A Letter of Gratitude From Our 10-Year Celebration

Dear WAKE Community,

Thank you for joining us to celebrate ten years of connection, collaboration, and impact. Seeing so many of you—volunteer Advisors, nonprofit partners, sponsors, donors, friends, and allies—come together was a beautiful reminder of the power of community. Whether you traveled from across the Bay Area or from cities around the country and world, your presence filled the evening with energy, gratitude, and hope.

I am deeply grateful to our event sponsors, our host committee, and everyone who contributed to our silent auction. Your generosity helped make the celebration possible and directly fuels our mission as we look ahead to the next decade.

To everyone who has been part of WAKE’s journey over these past ten years—our global network of Advisors, the women leaders and organizations with whom we partner, and the many supporters who believe in this work—thank you. WAKE was built on the idea that when women lead and when communities learn from one another, meaningful change takes root. The impact we’ve achieved so far is the result of your shared commitment, expertise, and belief in what’s possible.

As we step into the next chapter, I carry with me the inspiration of that evening and the strength of this incredible community. I’m excited for all that lies ahead and grateful to be walking into the future with you.

With gratitude,
Trish Tierney
Co-Founder & Executive Director, WAKE

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.