Our Story
Universal Womens Network™
The Universal Womens Network™ Inc. is an inclusive network of purpose-driven female CEOs, business leaders, changemakers, trailblazers, visionaries and SupportHERs. from diverse industries who lead, inspire and motivate.
We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion by raising the bar to advance women at all levels where decisions are being made through our Women of Inspiration™ Awards, media, events, programs and certification.
We welcome men to the conversation as our allies who SupportHER™ and strategically partner with companies committed to the advancement of women.
We elevate female entrepreneurs to be visible in the marketplace as women-owned and women-led through with Universal Women-Owned™/Led Certification.
We empower leaders by unlocking the ripple effect to inspire change for a more inclusive world.
Contact us to discuss opportunities to support your goals for ED&I and empower female leaders within your company through our media (podcast, magazine, book), rewards and recognition, events, certification and customized and integrated media campaigns.
The Four Pillars
Connect
We believe every woman brings something unique to the table.
Learn
We believe everyone plays a role to SupportHER™.
Empower
We elevate women to be more and do more.
Celebrate
We recognize the achievements of women who lead, inspire and motivate.
Shared Values
Monica Kretschmer's Story
Founder, CEO
"Resilience is not what happened to you, it is what you do with what happened to you. "
Monica is the Founder and CEO of the Universal Womens Network™ Inc., Women of Inspiration™ and SupportHER™.
She is a visionary, influencer, and disruptor with a passion to shift the definition of entrepreneurship that can be understood through her flawless dedication for women to step into the spotlight and own their voice! Her personal story of the resilience of the “Seven Year Journey” in the court system with 4800 hours of litigation, 22 days of trial was the impetus for her to create the Women of Inspiration™ Awards to recognize the achievements of women who lead, inspire and motivate. Since 2015, the Women of Inspiration™ Awards has celebrated 1,000 women, with 3 million impressions and 10,000 views reaching five continents. The Women of Inspiration Awards program has expanded and attracted nominations from around the world with a digital reach of 12 million.
Monica believes every woman has a story. Your story does not define you; it empowers you. She has built a recognizable brand and inclusive network for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals from diverse industries to connect, learn, empower and celebrate.
The Universal Womens Network™ is committed to advancing gender equity, diversity and inclusion by raising the bar to advance women in business. She is the creator of SupportHER™ (elevating male allies as champions for women in their networks, workplaces, and communities), the host of the Women of Inspiration™ Podcast, and publisher of the UWomen Magazine™. Monica is a Forbes Contributor and 2022 LinkedIn Top Voice for Gender Equity.
During the pandemic, Monica published the first edition of the Women of Inspiration – Women Driving Change book featuring 100 inspiring women from diverse industries which coincide with the launch of graphics trucks with the faces of contributors across North America. The second edition of Women of Inspiration Changemakers is in the works.
Monica is a native Calgarian and a proud mom to her son and enjoys traveling, speaking and enjoying nature!
Women of Inspiration don't wait for opportunities they create them.
Empowering Women The Nest Foundation
The Nest Foundation™ empowers women in transition to rebuild their lives. The Nest Foundation™ partners with organizations to commit to gender and economic empowerment for women and youth.
When women succeed, families succeed!
We are committed to creating opportunities for everyone to contribute to making a change in our world and are passionate about building a circle of reciprocity that empowers others.
We believe that every woman has value and worth and together our collective contribution can make a significant impact on the lives of women.
We are proud to collaborate with other value-based organizations that believe in empowering women and paying it forward in the community. Interested in collaborating? Contact Us.