Women’s Empowerment
Giving Women the power to CHOOSE…
The Wells International Foundation’s women’s empowerment initiatives are anchored in our L³ Alliance (L³ = lifestyle, legacy, and leading by example).
We holistically support women leaders so they can achieve life balance and advance their personal and professional projects with clarity, authenticity, and aligned action.
Our Initiatives
The Wells International Foundation (WIF) believes that the power to change the world lies in the hearts, minds, and hands of women. Through this Strategic Focus Area (SFA), we support women in strengthening their leadership, expanding their influence, and creating meaningful change in their own lives, in their professions, and in their communities.
For WIF, women’s empowerment is about more than achievement alone. It is about helping women build the mindset, skills, support systems, and balance they need to thrive—and to do so in ways that are sustainable, generous, and deeply rooted in purpose. Mentoring is a central priority, as we see it as one of the most powerful ways successful women can give back.
Why this focus area matters
When women are empowered, the impact extends far beyond any one individual. Families, workplaces, and communities benefit from the ideas, resilience, and vision women bring to the world.
That is why WIF invests in opportunities that help corporate and entrepreneurial women develop professionally and personally while also encouraging connection, mutual support, and a culture of philanthropy. We see empowerment not simply as advancement, but as the freedom and capacity to choose, lead, contribute, and flourish.
Our work in Women’s Empowerment
Through this SFA, WIF provides opportunities for women to:
- Adopt the mindset and learn the skills they need to succeed professionally and personally
- Receive emotional and logistical support to bolster their success
- Cultivate a culture of philanthropy and create opportunities for others
You can create tangible, positive change in people’s lives!
…there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.
~ Kofi Annan
Stories of Women’s Empowerment
Intersection of Art and Politics
Samantha (Sam) Dougherty is a rising senior at Pennsylvania State University who is majoring in political science and minoring in media studies. In alignment with her major, she has written a paper on the intersection of political science with art.Read it...
2021 Wells International Foundation Summer Internship
In 2021, after a forced year of hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, WIF welcomed an undergraduate student into our summer internship program through a collaboration with CEA Study Abroad France. Samantha (Sam) Dougherty is a rising senior at Pennsylvania State...
How to Find My Support System and Encouragement during COVID and Beyond
WIF’s first mentoring event for undergraduate and graduate school women was a collaboration between the L³ Alliance and the American University of Paris held via Zoom on March 10, 2021. This evening of reflection and learning began with opening remarks by AUP...




