Admission Deadline
The Women's Leadership
Challenge
Are you ready to break free from the need to ‘earn your place’ in a male-dominated world? The Women’s Leadership Challenge is not just another leadership program—it’s a movement for change.
Unlock Your
Feminist Leadership
Potential
Let’s be honest. Most leadership programs are outdated, out of touch with the current reality, and not specific to women. They are all based on patriarchal institutions and power structures.
We teach you to lead authentically as a woman, based on the latest cutting- edge research and societal shifts.
01
Discover Your Intrinsic Power
Uncover your unique strengths and authentic leadership style through our proprietary Intrinsic Power Mapping process. You’ll learn about your innate talents, values, and superpowers to lead with confidence and impact. This pillar includes personalized coaching sessions, strength assessments, and workshops on topics like overcoming imposter syndrome and building unshakeable self-confidence.
02
Master the Art of Feminist Leadership
03
Build Your Global Change-maker Network
Connect with an elite community of women leaders from around the world. Through our carefully curated networking events, collaborative projects, and peer mentoring opportunities, you’ll build relationships that will support and amplify your impact for years to come. This pillar includes access to our alumni network, matchmaking services, and exclusive events with influential feminist leaders.
movement
The Movement
Join a community of global elite women change-makers
- Gain access to 100+ powerful alumni from 36 countries.
- Receive job referrals, client connections, and support for business ventures.
- Build lasting relationships with accomplished women in similar roles.
- Get help with interviews, resumes, SES or USA jobs responses.
- Connect with movement builders to amplify your impact.
- Engage beta testers for your ventures and get valuable feedback.
About
About This Challenge
This is not just another Women's Leadership Program
- Discover your intrinsic power and learn to wield it fearlessly
- Master the art of feminist leadership to shatter glass ceilings and rebuild equitable systems
- Join a powerful global network of women leaders who will amplify your impact
- Gain the tools, confidence, and support to turn your world-changing ideas into reality
Whether you’re aiming for the C-suite, launching a social enterprise, or driving change from within your organization, the Women’s Leadership Challenge will equip you with the skills, mindset, and connections to make it happen.
Don’t just climb the ladder—redesign it. Join us and become the leader you were born to be, the leader the world is waiting for.
movement
What's Included
Empowering Women, Shaping Futures
1 year of live biweekly classes
Classes are 2.5 hours and are a mixture of:
-Celebrating process wins
– Interactive exercises and breakouts
– Curriculum
– Personalized Spot Coaching
– Occasional guest speaker
For the DC WLC cohort, classes will be a mix of meetings once per month in person/hybrid in Navy Yard, Washington DC, and once a month on Zoom.
For others outside of DC, sessions will always be held live on Zoom.
Class is held every other Monday or Tuesday night
Match Making
Classes are 2.5 hours and are a mixture of:
-Celebrating process wins
– Interactive exercises and breakouts
– Curriculum
– Personalized Spot Coaching
– Occasional guest speaker
For the DC WLC cohort, classes will be a mix of meetings once per month in person/hybrid in Navy Yard, Washington DC, and once a month on Zoom.
For others outside of DC, sessions will always be held live on Zoom.
Class is held every other Monday or Tuesday night
1:1 Executive Coaching Session
Samantha, the leader of the program and an executive ACC coach, has a 1:1 60-minute coaching session with you to help you craft your feminist change initiative and strategize how to put it out into the world.
1:1 Mission Vision Session
1-1 Mission Vision Session with Lesley Zafran, one of our brilliant and generous alumni, will coach you privately for an hour, where she will deeply explore with you either your life’s mission and vision or that of your feminist change initiative. You will leave the session with a clear and inspirational mission and vision statement to take forward into the world, and clarity on what it is you’re striving for.
1:1 Life’s Purpose Session with Samantha
This session with Samantha will bring you through a meditative reflection exercise and coaching to clarify your life’s purpose. Women have called this session fundamental to finding their true calling.
360 Analysis
In partnership with Truscore, you will send out a survey to as many as 11 people – colleagues, supervisors, direct reports, partners, friends, and family – gathering feedback and ratings across various feminist leadership competencies.
In a personalized 1 hour private coaching session with Samantha, you will explore your strengths and growth edges, creating your own leadership development plan.
Gallups Strength Test
This canonical assessment is essential to understanding your strengths as a leader. Our strengths-based leadership class then teaches you how to leverage these strengths in your relationships, in your leadership, and in your life – and how to delegate in the areas where you aren’t strong.
