Women’s Programs
AWC stands for both Advancing Workplace Culture and Advancing Women’s Careers, because we believe employers can’t do one without the other. Our group trainings and keynotes offer tailored programming to build skills and cultivate community, strengthening the pipeline of women leaders. Our keynotes and workshops provide an informative, supportive, and fun group environment to explore professional development topics. We also emphasize skill-building and the importance of finding concrete takeaways that can be implemented immediately through the action-planning component of our programs.
How does this service benefit your company?
-
For Participants
Gives access to high-quality training and actionable best practices
Increases skills and confidence
Reinforces that the firm is investing in them
-
For Internal Networks
Fosters community within internal networks, such as existing employee groups or women's networks.
Provides targeted support where it’s needed most
-
For Organizations
Cost-effective way to invest in larger numbers of employees
Employee retention and satisfaction
Culture building
- supporting the women's pipelineCoaching, Cohorts, & Workshops
All of our existing programs and workshops work brilliantly when offered to populations of women in a firm. Michelle Friedman has nearly 30 years’ experience working in finance and coaching women in the industry, and her unwavering commitment to supporting women in these roles is palpable to program participants. She is familiar with the unique challenges that women in finance face, and she’s able to address them in a positive way, reinforcing that women can thrive in this industry with real talk and actionable advice that can be immediately applied.
-
Supporting your firms’s senior and mid-level women with executive coaching is one of the single best ways to increase retention of top talent.
-
Women often bear the majority of responsibility when it comes to balancing work and childcare. Our Parental Transition Coaching was designed to keep careers on track and help firms retain talent during these crucial transitions.
-
Creating a hybrid program with group sessions and 1:1 executive coaching can help a group navigate a particular transition, like newly promoted Principals.
-
By addressing the culture of feedback, delegation, and productivity amongst key populations, and including women as participants in these programs, you both increase their skillset while creating a more collaborative workplace culture where women (and all) can thrive.
-
The research is clear: women tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored. By pairing women with sponsors and strengthening the quality of your mentorship programs, you set them up to form key relationships in a way that leads to tangible career outcomes.
-
Michelle is a powerful speaker for your women’s network or other affinity groups or events that support women.
All these programs include:
Planning & Customization
We partner with our clients to customize existing programs or design from scratch, with the goal of best meeting participants' needs. We create surveys or review organizational data to customize talks for your audience.
Participant Resources
We select relevant pre and post-session resources, and custom handouts allow participants to capture their reflections and concrete follow-up actions.
Workshop Delivery
We offer workshops both in-person and virtually, allowing for teams working remotely to come together for group learning.
Program Administration
You have the option of collection of participant feedback and a post-session debrief with a synthesis of themes and suggestions for future programming.
Client Results
- FAQQuestions our clients often ask
-
The length can be scaled on many topics from 30 minutes to 3 hours. We can focus on fewer topics with more of a lecture-style experience or create a longer workshop with a broader lens and more hands-on, interactive time.
-
The skills trainings are on topics that lend themselves to more interactive components like breakout groups. These are also topics more directly related to day-to-day work. The keynote topics lend themselves to more discussion and solo reflection and tend to be more geared towards work-life balance conversations.
-
All sizes. These topics can be tailored to a small group of 8 or fewer, or can be delivered to the whole firm.
-
Yes. The cost will usually reflect extra time for content creation and customization, depending on what is needed. We’ll provide you with an accurate quote for your desired skills training or keynote.
-
Yes, Michelle can provide consulting on best practices for creating a program that moves the needle forward for its members. Contact us to schedule a conversation.
-
Absolutely. We will work with you on “naming and framing” — the best title, program description, and internal messaging for your group.
-
Yes. Contact us to set up a consultation, and Michelle will help you determine which topics will be best suited to your audience and goals.
-
While AWC generally specializes in the investment industry, Michelle has facilitated for other types of firms, educational institutions, and government groups. Contact us to see if we’re a good fit for your organization.
Explore Our Services
-
Executive Coaching
Results-driven 1:1 coaching that develops the skills, mindsets, and habits that make leaders exceptional.
-
Parental Transition Coaching
For expectant parents and their managers navigating the time before, during, and after parental leave.
-
Team Leadership Programs
Cohort programs that help mid-level leaders build a practical plan for managing (down and up).
-
Mentorship & Sponsorship
Equips both mentors and mentees with the skills that make these relationships truly impactful.
-
Skills Training & Keynotes
Group workshops built on proven frameworks and designed for immediate application, not abstract theory.
-
Women's Programs
Tailored programming to build skills and cultivate community, strengthening your pipeline of women leaders.