Radiant Leadership Institute Testimonials
Overview
Hear from our Radiant graduates on their experiences.
Doria Josma
Doria Josma
My name is Doria Josma and I am a proud graduate of the inaugural WOC Radiant Leadership Institute! This has been such an insightful, inspiring, and indelible experience, and I feel so blessed to be a part of this WOC community of fundraisers and philanthropists. Prior to joining WOC, I wasn’t too confident about the available resources tailored for women of color because I was never really introduced to any and it always felt as if I had to mine for them, which can be VERY exhausting.
Fortunately, I instantly discovered WOCFP last year and I just have to brag on how the Radiant Leadership Institute program has been incredibly impactful in preparing me for my overarching career in philanthropy. From the facilitators, coursework, and my cohort peers, I believe this experience has put me on a trajectory that will allow me to surpass barriers, and go above and beyond with my endeavors. No more playing small!
That RLI has stretched my mindset and confidence, equipped me with much needed tools, and welcomed me with open arms into a community (more like family) of brilliant, accomplished, and ambitious women of color shows how game changing this initiative is. Many thanks to Yolanda and the entire WOCFP team - please keep up the excellent work! I cannot wait to see what more you have in store for all of us!♥️
Tricia Snyder and Bely Luu
Tricia Snyder and Bely Luu
We met in the inaugural cohort of the Radiant Leadership Institute that started in Winter/Spring 2021. We were at home due to the pandemic and in the midst of the George Floyd protests. Anti-Asian sentiment was high. Needless to say, it was a strange time. We came together to learn about fundraising and philanthropy, and ended up creating a support system - not just professionally but personally - as women of color in the sector, as Asian women in a time of rising Anti-Asian hate, and as moms to young children (who were at home with us!). We also bonded over our shared passion for fundraising and DEI and proximity in geography in the West Coast (Tricia grew up in the Pacific Northwest before moving to LA and Bely lives in Seattle.)
We still have regular check-ins to catch-up and bounce ideas off of each other. We reach out when we need anything professionally. We have also met in person with our families! Last summer, we all spent the day together in Seattle exploring the science center. Our daughters, happen to be the same age, have never met each other, but hit it off immediately.