Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrieline Reece.
Hi Gabrieline, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story has been about learning how to build while still figuring things out myself. I know what it feels like to have ambition and ideas but need guidance, resources, and someone willing to open a door. Some of the people who have helped me most were strangers who saw something in what I was building. Those experiences have shaped how I lead and how I show up for other people.
In 2021, I founded Women Who Influence, a nonprofit that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with education, relationships, resources, and opportunities to grow. We started in Minnesota and have since expanded our work into New York and Texas. Along the way, I’ve taken on everything from developing programs and building partnerships to fundraising and producing events.
As the organization grew, I became more intentional about what people actually leave with. Bringing people into a room is one step. I want them to leave with a useful connection, a clearer direction, or access to an opportunity they might not have found on their own. That thinking continues to shape our business education, leadership conversations, and community events, including the Women Who Influence Summit and Pink Apple Awards.
Getting here has required persistence and a willingness to reassess. We went through an extended period of restructuring to strengthen the organization and clarify our priorities. It taught me that moving forward sometimes means slowing down long enough to build a stronger foundation.
Today, I’m focused on deepening our work, building lasting partnerships, and creating more opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs. I’m still growing alongside the organization, but I’m much clearer about the kind of leader I want to be: someone who follows through and helps other people move forward.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Building a nonprofit takes more than having a mission people believe in. You have to find funding, build a reliable team, earn trust, and keep delivering while those pieces are still coming together. As a founder, I’ve often had to carry several roles at once, and that can be exhausting.
One of the hardest lessons has been learning that encouragement and commitment are different things. People can be excited about what you’re doing, but that doesn’t always translate into showing up or following through. There have been moments when people I expected support from weren’t there, while someone I barely knew stepped in and opened a door. That has taught me to pay attention to actions and build relationships over time.
We also went through an extended period of restructuring. I had to step back, look honestly at what was working, and make changes so the organization could grow on a stronger foundation. That required patience, especially when I wanted to keep moving.
I’m still learning how to ask for help, set clearer expectations, and protect my time. The challenges have made me more thoughtful about who we partner with and what we commit to. I want to build something we can sustain and that people can count on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Women Who Influence?
Women Who Influence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization I founded in 2021 to help entrepreneurs and small business owners access the knowledge, relationships, resources, and visibility they need to grow. Our work brings together business education, leadership development, and community connections, with a focus on expanding opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Our offerings include the Business Growth & Leadership Accelerator, which combines workshops and individualized coaching around finance, marketing, operations, and business readiness. We also create spaces for people to connect through our Women Who Influence Summit, leadership conversations through The Power Seat, and recognition through the Pink Apple Awards. Each serves a different purpose, but they all connect to helping people move forward.
What sets us apart is how we bring business, culture, and community into the same conversation. Entrepreneurs have responsibilities, experiences, and challenges that affect how they build. We take those realities seriously when developing our programs and choosing our partners. We also listen. Community surveys and conversations help us understand what business owners need instead of assuming we already have the answers.
I’m most proud of building a brand that brings entrepreneurs, community organizations, corporate partners, and public officials into the same room with a shared purpose. Since our founding, we’ve recorded more than 1,800 attendances across our programming. For me, the value is in what those connections can lead to: someone finding guidance, meeting a potential collaborator, or gaining the confidence to take their next step.
I want readers to know there is a place for them at Women Who Influence. Our work welcomes entrepreneurs and small business owners across backgrounds and identities. Whether you’re growing a business, sharing your expertise, or looking to support your community, we want to build relationships that continue beyond a single event.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is following through and making sure the work we do is useful to people. When someone gives us their time, shares their story, or trusts us enough to ask for help, I take that seriously. I want them to leave with something they can use a connection, clearer information, or a next step.
That matters because I know how discouraging it can feel to ask for support and get nowhere. I also know how much it can mean when someone takes you seriously and makes an introduction or helps you work through a problem. Those moments have shaped how I want to show up for others.
I’m proud when we bring people together, but I care most about what happens afterward. Did someone follow up? Did a business owner find a resource they needed? Did a conversation turn into a working relationship? Those are the things I want to keep building toward.
Pricing:
- Good Company: Free small business networking.
- The Funding Room: Free virtual sessions on grants, lending, and access to capital.
- Summit and Pink Apple Awards: Ticket prices are announced for each event.
- Sponsorship and partnership opportunities: Contact us for details.
- Visit womenwhoinfluence.org for upcoming programs, registration, and pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://womenwhoinfluence.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhoinfluence/
- Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wwinfluence/
