Overview
The Leadership Rhode Island Women’s Network (LRIWN) seeks to empower, support and inspire women to connect more concretely on professional, personal and policy interests, and also to create meaningful and positive change in the community. The network was formed by women in the Mu II class after they graduated from LRI’s core program in 2016.
Steering Committee
Prutha Patel
Chair, LRI '16
Vice President, Patel Investments
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Responsibility
- Strategic
- Learner
- Achiever
- Relator
Prutha is Vice President of Patel Investments, a real estate investments portfolio consisting of 50 commercial and residential units. A 2012 graduate of Boston University, Prutha is also active in the community. She is President of the Board for The Lady Project, a Board Member of Sojourner House, a Board Member of the Dexter Donation Commission, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Heart Ball Committee for the American Heart Association. Passionate about raising awareness for Lupus, she founded the RI Lupus Support Group in 2016.
Margie O’Brien Reed
Member, LRI '16
Host, RI Capitol TV
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Woo
- Activator
- Futuristic
- Positivity
- Achiever
Margie has been telling stories for over 20 years as an award-winning news reporter, anchor and, since 2015, Host of RI Capitol TV. She also is the founder of Image, a consulting company to assist individuals and organizations with media, messaging and strengths training. She majored in political science as an undergraduate at St. Anselm College and holds a master’s degree in communications/broadcast journalism from Emerson College. LRI’s Mu II’s chose Margie to be the class graduation speaker in 2016. Margie lives in Barrington with her husband, Todd Reed, and three children, Camden, Cole and Delaney.
Nancy Serpa
Member, LRI '20
IT Program Manager, Sensata Technologies
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Arranger
- Communication
- Positivity
- Activator
- Relator
Nancy Serpa is a proud graduate of the Leadership RI 2020 Pi II Class (Semper Pi!). She has over thirty years of program management, Agile product development, management consulting and financial management experience. She has a strong drive and focus on the customer experience and delivery execution. Nancy currently works at Sensata Technologies as an IT Program Manager implementing global supply chain technology solutions. Prior to Sensata, Nancy has worked at Fidelity Investments, Pittiglio, Rabin, Todd & McGrath, AT Kearney, Oracle Corporation and Digital Equipment Corporation. Nancy serves in many board leadership and volunteer roles including the Sensata Technologies Foundation, Books Are Wings, The United Way of Rhode Island, Women United and The Junior League of Rhode Island. She is also a YMCA Level II Swim Official and a parent volunteer at the St. Philomena School. Nancy holds a Masters of Science in Industrial Administration (MBA) from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Providence College. She currently resides in Newport RI with her husband Tom and daughter Avary. She loves to attend the theatre, concerts and museums, travel the world, dine out and explore the great outdoors.
Victoria Tolbert
Member, LRI '16
Human Resources Officer, Rhode Island National Guard
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Context
- Arranger
- Relator
- Includer
Victoria is a Human Resources Officer in the Rhode Island National Guard, who spent 20 years in public and private education as a teacher and an administrator. She has served on the board of Buttonhole Golf Course and Youth Pride and is currently a member of the board of directors of the YWCA Rhode Island and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. She is passionate about helping others build resilience and empowering them to live the life they dream. She earned an M.Ed. from Bridgewater State University, an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, and her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame.
Past Events
November 16, 2020
Is the School Year Working?: Education in RI During a Volatile Climate (Watch the Recording)
Moderated by Margie O’Brien Reed (LRI ’16) this panel looked at Education in Rhode Island during the time of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Panelists included:
Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green
Sulina Mohanty (CLRI ’06), Principal at BrightSpot Leadership
Daniela Fairchild (LRI ’18), Director of Operations and Special Projects for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Rich Norris, Assistant principal at 360 High School
September 24, 2020
Permission to Thrive: Self-care Strategies in Uncertain Times (Watch the Recording)
Self-care Strategist and Founder of bnourished, Katie McDonald (LRI ’16) focused on leveraging the chaos around us, and turning inward to work toward growth.
July 27, 2020
Leading With Compassion
Christine King (LRI ’16) lead a conversation on transforming awareness of one’s mental health into compassion and care for our greater communities during times of stress.
June 17, 2020
Be Kind To Yourself (Watch the Recording)
This event brought together physician and psychologist viewpoints on mental health and well being during this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 11, 2020
Entrepreneurship: Do It Your Way
Through a three-person moderated panel— Angela Bannerman Ankoma (LRI ’14), Katie McDonald (LRI ’14), Hilina Ajakaiye (LRI ’19), and Kaitlyn Roberts — moderated by Margie O’Brien Reed (LRI ’16), this event highlighted women who started their own businesses, be it from scratch ,or by transitioning into new positions in different fields. They shared how they got started, why they did it, and the obstacles they had to overcome.
April 2, 2019
RI Women: Past, Present and Future
Through a three-person moderated panel—Henrietta White-Holder (LRI ’11), Senator Ana Quezada and Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan (LRI ’96)—moderated by Margie O’Brien Reed (LRI ’16) This event showcased the power of Rhode Island women, past and present. The historical narrative covered pioneer Anne Hutchinson as well as other notable women who helped to transform a state, run by predominately male leadership and, as a result, created new opportunities for women.
September 17, 2018
“Meet and Greet”
The LRIWN Group Steering Committee members were introduced and plans for future events and socials were outlined.
November 16, 2017
Issues facing Immigrants in Rhode Island
Through a three-person moderated panel—Henrietta White-Holder (LRI ’11), Senator Ana Quezada and Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan (LRI ’96)—moderated by Margie O’Brien Reed (LRI ’16), the discussion highlighted the positive work being done to serve the population and discuss the hardships and needs of the programs within our state. It focused on the ways we build an all-inclusive community, integrating immigrants into the existing society, while also preserving cultural heritage.
June 14, 2017
Screening of the documentary, 13th, and panel discussion
13th is a documentary directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma) that looks at the policies and environments from slavery to present day that have shaped and an amplified the crisis of mass incarceration our nation faces today.
May 31, 2017
The Status of Working Women in RI
Women’s Fund Executive Director Kelly Nevins presented attendees with benchmarks of where women stand in Rhode Island in comparison to other states.