New Initiative at Virginia Tech Aims to Boost Women’s Leadership Opportunities

Fourteen women have established the Inspiring Women in Lifetime Leadership (I WILL) initiative at Virginia Tech. The group, made up of alumnae, faculty, staff and other friends of the university, seeks to develop educational leadership opportunities for women at the university and beyond.

Holly Means, a 1989 graduate of Virginia Tech who is an independent marketing strategy consultant with 20 years of experience at Johnson & Johnson Inc., notes that “ultimately, the goal of I WILL is to foster a mindset, especially among young women, that leadership is about making a difference. I WILL provides an opportunity to support young women when they are developing skill sets for their personal and professional growth as they embark on their careers. Alumnae can serve as a tremendous resource for current students in their college experiences, with information about career paths, key factors for success, and pitfalls to avoid.”

I Will’s vision is simple: Inspire women; impact the world. Means explains that “at the heart of this phrase is the belief that everyone, any anyone, has the ability to make a difference in the world. Even the smallest act can have a big impact. Everyone has the ability to lead in their own way.”