May invites us into something deeper – connection.
Not surface-level connection, not networking, not proximity, real connection. The kind that only exists when we’re being fully ourselves.
Because authenticity isn’t just about self-expression. It’s about returning to your core, the part of you that is whole, complete, and not performing in an identity that was created to survive.
And from that place, connection becomes natural.
This month, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re reminded of the purest form of connection, one rooted in love, presence, and care. Whether through motherhood, being mothered, or the ways we nurture others, it reflects something deeper within all of us.
At our core, we are wired for connection. We come from it. We create from it.
And the more we choose authenticity, real, grounded, honest authenticity, the more we create spaces where others can do the same.
WE are building a space where you don’t have to perform to belong. Where connection isn’t forced, it’s felt. Where you can be fully you, and still be deeply connected to others.
Member Spotlights ✨
WE are celebrating the women in our community who are rising, creating, and leading with purpose.
Faika Halici | Mother & Vice President of Customer Engagement at Celonis
This month, we’re proud to spotlight Faika – a woman whose strength, leadership, and authenticity continue to inspire those around her.
Faika is featured in the May Mother’s Day issue of McLean Living, highlighting mothers who are thriving as leaders and executives while navigating the realities of single parenthood. This recognition is not only a celebration of her journey but a powerful reflection of what’s possible when women rise in both their personal and professional lives.
Behind this milestone is a story of growth, resilience, and transformation.
Stepping into the role of both nurturer and head of household, Faika faced challenges that required her to redefine what strength looked like, from learning to navigate life independently to overcoming fear and stepping fully into her own capability. What once felt unfamiliar became a source of empowerment, revealing a level of strength that continues to shape how she shows up today.
Through it all, she leaned into integrity, allowed herself to receive support from the women around her, and in turn, became a source of support for others. That foundation has fueled her growth, not only as a professional but as a woman grounded in purpose and self-trust.
What Faika is most proud of is leading with authenticity. Choosing to show up as her full self, with her team, her peers, and in her personal life, has brought her a sense of peace and alignment that can only come from trusting your own voice.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that strength is not about doing it all alone; it’s about rising, evolving, and standing fully in who you are.
We’re honored to have Faika in this community and inspired by the way she continues to lead with truth and courage.
We invite you to explore her story and stay connected to her journey: Read her feature in McLean Living, connect with her on Instagram, and follow along on LinkedIn as she continues to lead and inspire.
Swapna Pachauri | Founder of Mama Hustler and Co-Founder & Chief of Operations at DT Talent
WE are proud to spotlight Swapna Pachauri, Founder of Mama Hustler and a woman redefining what ambition and motherhood can look like, on her own terms.
Mama Hustler was born during a deeply transitional season in Swapna’s life, navigating career shifts, building a business, and raising two young children. What began as a personal outlet has grown into a powerful platform and community centered around the intersection of motherhood and ambition.
At its core, Mama Hustler creates space for the “in-between” for women who know they don’t want to return to who they were, yet are still discovering what comes next. Through honest conversation, shared experiences, and intentional connection, Swapna is building a space where mothers feel seen, supported, and empowered to define success in a way that feels true to them.
What makes her journey especially powerful is how she’s chosen to build it.
Letting go of the need to rush, she has embraced a slower, more intentional path, one that honors both her ambition and her life as a mother. In doing so, she’s created something not just sustainable, but deeply aligned.
After spending over 15 years in corporate, Swapna made the bold decision to step away and trust herself fully. Drawing on her experience as Co-Founder & Chief of Operations at DT Talent, she had already built a strong foundation in business, which gave her the confidence to create something of her own.
This season has been one of growth, reinvention, and stepping into her own voice, proving not only that she could build something from the ground up, but that she could do it in a way that reflects who she truly is.
What she’s most proud of isn’t just the platform, it’s that she went for it.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out; you just have to be willing to begin.
We invite you to connect with her work and be part of what she’s creating: Explore Mama Hustler, follow along on Instagram, and connect with Swapna on LinkedIn to stay close to her journey and the community she’s building.
Welcome to our Newest WE Members 🤍
Amparo Rojas
She is a powerful space-holder and relationship coach dedicated to helping people experience themselves more deeply and show up differently in their love and leadership. As a couples and dating coach, Amparo works with women and couples to create expansive, safe, and reciprocal love, guiding them to learn the art of communication and honesty, and move into relationships that feel grounded and deeply fulfilling.
The core of her work centers on embodiment, energetics, and identity, and how these inner forces shape our external reality. Rooted in her three pillars – love, money, and communication – she teaches that all three are expressions of one internal blueprint that shapes how we relate, love, and create our lives.
