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WBD Associate Becomes Fellow for Women Innovators & Leaders Network
January 22, 2021
At WBD, we empower our teams to pursue their passion projects, identify new opportunities for growth, and embrace the same entrepreneurial spirit in which the firm was founded upon. While pockets of this team spirit can be found across our day-to-day operations, WBD Associate Sophie Fontaine has modeled these core values in her recent pursuit of a fellowship with the Women’s International Leadership Development (WILD) Network.
The WILD Network is a global community focused on one mission – increasing the power and influence of women and diverse leaders in the global development sector. After discovering the network at a Society for International Development – Washington (SID-W) event in October, Sophie felt instantly connected to the organization’s mission.
Driven to expand her professional development and leadership skills, Sophie consulted the firm’s leadership and applied for one of the program’s competitive Graduate Fellow positions. Two weeks later, Sophie was placed as a fellow and immediately began supporting WILD Network’s Annual Leadership Forum. The event is designed to create a global dialogue within the international development community about critical diversity, inclusion, and equity opportunities. In support of the forum, Sophie managed WILD’s social media platforms, supported event logistics, and engaged with leaders from across the globe.
Beyond her professional growth, Sophie is looking for ways to integrate lessons from the fellowship into WBD’s own operations. “One of the most significant things I learned during the 2020 WILD forum are the multiple ways in which small businesses can leverage the skills and knowledge of their employees to generate growth of and investment in their company”
“As WBD’s international practice continues to grow, I’m excited to leverage the skills I will learn and the connections I will make through WILD to aid in the firm’s growth,” said Sophie.