Woman-ing Up with Alex & Shan

Alexandra Yokosuk - Executive Director at Woman Up Cleveland, Owner of Studio Sixteen Photography, & Marketing Director at Aurora Meadows

Shannon Biega - Executive Director at Woman Up Cleveland, Software Engineer Sr. at PNC Financial Services Group, & Fund Development Assistant at Coach Sam's Scholars

By: Woman Up Cleveland

Shannon and Alex started Woman Up Cleveland in 2021 to unite women around the cause of doing good in the Cleveland community.

We as women often struggle to allow ourselves the time and privilege to pause and reflect on our accomplishments. In a world where hustle culture is often praised and slowing down can feel like a luxury, we have to constantly remind ourselves that we are allowed to feel pride in how far we have come. While still feeling the push to continue reaching new heights and achieving our goals, we made sure to stop and reflect this month as Woman Up Cleveland approaches its fifth birthday on March 5th.

Switching things up a bit and inevitably making things awkward for themselves, Shannon Biega and Alexandra Yokosuk, Founders and Executive Directors of Woman Up Cleveland decided it was time to feature themselves in the monthly newsletter and blog to commemorate the organization's fifth year and let the community know a little more about the ladies behind the non-profit organization.

Founded in 2021 after emerging from the global pandemic, Woman Up Cleveland began as a safe space for women to gather at events and celebrate womanhood while supporting local woman-owned businesses. With the first event, The Summer Social, Shannon and Alex quickly saw that the LLC they had begun to unite the community, had power to continue on and expand to include more niche audiences. Now, almost five years later, Woman Up has planned ten community events, hosted seven fundraisers benefitting themselves and other local non-profits, and awarded almost $4,000 in high school scholarships. 

There is a lot to be said about the journey it took to get here and all of the winding steps along the way and no one can explain the story better than the leading ladies themselves. Both born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Shannon and Alex share a lifelong love for the community and a passion for making an impact right in their own backyards. Beginning in college with Shannon attending West Virginia University and Alex attending Cleveland State University, Woman Up Cleveland was founded with the epitome of a “why not” mentality.

A photo wall illustrating memories throughout the years which was on display at the fifth and final Summer Social.

For Shannon, the story starts with feeling excluded and misunderstood in her field of study and discovering that mentorship can sometimes mean the difference between giving up and reaching success. “My studies started out in forensic science. I decided to switch paths and go into computer science with a touch of cybersecurity interest and that's where my real desire to empower women started because I was one of not many women in the field of computer science West Virginia University in the engineering department. I was struggling to feel empowered in that space due to some of the inherent biases that I was receiving from not only my classmates but also some higher ups,” Shannon shared.

This discouragement was quickly replaced with encouragement by a family friend and mentor, Lavonne Moon who currently serves as the Managing Director and Practice Leader, Technology, AI & Cybersecurity at DSG Global. Lavonne took Shannon under her wing and ensured that she felt seen, heard, and understood during her time navigating the world of computer science. Shannon said, “I was looking for a mentor. I wanted to find someone who did what I thought was not possible. Lavonne went through something similar to what I experienced and she taught me how to become an empowered individual. It was through this that I realized I wanted to empower others and that being a woman in the field of STEM is important to me.”

Her newfound confidence and sense of belonging led Shannon to create a vision board as a gift to Lavonne to thank her for her leadership and friendship. A canvas highlighting the words "Empowered Women Empower Women” was crafted and shared to social media where it reached more of the community and ultimately inspired the founding of Woman Up Cleveland. “I am forever grateful for the challenge that I experienced in college being one of not many women in the technology classroom. I'm very grateful for Lavonne and her mentorship and all the inspiration she's had not only in my life personally, but professionally as well,” Shannon shared.

For Alex, as a college senior to Shannon’s junior, she found herself facing her last semester of school with all of the fear and anticipation that comes with the end of a journey. While earning herself a degree in marketing, Alex had continued to run her freelance photography business that she began in 2016. Her call to entrepreneurship and growing knowledge of marketing made for the perfect storm to say ‘yes’ when the idea of Woman Up was presented to her.

