Women2Women’s Pipeline of Powerhouse Young Women
By Katie Johnsen, Events Coordinator, GRCA
Leadership doesn’t begin in a boardroom—it begins the moment a young woman is told her voice matters. At Women2Women (W2W), a special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), our mission has always been clear: develop women leaders. And for us, that development must begin early. The future of Berks County depends on the confidence, skills and networks we build in the next generation of leaders.
Each year, W2W hosts 14 events designed to empower women through mentorship, education and connection. While students are welcome at any of them, two events are crafted specifically with high school and college students in mind. These programs go well beyond a typical lecture. Students participate in structured networking with professional women across all industries—women who are eager to listen, guide and open doors.
As W2W’s Director Jackie Stiles often says, “Leadership grows where relationships grow.” In my experience, these student-focused events are some of the most inspiring moments of our year. These young women show up already making a difference: starting nonprofits, advocating for social issues, leading clubs, volunteering in their communities and dreaming boldly about what’s next. In fact, I’d argue that our long-time members walk away from these events just as energized—if not more—than the students themselves.
In recent years, our student-focused programs have tackled topics like mentorship, public speaking, building your tribe and women in politics. To make sure students leave with professional tools they can use immediately, we even bring in a photographer to take free professional headshots for their résumés and social media profiles. It’s one small way we help them step confidently into the world that awaits them.
But our commitment to developing young leaders isn’t limited to events. Stiles visits schools throughout Greater Reading to introduce students to W2W, share programming, and—most importantly—begin authentic relationships. Any school interested in supporting leadership development for young women can reach out to be part of this growing initiative.
Through the work of Stiles, our committees, our volunteers and our attendees, W2W has become a powerful relationship-builder. Students who connect with us often use these relationships to access women in the fields they want to explore. These introductions have led to ongoing mentorships, shadowing opportunities and long-term professional connections. For many young women, W2W is the first place they meet someone doing the work they hope to do someday.
We also believe in celebrating young leaders publicly, amplifying their impact and showing the entire community what the next generation is capable of. Each year, W2W honors outstanding women through awards such as the ATHENA Award and the De Mujer a Mujer awards. Among these recognitions are two honors dedicated exclusively to young women.
The De Mujer a Mujer Young Changemaker Award, established seven years ago, celebrates a Latina student or young professional who demonstrates leadership, resilience and vision—someone already creating meaningful change in her school or community.
And new in 2025, the EmpowHER Award recognizes a young woman in Berks County who exemplifies W2W’s core values: leadership, empowerment, community impact and the pursuit of excellence. This award reflects our belief that today’s students are not just “future” leaders—they are leaders right now.
At its heart, W2W is about connection. Success often comes down to who you know—and the relationships formed within W2W can blossom into incredible possibilities. By nurturing young women, we’re not only shaping their futures; we’re shaping the future of Greater Reading. And from where we stand, that future looks very bright.