OUR Renowned Guest
Speakers
Guest Speakers Are Subject To Change
Elizabeth Vazquez
Founder and CEO of WeConnect International
Hasina Kharbhih
Winner of the World Innovation Prize for her work countering human trafficking in Asia through her NGO, Impulse
Jennifer Miller
Assistant Secretary of State for the Airforce, Strategic Partner and Advisor of the Women’s ERG in the Airforce
Jackie Nunez
Founder of The Last Plastic Straw, Head of Advocacy for the Plastic Pollution Coalition
Check out our
Testimonials
Dayna Bowen
Kate Byrne
Senior Strategic Advisor - Batten Institute of Innovation
Lakysha LLaing
Director, Cox Communications
Kelsey Semrod
Senior Scientist - Water Resilience | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
WHY US
WHY US
Break Free from the Need to Earn Your Place in a Male-Dominated World: This Program is for You if You Want to...
- Seek recognition beyond job accomplishments
- Access personalized, executive coaching for your next steps
- Learn leadership from a feminist, intersectional lens
- Clearly articulate your purpose
- Build a distinguished personal brand
- Be a role model for other women
- Carve a lasting legacy
- Join a successful, prosperous community of female changemakers
Modules
Modules
Get a sneak peek into a sampling of the modules
Deconstructing Your Inner Patriarchy
What has the world taught you about being a woman? Explore how society shapes women’s self-perceptions and capabilities, including your own. Together we will identify limiting beliefs, and release the latter to reach your true potential.
Cross Cultural Teamwork
Intercultural competence is crucial for effective leadership in today’s globalized world. Learn how to navigate diverse workplaces by exploring organizational structures, gendered environments, and feedback styles.
Your Intrinsic Power Map
Many spend their lives trying to find themselves. Samantha’s original mapping process, developed over fifteen years of coaching, reveals who you truly are by exploring your personality, values, quirks, and talents—the foundation of your intrinsic value and personal brand.
Feminist Leadership
How do you embody feminist leadership in your life and in the world more broadly? What are the principles, values, and behavior that underpin feminist leadership? We look at case studies of different feminist leaders from across the globe – including private interviews between Samantha and female Ashoka innovators. We also explore feminist foreign policy as a global application of feminist leadership.
Leveraging AI for Career Planning
If you don’t know how to utilize Artificial Intelligence, you’ll be left behind. This module teaches you how to use various AI tools for career discovery and job matching. We go through a detailed and never seen before process that leverages a variety of assessments with AI to find the career and organization that is the best fit for you.
Creating Institutional Change
Driving change is hard, be it in corporate settings, government, or society. This module provides a sophisticated framework for fostering sustainable change, featuring case studies, interviews with women changemakers, stories from the field, and a guest speaker who pioneered change.
WHY US
Who is this for...
This is for you if...
- You want to leave a legacy
- You want to lead DEI in your workplace
- You want to change the system
- You want to gain a better understanding of your strengths
- You want to skyrocket your impact
- You know that you have a lot to offer
- You run or aspire to run a business or nonprofit
This is not For you if...
- You have not held a leadership role
- You don't care about systemic change
- You want to climb over other women to get to the top
- You lack ambition
- You are currently a student or in an entry-level role
- You are not ready to invest the time, energy, and financial resources necessary to foster transformation
Check out our
Results
Fitore Pula
“When I started, I was at the lowest point of my career. I had left my previous job after 20 years of working as a humanitarian worker in the field, and went to another sector, food and hospitality. After intensive volunteering for a private foundation, where I gave all my networks, my energy, my time, and most importantly, my desire to change the world, in order to open a restaurant staffed by refugees in Geneva- guess what? I was dismissed and told to keep quiet. According to my male partner, “I needed to show more leadership.” Even after #Metoo and all the changes we’re pushing forward, it happens today. And here comes Samantha and her wonderful group of women. And you know what?
I found all my senses through this class, my leadership soul, and my affirmations. I gained confidence and got the confirmation of my values I still hold daily. It provided me with the stamina that everything is possible. I became one of them while surrounded by wonderful, powerful, and fantastic women. There are no more doubts about my presence in this world and how I perform my leadership as a woman.
Since then? I have three occupations. I’m a board member of two critical Associations in Geneva. One is involved in the integration of refugees into the food sector. And by the way, we finally opened our restaurant, Cuisine Lab this year. My dream has come true. In addition to that, I am a senior fundraiser at UNHCR, where I provide capacity building support with digital platforms.
This class is the way to go. I have tremendous gratitude to Samantha and also all the other ladies that I miss daily.”
kylelane purcell
Kyle, founder of Purcell Communications, a financial communications firm, was ready to switch gears onto a new path – consulting on ESG. She also wanted to write a book about ESG investing for individuals. In the course, Kyle and her cofounder wrote their first draft, got feedback from other participants in the WLC, and attained a publisher. Her book “ESG Investing for Individuals,” came out last year. She was so happy with the women’s leadership challenge she joined the alumni mastermind.
“The Women’s Leadership Challenge was a really great experience. I joined the Empower group right at the time when I was starting a new initiative for my business. It was a significant change of pace from what I had been doing. I really wanted the input of a lot of other people, professional women, and ideas to help me get past my own discomfort at starting something new.
