Leatherby Center and Brea Business Leaders Address Underrepresentation of Women | Chapman Newsroom

Chapman University’s Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics was selected as the Inclusive Innovation Hub for Orange County, fueled by the support of the Accelerate California CalOSBA (ACC CA) grant. Collaborating with the Brea Chamber of Commerce, the Leatherby Center is supporting a transformative initiative: the Women Rising Leadership Academy (WRLA).

“The Leatherby Center is the key sponsor of this women’s workforce development program, which focuses on coaching mid-career women to get promoted to upper tiers in the companies they work for,” said Cynthia West, Ph.D., director of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics and associate professor. “As the focus of the ACC CA grant is to advance women, female founders, people of color, veterans and other underserved communities, the Women Rising Leadership Academy aligns perfectly with our objectives.”

The WRLA addresses the underrepresentation of women in top leadership ranks. Through a series of dynamic and targeted workshops, participants gain invaluable insights and strategies to overcome career barriers.

“I’ve learned to not take on others’ leadership styles,” said Sierra McCoy, a WRLA participant. “You might actually be holding yourself back if you’re trying to be a version of a leader that they are.”

The WRLA consists of eight intensive workshops, each designed to tackle specific challenges hindering women’s advancement. The 2023-2024 WRLA cohort is composed of 75 working women and female business owners receiving one-on-one coaching with experienced executive coaches to move forward in their careers.

“Supporting mid-career women to advance to positions of leadership in Orange County is just one of our lofty goals associated with our Accelerate California, CalOSBA grant,” said West. “Our partnership with the Brea Chamber of Commerce is an invaluable piece of our overall strategy.”

Lacy Schoen, president and CEO of the Brea Chamber of Commerce and founder of the WRLA, underscored the championing of diversity as a fundamental practice of modern business strategy.

“Gender diversity is the business strategy of our time,” said Schoen. “I’ve devoted a bulk of my career to helping working women overcome barriers, including founding WRLA, and we’re proud of the groundbreaking results the graduates are having and as proud to partner with the Chapman University Leatherby Center on such an important issue.”