“I just felt really driven to be an impactful part of the Cleveland community. It's always been something that I've noticed locally how we are really supportive of others. It's something we have that I don't know every city necessarily has. We really have this community over competition spirit,” Alex said. Being a longtime admirer and attendee of markets and other local events, Alex had crossed paths with many small businesses owners and had always resonated with hearing their stories and learning more about the uniqueness of the products or services they had to offer.

It quickly became clear to her that human-connection based work was her calling and that the idea of this community event (The Summer Social) that was forming could be something the community really needed. Unsurprisingly, the initial idea of a one time community event evolved quickly and after the success of the first Summer Social, neither Alex or Shannon could deny the potential they had discovered. Alex said, “We always knew it would be something that would be good for the area but I don't think we necessarily expected the immense amount of support that we got. That was something that really drove us to expand as time went on. Eventually we wanted to make a little bit more of a difference than just having a fun time as much as that is important and is still very much a part of what we do. We believe in being able to give people safe spaces to learn things and expand their knowledge, meet new people, grow their businesses, and explore different things that they may not have heard of before or had access to.”

Though the growth and evolution of Woman Up is hard to ignore, so is the reality of running a non-profit organization, especially just starting out. Very much still a small-scale venture, Woman Up Cleveland is solely run behind the scenes by Shannon and Alex and is supported at events by their fantastic team of friends and family volunteers.

Outside of the organization of course, both ladies have other jobs and passions that they work to balance and have noticed sometimes go hand in hand with their non-profit work. During the day, Shannon works full time as a Software Engineer Senior at PNC Financial Services Group and also volunteers her time with another local non-profit, Coach Sam's Scholars, as a Fund Development Assistant.

They will forever hold special the memories that Woman Up Cle allows them to make with their biggest supporters and role models, their mothers, who volunteer at every event.

Her career as a Software Engineer began soon after graduating college and Shannon finds satisfaction in the way it allows her to flex her analytical muscles regularly. Although she always loves a challenge, she also enjoys the processes of organizing and carrying out a plan. She said, “I really love my role at PNC Bank. I enjoy the leadership and technology aspects behind it as I am a more ‘left brained’ person. When I plan something, I make sure it's planned from A to Z, not just A to M, and I am a very analytical, logical person.”

Although she didn’t always know she would be here, Shannon can see signs of her engineering passions making themselves known early on. She said, “My parents have a photo hanging on their fridge of me in a swivel chair where my legs are dangling off and I am playing on a huge PC. And now I just get to do that every day of my life and I really do love it. To get paid for something you love is truly remarkable.”

Apart from her left brain strengths, Shannon also admits to being quite creative and artistic. Often seeking outlets for her creativity such as painting, exercising, and event planning, she finds herself drawn to ways she can create that don’t often occur in her day job. Much like her work with Woman Up, her dedication to the cause of Coach Sam’s Scholars gives her not only a front row seat to the workings of non-profit organizations, but a chance to fulfill her giving spirit and chase even more of her passions.

Shannon knows that the reward is the work itself and she feels the purpose of her dedication each time another event goes off without a hitch. Never limiting herself to being just one thing, she allows for growth and exploration in her life. Shannon said, “I'm very passionate about so many things because life is so short and time is the greatest thief on earth. I try to dip my toes in as many things as I can because I know the next day is not promised and without exploring things how do you know you don't love them.”

As rewarding as it so often is, being multi-passionate also comes with its challenges and Alex is no stranger to these feelings as well. While Shannon finds herself leaning out of her ‘usual’ work to be the perfect balance between personal and professional, Alex finds much comfort in the similarities of her jobs and how they all seem to have a common thread.

