WFWPI Leadership Training Course Empowers Global Women Leaders
Written by: Mion Tsuchiaka
The WFWPI Leadership Training Course, hosted online on February 7 and 15, was designed to equip WFWP regional and national chapter leaders with essential skills for measuring impact, advocating effectively, and creating visionary plans. The course focused on four key learning outcomes: measuring and articulating project impact effectively, developing a visionary mindset to overcome challenges and shape the future, understanding the significance of membership and advocacy within a global context, and creating actionable vision boards that align with strategic goals.
The first session, led by Mrs. Anne Bellavance, explored the theme “Great Leaders are Masters Who Rewrite Futures & Transform How Situations Occur.” This interactive 40-minute session introduced the upcoming three-part leadership series scheduled for March, April, and May. With over 40 years of experience in the nonprofit sector across Australia, the United States, and Canada, Mrs. Bellavance is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and global peace. As President of WFWP Australia and WFWP Oceania & Southeast Asia, she leads initiatives on leadership development and sustainable impact through Global Development Projects in the Pacific Islands. She mentors women from diverse backgrounds, fostering leadership and environmental stewardship through the Global Women’s Peace Network.
The WFWPI Membership Orientation, presented by Mrs. Merly Barlaan, provided national chapter presidents with guidance on WFWPI’s mission, beliefs, policies, and membership requirements. The session emphasized the importance of national chapters aligning with WFWPI’s core mission, ensuring financial transparency, and being led by women leaders. Membership benefits include UN accreditation, access to training materials, and participation in global networking opportunities, and regular reporting is required to align with WFWPI and UN development goals. With over 25 years of experience in peace and environmental advocacy, Mrs. Barlaan has spearheaded programs such as the Mothers’ Hearts Network, Asia Pacific Peace Education Center, and Young Global Women Peace Ambassadors. As Vice President for Administration and Deputy Director for WFWPI’s UN Relations office, she leads WFWPI’s UN advocacy team in New York and mentors young professionals.
The Vision Board Workshop, led by Dr. Paris Moon, provided a structured approach to creating a personalized vision board for 2025 and beyond. Participants were guided through goal-setting, image curation from sources like Pinterest and Canva, and board design to create an inspiring and motivational tool. Key takeaways included brainstorming personal and professional goals, curating meaningful images that align with aspirations, breaking goals into quarterly objectives for better tracking, and keeping vision boards visible and regularly updating them. Dr. Moon brings extensive experience from international corporations such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Nortel Networks, Seiko Epson, and Microsoft, specializing in strategic workforce planning and cultural development. She has played a crucial role in promoting Korean culture in Hong Kong, serving as an external examiner for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and receiving prestigious awards, such as the Best Outstanding Korean International Women Award. Currently, she serves as Secretary General of WFWP International.
The WFWPI Leadership Training Course was a powerful platform for women leaders to enhance their skills, strengthen advocacy, and drive impactful initiatives within their communities. With expert insights from three speakers, participants gained practical knowledge and inspiration to lead with vision and purpose.
