A Letter from our Co-founders

Dear WAKE Community,
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We’re celebrating on Friday, November 7, 2025 and we hope you will join us!
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It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since we launched the vision we had long dreamed of—bringing women together across borders through technology, volunteerism, and shared leadership. What began as a bold idea has grown into a global movement rooted in the power of women lifting one another up.
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WAKE exists because of you - our nonprofit partners, our volunteers, our donors - who have shaped this community with your leadership, generosity, and belief in what’s possible. From Rwandan social entrepreneurs to Ukrainian nonprofit leaders to Cambodian students, our collective impact drives change.
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On Friday, November 7, we’ll gather on the top floor of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco to celebrate a decade of WAKE—surrounded by breathtaking views and the energy of this remarkable network. It will be a joyful evening of connection, gratitude, and momentum for the future.
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Please save the date: Friday, November 7, 2025, from 5:30–8:00pm. Ticket details coming soon. We truly hope you’ll be there to honor what we’ve built together and to help us launch WAKE’s next decade.
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Best,
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Trish Tierney + Heather Ramsey
WAKE Co-founders
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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.

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.