Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Varsha Waishampayan, Founder, and CEO of WINGS for Growth, located in Bridgewater, NJ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Inspired by my late father's belief in giving back, I recognized the need for a leadership development program for high-potential professional women. I left 27 years of a long career on Wall Street and founded WINGS for Growth, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and has inspired many senior leaders to join her in delivering upon an important mission to Unleash the leader in women, accelerate their growth, and inspire them to create opportunities for the next generation. We envision a day when women leaders, role models, and change agents are universal.

Women get to the glass mezzanine, where they often remain because of the broken rung. Access to the top is even bleaker for women of color Women experience significant challenges as they get to middle management due to continuous work pressure, family pressure, and finally, the glass ceiling. Whether by "choice, necessity, or default," they are more compelled to make decisions that could derail them from the C-suite.

Our clients are private, public, and non-profit organizations globally. They sponsor their high-potential women to participate in our university-accredited leadership development program. We also provide scholarships for women who do not have an employer to sponsor them.

Tell us about yourself

My dad told me this every year. He wanted me to teach and mentor other women who could benefit from my help. He was an amazing teacher, and he saw that teacher in me, but I chose wall street. My response was, "I will do it after I retire," But the universe was conspiring with me to make my father's wish come true. Little that I know his wish became my purpose in life. And I did not retire.

I got refired to do something bigger and better in life. My 27 years of career on wall street felt serendipitous. In my quest to find this purpose, I saw a clear light at the end of this dark tunnel called gender diversity. I thought I had an idea that it would be impactful and would work. WINGS for Growth was born; our mission is to help unleash the leader and create possibilities for the next generations.

We developed a three-step approach to address gender diversity, Leadership Development, Mentorship, and multiplier effect. 100% of our Mentees feel more confident, courageous, and clear about their career path. Suddenly a light switch goes on inside them, and they transform. Our Mentees are more confident than ever, manage their time better at home and work, let their value system guide their decisions, learn to navigate difficult situations, and leverage their strengths after completing the program.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We have achieved many significant milestones.
• University Accreditation earns nine graduate credits
• seven cohorts with 97 graduates
• 66 Mentors globally who are C-level execs
• 21 Champions who are on the path to becoming Mentors
• 100% of Mentees said they were confident to take on stretch roles
• 86% of Mentees took leadership positions
• Our first Ambassador is Kevin Cummings, CEO of Investors Bank.
• WINGS Board and Advisory Council has ten senior executives and influencers
• WINGS Family has grown to 300 people
• Strategic partnership with Gear Up and Girls Scouts

Every single mentee and mentor who is paying it forward is a huge accomplishment. When someone comes to me and raises their hand and says, "I want to grow as a mentee or mentor," that's how I know what I am doing is making a difference. We held a Leadership Speech Contest at the end of our last cohort, and almost every mentee said in their speech how WINGS had changed them professionally and personally. Also, over 60% of the recent cohort received a higher position or expanded role while learning in the program. These are all big accomplishments as a mission-driven professional.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

WINGS is run with sound business acumen and a lot of heart and intuition. Managing volunteers in a non-profit organization are the most arduous task, and I have learned that this is two-way traffic. When volunteers come to work for you, they also need to get something out of it. That is the only way the volunteer model will be sustainable. I also learned that you must be very committed and persistent to deliver something of this caliber. There are many declines and rejections which require changing course frequently. We must recover gracefully and quickly from these rejections. You cannot blame anyone but yourself when you make mistakes; the only way to move forward is to learn from them.

Secondly, WINGS has grown rapidly. We are prepared to scale, but as with any business, there is so much to do and not enough people and funding. But that is a good problem to have. Women need to help each other more. We need to have the confidence to drive our passion. WINGS is committed to its mission of growing aspiring women into the leader of the future, but women have to take the first step. I am afraid that finally when we have the platform for senior leaders to give back in a meaningful way, we may not have enough women who have the courage to take the first step toward making their dream their priority, not their job.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Build long-lasting, trusted relationships.
  2. Never lose confidence and courage.
  3. Perseverance.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am very excited that this non-profit work allows us to bring many senior business leaders as mentors. We built an efficient methodology to deliver this important initiative. Women are responding to our program very positively. We are only six years old, and we have about 300 people who are active volunteers. I am learning every day from these amazing people who are passionate about teaching, giving back, and feeling rewarded. When we are together, there is unstoppable energy in the room.

We are launching a campaign called #101MentorsonDeck to mobilize 101 senior business leaders by the end of this year to commit to being a Mentor at WINGS and help us establish the WINGS Global Mentorship Institute.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://wingsforgrowth.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wingsforgrowth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingsforgrowth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WingsforGrowth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wings-for-growth/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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