Dear WAKE community,
In May 2025, we returned to a region that holds a very special place in WAKE’s story. Our first ever program launched in Kyiv, Ukraine back in 2015. While the full scale invasion has made it difficult to return, we’ve found a powerful new home for Tech2Empower for Ukraine in Vilnius, Lithuania. This was our second time running the program there, focused on supporting Ukrainian women now living in the Baltic region.
As I was getting ready for the trip, I kept thinking how surreal it was to be going to work with our Ukrainian partners at a time when our own government has turned its back on Ukraine. I posted on Instagram, asking my friends to send me pictures of Ukrainian flags flying in their neighborhoods. The response was overwhelming. We pulled together a collage from the photos – flags from the Bay Area, Chicago, New Orleans, Minnesota, NYC and beyond.
At the start of each program segment, I shared that collage with Ukrainian participants and partners as a small, visual reminder that so many Americans do still stand with Ukraine. I hope that the impact we made together with the organizations and entrepreneurs, and most of all the human connections established, stand as a testament to our deep commitment.
The strength with which Lithuanians welcome Ukrainians is an inspiration to behold. Government buildings fly both flags. City buses flash digital Ukrainian flags. Springtime civic gardens are planted in blue and yellow. At a time when our own country feels deeply divided, it was inspiring to witness and a good reminder that strength comes from unity. Thank you to all those who stand with WAKE, and with Ukraine.
Best,
Trish Tierney
Executive Director, WAKE
We met Ukreate Hub, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering displaced Ukrainian women, when they joined Tech2Empower as participants in the 2023 Impact Challenge. This year, we were honored to partner with Ukreate to design and deliver the program, deepen our connections in Vilnius and broaden the scope of our work in the region. As WAKE celebrates its 10 year anniversary in 2025, we are especially grateful for opportunities to grow alongside trusted partners and for new collaborations that expand our perspectives, impact and drive lasting change.
Tech2Empower for Ukraine created impact through two key initiatives:
a) Ukrainian and Baltic women-led NGOs partnered with skilled volunteer Advisors on social impact projects aimed at strengthening their organizations, especially their programs and services centered on support for Ukrainian women; and
b) Advisors led interactive workshops for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, enhancing their leadership, business, and tech skills.
In addition to the Tech2Empower Impact Challenge and the Day for Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs, we also contributed to a session entitled “Networking and Building Business Relationships” co-hosted by Ukreate Hub and Western Union Lithuania as part of their ongoing program for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Tech2Empower Advisors delivered lectures on networking strategies for business development and the importance of AI skills.
The Tech2Empower Advisors are experienced professionals who dedicate their time, expertise, and resources to advance social justice, advocate for women's rights, and promote women's economic empowerment. Advisors for the Ukraine program represented 8 different companies including Accenture, Google, and Salesforce. This cohort was particularly special, with nearly half of the Advisors being from Ukraine, having Ukrainian family ties, or generational connections to the region. Our intentionally built cohorts consider cultural relevance alongside merit and skills.This greatly enhanced our program’s ability to communicate and connect effectively, both in terms of language and across cultures.
Building resilient communities
Fostering social cohesion
Essential services and support to refugees
Engaging refugees and vulnerable groups through art
Sexual violence
Over three days, the Tech2Empower Impact Challenge offers intensive, customized project work between Advisors and NGO partners. This year, we matched Advisors with Lithuanian and Estonian NGOs, each with distinct missions and project goals but unified in their aim to support Ukrainian refugees.
Arts Agency Artscape uses the power of art to foster connection and positive change among sensitive societal groups, with approximately 70% of their beneficiaries being Ukrainian refugees. Their project aimed to improve their storytelling and marketing efforts. During the Impact Challenge, the team crafted a new mission statement that clearly communicates Artscape's story in everyday language, making it relatable for potential supporters and donors. The group's deliverables included a concise elevator pitch, a revised branding design, and a comprehensive marketing and social media plan.
Domus Solis is a psychological service-focused organization that builds resilient communities through a culture of co-creation, mutual support, engagement, and dialogue. Through the Impact Challenge, Domus Solis hoped to develop a product based on Resilientica, their practice and theory for resilient communities. The team explored project discovery, pilot pricing, initial proposals, value propositions, impact on KPIs, market strategy, and mapping out the customer journey to the final product. These outcomes equipped Domus Solis with the confidence and tools needed to expand their work to other countries and reach customers globally.
MTÜ Ukrainian Center, an Estonian organization, plays a key role in supporting Ukrainian refugees through their integration into Estonia. Through the Impact Challenge, this team created a comprehensive strategic growth and sustainability plan. Key deliverables include an organizational development roadmap for redefining their mission; branding and visibility review to consolidate digital platforms and create a unified visual identity; fundraising and sustainability strategies to identify funding opportunities; and community engagement and outreach to improve communication channels and engage both Ukrainians and Estonians.
