Women Veterans Leadership Program

The Women Veterans Leadership Program (WVLP), launched in March 2020, provides leadership skills and knowledge for women veterans to build a movement so we can pursue equal opportunities for all women in leadership attainment. 

WVLP program members will have opportunities to engage a nationwide network of women leaders and The Mission Continues staff throughout the five months of the program and beyond. After completion of the program, WVLP graduates will gain access to a growing alumni network and be eligible for additional mentorship and leadership opportunities to help grow a veteran-led movement of service. 

Goals: 

We have three primary goals for graduates of the Women Veterans Leadership Program: 

• To provide program members with the knowledge, mindsets, skills and resources essential to proudly identify as a woman veteran and leader 
• Strengthened confidence and renewed passion to raise their voice and serve as an ally for other women in leadership attainment 
• And lastly, take the knowledge, skills and experience and make a difference in their community. 

On average, the value of the program per participant is $12,500. Thanks to our generous donors and partners, these programs are available at no direct cost to our veterans as an investment in your leadership. As a nonprofit, The Mission Continues’ free programs require the responsible use of donor funds. We urge applicants to ensure their commitment and ability to fulfill time and travel requirements before applying. Otherwise, we strongly encourage you to apply in the future, leaving the current opportunity open for another veteran. 

To Apply:

Eligibility:  

• Self-identify as a woman 
• U.S. military veteran from all branches or currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves 
• Must reside in one of our eligible cities
• Completed one year of military service with a Character of Service above a “Dishonorable Discharge.” Applicants with a Dishonorable Discharge status can still apply and will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis 
• Current or upcoming platoon leaders will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to the competing time commitments required for both 
• Women Veterans Leadership Summit and/or Service Leadership Corps alumnae are eligible to apply. However, this is an introductory program that assumes no previous leadership training with us. Therefore, it will be most beneficial to women who have not previously attended the Women Veterans Leadership Summit and/or Service Leadership Corps

The Mission Continues empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact. We accomplish our mission by ensuring all of our programming focuses on providing veterans opportunities for 1) personal growth, 2) connectedness and 3) making an impact in their community.  

These three components make up The Empowered Veteran Index (EVI), a framework The Mission Continues developed by examining internal and external research of programs that serve similar veteran and community populations. The EVI provides a blueprint for which all programmatic goals and events executed by The Mission Continues are developed, with the goal of improving individual empowerment amongst veterans. By participating in WVLP, you can expect to accomplish the following objectives: 

  1) Personal Growth  

• Discover the power of your unique identities and how they can be leveraged as assets to your leadership 
• Define your values and identify how these inform your authentic leadership pathway 
• Foster your inclusive leadership skills by listening and learning from individuals with diverse identities, experiences and backgrounds 
• Improve your self-efficacy and ability to remain resilient in the face of adversity  
• Learn effective communication techniques 
• Explore and inform your leadership strengths using a behavior assessment tool called DISC 

2) Connectedness 

• Develop practical skills for networking both in-person and virtually 
• Analyze your existing network and develop a plan for enhancing your support systems 
• Build relationships with other women veteran leaders in your cohort  
• Build relationships with other members of the larger The Mission Continues Community 

3) Community Impact 

• Explore the power of the woman veteran voice and the unique ability of women veterans to lead 
• Engage in community service opportunities with your local service platoon  
• Engage in two large-scale community service projects with your cohort 
• Demonstrate an understanding of your ability and responsibility to affect positive change 

Session attendance 

Before the program officially kicks off in-person at Session I, all WVLP members are required to attend one of two virtual program orientation options. Additionally, full attendance at both of our 3-day, in-person sessions is mandatory for program completion. During these full-cohort sessions, program members attend dynamic workshops and presentations, as well as build meaningful connections to other women in the program. In between both sessions, program members will be regularly enrolled in coursework they are expected to complete on time throughout the program duration. For our upcoming Cohort, the session dates and locations are below.    

Please note: attendance at these sessions will require taking time off of work. We ask that all program members are fully engaged and present at these sessions, so please ensure that you are able to make arrangements to attend before committing to the program.   

