About REAL Women Co-Lab
Rooted in Experience
The Rural Entrepreneurship And Leadership for Women Co-Lab (REAL Women Co-Lab) is an effort rooted in making impact for Montanans.
After founding the Women's Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lab which included starting Montana's second, Women's Business Center and Native Women Launch programs, University of Montana (UM) seeks to build upon those previous successes. UM has invested in programs to support women entrepreneurs since 2015 and through that work understands the distinct needs affecting rural entrepreneurs today.
Working alongside economic development organizations, chambers, banks, investors, and community development financial institutions, REAL Women Co-Lab seeks to prototype new models of access to finance for women entrepreneurs, train funders, and provide research for the rest of the country. Montana's population size and interconnectedness allows for greater impact that can be modeled for other states across the nation.
Rooted in Experience
Previous program successes by REAL Women Co-Lab and its staff include:
- Pursue Your Passions student entrepreneur program
- UM and aMT's Women's Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lab (WELL)
- Rocky Mountain Women's Business Center (formerly WELL WBC)
- Native Women Launch (WELL NWL)
- aMT's Access to Capital Study
Sponsors
Lead Sponsor: Wells Fargo
Thanks to a generous grant form Wells Fargo in 2023, REAL Women Co-Lab was founded.
Partners
Accelerate Montana
Accelerate Montana offers diverse programs to enhance business growth and career development across the state. Their services include entrepreneurial guidance, business operation support, market access assistance, and state or federal contracting. Additionally, they provide Rapid Training Programs in key sectors like construction and technology, focusing on fast, affordable, and industry-relevant skills training.
Holly Truitt Consulting
Holly Truitt is a designer and facilitator who helps organizations catalyze community-based change. With more than 20 years of experience guiding public and private organizations through uncharted transformations, Holly is a nationally respected author, researcher, and presenter.
Dakota Business Lending
At Dakota Business Lending, we guide you and your small businesses through the entire lending process. As a not-for-profit Certified Development Corporation, we help you look at all lending options and determine what works best for you. We can even partner with your local bank or credit union. Whether you need $1,000 or $5+ million, we have options for you! And, we are here to help with business advising and support all along the way.
Snowy Mountain Development
Founded in 2001, Snowy Mountain Development Corporation (SMDC) is a non-profit organization aimed at enhancing community and economic development in six Montana counties. Supported by local, state, and federal funds, SMDC provides financial products, grants, and development services, significantly contributing to regional growth.
Advisors
Maria Valandra
Maria Valandra has 20-plus years’ experience in banking and community development. Currently, as the business development officer at Island Mountain Development Group, she works on special projects ranging from procedure development to community master planning. Previously, she managed the Montana Department of Commerce’s Office of Indian Country Economic Development.
Cay Drew
Cay is a passionate supporter of career growth and leadership skills for women and other leaders. During her 43-year career at IBM, she was recognized for developing and leading programs for high potential, aspiring women with the impact of both retaining and promoting them into executive ranks.
Jenn Ewan
Jenn is an experienced lawyer with expertise in supporting startup and growth phase companies, employment and corporate matters, and is a certified Title IX investigator. Her previous roles include senior counsel at Michael Best & Friedrich, Vice President at the Missoula Economic Partnership, and in-house counsel for two software companies, as well as working with former Ambassador Max Baucus. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jenn volunteers for legal clinics, reviews felony sexual assault cases, and has personal interests in bowling, broadcasting, and baking.
University of Montana Mission
The University of Montana transforms lives by providing a high-quality and accessible education and by generating world-class research and creative scholarship in an exceptional place. We integrate the liberal arts and sciences into undergraduate, graduate and professional studies to shape global citizens who are creative and agile learners committed to expanding the boundaries of knowledge and to building and sustaining diverse communities.
The University of Montana capitalizes on its unique strengths to create knowledge, provide an active learning environment for students, and offer programs and services responsive to the needs of Montanans. The University delivers education and training on its four campuses and through telecommunications to sites inside and outside of Montana. With public expectations on the rise, the University asks its students, faculty and staff to do and accomplish even more than they have in the past. The University has a commitment to education defined in the broadest sense as personal development and citizen preparation, workforce development and training, graduate education and research, service learning and community building on and off the campuses. The University enhances its programs through continuous quality review for improvement and remains fully accountable to the citizenry through annual audits and performance evaluations.