Inspiring Women to Lead

In the U.S., March is Women’s History Month and it is an opportunity to celebrate the inspiring women who have contributed to and shaped our country and the world. At AWF, we not only recognize past and present contributions of women, but look to the future as well. Today we launch the 2019 class of Inspire Atlanta, our women’s philanthropic leadership program. We are excited to engage with, teach, and learn from this passionate group of women seeking to make a difference in our community. 2018 Inspire Atlanta alumna and current co-chair of the Inspire Atlanta Mentor Committee Christen Haussig shares what the program meant to her and why she remains engaged.

November 1, 2017. That is a date that forever changed my world. I was attending The Atlanta Women’s Foundation Numbers Too Big to Ignore Annual Luncheon. It was the first exposure I had to AWF, and when I left that day, I was truly inspired. Inspire would come to be the word that has shaped my life since.

Shortly after that I was introduced to AWF’s Inspire Atlanta leadership program. When I was accepted, I had no idea what to expect. From the day of orientation, to the eye-opening poverty simulation, to the fantastic programs on professional development, I was blown away by the quality of women I was getting to know and the self-reflection of my own philanthropic journey. Learning what drives me, and in turn what helped me be a champion for AWF, was a unique experience. Finding a connection to the mission of helping women and girls break the cycle of generational poverty was a bonus. As a mother, I couldn’t help but feel a deep connection with other mothers’ struggles to create the lives they want for their children. I believe this connection is what helped me create success out of the Inspire program.

Fundraising for AWF brought me a joy that did not center around my world, but rather the world of many women coming together for a much greater cause than ourselves. As the program came to a close, I found myself mourning the “end” of such an amazing experience, so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to co-chair the mentor committee for the 2019 Inspire class. I can’t wait to help mentor and guide this class through what will inevitably be life changing for them as well. This new chapter of my journey is giving me the opportunity to reach even more people with the mission of AWF, to meet all new driven and incredible women, and for that I am absolutely Inspired. 

Christen Haussig is a native Atlantan who now lives in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations for Trinity Title Insurance Agency in Decatur, Georgia. Commercial Real Estate is a passion of hers, along with spending time with her husband and son, and traveling.