Very much Shannon’s counterpart, Alex describes herself as right brained and always chasing an aesthetic. She said, “Everything is very creative in my whole domain. I'm pretty much always making or editing or designing something in every single role I have. They do overlap quite a bit in that regard. There's a lot of time spent on Canva, Instagram, and online in general.”

Hitting her tenth year as a photographer in the coming months, Alex is no stranger to visual art and the all consuming dedication that comes with entrepreneurship. Additionally, with her roles as Marketing Director and Wedding Coordinator at Aurora Meadows, Alex so often finds herself in the midst of other people's milestones. 

Just like Shannon, Alex didn’t always know she would be here either. “It really started when I picked up a camera at a career fair in Middle School and didn't realize that that was a thing you could do with your life. I immediately loved it but for a long time I definitely said it was something I was not going to do. I insisted it was just a hobby or a side gig but looking back on that, I was obviously wrong,” she said. 

Now that it's been almost a decade of photography and many weddings have passed, including her own, Alex can reflect back on herself with more clarity. She said, “It is easy for me to see now that what was really drawing me to all of these roles that I picked up over the past few years was the opportunity to connect with people and give them something to enjoy in the moment and remember later. I'm a very emotional and nostalgic person so a lot of what I do in general is look back on photos and think about things I've done before and really try to feel proud of all the things I've been through.”

One of the ladies' favorite events - Say Yes to the Prom Dress, hosted in partnership with Cleveland Pearls in 2024!

The meaning of her work and how it connects to the aspects of non-profit management is clear in the rewarding nature of creating a safe space for people, no matter the circumstance. Beyond the day to day tasks and actual work involved with making ideas come to life, Alex admires the magic that’s so often hidden within her work. “Of course there's a lot of logistics as well with the editing and camera settings, and for a wedding, the timeline and ins-and-outs of the day,” she said, “But at the end of it what you're really giving is yourself. And you're able to be there for people and make sure that they're experience with whatever it might be is memorable and goes by perfectly.”

Of course balancing time and organizing so many passions has its obstacles, but both ladies know that the real gift is not being in it alone. Alex said, “What makes the Woman Up work easiest is just having Shannon to lean on and having another person to bounce ideas off of and work through things with. In my job with Aurora Meadows I work on a little bit of a team so it's nice to just have my own set of tasks and obviously as a photographer it's all on me all the time. Woman Up it's just me and Shannon and we have this very deep connection when we're working and we're able to be honest with each other and very upfront in our partnership.” 

The shared nature of their work as Executive Directors allows both Shannon and Alex to try a little bit of everything and continue using both their analytical and creative skills interchangeably while relying on each other throughout. A true partnership through and through, there is no Woman Up Cleveland without both of them and the different strengths they each hold, especially when it comes to trying new things and experimenting with events.

The importance of non-profit work differs for everyone but one commonality is the privilege it is to give to others. “It's crucial that we empower, uplift, and unite those in our community if we want it to move forward and make progress with regard to the ideas and issues that are important to us. I'm a very empathetic person so I always want to do good and it brings me immense joy when someone else can be the beneficiary of an action of mine,” Shannon shared.

When it comes to non-profits, we commonly hear stories about difficult obstacles and goals that feel insurmountable. It can feel daunting to take on a cause and not know if you can truly be the difference. For Shannon and Alex, the reassurance comes from their ability to connect with others. Throughout their five years, Woman Up Cleveland has built and fostered relationships with countless women in Northeast Ohio and beyond who share the same values and mission to better the world for women. 

Additionally, through their annual scholarship awards and internship opportunities, the organization provides high school students with the opportunity and resources to explore their options and pursue their dreams, whether their hearts lead them to non-profit work or elsewhere. Specifically through connecting with their yearly cohort of interns, Shannon and Alex find great reward in seeing growth and change in the students from the time they start their work every new year to when they leave the organization each spring.

