PRESS RELEASE: Global Visionary Women Network Launches New York Branch and Chapter, Expanding Its Global Mission Across the United States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Liverpool, United Kingdom / New York, USA โ 20/05/2026
Global Visionary Women Network (GVWN), founded in Liverpool, United Kingdom, a global network dedicated to equipping women to lead with purpose, vision, and impact across every sphere of society, proudly announces the official launch of its new Branch and Chapter in New York, USA, marking a powerful new chapter in GVWNโs global expansion and its mission to raise visionary women as confident, purpose-driven leaders across nations.
The New York Branch and Chapter will be led by Kathryn Lancioni, communications strategist, leadership coach, educator, author, and U.S. Director of the Global Visionary Women Network. Through this appointment, Kathryn will spearhead GVWNโs work in New York and support the organisationโs wider expansion across the United States, building a dynamic platform for womenโs leadership, global connection, communication excellence, and transformational impact.
Founded on 8 March 2014 by Dr Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, in honour of International Womenโs Day, GVWN was created to honour the identity, worth, and uniqueness of every woman worldwide and unveil the potentials of the visionary woman to the world. As a global catalyst for womenโs leadership, GVWN inspires women to lead with purpose, speak with authenticity, and influence society at every level.
The launch of GVWN New York represents a significant milestone in the organisationโs international growth. Positioned in one of the worldโs most influential cities, the chapter will serve as a strategic hub for leadership development, mentorship, cross-sector collaboration, global networking, and initiatives that amplify womenโs voices in business, education, media, entrepreneurship, civic life, and community transformation.
Reflecting on this important expansion, Dr Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, Founder and Global Chair of GVWN, stated:
โThe launch of our New York Branch and Chapter is a defining moment in the global journey of GVWN. New York is not only one of the worldโs great centres of influence, innovation, leadership, and culture; it is also a place where voices from every nation converge. To establish GVWN in New York is to plant a powerful seed of transformation in a city whose impact reaches far beyond borders. With Kathryn Lancioni at the helm, GVWN New York is set to inspire women to lead with conviction, build purposeful connections, and drive enduring impact across nations. Kathryn brings exceptional expertise in communication, leadership, education, and resilience, and she embodies the values, excellence, and visionary spirit of GVWN.
This expansion is more than the opening of a new chapter; it is a call to women across the United States and around the world to rise with boldness, speak with conviction, and lead from the strength of their authentic identity, dignity, and purposeโshaping a future that reflects their vision and values.โ
As Director, Kathryn Lancioni will lead efforts to establish GVWN New York as a dynamic and inclusive hub for women leaders, emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, educators, creatives, and changemakers. The chapter will support women in strengthening their leadership capacity, developing their personal and professional brand, building meaningful global connections, and advancing initiatives that create measurable impact.
Echoing this vision and the significance of the collaboration, Kathryn Lencioni added:
โEverything Iโve built my career around comes down to one belief: when women learn to communicate with clarity and confidence, they change not only their own trajectory, but the trajectory of the organizations and communities they lead. GVWN New York is about unlocking that power at scaleโcreating a space where women can sharpen their voice, expand their vision, and step fully into their leadership.โ
GVWN New York will deliver leadership programmes, retreats, mentoring opportunities, communication and personal branding initiatives, networking forums, educational events, and strategic collaborations with organisations, institutions, businesses, and community leaders. In alignment with GVWNโs global mission, the chapter will promote womenโs empowerment and leadership through identity restoration, transformational leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and international sisterhood.
The New York launch also strengthens GVWNโs commitment to building bridges between women across continents. As the organisation continues to expand its presence globally, GVWN New York will play a key role in connecting women leaders in the United States with the wider GVWN international network, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, leadership development, and shared action.
About Kathryn Lancioni
Kathryn Lancioni is a communications strategist, leadership coach, and educator dedicated to helping leaders use their voices with clarity, confidence, and impact. As the U.S. Director of the Global Visionary Women Network, she is focused on elevating womenโs leadership, fostering meaningful global connections, and creating platforms where bold ideas โ and the people behind them โ can thrive.
Kathrynโs work sits at the intersection of communication, leadership, and resilience. Through her leadership of a communications and leadership consultancy, she has worked with Fortune 500 executives, founders, and emerging leaders to strengthen executive presence, sharpen messaging, and lead more effectively in high-stakes environments. She is known for helping individuals navigate pivotal moments, build authentic personal brands, and communicate with intention in increasingly complex professional landscapes.
With a background spanning journalism, public relations, corporate communications, and academia, Kathryn has partnered with global organisations including IBM, Deloitte, UPS, Sony, and Analog Devices, as well as early-stage startups building their voice from the ground up. She began her career at leading global agencies including Edelman, Ogilvy, and Weber Shandwick, where she developed and executed strategic campaigns for some of the worldโs most recognised brands.
An award-winning educator and thought leader, Kathryn serves as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University and Montclair State University, where she teaches courses in communication, collaboration, and writing across media. She is the author of three textbooks โ Communication Research, The Practice of Public Relations, and PR: The Changing Global Landscape โ and a frequent contributor to Forbes, where she writes on leadership, communication, and the evolving workplace.
Kathryn is also the host of the Gut Punch Podcast, a platform focused on resilience, reinvention, and the real stories behind success. Across her work in coaching, media, and education, she has built a reputation for helping individuals and organisations not only communicate more effectively, but show up more powerfully.
In her role with the Global Visionary Women Network, Kathryn is leading efforts to expand the organisationโs presence across the United States, cultivate a dynamic and inclusive community of leaders, and advance initiatives that empower women to lead boldly, connect globally, and create lasting impact.
About Global Visionary Women Network
Global Visionary Women Network is an international organisation founded in Liverpool, United Kingdom, by Dr Sylvia Forchap-Likambi on 8 March 2014, in honour of International Womenโs Day. GVWN exists to empower women and girls through transformational leadership, identity restoration, mentorship, global collaboration, and purpose-driven initiatives that empower women realise their worth, potential, and capacity for global impact.
Through its global chapters, programmes, partnerships, and leadership platforms, GVWN unites visionary women across nations and sectors, equipping them to rise as confident leaders and changemakers in their families, communities, workplaces, and nations.
For more information about Global Visionary Women Network and GVWN New York, visit www.globalvisionarywomen.org or contact us at: enquiries@globalvisionarywomen.org. +44 (0) 7539216072
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