Wahine Rising is a 30-hour leadership program created to help elevate our future women leaders. This program focuses on potential women leaders looking to build core competencies. Through facilitated classes and our Mink Wahine Leadership events, the women will learn about various leadership issues and topics that are relevant to their personal and professional development.
Benefits
Takeaway tips from featured Subject Matter Experts and Guest Speakers
Gain valuable insights and knowledge in a variety of topics relevant to professional women
Learn from and be inspired by women entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders
Network with attendees
Healthy meals are catered by local small businesses for in-person events.
Wahine Rising 2025-2026- cohort 7
KEY DATES
Application Portal Opens July 1, 2025
The program starts October 2, 2025 to May 15, 2026
Cost $1,350
Includes three class sessions with optional lunch
Includes attendance to Wahine Forum Conference
Includes three Mink Wahine Leadership Series Events
Includes one Mink Wahine Pau Hana networking event
Includes two Mink Wisdom Series Mentoring Events
All Wahine Rising events are held at YWCA O'ahu, at the Patsy T. Center for Business & Leadership (MCBL), and Elizabeth Fuller Hall
Classes are from 9:00a - 12:00p in MCBL. Mink Wahine Leadership Series events are from 11:30a -1:00p.
Deadline to Register: September 8, 2025
PROGRAM
Wahine Rising Orientation - Thursday, 10/2/25 | 9:00a - 12:00p at MCBL
Wahine Forum Conference - Friday, 10/24/25 | 8:00a - 4:00p at Hilton Hawaiian Village
Building Your Confidence - Wednesday, 11/5/25 | 9:00a - 12:00p at MCBL**
Mink Wahine Wisdom Series - Wednesday, 11/12/25 | 5:30p - 7:00p at YWCA Laniakea Courtyard
Mink Wahine Leadership Series: Holiday Pau Hana - Thursday, 12/4/25 | 5:30p - 7:30p at Fuller Hall
Building Your Leadership Capacity- Thursday, 1/15/26 | 9:00a - 12:00p at MCBL**
Mink Wahine Leadership Series - Thursday, 2/19/26 | 11:30a - 1:00p at Fuller Hall
Wahine Rising Mentorship Event - Wednesday, 3/4/26 | 11:30a - 1:00p at MCBL
Building Your Future Network - Thursday, 3/12/26 | 9:00a - 12:00p at MCBL**
Mink Wahine Wisdom Series - Wednesday, 4/8/26 | 5:30p - 7:00p at YWCA Laniakea Courtyard
Mink Wahine Leadership Series - Wednesday, 5/6/26 | 11:30a - 1:00p at Fuller Hall
Wahine Rising Graduation - Thursday, 5/15/26 | 5:30p - 7:30p at Fuller Hall
*Rising Leaders are required to attend at least 10 of the 12 sessions in order to receive a Certification of Completion with the orientation and graduation being mandatory.
** Optional lunch to follow the three class sessions from 12:00p - 12:30p.
***Disclaimer: The scheduled dates, times, and facilitators may be subject to change without prior notice.
INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR WAHINE RISING cOHORT 7
Meet Cohort 5 (2023-2024)
Jessica Lum - Program Manager | Stanford University
Jeannette Menor - Superintendent of Construction Management & Inspection | Hawaiian Electric Company
Stace Okazaki - Relationship Officer | Hawaii National Bank
Rachel Ono - Supervisor, HR Service Center | Hawaiian Electric Company
Tia Rosehill - Assistant VP, Paraplanner | Central Pacific Bank
Pili Valderrama - Payments Assistant Manager | Hawaii National Bank
Maya Ward - Lead Data Scientist | Booz Allen Hamilton
RickiLee Yeboah - NP Residency Program Manager | Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
Harmonie Ahuna - Manager | Teach for America
Cherish Balgos - Manager | Hawaiian Electric Company
Sarah Berg - Project Manager | Hawaii National Bank
Kacie Bergantinos - AVP & Relationship Officer | Hawaii National Bank
Sarah Black - Data Scientist | Booz Allen Hamilton
Leonora Char - Finance Manager| Hawaiian Telcom
Hazel Go - Associate and Project Architect | WCIT Architecture
Marissa Gordon - Program Manager | Hoʻōla Nā Pua
Jamie Hong - Co-Owner | Pop Creative Media
Yvonne Jones - Senior Mangerial Consultant | Kaiser Permanente
Mathilda Kalohelani - Clinical Operations Analyst | Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center
MCBL is proud to be the special non-profit partner at the Wahine Forum Conference, Hawaii's largest leadership and career development conference in the state of Hawaii. The conference is attended by Hawaii's top female executives, female entrepreneurs, up-and-coming female leaders, and women intent on advancing their careers.
Wahine Forum 2017 Mink Leaders
