Rising. Faster. Together.
Launching Soon …
wUp is on a mission to motivate ALL women to thrive.
We’re developing a people-tech App that provides space for Companies, Pros and All women to share their expertise and connect. From our marketplace to live streaming content all day long – our intention is to create the largest global resource platform for women. Get ready to be a little smarter, alot inspired and part of a community that welcomes everyone.
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who should be here?
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“It’s time for us to Woman Up. Every damn one of us.”
Woman Up is the creation of Kelly Wade and her son Derek Arnel. Growing up with an entrepreneurial father, Kelly was intrigued at an early age with business but always saw the world through the lens of powerful men. After two startups in construction and ecommerce, she would go on to be the first woman CEO in the national roofing industry, then CEO 3X for private equity backed companies, numerous Board positions and over $250M in M&A. She also raised two boys as a single mom, volunteers, and climbs mountains around the world.
Currently in addition to founding Woman Up, she serves on multiple Boards and is a Managing Director at sell-side investment banking firm Kensington Park.
Throughout her career she was always one of the few women in the room. For years she thought it was her work ethic, father-instilled confidence and refusal to take no, that provided her the opportunities. In talking with her son two years ago about how women need to stand up for themselves more and be direct and have a voice – her son said they need to ‘woman up’. This was the spark that ignited the development of the concept for wUP.
In that time, Kelly got educated around just how unequal so many things are for women and has realized it goes way beyond upbringing. She is passionate about providing a space to inspire, educate and value each and every woman. She is determined to join forces globally with as many women as possible to change the societal norms, the laws, the funding, the narrative around women’s rights and opportunities to thrive.