This year was Open Nations' second time participating in the Impact Challenge. Their work provides emotional support to Ukrainian refugees by fostering a sense of safety, belonging, and community while also offering psychosocial assistance. Through Tech2Empower, Open Nations developed a comprehensive system to measure and communicate the impact of social cohesion, integration, and resilience-building programs targeting Ukrainian refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities. The team's final deliverable was an impact report that included data visualizations and that quantitatively and qualitatively demonstrated the impact of their programs within the metrics of trust, belonging, and resilience using their data from the past three years.
Ribologija, Lithuania’s only dedicated platform for sexual violence prevention, aimed to enhance its sustainability and impact by transitioning into a social enterprise. During the Impact Challenge, the Ribologija team developed a business transformation strategy to reduce reliance on grants, generate revenue through training services, optimize operations, and expand their reach. Key outcomes included a business transformation strategy outline and template, a list of potential partners to sell training services to, a digitally focused network outreach strategy, and a revised mission statement.
The Impact Challenge provided NGO leaders with critical skills and resources to enhance their work:
Advisors and NGO teams worked effectively to achieve meaningful project outcomes. 100% of participants surveyed:
“This experience reinforced my belief in the power of connection and shared expertise. The collective impact is immense - not just in the hours volunteered but in the momentum created and the hope instilled. Seeing firsthand how these programs provide tangible support and foster resilience in women who have faced unimaginable challenges was an honor I will carry with me always. This is more than just volunteering; it's about building bridges, empowering change, and standing in solidarity.”
- Nataliya Stanetsky, Advisor, Google
“During this increasingly challenging time, it's incredibly powerful to be reminded that there are so many women who are passionate about creating change and supporting others, both through impactful NGOs and as volunteer advisors. I'm coming away from my Tech2Empower experience inspired, connected, and committed to the power of good.” -
Emily Wilska, Advisor, Salesforce
“These 3 days were the wake up call we needed to remind ourselves that we are powerful and that we already can move towards social business. Fear can be overcome only when you walk directly towards it, we not only shared knowledge, we woke up to the power that we have.”
- Rugile Butkeviciute, Ribologija
"For the whole team, having highly-professional advisors work with us really felt like a gift of life. We all felt that this was something we had to treasure and nurture."
- Irena Blazevice, Domus Solis
On the final day of Tech2Empower for Ukraine, Advisors and Ukrainian women entrepreneurs participated in a day of collaborative workshops. Our local partner, Ukreate Hub, offers a unique program for Ukrainian entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, helping them turn ideas into action, attract investment, find partners, improve business acumen, and access a supportive community of women entrepreneurs. We leveraged their network of past and present participants to bring together 40 entrepreneurs for the Day for Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs at Tech Arts, a leading European technology hub.
This event provided Ukrainian women with a day of knowledge sharing and workshops focused on soft skills, technical skills, and business strategies. Advisors led the following workshops:
This day is always a very powerful one. Becoming an entrepreneur is an unstable and risky venture in any context, but pursuing that path as a refugee in another country requires immense courage and strength, which our team and Advisors deeply admire. It was incredible to connect with such driven women, each forging a path of creativity and innovation for future Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Participant feedback reflected the sense of solidarity and underscored the program’s success:
"This event for women entrepreneurs is a breath of fresh air filled with ideas, inspiration, and communication. And valuable knowledge both for business and in general. Happy to have participated in Tech2Empower for the second time! The speakers, energy, and atmosphere were amazing.”
- Halyna Mishenina
“Yes, I picked up new skills—everything from marketing strategies to AI tools— and just as important was being in the same room with so many strong, smart, and driven women. The learning was powerful, and the energy, support, and shared experience made it all even more impactful.”
-Elena Semenchuck
In today’s shifting global landscape, creating change can feel like an insurmountable challenge. But at WAKE, we believe that the best remedy for the anxiety of our current social and political moment is action, no matter how big or small. We stand with Ukraine, and we believe that every step we take to understand and support Ukrainian women and their Baltic allies brings us closer to a more connected and unified world. We were honored to be graciously welcomed in Vilnius, where we had the privilege of witnessing the strength and resilience of women dedicating their lives to uplifting their communities in times of crisis.
Thanks to the commitment of our Tech2Empower Advisors and local partners, we created a space where mentorship, innovation, and cross-cultural learning could thrive. Together, we built stronger networks, unlocked new opportunities, and empowered individuals and organizations working to drive social change across the Baltics and beyond.
We would like to extend our thanks to George and Nina Woskob, benefactors of the Woskob New Century Fund at Penn State, for their generous contribution to this program.
