Chicago Women's Leadership Accelerator

The Power to Rise: Where Women's Leadership Takes the Spotlight

Business EN ↓ 5 episodes

The Power to Rise is a leadership podcast brought to you by the Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator (CWLA), a mission-driven initiative dedicated to narrowing the leadership gap and expanding access to meaningful, inclusive leadership development for women across industries and career stages. Hosted by CWLA co-founders Cindu Thomas-George and Alicia Del Real, each episode features recognized senior leaders and explores the lived experiences, leadership journeys, challenges, and lessons that shape how women lead and how they rise in today’s workplaces and communities.

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Chicago Women's Leadership Accelerator

Episodes

The Power of Social Capital: How Pauline Chow Built Influence, Trust, and Opportunity 06.07.2026 42:19

What if your network wasn't just a collection of contacts, but one of the most powerful leadership assets you possess? In this episode of The Power to Rise , we sit down with Pauline P. Chow , Managing Director, Principal, and Chief ComplianceOfficer at Birch Lake , to explore the role social capital has played in her remarkable career journey. As the daughter of immigrants and the first emplo...

Betting on Yourself: Dr. Kathleen Caliento on Leadership, Risk & Reinvention 27.05.2026 53:24

In this episode of The Power to Rise , we sit down with Dr. Kathleen Caliento CEO of The Revel Group, for an inspiring conversation about career inflection points, taking bold risks, and rising to the C-suite with intention and courage. Kathleen shares her journey from the delivering newspapers to executive leadership, reflecting on the pivotal moments, challenges, and decisions that shaped her pa...

Rising Beyond Self-Doubt: Kimberly Manuel Dickens on the Path to the C-Suite 16.04.2026 45:08

In this episode of The Power to Rise , we sit down with Kimberly Dickens to explore her journey to the C-suite and the role that overcoming self doubt played along the way. Kimberly unpacks what it takes to step into bigger opportunities before you feel fully ready, build confidence over time, and find your voice in high-stakes leadership spaces. Kimberly shares powerful insights on navigating imp...

Resilience, Relationships, and Rising with Desiree Vargas Wrigley 23.02.2026 42:38

In this episode of The Power to Rise , we sit down with Desiree Vargas Wrigley — Co-Founder of the Chicago Women's Leadership Accelerator (CWLA), Founding GP of Velocity Catalyst , Co-Founder of The Josephine Collective , and serial entrepreneur behind GiveForward, Pearachute, TechRise, and Capital Summit. Desiree shares how resilience has shaped her leadership through both professional succes...

When Women Rise Together: Building Community, Leadership, and Change 03.02.2026 25:50

Welcome to the very first episode of The Power to Rise . In this premiere episode, co-hosts Cindu Thomas-George and Alicia Del Real introduce the heart behind the Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator (CWLA) — how it began, why it exists, and the vision driving it forward. They share their personal leadership journeys, the urgent need for accessible and inclusive leadership development for women,...