Women in Leadership

JOIN OUR NEXT MEETING

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNER,

ENTREPRENEUR,

EMERGING LEADER,

ESTABLISHED LEADER,

OR SIMPLY CALLED TO LEAD

YOUR HOME FOR

NETWORKING, SUPPORT, RESOURCES, & MENTORSHIP

Resources & Support

When you come to a WIL meeting you become a part of a supportive, empowering community of women. Our goal is to support, encourage, inspire, and provide access to resources to support you in your leadership journey.

Our mission is to remove barriers to access the resources you need to lead. As a business owner, entrepreneur, professional, or community leader, WIL is here to support you and help you build bridges to your success.

YOUR HOME FOR

NETWORKING, SUPPORT, RESOURCES, & MENTORSHIP

Resources

& Support

Networking & Mentorship

You can't be successful alone!

Every WIL meeting focuses on helping you make the right connections and build the community you need to to thrive. You will be welcomed into a space with a diverse group of women who are gathered together in common goals.

At each meeting there will be time devoted to small group networking where you can make real connections that make a difference in your success.

Our speakers are hand-picked to provide the skills, mentorship, and resources that will help guide you on your leadership journey.

Networking

& Mentorship

You can't be successful alone!

JOIN OUR NEXT MEETING

Our Story

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...

Access

Our mission is to remove barriers to access the resources, support, and skills you need to advance as a leader. Our meeting fee is kept low so that all women can attend our monthly meeting and receive the benefits of joining our community.

If you have financial difficulty and can't afford the meeting fee, you can reach out to Carissa and discuss options to get your fee waived.

Resources

We want to help you access the all the resources you need to succeed! Each meeting will include a speaker who has true value to provide to our community.

We carefully select our speakers so that you will leave each meeting with a new skill, increased confidence, and valuable tools so you can grow as a leader.

Community

One of your most valuable resources as an established or emerging leader is your community and your connections. You will find both here at WIL.

We aim to create a space that nurtures connection and networking as you establish valuable relationships and friendships with other women leaders. When you come to WIL you WILL feel the power of women lifting one another up.

FOUNDER AND SUPPORTERS

CARISSA KARNER

FOUNDER

Carissa is a licensed psychotherapist, a certified public speaking & leadership coach, and a fierce supporter of women.

She owns two businesses in Lakewood and has recently helped her husband, Brent Karner, start his entomological supply business in Los Angeles.

Carissa has also spoken and performed on 1000s of stages large and small; you can view here TEDX talk here.

She started WIL as a way to bring women together, because together we are stronger. Together our success is magnified. Together we WIL!

ARIEL PE

LAKEWOOD VICE MAYOR

As a Lakewood City council member, successful business owner, Vice Mayor of Lakewood, and the father of an amazing daughter, Ari has long been an advocate of women.

Ari has long been a true servant leader in the city of Lakewood, through his business, church, volunteering, and civic engagement.

He put his support behind this project when it was just a twinkle in Carissa's eye, and has been instrumental in it's creation from the very beginning.

RUBICELIA PRIETO (RUBI)

OWNER, LA CALACA BLANCA & RUBI SCHOOL

Rubi is the owner of La Calaca Blanca, where she creates stunning Day of the Dead calavera, artwork, and candles. She is in the process of starting a second business of an in home preschool designed to provide a caring and creative space for little ones to thrive.

Rubi and Carissa met at the 2023 Women's Conference, and it was though a conversation that they shared that inspired WIL to be born.