Jane McCooey wants to challenge the stigma around ambitious women.

“What is so wrong with a woman exhibiting fierce ambition?” asks Jane McCooey, Founder and CEO of Women With Ambition (WWA), via an email exchange with Celtic Life International.

Born in small-town Ireland, McCooey moved to New York more than a decade ago and currently resides in Weehawken, New Jersey. In 2022, she hosted the inaugural meeting of WWA in her dining room. Originally, McCooey had plans for a six-month peer mentorship program. She had no idea how things would expand from there.

Today, the group “is a professional network of Irish and Irish American women working in New York and the Tri-State area,” she explains. “We provide a platform for women of all industries to form a meaningful network and focus on intentional self-development – all while supporting and celebrating each other as we strive for individual career goals and ambitions.”

WWA still runs its mentorship program, along with several other initiatives. “Since that time around my dining room table, we have evolved to hosting many events all over New York City, including at the Bank of Ireland NYC Hub, who we are very proud to be strong partners with. We have had hundreds of women come join us for our various activities.”

Networking events, a workshop series, and a Female Founder and Entrepreneur Expo are just a few of the initiatives that have been brought to fruition since the organization’s founding. On an individual level, the non-profit aims to help women improve their communication skills, enhance their personal brand, and develop confidence.

“We aim to confidently express our determination to reach our goals and become strong leaders, while empowering and inspiring each other.”

Before founding WWA, McCooey admits that she personally did not have a strong network. She also noticed that many women, including herself, shied away from showcasing their drive and talent, recalling how she “was even dismissive” of her own feelings. That has since changed. Women with Ambition recently celebrated its three-year anniversary, having come a long way from that initial meeting of just 18 women.

“I feel extremely passionate about showcasing talented and accomplished women of all industries and the important contributions they have made to their sectors or communities, but also because the value of having a network of like-minded people to support, celebrate, and propel women forward in their individual endeavors cannot be understated.

“There have been many rewards from developing WWA and seeing it expand, including the ability to showcase the amazing achievements of so many women, educate our members on subjects or industries of interest, and connect women who would never have otherwise met each other. My most precious feedback is when a WWA member tells me they are now very good friends with, or found a job through, someone they met at a WWA event. I find that very special, and it reminds me of the power and importance of our mission.”

Fortunately, McCooey has found women who are just as passionate as she. WWA is run exclusively by volunteers. As Founder and CEO, McCooey establishes the vision for initiatives and events, while the volunteer team helps bring the vision to life. Of course, it’s not easy. “We do not always have the financial support we need, and I know there are many opportunities we could exploit if we had more funding. I have many ideas up my sleeve, so I am sure we will find a way in the coming months and years.”

Women from any and all industries are welcome to participate in WWA events and initiatives. “We also have an official membership, where some discounts are available for female-founded businesses that we frequently partner with, and a portion of the proceeds go to charity.”

In the future, McCooey hopes Women with Ambition will expand in other areas of the United States. She would also love to host an event in her home country of Ireland. There is already plenty on agenda for the year ahead, however.

“We will continue to grow our Golf Society, since this remains very important for business and ensuring that women are included in conversations where networking happens, and relationships are fostered. Towards the end of the year, we will host our third Female Founder Expo, where nearly 40 female-founded businesses will sell their products and services, elevate their brand awareness, and network with each other.”

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