Empowering Women

Founded in 2004, the Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) of Houma is an organization dedicated to advancing women in their education, careers and personal lives. 

“The Women’s Business Alliance at its heart works to improve the quality of life for women by supporting them in their personal and professional endeavors and relationships,” said Katherine Theriot, the organization’s communications co-chair. “We pull together women who can support each other, lift each other up and further our mission and our goals in life and business.” 

WBA aims to enrich its members through networking, education, community involvement, mentoring and creating innovation and effective growth. 

Helping the next generation is a main WBA goal. In addition to mentoring, it offers its annual Academic Scholarship Program to graduating seniors who are residents of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes and have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. 

But in the last few years, the organization broadened its scholarship application to include the non-traditional student, Theriot said. “That’s a lady who is returning to school maybe after sitting out: she went into the workforce immediately, and now she’s looking to further her education for her career or to change careers,” she explained. 

The alliance also gives back through its annual Athena Award, which is given to women who “strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and forge paths of leadership for other women to follow.”

Billie Babin, WBA Steering Committee Chair, said such recognition makes WBA stand out from other networking organizations. “We try to lift women up not only in business but just in everyday life,” she said. 

Each Athena recipient chooses a nonprofit for WBA to donate to. 

WBA had to cancel its 2020 Athena Award banquet due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, with limited capacity and masks encouraged, it was still able to host some of its events. Its breakfast, lunch and after-hours events focus on learning, inspiration and networking, respectively. 

“At the luncheon, somebody gives us an empowering talk, and you get re-motivated our own personal mission statement and why we do what we do,” Babin said. “At our learning breakfast, you honestly might learn some things that you may already know, but you add more tools to your toolbox.” 

“I always feel uplifted and energized after one of our Women’s Business Alliance gatherings. There’s just something about the energy in the room and convening with everybody that’s so fulfilling for me personally,” Theriot said. 

Networking is key with the Women’s Business Alliance, as the organization provides a  cost-effective way for a small business owner to connect with the local community, Theriot noted. 

Babin, a second-generation WBA member, said she joined to help her business, Bayou Boutique, which the organization has done through networking. 

“I’ve made a lot of connections within the community through just different things I’m involved in,” she said. “It’s a great networking opportunity. You meet all different kinds of business owners. You name it — we have an owner involved in the organization.” 

More information on the Women’s Business Alliance of Houma can be found at www.wbahouma.org. 

“We have a great group of ladies, and welcome more to join us,” Theriot said. 

“Our mission is to empower and educate women in the community,” Babin added. “And that’s what we do.”  •