Dear WEN Chicago Members,

I am delighted to welcome each and every one of you to 2025 as the newly elected President of Women’s Energy Network Chicago (WEN Chicago). It is an honor to step into this leadership role and continue my journey with WEN Chicago, which has been incredibly transformative. Starting as a member and taking on various roles such as volunteer, committee member, committee chair, board member, and President Elect has profoundly shaped my personal and professional experience.

This year marks our 10th anniversary, a significant milestone that reflects our commitment to empowering women in the energy sector. Over the past decade, we have grown and evolved, creating a robust platform that provides opportunities and resources for personal and professional growth.

In the coming days, weeks, and months, I look forward to engaging with each of you and collaborating with our outstanding members of the Board of Directors, volunteers, mentors, sponsors, corporate members, and partners to continue building on our successes.

In 2024, we hosted 22 events, with a mix of in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. We focused on balancing our event locations between the city and suburbs, and introduced new events centered on personal growth and social activities, like puppy yoga. We capped off the year with our signature event, the EMPOWERment forum, featuring an evening of celebration, networking, and dancing!

As we step into the new year, our main objective will be to continue providing powerful programming, expanding our membership, and building our brand within the Chicago community. We are particularly excited about our mentorship program, which pairs experienced professionals with emerging leaders to foster growth, development, and networking opportunities. This initiative is a cornerstone of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of women leaders in energy. Additionally, we aim to enhance networking opportunities for all our members, enabling you to connect with others, share experiences, and grow your careers.

In the past year, the unwavering support of our members and growing enthusiasm for our initiatives was demonstrated by many of our events selling out well in advance, signifying a strong appetite for the content and experiences we offer within our community. In 2025, we will continue to build on this momentum by exploring innovative event formats, expanding our capacity, and diversifying our offerings.

I encourage each of you to actively participate in our events, engage with fellow members, and contribute your unique perspectives to our discussions. Your voice is invaluable, and together, we will make a lasting impact on our community.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. I am excited about what we will achieve together in the coming year! Let’s make 2025 a year to remember by actively participating in WEN and spreading the word about our amazing network. Together, we can empower more women in the energy sector and create lasting change.

Carly Levison

Cheers,

Carly Levison
President, Women's Energy Network Chicago