WDN 2021
SUMMIT SPonsoRS
GOLD
BRONZE
Contributors to the
Sustainability of wdn
We are accepting applications for the 2025 Program - Apply Now!
Women’s Diversity Network (WDN) is committed to impacting the wage deficits and career opportunities for women and individuals from under-resourced and underinvested communities. $26.5 billion dollars are lost in some regions due to racial gaps in income. Women from historically marginalized groups are often paid the least, particularly when compared to their white counterparts, and as a result, many are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Many are also the primary earners in their households, responsible for the majority of financial obligations. These wealth inequities are both a product and a driver of systemic injustice, highlighting the critical need for targeted investment in underserved communities.
To help close this gap, WDN launched the Wealth Equity Fellowship, a 20-week workforce development initiative designed to support women and individuals from systemically marginalized backgrounds. The Fellowship bridges the wealth gap by exposing participants to diverse career pathways, building professional skills, and connecting them to mentors and advisors who support their growth into sustainable, higher-paying careers in growing industries.
Fellows take part in coaching sessions with experienced professionals, gaining skills in resume writing, interviewing, personal branding, salary negotiation, and networking. They also complete job-ready certification courses to strengthen their qualifications. Unlike many workforce development programs, WDN intentionally creates opportunities for fellows to build real connections with people who can open doors - because career advancement often depends not only on what you know, but who you know.
.png)
.png)
At the completion of the 20-week Wealth Equity Fellowship, the Program Manager schedules monthly mentoring sessions with each fellow. During these meetings, fellows develop their goals for the next 12 months. Through mentorship fellows receive guidance and support with those goals.
WDN connects them with a network of professionals working in their respective fields who serve on an advisory board for the Wealth Equity Fellowship. These advisors are available on an ad hoc basis for support
calls, connections to networking opportunities, and exposure to potential jobs in their respective fields.
The Project Manager and the fellows individually complete quarterly progress reports. Every other month a virtual or in-person support meeting is held that all of the fellows can attend. During these meetings, the fellows give updates on their successes and some of the areas they may be having difficulty navigating. These group sessions are an excellent way for fellows to provide and receive ongoing support from each other and their mentor, as well as brainstorm, and problem-solve collectively.
The fellowship support is open to any fellow that has completed the fellowship regardless of completion year. As the group grows the senior fellows mentor and share information and advice while the Program Manager facilitates. The goal is that upon completion of the program, fellows will have obtained a new career with a higher salary, entered into a training program, and/or received a promotion or salary increase.
For information about the Fellowship or becoming a Fellow, serving on the Advisory Board, or employer partnerships, contact Tanika Steele at tsteele@womensdiversitynetwork.org
This program is generously funded by
TD Bank Charitable Foundation and National Grid
