We’re Halfway There! What the First Half of 2026 Has Proven About FAN
- Jun 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Six months into 2026, one thing is undeniable:
When it comes to Impacting lives, this work is only beginning.
What began as a vision to create meaningful, psychologically safe, opportunity-rich spaces for women has continued evolving into something far bigger than events or networking sessions. FAN is becoming infrastructure. A living ecosystem where women are equipped, connected, seen, challenged, restored, and positioned to lead.
In a world where many gather around visibility, we have chosen depth. We do not focus only on inspiration alone, we are building transformation. Where women are often told to survive, we are teaching them to strategically thrive and soar.
The first half of this year has shown us that women are hungry for honest conversations, powerful mentorship, economic empowerment, mental wellness support, leadership development, and rooms where authenticity is not punished. And we listened.
We Started the Year by Challenging the Career Narrative
In January, FAN hosted Reimagining Career Success in 2026: People, Platforms & Productivity Tools, a bold conversation designed to dismantle outdated career myths and expose the hidden mechanics behind visibility, hiring systems, leadership positioning, and professional advancement.
This was not another “believe in yourself” webinar.
It was strategic. Practical. Honest.
Women joined us to understand why highly capable professionals are often overlooked and how to reposition themselves for influence, leadership, and opportunity in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.
The response confirmed something we already suspected: women do not lack ambition. They often lack access to the systems, language, mentorship, sponsorship, and rooms where decisions are made.
FAN intends to change that.
International Women’s Day: Redefining Power Through “Give to Gain”
In March, we hosted one of our most defining gatherings to date: Give to Gain: The Power Exchange.
This was not performative empowerment.
It was a strategic conversation about power, reciprocity, influence, access, collaboration, burnout, and what it means for women to build leverage ethically without losing themselves in the process. Female leaders across sectors - Hon. Leela Aheer, Councillor Simisola Obasan, Milena Radakovic, Alla Brisky, Amaka Onwubuya, Paula Calderon, Nash Chapparo, Chioma Ufodike and Nomso Nnadi spoke strongly about important topics in leadership and the audacity to step out and go from potential to power in workplaces and in enterprise.
We explored:
mentorship vs sponsorship,
transactional networking,
women and influence,
collaborative leadership,
boundaries,
generosity without depletion,
and sustainable ambition.
Most importantly, this event directly aligned with the United Nations’ call to collective action for women and girls, with proceeds supporting programs that improve women’s access to mentorship and employment resources.
This is the type of intentional ecosystem-building FAN is committed to.
Not just hosting events. But creating interventions.
Entrepreneurship and Mental Wellness Took Centre Stage
One of the most powerful moments of this half-year came through Brew & Bloom: The Entrepreneur’s Reset.
Entrepreneurship is frequently romanticized online. Freedom. Flexibility. Success. Scaling.
But behind many businesses are women carrying invisible pressure: financial uncertainty, decision fatigue, burnout, self-doubt, isolation, and the emotional weight of building something from nothing.
We decided to speak directly to that reality.
Through candid founder conversations and a therapist-led workshop on burnout prevention, emotional regulation, and sustainable mental frameworks, FAN created a space where women could stop performing strength and start processing honestly.
The feedback was immediate and emotional.
Women told us they felt seen. Understood. Relieved. Re-energized.
This reinforced an important truth: economic empowerment without psychological support is incomplete.
FAN will continue building spaces where both can coexist.
We Continued Supporting Women Behind the Scenes Too
Not every impactful moment happens on stage.
This year, FAN also hosted Brew & Bloom: Solo Parents Wine & Unwind, recognizing the extraordinary resilience of women carrying dual responsibilities of caregiving, provision, leadership, and emotional labour within their homes.
Because empowerment must include women who are quietly holding entire households together.
Strategic Partnerships For Collaborative Reach
This year also marked major collaborative growth for FAN.
We proudly established partnerships with:
WEDO Canada
The A&C Collective
Google Women Techmakers
These partnerships represent more than logos.
They signal alignment with organizations that believe women deserve access to technology, leadership opportunities, entrepreneurship support, visibility, and future-ready career pathways.
As FAN grows, we remain deeply intentional about who we collaborate with and how those collaborations translate into tangible outcomes for women.
Academic Documentary by Southern Alberta Institute Of Technology (SAIT)’s School of Journalism.
One of the most humbling milestones of this year came when Femme Alliance Network was selected as one of only five nonprofits chosen by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) School of Journalism for a full-scale capstone project.
This project included:
a documentary,
podcast interviews,
written magazine features,
and live observation coverage surrounding our International Women’s Day initiatives.
For us, this recognition mattered deeply.
Not because it validated us. But because it validated the women in this community.
The volunteers. The mentors. The committee members. The speakers. The women rebuilding after loss. The immigrant women navigating new systems. The professionals rediscovering confidence. The founders building quietly. The women daring to start again.
Their stories matter. Our stories matter.
Strengthening Internal Leadership and Governance
Growth requires structure.
This year, FAN welcomed Dennis Agbegha as a Board Member and Shamila Jennings as Volunteer Coordinator.
We also continued the often invisible but critical work of remaining compliant as a federally registered nonprofit during tax season and organizational growth.
Strong organizations are not built only through passion. They are sustained through governance, systems, accountability, stewardship, and operational discipline.
FAN is building for longevity.
And Now, We Enter the Next Phase
As we move into the second half of 2026, we are launching The Reinvention Lab, a mentorship cohort powered through the collaboration between Google Women Techmakers and Femme Alliance Network.
Participants will receive training and certificates in:
Artificial Intelligence & Generative AI,
Business Analysis,
Product Management,
Data Analysis,
Cybersecurity,
Entrepreneurship,
and Leadership.
This is not accidental.
The future of economic empowerment is directly tied to digital transformation, technological literacy, strategic positioning, and leadership development.
Women cannot merely participate in the future economy. They must help shape it.
That is where FAN is going.
Strategic Allies, Sponsors and Community Collaboration
One of the clearest indicators of meaningful impact is the quality of organizations willing to stand beside your mission.
Over the first half of 2026, Femme Alliance Network continued strengthening strategic relationships with ecosystem builders, community organizations, and partners who understand that empowering women is not charity work. It is economic development, leadership development, and community transformation.
We are deeply grateful for the support, collaboration, and alignment of organizations including:
TD Women in Enterprise
Futurpreneur Canada
YW Calgary
Calgary Foundation
These relationships are helping expand access to mentorship, entrepreneurship support, leadership development, digital transformation opportunities, and pathways for women navigating career transitions, business ownership, and workforce integration.
At FAN, partnership is never about optics alone.
It is about building sustainable bridges between women and opportunity.
It is about ensuring that immigrant women, professionals, entrepreneurs, mothers, students, and emerging leaders are not left to navigate growth alone.
As we continue scaling our programs and national visibility, we remain committed to building collaborations rooted in shared values, measurable impact, and long-term community transformation.
The future we are building requires ecosystems, not silos. And we are proud to be building that future together.
To Our Community, Sponsors, Donors, Volunteers and Partners
Thank you.
Thank you for believing in a vision that prioritizes both humanity and excellence.
Thank you for supporting spaces where women can grow honestly and boldly.
Thank you for seeing the value of investing in mentorship, leadership, wellness, technology, entrepreneurship, and community infrastructure.
The truth is: we are only halfway there.
The first six months built momentum.
The next six will multiply impact.
Warmly,
Nomso Nnadi (She/Her)
Founder / Executive Director
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