Our Story

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It all started when…

Nandini Oomman, Founding Curator of The Women’s Storytelling Salon™, was living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam as a global health specialist. She began to notice that women wanted to hear each other’s stories— why and how do women become who they are? Whether they are artists, scientists, writers, dancers, lawyers, astronauts or entrepreneurs, each woman has a story of her professional journey to share.

The Women’s Storytelling Salon™ was conceptualized as a platform to bring Nandini’s observation to life. It was launched initially as a community event in Hanoi in 2014 with a fellow expat Irene Ohler, and then as a small company when Nandini moved back to her home in Washington, DC in 2015. Since then, the Salon continues to shape a women’s storytelling culture and movement, as a force for change that is helping to shift the narrative about women and the work force.

 
 

VISion

To shift the narrative about women and girls by making them more visible and vocal in their leadership and participation in the work force.


MISSION

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find it!

We want women and girls to find their stories. Every woman has a story and we encourage her to take the time to think about it and find it.

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own it!

We want women and girls to own their stories, so that they aren't appropriated, modified, or completely forgotten by others.

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share it!

We want women and girls to share their stories as they wish to. These stories can trigger conversations about women’s leadership and participation, inspire others to envision what is possible, and allow the world to celebrate and recognize women for all that they are doing— now rather than later. These stories can also help to shape the future of work—not only to expand the workforce, but also to re-design the workplace through a gender-balanced lens.


STRATEGiES

Provide a platform that proactively makes space for women and girls to share their stories in their OWN words— regardless of their age, color, income, or participation in the formal or informal economy.

Use stories to evocatively and effectively showcase different professions, alternative career paths, diverse work environments, and various management and leadership styles that foster gender equality.


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OUR “4 C’s” —

CORE VALUES

Credibility: real and authentic stories

Contribution: stories reveal how every woman contributes to society in big and small ways

Candor: openness and honesty in telling stories

Confidence: building self respect in women and girls to find, own and share their stories


our growth & results

  • Global Community: 2020 brings us in to the digital world with the launch of our virtual Salons. This also brings us in to a new sphere of influence. While we have worked for 4 years exclusively with women (and we will continue to do so in our in person Salons), we realize that we also need to share these stories with others—for women to be truly visible and vocal! We are excited to invite women, men and non-binary guests to join us at these virtual Salons!

  • DC Community: The DC Salon guest list has grown to over 1000 members— women ranging in age from 14 to 80+ — essentially by word of mouth and social media.

  • New Partnerships: In 2018 the Salon began partnering with other organizations. For example, we partnered with IBM to host a Women in Tech Storytelling Salon featuring two of their senior management leaders. We look for meaningful partnerships in different sectors, so do not hesitate to contact us with ideas.

  • Philanthropy: In 2017 The Women’s Storytelling Salon began to contribute a portion of revenue (net of Salon operating costs) to organizations chosen by the storytellers. To date, The Salon has contributed to several organizations including Global Giving for the Puerto Rico Fund, Girls Inc., Immigrant Family Defense Fund, and SOLA-Afghanistan. We also participate in fundraising for organizations including 1 Journey Festival, The Washington International School, and Paper Airplanes.