women have the tools they need when they’re on their own to take care of themselves and their families by being successful in the workplace, and in life.”
Casey Gwinn, CEO, YWCA of San Diego County
Our Vision is to Give Women the Tools, Support, and Confidence to:
Set and achieve leadership goals
Be inspiring role models for their families and women everywhere
Stand up and speak out as advocates for the prevention of domestic
violence and other issues
Receive promotions and career success
Start their own businesses
Become leaders in their communities, corporations, and non-profit organizations
Our long-term goal is to become a nationwide program that empowers more women to overcome adversity and reach their leadership potential in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors.
Program Curriculum
The Speak for Success Women’s Leadership Institute helps women to:
Identify leadership goals and develop action plans
Develop public speaking skills to be more comfortable and confident in all career/social/life situations
Learn and use assertive communication skills
Transform negative situations and beliefs to positive action and results by demonstrating positive acknowledgement of self and others
Learn professional attire and their own best style of dress
Build and manage their finances and credit
Demonstrate leadership skills by teaching and empowering women in the community
Dana Bristol-Smith, founder of Speak for Success,
created the Women's Leadership Institute to help women build
self-confidence by finding and using their voices for positive change in their lives and their communities.
“It’s hard to say who has benefited most from the program – the participants,
or myself and my team of instructors. Our extraordinary graduates have inspired us with their courage and strength. Everyone involved in the project has fallen in love with our
participants and has been deeply touched by their stories and their successes.”
The Women’s Leadership Institute Partners
Special thanks to Sempra Energy Foundation and our program host National University.
