WIELD Texas

WIELD Texas is a two-year program credit-bearing program and is committed to advancing the number of women in executive leadership and is a program open to all students regardless of their background. WIELD Texas cultivates a unique curriculum tailored for diverse women that allow students to learn from a unique lens of leadership centered around heart-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive leadership. All students are welcome to join and the topics throughout the semester will highlight women in leadership and have case studies exploring alternative forms of leadership. They will learn entrepreneurship skills and develop a company within a team. WIELD Texas is open to all students regardless of race, color, gender, and/or national origin. Male students are also welcome to apply to the program as well as white female students.

Apply

What’s Included?

The 2-year program includes:

• Opening and closing retreat
• Four semesters of training
• Summer internships in government, non-profit, and corporate sectors
• Contact with experienced startup mentors
• Access to professional development conferences

• VIP access to WIELD event speakers
• Seasoned startup mentors
• Startup Pitch showcases
• Conference and event access to conferences like SXSW
• Soft skill development
• Tech startup tours

Problem

Women, especially Black and Latine women, face challenges around equal pay and upward career mobility, and they have the lowest amount of capital invested in their ventures from the angel and venture capital community.

Opportunity

The program focuses on social impact through a combination of product management training, human-centered design, and cultivating business ideas that serve the greater good.

WIELD Texas

WIELD offers invaluable enrichment activities that strengthen students’ understanding of entrepreneurial thinking and leadership approaches, giving them the foundation to effect social change through inclusive innovation.

Skills for Success

This program will offer training on soft skills such as negotiation, career exploration, navigation, managing up, building teams, managing teams, and interviewing.

Internships

WIELD Texas participants will be placed in specific roles within organizations working within middle and upper management to gain insight into the duties and decision-making involved at the executive level. This internship will be coupled with a project deliverable for their portfolio at the end.

Mentorship

We have assembled a great list of executive advisors and through their networks, we will build a robust network of women who are looking to mentor, sponsor, and coach WIELD Texas participants into executive-level roles.

Startup Funding

WIELD Texas participants will be able to qualify for a seed grant to be awarded during their second year, upon successful completion of their first-year assignments. This funding will be used to help launch their micro-venture or launch a community impact project.

Immersive Support

• WIELD Texas will meet twice a week for ninety minutes on the UT campus
• Meetings will feature guest speakers as well as program staff
• Trips and retreats will be incorporated throughout the two-year program
• The program will be of no cost to students beyond any trip or fundraising costs
• Participation in the program does result in a three-hour course credit each semester
• There are a total of four semesters in the program
• Each WIELD Texas participant will be paired with a dedicated mentor

There are some extraordinary people helping to make us great!

Our Impact
In Our Student’s Words:

Students

Join us and start making your education work for you.

Apply Now!

Professionals

Become a mentor or provide a guest lecture. Help us train for tomorrow.

Contact Us

Businesses

Host an internship, provide a workplace tour or make a donation.

Contact Us