During the course, I was able to work with my business partner to write a book, and to put together a promotional plan for that book, and to do the research necessary to make a go of this new initiative.
I don’t think any of that would have been possible without the ideas, the thoughts, the creative input, and the support of all the women in the class. Samantha really knows what she’s doing in terms of providing excellent support, as well as positive motivation to keep moving forward. I’ve really enjoyed it and recommend it to any professional woman or someone who just has a very specific wish, something that you want to accomplish, and are looking for support to make it happen.
Christina Pascucci
During the Women’s Leadership Challenge, Christina, a longtime television reporter, voiced her desire to run for office.
Two years later, she put in her hat for the Senate democratic primary in California. At one point she was in a statistical tie with the incumbent, a 25 year congressperson. Over 30,000 people came out and picked Christina as their pick for senator.
“It will be an extraordinary time when every woman feels she can fully step into her power, and celebrate herself, leaving that negative self-talk and imposter syndrome in the rearview mirror!!
I’ve been working on this, and reading about it, and just finishing a course I loved and want to share with you!
It was a weekly women’s group comprised of 8 incredible women from around the world and we created our vision and mission statements for initiatives we are each creating to lift other women higher in some capacity.
I think part of what the group reinforced most for me is the immeasurable value of a close group of inspiring women who cheer one another on and believe in one another’s dreams. So grateful to this group of women who made me feel seen and empowered, love you!
From @forbes and the Harvard Business Review:
“While both men and women benefit from having a network of well-connected peers across different groups, women who also have an inner circle of close female contacts are more likely to land executive positions with greater authority and higher pay.”
I highly recommend checking out for any women wanting to invest in upping their game ❤️”
About Us
Meet Samantha Karlin
- Education: Harvard, Tufts, Yale, Korn Ferry, Neuroleadership Institute
Samantha Karlin is a visionary leadership development expert, speaker, and changemaker on a mission to transform how leadership is practiced to create environments where people and organizations can truly flourish. As the founder and CEO of Empower Global, she and her team specialize in designing customized leadership accelerators, cross-cultural training, and workshops that prepare leaders to thrive in a VUCA world—one that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. With a global track record of training over 10,000 leaders from 48 countries, Samantha is passionate about activating purpose-driven changemakers and teaching strategies for sustainable leadership. She has worked across sectors, from corporate boardrooms to international NGOs, helping leaders navigate the challenges of today’s turbulent global landscape.
Samantha is the designer and lead instructor of the Women’s Leadership Challenge, an exclusive year-long program for ambitious women who are ready to break through glass ceilings and lead authentically in male-dominated industries. The program equips women with the confidence, tools, and strategies they need to thrive in today’s world while embracing feminist leadership principles that drive gender equity and system change. Known for her dynamic, high-energy approach, Samantha’s interactive training style keeps her audiences engaged and motivated, whether she’s facilitating a workshop or giving a keynote address. Her unique blend of storytelling, humor, and personal anecdotes makes key concepts relatable, while her ability to foster inclusive, welcoming environments ensures everyone feels heard and valued.
The Women's Leadership
Challenge
Are you ready to break free from the need to ‘earn your place’ in a male-dominated world? The Women’s Leadership Challenge is not just another leadership program—it’s a movement for change.
FAQ's
How do I know that the Women’s Leadership Challenge is right for me?
What do I need to know about the Women’s Leadership Challenge before joining?
This course is designed to transform you and your life. It is not a “quick fix” solution because the literature shows that quick fixes don’t work.
Many women have resolved issues that they have been struggling with for their entire lives. Multiple women say “This course has changed my life forever.”
In order for us to do this for you, what we need from you is a commitment: a serious investment of time, resources, cognitive, and emotional energy.
What is the format of the Women’s Leadership Challenge?
There are 10 women per cohort. This is an intimate program so we can provide you with high-level, high-touch support. We have live virtual classes once every 2 weeks for 2.5 hours. Together we will process wins, hot seat coaching, and feminist leadership topics. You will also be provided with suggested TEDx talks, articles, and resources to fuel your feminist journey.
Will I get a certificate at the end?
We hold your payment until we complete an interview with you and determine if you are the right fit for the course or not. If we decide to welcome you to the community and you choose to enroll, there are no refunds unless there is serious illness that prevents you from attending virtual class. If you are on a payment plan, you are expected to complete all payments regardless of whether you complete the full course. However, on a case by case basis you may be allowed to transfer into the next cohort. A transfer fee of $3500 will apply. If you are not accepted into the program we will release the hold on your card.
Will my employer pay for this?
Yes, you will get a certificate in 21st Century Feminist Leadership.
How much is the Women's Leadership Challenge?
Tuition ranges from $595-$995/month depending on income and payment plan. For higher income earners, a portion of your tuition goes towards scholarships for changemakers earning under $50,000/year.
