ATHENA Leadership Program

weVENTURE WBC is proud to partner with the ATHENA Leadership Institute for an eighth year! Today, the ATHENA Leadership Model® can help women transform their leadership skills and empower them to step up during these times of economic turmoil, and a worldwide movement for economic and racial justice, to be the leaders we need them to be. 

Based on the Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™ identified by ATHENA International, this course is designed to help emerging female leaders grow in confidence and clarity of purpose. Each class session is a dedicated deep dive into one of the principles with engaing discussion and activities that cultivate women on their personal growth journey while inspiring them to connect and share with others. 

LIVE AUTHENTICALLY                LEARN CONSTANTLY

     BUILD RELATIONSHIPS              FOSTER COLLABORATION

ACT COURAGEOUSLY                 ADVOCATE FIERCELY

GIVE BACK                            CELEBRATE

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Small Businesses 

Now more than ever, businesses are looking for tangible ways to diversify their workforce and equip emerging leaders with the tools they need to rise into management roles. 

Traditional leadership development is focused on teaching people management. However, we know management is very different than true leadership. Management-focused programs don’t teach individuals how to foster personal growth and development in themselves and others, or walk them through the process of self-discovery. ATHENA bridges this crucial gap.

Sponsoring an emerging leader from your business is a great way to invest in her career development and connect her to the weVENTURE WBC and ATHENA International network of women. This provides supplemental ongoing  enrichment opportunities during and after participants in the ATHENA Leadership Program learn core curriculum competencies. 

Invest in Emerging Female Leaders at Florida Tech

This leadership training empowers our next generation of leaders by inspiring college-age  participants (undergraduate and graduate) along their journey of self-discovery helping them to cultivate their authenticleadership style. It serves as a springboard for dynamic discussions and activities focused on cultivating vital interpersonal skills, including effective communication, interviewing, presentation, networking, and negotiation.

This unique blend of self-reflection, skill refinement, and mentorship opportunities aims to equip participants with essential workforce skills, preparing them to thrive in their future pursuits. By encouraging these young leaders to embrace and assert their voices, the training empowers them to make a positive impact on their surroundings. 

Each year, Zonta of Melbourne provides 2 scholarships to Florida Tech students to participate in the Athena Leadership Program.  If you are interested in sponsoring a student scholarship, contact weVENTURE@fit.edu today.  Or, sponsor a student cohort (10 women) and help expand this impactful program throughout campus. 

2024 Program Details

2024 Brevard Cohort: In this 8-month program, the cohort meets on the fourth Thursday of the month. Apr. 25; May 23; Jun. 27; Jul. 25; Aug. 22; Sep. 26; Oct. 24; Nov. 12, December TBD.  All sessions are from 8:30am-10:30am at Florida Tech's Center for Aeronautics and Innovation, 1050 W. Nasa Blvd, Melbourne.  Kathryn Rudloff, weVENTURE Executive Director and Certified ATHENA International trainer will be facilitating each class. 

While in-person attendance is suggested, accommodations to participate via Zoom are always available, making this fantastic program accessible to the busiest of working women. 

If we receive interest from at least 10 women in Indian River and St. Lucie Counties, we can confirm an in-person cohort on the Treasure Coast. Email us today if you would like to help bring this exceptional program to Indian River and St. Lucie Counties.  

Program cost: $700   

ATHENA participants will have access to:

  • coaching opportunities 
  • capacity building seminars 
  • group communications 
  • networking opportunities 
  • volunteer engagement through weVENTURE WBC

Participants in the program are also invited to join us at Strong Coffee Strong Women events and our 2024 IMPACT Summit in October at no extra cost.

Limited partial scholarships are made available by generous support from the Zonta Club of Melbourne, and private donors. Please inquire with weVENTURE WBC to learn more

Please contact us if you are interested.  weventure@fit.edu  

Jillian Leclerc
ATHENA

As an up-and-coming leader within the Florida Tech community, the skills I learned throughout last year's program have already helped me in advancing my career and creating positive changes within my team.

I left each month's meeting feeling empowered to go out into the community and share the Athena leadership values that lead to more healthy and productive workplaces.

2020 was a challenging year for everyone and having this network of supportive women to connect and share with on a consistent basis each month was a blessing - it could not have been better timing for us to participate in this program!”

Abby Hemenway
ATHENA

“One of the best investments I made in my professional growth was signing up for Athena NextGen. Meeting and connecting with other professional women in our community from all walks of life was really eye opening for me in evaluating how we all share the same struggles, highs, and lows, when it comes to making space for ourselves in the workforce.

Learning the Athena principles helped me navigate new ways to value my strengths and areas of opportunity, but best of all - this experience afforded me the chance to learn from like-minded women who were inspiring, supportive, and genuine.”

Caeley Looney
ATHENA

“I went into the program just hoping to absorb as much knowledge, tips, and leadership advice as I could; and I left not only with a diverse range of new skills to bring back to my organization but with a community of incredible, empowering women that I know I can continue to turn to and ask for help.

The level of empowering collaboration I witnessed in this program, even in a virtual setting, truly was something I never experienced before. I honestly believe that I am a much better leader today than I was when I first started in the ATHENA program, and I know that my organization is going to benefit from my ability to now make a bigger impact towards our mission.”

Jackie Noto
ATHENA

“I would highly recommend AthenaNextGen by weVENTURE to any leader. In my experience, this workshop is an interdisciplinary environment of supportive and inspirational women. I made valuable connections and learned skills that will further me in both my professional and personal life.”