by Sarah Brede
EWI of Spokane Chapter President
Dear EWI of Spokane Chapter Members,
Sometimes the simplest ideas create the most powerful moments. Our October Chapter meeting proved exactly that.
Connect, Collaborate, and Grow
When we designed last month’s networking activity, we hoped it would spark meaningful conversations. What we witnessed exceeded those hopes. The room buzzed with energy as members engaged in genuine dialogue, curious about each other’s businesses, delighted by unexpected commonalities, and energized by the authentic connections forming around them.
Your feedback captured it beautifully: Curiosity. Commonality. Connection. And perhaps most tellingly, many of you described the experience as fun. That’s the heart of what EWI is meant to be: a space where professional growth and genuine enjoyment aren’t mutually exclusive, but rather fuel each other.
The call to action from that evening was simple: meet up for coffee. I hope many of you have already taken that step. If you haven’t, I encourage you to reach out to someone you connected with. Those one-on-one conversations are where relationships deepen, business opportunities emerge, and the real magic of EWI comes alive.
November: Elevate Your Communication
Speaking of meaningful connections, I’m thrilled to invite you to our November Chapter meeting, where we’ll explore how to communicate even more effectively through the lens of servant leadership.
Our speaker is Debbie Heiser, founder of The Lit Up Life, Gonzaga University leadership educator, and successful business coach who helps people “step into the best version of themselves.”
Debbie will introduce us to Internal Family Systems and share practical skills from her Servant Leadership course that we can apply immediately to improve our communication. Whether you’re navigating difficult conversations, leading teams, or building client relationships, these insights will help you connect more authentically and lead more effectively.
This is the kind of professional development that sets EWI apart: not just theory, but practical tools taught by someone who’s walked the path and now dedicates her life to helping others develop and perform at a high level. And it reflects something deeper about who we are as a Chapter.
Charting Our Course Together
The success of October’s networking activity and the caliber of programming like our November meeting aren’t accidental. They’re intentional reflections of what we believe our Chapter should be. At our October board retreat, we spent time articulating these beliefs, and the result is a mission statement and guiding principles that will shape our decisions and priorities this year.
Our Chapter Board Mission: “We strive to bring together professional women and their firms to build meaningful relationships in pursuit of genuine connection, shared leadership growth, and community service, creating opportunities for lasting impact within our organizations and throughout our community.”
Our Guiding Principles:
Connection Over Transaction: We strive to build genuine relationships among our members and create space for vulnerability. Our goal is to help members know each other as whole people, not just professional titles.
Intentional Membership: We thoughtfully grow our community, seeking women and firms who bring unique perspectives, authentic engagement, and commitment to our shared mission.
Legacy Through Leadership: We invest in the next generation through literacy programs and scholarships, creating ripples of impact that extend beyond our membership and our firms.
Stronger Together: Our collective strength—professional, personal, and economic—grows when we actively support each other, our member firms, and our community.
Adaptable Excellence: We honor EWI’s history and our member firms’ legacy while remaining flexible and forward-thinking, refusing to be constrained by “how it’s always been done.”
Purposeful Structure: We leverage our organizational framework and corporate connections to create meaningful opportunities for member growth and impact.
These principles reflect what we’ve heard from you and what we believe will make our Chapter stronger. But this is your Chapter, too. We want to hear your thoughts. Do these principles resonate with your experience? Are there areas where you’d like to see us focus more energy? Your feedback helps ensure we’re building the EWI Chapter you want to be part of. Please reach out to any board member with your ideas and perspectives.
Living These Principles Through Action
Words are powerful, but action is what transforms principles into reality. Last month’s success reminds me why engagement matters so deeply. When you show up, participate fully, and open yourself to genuine connection, you don’t just benefit yourself, you elevate everyone in the room. You bring our guiding principles to life.
And speaking of engagement, it’s time to join a committee! Active committee participation is a requirement of EWI membership, and we have a goal for 100% of our members to be engaged. During the October meeting, we discussed how vital committees are to making EWI thrive. Whether it’s Programs, Marketing/Communications, Philanthropy, Scholarship, or Retention & Recruitment, these teams are where the real work happens and where you make a tangible impact on our Chapter. If you haven’t already joined a committee, please reach out and get involved. You can find all committee meeting times and locations at the bottom of the Connect newsletter. This is how we fulfill our commitment to the organization and to each other.
So, I invite you to carry that October energy forward. Join a committee if you haven’t already. Come to the November meeting. Continue those coffee conversations that turn acquaintances into advocates and connections into collaborations.
Because when one woman rises, we all rise.
With gratitude for your engagement,
Sarah Brede
President, EWI of Spokane Chapter