In 2012, my job was eliminated in Washington, D.C., so I decided to move back to my family's homestead in the Tidewater area of Virginia to be closer to my 88-year-old mother. While the cost of living is much lower here, I had no idea that securing a job in the area would be so difficult. I applied for comparable employment in my career field and even pursued opportunities in which my skills and experiences were transferrable, with no success.

After two years of receiving countless rejection letters, I finally shared my predicament with an alum at a Central Virginia Club meeting I attended. She then passed along my situation to one of her classmates that happens to be a mover and shaker in the Norfolk metropolitan area. Within 48 hours, I had a phone interview with the alum who then shared my info with four executive directors at major area organizations. A week later, I was sitting before some amazing leaders that admitted my audience with them was granted because a Wellesley woman had told them to do so.

While I still do not have a new job yet, the door opener was a reminder that not only do Wellesley women look out for each other, but their effect moves like a tsunami.