Our Vision

Strengthen local government by achieving a gender-balanced leadership team.

Our Mission

To prepare and promote women into leadership roles in local government, especially as City
Managers/Administrators.

Our Background, Purpose, and Objectives

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) convened a Task Force on Women in the Profession in 2012 to evaluate whether the number of women ascending to the top executive positions had increased since 1976, when the first Task Force on Women in the Profession had convened. In 2014, the ICMA membership reported that approximately 14.4% of Chief Administrative Officers are women.  

In 2017, this academy was a concept at the WCMA Summer conference.  In a packed conference room, ready and willing volunteers from across the state said "YES!" to move from idea to action!   

Since that launch, the determined NWWLA team lifted the concept from paper to reality, launching its first cohort in September 2017.  Thirty-one members of cohort one graduated in June 2019; with a pause-and-pivot for cohort two, thirty graduated in March 2021; and, still virtual, our third cohort of thirty-five graduated in May of 2022, and our fourth cohort graduated in March 2023!   

This means there are one hundred and thirty-three ambitious, talented, and capable NWWLA alumni ready for their next career opportunity and part of a rich network of support across agencies and across the state and 36 more to join their ranks soon!

While the goal is to see more women advance to the top-level leadership position we also seek to strengthen organizations overall by achieving gender-balanced management teams.  

Our Objectives

• Competency
  Provide opportunities for women from diverse backgrounds and experiences to obtain the core skills necessary to move into local government leadership roles.

• Confidence
  Provide opportunities to enhance skills and competencies and build confidence.

• Professional Network
  Provide opportunities to expand professional connections and build a support network. 

Our Gratitude to partners, sponsors, and other supporters

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