OUR INSIGHTS

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"Moving forward together. Women Inspiring and Educating Generations. That's this year's theme for Women's History Month, and it resonates with us at WBC. For years, our Collaborative's marching orders have been: "Faster Together" so all generations of women can thrive in the workplace." -Gwen Young

As CEO of Women Business Collaborative (WBC), I am privileged to interact with a universe of women who combine grit and talent to succeed, and to pave the way for others to succeed. I am especially fortunate because I witness the contributions of amazing women, not only on International Women’s Day, not only during Women’s History Month, but all year long.

Here are just four examples of how women are elevating the corporate landscape:

 

Funding the Underserved

Kim FolsomKim T. Folsom
Founder, Chairperson & CEO
Founders First Capital Partners

A self-defined “serial entrepreneur,” having launched six companies before starting her present firm, Kim puts an innovative and inclusive spin on providing capital. Founders First Capital Partners offers non-dilutive financing to entrepreneurs who aren’t traditional recipients of capital assistance. The goal: funding, loans, and advisory services to help founders become leading job creators in their underrepresented communities

Inclusivity is key to Kim’s mission, with her firm focusing on businesses led by women, people of color, Hispanics, LGBTQ+, military veterans, diverse teams, and those in low to moderate-income areas.

By creating a firm that serves underrepresented entrepreneurs, Kim successfully turns a profit while helping others turn a corner.

2 Glass Ceilings Shattered

Arian AvilaArian Avila
Vice President, Safety and Security
Capital One

Security and Finance—two areas where you don’t find many high-level women. But you will find Arian making her mark, not just at Capital One, but throughout her industry. For example, Security Magazine named her one of 2024’s Most Influential People in Security.

Her contributions are long and varied in disciplines often under-populated by women. Prior to Capital One, she spent 14 years in Corporate Security at Bank of America, leading a multitude of teams including reporting and analytics, intelligence, safety strategy, technology, communications, and governance.

Arian continues to “pay it back” in a variety of ways. She is the co-executive sponsor and founding member of the Global Security Pride Committee, and a member of the WBC Champion Network where she is a staunch advocate for women in business.

Kate GreenbergTaking the Ball and Running with It

Kate Greenberg
Vice President, Team Business & Event Operations 
DC Defenders – United Football League (UFL)

Making her mark in an industry that’s often thought of as an all man’s world, Kate has a long and successful history in the sports management area. She has a proven track record of revenue growth, social responsibility, news-making initiatives, high-profile partnerships, large-scale activations, talent management, and service excellence.

Kate was especially instrumental in helping the UFL achieve wide-range popularity as a spring football league during its inaugural season in 2024. For the 2025 season, she has been a major driver in the formation of the DC Defenders Kids Club which Kate explains as “another example of why a Defenders game is a premier destination for a family-friendly experience.”

Kate is passionately committed to the importance of sports for women, and demonstrates that passion in a variety of ways, including coaching a women’s soccer team.

Edie FraserA Life-Long Trailblazer

Edie Fraser
Founder & Board Chair
Women Business Collaborative

From her earliest career days, Edie was committed to public service, joining the Peace Corps, and serving as a Desk Officer for Africa. As Founder of WBC, she has created not just a non-profit organization, but a movement of over 85 partners, champions and supporters committed to accelerating equal pay, position, and power for all businesswomen.

Prior to WBC, Edie, a consummate entrepreneur, built three companies and several movements including Founder and CEO of STEMconnector® and Million Women Mentors®(MWM)–with 2.5 million commitments. She is also the author of Women’s Entrepreneurship in America and seven other books.

Edie’s contributions to the advancement of women in the workplace are legendary. Her numerous accomplishments, over a lifetime of service, have been acknowledged with 56 major leadership awards, induction into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame, and Diversity Women’s Mosaic Award.

Moving Forward Together! 

Women Inspiring and Educating Generations

That’s this year’s theme for Women’s History Month, and it resonates with us at WBC. For years, our Collaborative’s marching orders have been: “Faster Together” so all generations of women can thrive in the workplace. “Faster Together” serves both as our calling card and our call to action. And it is paying off. Our numbers are growing, and our initiatives are making a difference for all women. Why? Because while we wholeheartedly honor Women’s History Month, we see it as just one more month to do the work.

Join us, won’t you?

Author

  • Gwen K. Young

    Gwen K. Young is the CEO of the Women Business Collaborative. She is also a Visiting Scholar at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University and former Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Wilson Center. She is an Advisor to Concordia. Ms. Young has worked across the globe to promote economic development, good governance and peace. She has developed strategy, programming and advocacy in the areas of humanitarian policy, international affairs and international development. This includes developing public private partnerships focused on public health, agriculture, gender equality, and access to finance. Further, Ms. Young has advocated for and published on international criminal law and designed SGBV guidelines. As an attorney, Ms. Young has worked as a professional advocate for women and human rights in corporate law settings, with the ICTY and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. Gwen K. Young is the CEO of the Women Business Collaborative. She is also a Visiting Scholar at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University and former Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Wilson Center. She is an Advisor to Concordia. Ms. Young has worked across the globe to promote economic development, good governance and peace. She has developed strategy, programming and advocacy in the areas of humanitarian policy, international affairs and international development. This includes developing public private partnerships focused on public health, agriculture, gender equality, and access to finance. Further, Ms. Young has advocated for and published on international criminal law and designed SGBV guidelines. As an attorney, Ms. Young has worked as a professional advocate for women and human rights in corporate law settings, with the ICTY and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. Her career has encompassed a comprehensive array of international organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Rescue Committee, and the Harvard Institute for International Development. An alumna of Smith College, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the University of California Davis, School of Law, Ms. Young has pursued a career of international public service focused on humanitarian relief, international development, and human rights starting with gender equality and equity.

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