Women Leading Women wants to improve personal, professional growth

Can we talk?

That’s what two friends from Fox Chapel are encouraging with Women Leading Women, a nonprofit co-founded in 2019 by Fox Chapel residents Dana Hanna and Dr. Jenny Yu.

Hanna, 46, and Yu, 43, met at a social event, bonded quickly and set their sights on creating a female-focused organization with a mission of serving the community by advocating for personal and professional growth.

“Our goal is to empower women to build stronger connections through female-led conversations exploring career, family and well-being,” Hanna said.

Pandemic and covid-19 restrictions led to the cancellation of the inaugural Women Leading Women development conference scheduled for last May.

It’s been rescheduled for May 14. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, author and chief health and medical editor and medical correspondent for “ABC News” and “Good Morning, America,” is scheduled as keynote speaker.

But in the interim, a three-part Well-being winter virtual series kicks off Thursday, Jan. 14.

The Zoom session will feature discussions by three female physicians offering forward-thinking conversations on aging gracefully and physiologic changes many women face.

Registration is free and open to women of all ages.

Hosted by Women Leading Women and The Salon Pgh in Lawrenceville, January’s panel discussion will feature Dr. Michelle Griffith, endocrinologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Dr. Jen Berliner, cardiologist and director of a well-being program for physicians at UPMC; and Dr. Stella Lee, otolaryngologist at UPMC.

“Our goal with this series is to educate people on what it means to take on their well-being — the physical, mental, spiritual and financial,” said Yu, an oculoplastic surgeon.

Dr. Yu will serve as moderator during the 90-minute webinar that will conclude with a Q&A.

Nicole Shapiro, 45, of Fox Chapel is a busy homemaker raising three daughters.

She recently registered for the series and said she’s looking forward to connecting virtually with a group of women during this unprecedented period of division and isolation.

“I’m looking forward to discussing the best strategies for enhancing my own well- being,” Shapiro said. “Self-care is critical. And it’s important for a community of women to have a forum to discuss openly and honestly about the challenges of growing older.”

February and March virtual panel discussions will include alternative and complementary medicine as well as financial and mental health topics.

To register, visit the event page here.