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

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 success and personal hardship. She unpacks the power of energy management, how to leverage relationships to expand access and opportunity, and why women must think differently about wealth and influence.She also offers practical insight on spotting and developing junior talent — helping emerging leaders rise before they fully see their own potential.This is a conversation about strength, strategy, capital, and what it truly means to lead with intention.

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, and what makes CWLA different from traditional leadership programs.This episode sets the foundation for the conversations to come — featuring thoughtful, accomplished women leaders sharing real stories, practical insights, and lessons from their leadership journeys.In this episode, you’ll hear about:• The origin story of CWLA and how friendship turned into a leadership movement• Why early- and mid-career women need more equitable access to leadership development• The research behind persistent gender gaps in leadership• What makes CWLA’s model unique — emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and community• What to expect from future episodes of The Power to RiseComing Next:Our first featured guest will be CWLA co-founder and strategist Desiree Vargas Wrigley, sharing her leadership journey and lessons.🎧 Subscribe, follow, and join us as we rise — together.