PBN 2025 DIVERSITY EQUITY & INCLUSION AWARDS
Education: Won Strategy
From ideation and product design to financial literacy and marketing, Providence-based Won Strategy’s Why to How entrepreneurial program introduces high school students to the fundamentals of business. The yearlong curriculum culminates in student-run vendor fairs and pitch competitions, where participants present their companies to local leaders and community members. Winners receive seed funding – $20,000 in total this year–to help launch their ventures.
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The program’s guiding principle is that inclusion begins with opportunity, a philosophy that Won Strategy puts into practice through its focus on nontraditional students. In partnership with the R.I. Office of Rehabilitation Services, the organization offers pre-employment transition services to help young people with intellectual, developmental and behavioral challenges to prepare for meaningful employment. Many participants come from underserved school districts or even the state’s Juvenile Detention Center.
“We approach inclusivity not as a requirement but as a responsibility,” said Brian LaFauci, co-owner and president of Won Strategy, alongside Heidi Millea. “Our instructors are selected not only for their business expertise but also for their sensitivity, adaptability and cultural competency. Many are business owners themselves, and many have personal or professional experience with disability communities.”
Won Strategy also employs a certified rehabilitation counselor to advise and guide the team.
Through partnerships with local banks, nonprofits and small businesses – including those owned by individuals with disabilities – the organization has woven community engagement directly into its teaching model. Students visit local enterprises and meet entrepreneurs who share their personal experiences.
That visibility matters. When a group of students at Rogers High School in Newport unveiled their business logos during a showcase, a district representative was so moved that she had them professionally printed and framed, displaying them permanently in the school’s new life-skills center.
“That moment was more than symbolic – it was an affirmation that these students are creators, not just consumers of opportunity. It reflects Won Strategy’s core mission: Giving students the tools to build their own futures and be recognized for their contributions,” Millea said.
Social media further amplifies this impact, as Won Strategy regularly highlights student projects, videos and success stories online, turning its digital platforms into spaces for community celebration. The organization also utilizes these channels to connect students with mentors, funders and future employers, ensuring that the learning doesn’t stop when the program concludes.
Behind the scenes, Won Strategy’s team also mirrors diversity. The company intentionally recruits from the disability, veteran, formerly incarcerated and minority populations, with 15% of its current workforce representing those groups. Transparent pay structures, bias-free job descriptions and leadership mentoring create a culture of fairness and professional growth.
“We’ve learned the importance of listening, both to our students and to each other,” Millea said. “Inclusive workplaces thrive when every voice is valued and heard. That’s why we prioritize feedback loops, open salary discussions and team-wide strategy sessions. These efforts foster trust and unity, even as our team and geographic reach grow.”
Weekly staff meetings and evaluation sessions foster open communication and promote continuous learning, ensuring that every instructor and consultant feels supported.
“One major lesson is that inclusion must be intentional and lived – not just written in policy,” LaFauci said. “As we’ve grown, we’ve seen that the best way to maintain inclusivity is to embed it into our culture, recruitment, training and communication. Our staff is diverse in background, experience and identity. We’ve learned to value ‘lived experience’ as highly as credentials.”
Won Strategy continues to evolve, guided by its conviction that inclusion and innovation are inextricably linked. The company is developing evaluation tools to measure the equity of its programs and internal culture, utilizing feedback from both employees and students to refine its approach. Each new cohort and partnership offers lessons on how to make opportunity more accessible and how to spark change through education.
In its first year, it served 35 students; now, it is working with more than 700. As the organization expands regionally into Massachusetts and Connecticut, its mission remains grounded in empathy and empowerment.
“Our long-term goal is not only to replicate the program but to replicate the impact – empowering thousands more students to define their future on their own terms,” LaFauci said.
