ATHENA Enlightened
Leaders
Our 2025-2026 Virtual ATHENA Enlightened Leaders’ Cohort 7 Program will be starting this coming fall!
Want to learn more about our program? Join us for one of our informational sessions.
Now Accepting Applications for Cohort 7!
The 2025–2026 Virtual ATHENA Enlightened Leaders’ Program begins this fall.
Are you ready to grow as a confident, values-driven leader? Join a powerful community of women committed to lifting each other up while making a meaningful impact.
Cohort 7 kicks off this fall — apply now to reserve your spot and start your leadership journey!
Have questions? Please contact us at ael@athenaofthetriangle.org.
The deadline to apply is August 29, 2025.
What is ATHENA Enlightened Leaders?
Presented by ATHENA of the Triangle, this social learning program is a series of highly interactive workshops each focused on an ATHENA Leadership Principle. The program is open to any woman, whether early in her career or who already has some leadership experience, who wants to improve her leadership skills while supporting a network of like-minded leaders.
What’s the Format of the Sessions?
Participants will come together in a collaborative and non-competitive space to share personal challenges and experiences. There will be some pre-reading in the “Becoming ATHENA” book and assessments from an accompanying workbook to set the tone before each session. Learning within the sessions will be reinforced through external speakers, and experiential learning activities. The 2025-2026 program will include one 90-minute virtual session (8:30-10:30 am) on the first Thursday of each month. In addition, there will be 4 in person events including our annual ATHENA fall luncheon, Orientation & Goal Setting, Vision Boarding & Optimizing LinkedIn, and our ATHENA spring conference.
What are some Soft Skills I can expect to build?
This program will focus on concepts such as staying true to yourself as a leader, continuing to learn by staying curious, embracing failure, and building relationships. Additionally, soft skills like creative and creative thinking, decision-making, networking, time management, problem solving, and conflict resolution will also be part of the sessions.
How do I work on building these skills between sessions?
Each participant receives a workbook that will contain materials, videos, and other resources that can be used for additional personal reflection and/or inspiration. Many of the principles also contain “pre-tests” that help you gauge how you feel before and after the sessions. This will allow each participant to keep a close watch on their growth and development, and ask for additional help when they need it.
How much does it cost?
The entire workshop series is $850. That includes all materials, ATHENA fall & spring events, and small group interaction with experienced leaders and career coaches. Scholarships are available based on need. Contact us at AEL@ATHENATriangle.org if interested.
What Makes us Unique?
The content contributors are highly accomplished individuals. Some hold doctorates, some win awards (including one from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), and some have consulted with prestigious organizations (such as the United Nations)! Although the program is based on women in leadership, we recognize the importance of male support in our growth. Therefore, some of the accomplished leaders at each session will be men.
The content contributors are highly accomplished individuals. Some hold doctorates, some win awards (including one from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), and some have consulted with prestigious organizations (such as the United Nations)! Although the program is based on women in leadership, we recognize the importance of male support in our growth. Therefore, some of the accomplished leaders at each session will be men.
Our 2024 program consisted of 8 local speakers who add real-life experiences to each principle.
2024/2025 ATHENA Enlightened Leaders Speakers
Event | Speakers |
Live Authentically | Dr. Saundra Wall Williams, Speaker, Trainer, Mentor, Coach |
Learn Constantly | Amanda Love, Leadership, Career, and Life Coach |
Build Relationships | Marty Viser, Community Relations and Communications Manager at BASF |
Foster Collaboration | Niya Fonville Swint, Chief Community Engagement, Legal Aid of North Carolina |
Advocate Fiercely | J. Dwayne Garnett, Love Advocate, Conflict Navigator, Value-Based Educator, Empowerment Speaker, Thought Partner, & Leadership Developer |
Act Courageously | Andora Hinton, CEO, Leadership Expert, Speaker |
Give Back | Amber Smith, CEO – Activate Good |
Celebrate | Channte Keith, Director of Programs Center for Black Health Equity |

Dr. Saundra Wall Williams
Speaker, Trainer, Mentor, Coach

Amanda Love
Leadership, Career, and Life Coach

Channte Keith
Director of Programs Center for Black Health Equity

Amber Smith
CEO - Activate Good

Marty Viser
Community Relations and Communications Manager at BASF

Niya Fonville Swint
Chief Community Engagement, Legal Aid of North Carolina

Andora Hinton
CEO, Leadership Expert, Speaker, Willow North Growth Partners

J. Dwayne Garnett
Love Advocate, Conflict Navigator, Value-Based Educator, Empowerment Speaker, Thought Partner, & Leadership Developer
Select Previous Speakers

