Our Mission
The Women and Leadership Alliance is a joint endeavor to support and promote student programs at The Claremont Colleges that will highlight issues faced by women in leadership in business, government and the professions.
How We Began
In 2010, students at CMC approached Sarah Smith Orr, then Executive Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute, to address the need for female leadership mentors on campus. This led to the creation of the first Women & Leadership Workshop, designed to support all Claremont College students in preparing for post-graduation opportunities and careers. The workshop also connected students with successful women leaders from fields such as law, non-profits, entrepreneurship, finance, consulting, entertainment, education, government service, marketing, and healthcare. Building on the momentum of the workshop’s success, the Women & Leadership Alliance was born.
In 2016, Susan and Thomas Handley generously made a pledge to establish an annual fund that would expose Claremont College students to the experiences of women professionals in various fields and help forge relationships between students and professionals across industries and generations. Today, this fund provides an annual budget which supports the Women and Leadership Workshop as well as other programs focused on women and leadership.
Who We Are
Currently, our programs are organized and led by representatives from the Kravis Leadership Institute, Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development, and the Mgrublian Center for Human Rights at Claremont McKenna College. However we welcome and encourage involvement from all of the educational institutions in Claremont and our annual programs are available to students, faculty and staff across the Claremont College Consortium.
2026 Women and Leadership Workshop
Friday, March 6th at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m
Best Self to Bold Breakthrough: How Women Build Confidence, Visibility, and Influence
“Many of us were taught to work hard, be helpful, wait our turn, and let our work speak for itself. That advice sounds noble but it often keeps women stuck, overlooked, or exhausted.”
The Women and Leadership Alliance will be holding its 17th annual workshop featuring Dr. Marilou Ryder, an author, speaker, and leadership strategist dedicated to advancing women’s confidence, visibility, and influence in work and life. She currently serves as the Program Chair for the University of Massachusetts Global doctoral program in organizational leadership, where she designs innovative leadership development experiences and mentors emerging leaders.
Dr. Ryder is also the author of multiple books for women, including the bestselling titles Promotion Power: Five Disruptive Career Moves for Modern Women and Self-Sabotage: Ten Personal Power Tips to be Your Best Self on a Good Day, which challenge women to rethink how they advocate for themselves, navigate workplace dynamics, and step into bold professional visibility. Through her speaking, writing, and publishing work, she equips women with practical strategies that translate directly into action and results. Known for her engaging, direct style and real-world insight, she inspires audiences to move from capable to confident and from potential to powerful impact.
In this high-impact session, Dr. Marilou Ryder blends real-world leadership experience, research, and practical tools to help women clarify their strengths, communicate their value, and show up with greater presence and credibility. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies that they can immediately apply to strengthen confidence, increase visibility, and move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose, regardless of their career stage or industry.