As a workshop facilitator, she merges personal growth with creativity and artistry, creating immersive experiences that invite presence and connection. She believes we all have an inner artist, an inner child that simply wants to express and have fun. One of her signature workshops is inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery, guiding participants to find beauty in their healing and wholeness.
As a Latina who lived in the U.S. undocumented for seven years and who has experienced abusive relationship dynamics and a complex upbringing, she understands firsthand the impact of losing one’s identity and personal power. She sees her work not simply as a career, but as a calling, something greater than her own choosing. With a deep sense of responsibility, her mission is to bring this work to children and young adults, expanding access to spaces where emotional education, healing, and self-awareness are often out of reach, because she believes who you become is the most meaningful work of your life.
We’re so honored to have you with us, Amparo 🤍 Follow her journey here on Instagram
💫 Becoming Her Brunch: A Conversation on Authenticity, Connection & Creating Fulfillment
April’s Becoming Herbrunch brought our community into a powerful and honest conversation around what it truly means to build, not just a brand, but a life, in alignment.
We were honored to be joined by Lizzeth Gutierrez, founder of ID Artsy, who shared her journey of building an authentic business without compromising her core values. Through the highs and the challenges, from navigating COVID to unexpected setbacks, her story reflected what it really looks like to stay grounded in who you are while continuing to evolve.
The conversation expanded beyond business into something deeper: connection.
Not just connection for visibility, but authentic connection, with yourself, with your audience, and with the people you’re truly meant to serve. We explored what it means to show up online in a way that reflects who you are, rather than who you think you need to be, and how that alignment creates sustainability, trust, and real impact.
We also stepped into a broader reflection – what are we actually building, and why?
In a world that often glorifies hustle, we were reminded of a different path: one rooted in intention, fulfillment, and designing a life that supports how we truly want to live. A life where success is not just measured by output, but by how aligned and present we feel within it.
This conversation was a reminder that becoming “her” isn’t about adding more, it’s about returning to what’s real, choosing alignment, and building from a place that can actually sustain and empower us.
Throughout the afternoon, we also shared exciting updates on what’s unfolding within Women Empower – including a first look at our upcoming EmpowerHer: Nurturing LeadersMentorship Program launching here in DC in July.
What made the experience even more powerful was the collective energy in the room. Women shared what they are building, creating, and leading, from wellness and motherhood to financial empowerment and service in their communities. It was a reflection of the depth, diversity, and impact that exists within this space.
And at the heart of it all was a simple truth: This is not just about what we accomplish – it’s about how we show up.
The way we support one another. The way we create space for connection. The way we choose to lead with authenticity, generosity, and care.
Because when each woman shows up fully as herself, it creates something greater, a fabric of connection that is real, lasting, and deeply felt.
This is what we’re building. And it’s only just beginning.
Upcoming Events
🤍 Mama Hustler Conversations: Mother’s Day Edition (Virtual) Join us May 12th at 12 pm for a powerful conversation around motherhood, ambition, and what it really looks like to navigate both. This intimate discussion brings together real stories, honest perspectives, and meaningful connection. REGISTER HERE
🍷 Wine, Women, and Wealth, May 19th, hosted by our partner, Five Rings Financial – Join us for an evening of connection, conversation, and financial empowerment! Enjoy complimentary wine or sparkling water, a healthy dinner, and valuable education on building wealth, all completely FREE. This is the perfect opportunity to learn, network, and invest in your financial future in a relaxed, supportive environment. REGISTER HERE
🍞 Members-Only Empower Circle: Sourdough & Self – A Therapeutic Baking Experience 🍞✨ WE invite members to come together for a grounding and restorative Empower Circle hosted by Cordelia, where baking meets mental wellness in a space designed for connection, reflection, and gentle healing. Please RSVP by May 10th. Details have been shared on the WE calendar.
Join Us
Women Empower is more than a membership; it is a movement.
Together, we are creating a global sisterhood of fulfilled, authentic, and powerful women.
Closing Thought
As you move through the month of May, come back to what connection really means.
Not just proximity. Not just being seen. But being aligned.
Because authenticity isn’t about saying whatever you feel in the moment or calling it “being real.” It’s about being grounded enough in yourself that you don’t need to separate, judge, or protect.
Real authenticity connects. It creates space. It allows for honesty and care at the same time.
It asks you to take responsibility for how you show up, your energy, your reactions, your patterns, instead of placing that on others.
And from that place, connection becomes deeper, more honest, and more sustainable.
So observe your environment. The conversations you’re in. The people you surround yourself with.
Are they spaces that invite you to be open, grounded, and connected? Or spaces that pull you into performance, comparison, or disconnection?
Choose connection. Choose responsibility. Choose the version of you that unites and builds, not divides and separates.
That’s where fulfillment lives. That’s the future WE are building.
