CEO Natalie Martinez (second from left) with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (second from right), International Women’s Day 2023.
Dear SWSG Friends,
I write today with mixed emotions and fond memories as I say farewell to a community I hold dear in my heart. During my journey with SWSG, I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with incredible girls and young women–truly the next generation of local and global leaders–who inspire me every day!
When I joined Strong Women, Strong Girls in 2019, little did we know that a global pandemic would soon change the organization’s impact on the lives of so many girls and women. While shifting programming online and supporting our mentees and college mentors during COVID-19, we also undertook the major initiative of developing and executing a robust strategic plan for SWSG.
Over the past three years, we have advanced a national perspective, including organizational design, programming infrastructure, a more dynamic and inclusive organizational culture, staff roles, marketing, and fundraising plans. We have expanded our programs beyond Boston and Pittsburgh to gateway cities in Massachusetts, and more expansion sites are preparing to come online soon.
This work would not have been possible without our amazing community’s ongoing partnership, commitment, and engagement, especially our mentee families, college chapter mentors, Strong Leaders, donors and supporters, staff, and Board members. I am deeply grateful for each of these groups of individuals who continually remind me why centering our work on girls and women is essential to fostering the leaders of tomorrow.
I am honored to have contributed to advancing this organization’s mission and vision, helping to position SWSG as a leader in girl-serving women’s empowerment spaces. I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our Board of Directors and national leadership team during this time of transition; their exceptional talent assures me that I’m leaving SWSG in the best possible care.
As I continue my leadership within the girls and women mentorship space, I reaffirm my commitment to being a lifelong supporter of SWSG and urge fellow members of our community to join me in this commitment, safeguarding the lasting strength of this remarkable organization.
Wishing you all the best.
In strength,
Natalie Martinez
Chief Executive Officer