The founder of WIL, Carissa Karner, has been a supporter of women and women's empowerment since her days as an undergrad at Smith College, an all-women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts.

She has been helping women heal and find their voice in her psychotherapy practice, as a leadership & speaking coach, and through her women's groups for the past decade. 

When she attended the Women's Conference put on by Speaker Anthony Rendon in early 2023, she had a vision...

The idea for Women in Leadership (WIL) was ignited on March 25, 2023, when Carissa Karner attended the Women's Leadership Conference, orchestrated by Speaker Anthony Rendon, in the heart of Lynwood, California. 

The conference was a celebration of women’s empowerment, and of women lifting one another up through support and community. 

While chatting with other women at her table, a fellow conference attendee looked around at the diverse group of women talking, sharing, and networking, and she turned to Carissa and declared, "We should do this all the time”. 

Carissa took a pause. "Yes," she thought, "We really should. How can we make that happen?" 

Rubi came back to the table beaming, and said “we are going to meet to talk more!” Carissa thought to herself, "THIS is the power of women supporting women. This is women's empowerment in action. Just by supporting one another we can take actions that we might not have taken alone."

 Inspired by this powerful interaction, Carissa felt an unshakeable determination to make the dream of a regular women's group, a group to encourage, inspire, and create a strong supportive community, a reality. She wanted to create a space that was inclusive and accessible to all women. She says, "I saw how we can lift each other up, how we can spark courage in each other, and all women deserve to have access to that." The vision of our Women in Leadership group was born.