• Orientation (virtual): February 13,2024 1-3 PM ET or February 15, 2024 6-8 PM ET 
• Session I (in-person): March 15-17, 2024 (Travel on March 14) 
• Session II (in-person): May 17-19, 2024 (Travel on May 16)   

• Full cohort sessions: Throughout the three months, the entire Cohort will come together twice for 3-day conference style sessions at the beginning and end of the program. These full-cohort sessions will be held in-person in a different city each time. During these in-person sessions, program members will connect and learn alongside each other by engaging in interactive workshops led by subject matter experts, hear from diverse women leaders through panel discussions as well as individual featured speakers, and complete one community service project in each city. All costs associated with travel, lodging and most meals for the in-person sessions will be covered by The Mission Continues.  
• Virtual curriculum and trainings: The curriculum of WVLP is carefully designed to ensure program members are growing in each of the program’s five focus areas and engaging in coursework leading up to and coming out of the live sessions. The Mission Continues’ Leadership Development programs utilize LearnUpon, an online learning management system (LMS) where program members will engage in self-paced learning, group assignments, and connect with other program members and WVLP Ambassadors. Program members will receive a program syllabus at the start of the cohort that includes a brief overview of each course including both enrollment and assignment due dates. To continue engaging and building connection between our in-person sessions, women will also attend virtual workshops led by experts in the field. 

• Coursework completion: Throughout the program, you will regularly be enrolled in new courses through the LMS. During orientation, you will receive a program syllabus that provides an overview of each course you will be enrolled in over the five-month program. Some will be completely independent, self-paced learning, and other courses will require you to work within a group. The syllabus will include enrollment and due dates for each course, and our expectation is that program members will regularly submit their coursework on time.   
• Time commitment: WVLP is an intensive leadership development opportunity, and we estimate that program members will spend an average of 3-5 hours/week completing program work throughout the entire program. The time commitment fluctuates and may sometimes be above or below this estimate.   
• Access to technology: In order to complete this program, WVLP members will need access to an email account, a reliable internet connection, a mobile phone, and a computer and/or tablet with a video camera for video meetings, virtual learning, and email communication. 

During their time in WVLP, program members will have a team of Mission Continues staff here to support them in successfully completing and getting the most out of this program. In addition to Mission Continues staff, Program Ambassadors (WVLP Alumni) will be available to answer questions and provide additional support for the overall program experience. 

Heather McCarty

Vice President, Programs

Contact: Hmccarty@missioncontinues.org

Janet Newsome, US Navy Veteran

Senior Manager, Women Veterans Leadership Program

Contact: jnewsome@missioncontinues.org

Is this program only in-person? 

Throughout the three months, the entire Cohort will come together in-person twice for 3-day conference style sessions at the beginning (Session I) and end (Session II) of the program. In between both sessions, program members will be regularly enrolled in coursework they are expected to complete on time throughout the program duration. Participants will also engage in weekly virtual connection/learning opportunities via “huddle spaces” or live training events. The Mission Continues will cover the cost of transportation, hotel accommodations and most meals during our in-person sessions.   

Who should apply? 

• You are a self-identifying woman with military service under your belt, motivated to become a leader, and are ready to take on a new challenge. 
• Able to commit to approximately 3-5 hours per week over five months, including two 3-day virtual conference-style sessions. 
• Comfortable actively engaging in a virtual learning environment. 
• You reside in one of our eligible cities

What are the costs? 

• Program: On average, the value of the program per participant is $12,500. Thanks to our generous donors and partners, these programs are available at no direct cost to our veterans as an investment in your leadership. As a nonprofit, The Mission Continues’ free programs require the responsible use of donor funds. We urge applicants to ensure their commitment and ability to fulfill time and travel requirements before applying. Otherwise, we strongly encourage you to apply in the future, leaving the current opportunity open for another veteran.

Admissions and/or eligibility question?

Please read the admissions tab for insight.  If still unsure, see the appropriate contact down below for additional questions.

Additional Questions

For additional questions regarding the program beyond our FAQ, contact Senior Manager, Women Veterans Leadership Program, Janet Newsome at jnewsome@missioncontinues.org.

To sponsor the Women Veterans Leadership Program, contact Director of Corporate & Foundation Partnerships, Tamara Brown at tbrown@missioncontinues.org.