In 2022, WPLN launched its first-ever Fellowship for nonprofit management. This program pairs young women in higher education with early-stage nonprofit organizations who are training women to run for office in their states.

Meet Georgia Polemenakos, our Fellow supporting Pocketbook Project in Massachusetts. Georgia is pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration at Suffolk University, and is expecting to graduate in 2025.

[WPLN]: What about WPLN's mission do you feel most passionate about? 

[Georgia]: I feel most passionate about WPLN’s mission to support and empower women. I have been lucky in my life to be surrounded by extraordinarily strong-minded women. Whether it be at home with my three female siblings, constantly learning and looking up to my sisters, or watching my dad support my mom in leading our household as we grew up. My dad, being outnumbered, never discouraged me and my sisters from doing whatever we wanted. He always encouraged us to be our biggest advocates and to never let anyone stop us or get in the way of achieving our goals. As an adult now, going to work with and for powerhouse women who have been incredible mentors to me in my career. I have learned early on that not many young girls and women get this luxury in life. It is important to support and empower the women around us and give them that mentorship. Oftentimes we want to be what we see and who inspires us. If we fill the room with strong female leaders, we will continue to do so.

What are you most looking forward to with your Fellowship? 

Whether it be socially or professionally, I have always loved making friends and expanding my network. I think this fellowship will help me meet and network with women I inspire to be one day, which is invaluable. I hope to learn from them and to guide them to become the leaders they can and should be.

What do you see as one of the biggest challenges for women in leadership today?

Breaking the barriers. Although there has been much improvement, there are still many barriers women need to overcome. A lot of it has to do with changing to a growth mindset; Changing the mindset of the women who don’t feel qualified or feel incapable. Changing the mindset of women who feel guilty taking time away from their homes, or feel unsure about how that “may look.” And changing the mindset of men, who need to be open-minded to giving women a seat at the table. Men who need to show support and empower women to want to be leaders. And changing the mindset of men who don’t view women as leaders or bosses or even equals. Changing mindsets takes time, in fact they are usually instilled in us, but it is not impossible. By empowering and supporting women every day in our work at WPLN we are readdressing societal norms and changing the standards.

How do you plan to impact your community post-graduation? 

I just want to step up in any way that I can. I want to give back to my community. I want to serve on boards and commissions. I want to work in leadership roles. I want to serve in a public capacity. And I want to mentor young girls, like me, that have a dream!

What is your favorite quote by a woman who has impacted your life?

I recently started to study up on Abigail Adams, the second first woman of the United States of America because I was appointed to serve on the Adams Presidential Center for the city of Quincy, Massachusetts. Ms. Adams' strength and resilience are evident when she is able to speak out about politics and policy as a woman in late eighteenth-century America. She advises her President husband during a time where women did not have equal opportunity or rights. She simply didn’t care, and I love that!

“...remember the ladies”

“And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.”