A Decade of Impact

Over the past ten years, WAKE has grown from a bold idea into a global movement rooted in the belief that when women lead, communities thrive.

Through Tech2Empower, our flagship program, we’ve connected thousands of women leaders, tech experts, and changemakers across more than a dozen countries—sparking collaboration, innovation, and lifelong bonds. From mentoring girls in STEAM fields to strengthening women-led social enterprises and nonprofits, WAKE’s work has reached classrooms, boardrooms, refugee hubs, and grassroots campaigns. At every step, our community has shown that shared leadership, cross-cultural exchange, and skill-based volunteerism can drive powerful, lasting change.

As we celebrate ten years of this collective journey, we honor the trust, courage, and generosity that made it all possible—and look ahead to the impact we’ll create together in the decade to come.

Co-Founders Story

WAKE was co-founded in 2015 by Trish Tierney and Heather Ramsey — two women who had spent the previous two decades building programs to connect women across more than 30 countries to resources, expertise, and opportunity.

Their shared vision was to bring together two powerful groups — women leading social impact organizations and women in tech — to collaborate, share skills, and advance women's rights around the world. Partnering with inspiring colleagues at the Ukrainian Women's Fund, Trish and Heather pilot-tested Tech2Empower, taking WAKE's first team of volunteer Advisors to Kyiv in 2015, where they worked alongside local NGOs supporting survivors of human trafficking and internally displaced people. That first program set the tone for everything that followed.

Together, Trish and Heather grew WAKE into a global community spanning four continents. Heather served as Advisory Board Chair and Co-Chair from 2021 to 2026, helping shape it into the dynamic, strategic body it is today. Trish continues to lead WAKE as Co-Founder and Executive Director, guided by the belief they shared from the start: when women lead, communities thrive.

2014

The Concept

WAKE began with a shared vision between Heather and Trish: to connect women globally through technology, volunteerism, and shared leadership. What started as a lunchtime idea soon became a nonprofit with a mission to harness collective power for good.

2015

Tech2Empower is Born

Our first Tech2Empower took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, pairing Silicon Valley Advisors with women NGO leaders. They exchanged knowledge, built skills, and sparked community—laying the foundation for a program model that would grow around the world.

2018

Tech2Empower USA Launched

In response to growing needs at home, WAKE launched Tech2Empower USA. The first program brought social justice leaders to San Francisco for training, tech partnerships, and hands-on projects to strengthen impact in their local communities.

2020

COVID Takes WAKE Virtual

When COVID halted in-person gatherings, WAKE adapted. We shifted our programs online, reaching new communities and volunteers. Virtual sessions created space for deep collaboration and learning—across time zones, zip codes, and screens.

2022

Our Return to International Work

We relaunched in-person programming with a return to Rwanda—reconnecting face-to-face and reigniting the power of shared space. Tech2Empower Rwanda reminded us just how transformative real-time connection and global sisterhood can be.

2025

Celebrating a Decade of Impact

This year, we returned to key communities—Cambodia, Rwanda, Lithuania, and the Bay Area—to celebrate, deepen partnerships, and look ahead. A decade in, WAKE is more committed than ever to global solidarity and women-led change.