For more than 10 years, the Chamber has been honored to convene executive women from a wide variety of industries at informal networking receptions with the goal of mentoring and retaining our women talent in San Antonio. What originally began as a way to create connections with our Senior Military Women Leaders, who we hoped would choose San Antonio as their forever home after their military service ends, has now expanded into a family of women (military and civilian) lifting up each other and planning opportunities to sustain their professional and personal success. These events also create an awareness of key movements in San Antonio with the same mission.
The Chamber’s Woman to Woman, Leader to Leader (WWLL) Committee continues to be a force for uplifting and engaging women, as well as targeting senior leaders in many influential businesses from large national organizations to smaller woman-owned startups. We aim to align the WWLL mission with the host and the theme of the event, which is to connect Military and C-Suite women leaders to authentically deepen relationships through engagement, while creating opportunities to help emerging leaders for the future.
Our first event for 2020 was hosted at St. Philip’s College by Dr. Adena Loston. “It was our pleasure to host the Woman-to-Woman, Leader-to-Leader reception and share the rich history of St. Philip’s College. Having some of the most powerful women leaders in San Antonio on our campus allowed our student leaders an opportunity to experience the ultimate in female empowerment,” said Loston. “Further, we had the opportunity to share the legacy and impact of two iconic women — Saint Artemisia Bowden, our founding president with 52 years of service to SPC, and the Honorable Lila Cockrell, San Antonio’s first female mayor and a prolific art collector who supported the college through her generous gifts.” More than 50 ladies joined in casual conversation, relationship building, and learning about the initiatives that St. Philip’s College offers to their female students and staff.
“Dr. Loston and her team of dedicated educators are making a difference in the lives of our young people. I personally want to thank the St. Phillips’ team for how they truly inspired all of us,” said Jimmie Keenan, Sr. Vice President of Enterprise Clinic Operations for WellMed Medical Management, Inc and WWLL Co-Chair. Founder and Co-Chair, Johnette Lee, Vice President Sales and Marketing for the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, added, “Dr. Loston is an excellent mentor and example for all women. What makes this group so incredible is the joining of women from all industries and paths improving the outcome for all.”
We are looking forward to future events in 2020! If you are a C-Suite Executive or a Senior Military Leader, we would welcome you to join us. Please email Lori Stinson, Vice President of Military Affairs and Leadership Development, at lstinson@sachamber.org.