Mira Brancu
Founder and CEO of Towerscope

Charmaine Riggins
SVP Business Systems Office, Vontier

Virgina Parker
SVP/Triangle Market Mgr, Bank of America

Sherry Essig
Executive and Life Coach, Flow Dynamix

Ada Lopez
Manager, Product Diversity Lenovo

Donald Thompson
CEO & Co-Founder, The Diversity Movement

Doug Stewart
Storyteller, Speaker, Author 5 1/2 Mentors

Jes Averhart
Founder & Creator of Reinvention Road Trip
Questions? Please email us at: ael@athenaofthetriangle.org

Now Accepting Applications for Cohort 7!
The 2025–2026 Virtual ATHENA Enlightened Leaders’ Program begins this fall.
Are you ready to grow as a confident, values-driven leader? Join a powerful community of women committed to lifting each other up while making a meaningful impact.
Cohort 7 kicks off this fall — apply now to reserve your spot and start your leadership journey!
To find out more about this program, please contact us at ael@athenaofthetriangle.org.
What is ATHENA Enlightened Leaders?
Presented by ATHENA of the Triangle, this social learning program is a series of highly interactive workshops each focused on an ATHENA Leadership Principle. The program is open to any woman, whether early in her career or who already has some leadership experience, who wants to improve her leadership skills while supporting a network of like-minded leaders.
What’s the Format of the Sessions?
Participants will come together in a collaborative and non-competitive space to share personal challenges and experiences. There will be some pre-reading in the “Becoming ATHENA” book and assessments from an accompanying workbook to set the tone before each session. Learning within the sessions will be reinforced through external speakers, and experiential learning activities. The 2024-2025 program will include one 90-minute virtual session (8:30-10:30 am) on the first Thursday of each month. In addition, there will be 4 in person events including our annual ATHENA fall luncheon, Orientation & Goal Setting, Vision Boarding & Optimizing LinkedIn, and our ATHENA spring conference.
What are some Soft Skills I can expect to build?
This program will focus on concepts such as staying true to yourself as a leader, continuing to learn by staying curious, embracing failure, and building relationships. Additionally, soft skills like creative and creative thinking, decision-making, networking, time management, problem solving, and conflict resolution will also be part of the sessions.
How do I work on building these skills between sessions?
Each participant receives a workbook that will contain materials, videos, and other resources that can be used for additional personal reflection and/or inspiration. Many of the principles also contain “pre-tests” that help you gauge how you feel before and after the sessions. This will allow each participant to keep a close watch on their growth and development, and ask for additional help when they need it.
How much does it cost?
The entire workshop series is $850. That includes all materials, ATHENA fall & spring events, and small group interaction with experienced leaders and career coaches. Scholarships are available based on need. Contact us at AEL@ATHENATriangle.org if interested.
What Makes us Unique?
Our 2024 program consisted of 8 local speakers who add real-life experiences to each principle.
2023/2024 ATHENA Enlightened Leaders Speakers
Event | Speakers |
Live Authentically | Dr. Saundra Wall Williams, Speaker, Trainer, Mentor, Coach |
Learn Constantly | Mira Brancu, Psychologist – Founder and CEO of Towerscope |
Build Relationships | Virigina Parker, SVP/Triangle Market Bank Mgr, Bank of America |
Foster Collaboration | Niya Fonville Swint, Chief Community Engagement, Legal Aid of North Carolina |
Advocate Fiercely | Doug Stewart – Storyteller, Speaker, Author 5 1/2 Mentors |
Act Courageously | Ada Lopez, Manager, Product Diversity Lenovo |
Give Back | Amber Smith, CEO – Activate Good |
Celebrate | Channte Keith, Director of Programs Center for Black Health Equity |

Dr. Saundra Wall Williams
Speaker, Trainer, Mentor, Coach

Mira Brancu
Founder and CEO of Towerscope

Channte Keith
Director of Programs Center for Black Health Equity

Amber Smith
CEO - Activate Good

Virgina Parker
SVP/Triangle Market Mgr, Bank of America

Niya Fonville Swint
Chief Community Engagement, Legal Aid of North Carolina

Ada Lopez
Manager, Product Diversity Lenovo

Doug Stewart
Storyteller, Speaker, Author 5 1/2 Mentors
Select Previous Speakers

Charmaine Riggins
SVP Business Systems Office, Vontier

Sherry Essig
Executive and Life Coach, Flow Dynamix

Donald Thompson
CEO & Co-Founder, The Diversity Movement

Jes Averhart
Founder & Creator of Reinvention Road Trip
Questions? Please email us at: ael@athenaofthetriangle.org