“As much as I'd love to say it's an event or a singular moment that stood out most to me over the years, I don't think that's possible. Of what we’ve done, What means the most is going through the internship every year with a different set of girls. We have seen some really really extraordinary students come through in the last 3 years. Every year the applications grow more and more and because we've seen so much success, it's really exciting to continue to do this annually, “ Alex said about the program. 

Shannon and Alex at the fourth Summer Social.

Certainly with both of their past experiences in mind navigating careers and growing up, the ladies at Woman Up are acutely aware that their program provides not only mentorship and guidance, but an opportunity to explore and test one’s passions. Finding the right fit for the rest of your life is such a daunting task, especially for high schoolers looking to graduate and neither Shannon or Alex have forgotten that feeling. 

“But I know and I was going to end up here, I probably would have taken a non-profit class or two in college. But with that being said, I think a lot of what we've learned in this work has come from people who've gone before us and we're willing to sit down and talk to us. So being able to give that back to the girls in a way with what they're doing during their time at the internship has been really meaningful,” says Alex.

Like in all aspects of their work, Shannon and Alex see the emotion behind the internship too. High school can be such a crucial and scary time for self discovery, a fact that most women know all too well. Always keeping in mind that mentorship and connection is at the root of the program, the ladies of Woman Up Cleveland remain focused on building relationships that last and creating meaningful connections with each round of students they get to know throughout the semester.

Alex shared, “With one of our past interns at her end of the year reflection mention that she really felt like she came out of her shell and was able to be a little more confident and comfortable in herself. That really struck a chord with me because I was a very shy child and could relate to that feeling of not belonging in a room. It's always been something at the forefront of this work for me is ensuring that everyone in the room feels as though they belong. Knowing we were able to pass that on to at least one of the girls has really meant a lot to me.”

Shannon too can so easily relate to that feeling of not belonging and seeking the confidence to overcome it. Her advice on the matter rings true for all women no matter the industry and background.

Step by step, Shannon encourages everyone, especially women in places they feel unwelcomed, to recognize their feelings, find a friend, and press on. Being honest with yourself and not ignoring the feelings in your  body is a crucial first step to identifying the challenge and seeking a solution. She said, “It's like trying to slip your foot in and out of a shoe without untying it. You have to untie that knot of wanting to suppress emotions and honor that feeling that you're feeling.”

Once you’ve identified the feeling that is preventing your full confidence from escaping, Shannon suggests finding common ground in someone who knows what you’re going through. Women especially know the power of sisterhood is unmatched and being able to lean on others, specifically those with a common experience, can be the difference between succumbing to self-doubt and overcoming your fears.

“Find someone. Whether it's a mentor, a partner, a teacher, family, friends, or even someone on social media. find someone who's willing to listen and give you advice on how to deal with feeling unwelcomed,” Shannon said.

Outside of Woman Up Cle, Shannon and Alex share the love of thrifting, reading, local coffee shops, and of course all things CLE.

Seeking community and leaning on a village is an inherent part of womanhood and we so often thrive in groups and partnerships more than on solo missions. So many life experiences are commonly shared and finding those who can resonate with yours can change the whole game of life. 

Finally, Shannon delivers her last step, perseverance. All women have the gift of pressing on and powering through woven throughout their DNA and the true dedication and grit so often showcased by women in the world can be just as inspiring to others as it is fulfilling to themselves. For a feeling experienced so frequently by women, Shannon put it best saying, “It's going to suck. You're going to experience it throughout your whole life. But once you push through, it will become a continuous healthy cycle that helps you ground yourself in situations when you feel unwelcome.” 

Collaboration is another form of relationship that can not only ease doubt and inspire confidence, but can truly transform both parties involved. Woman Up Cleveland is no stranger to collaboration and often uses it as a guide to their events and efforts. Over the years the organization has connected with many others in the area including the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, The Haven Home, PEARLS CLE, & Thriving Beyond Breast Cancer.

Whether it be for financial fundraising, item collection drives, or simply raising awareness and expanding audiences, Woman Up Cleveland values collaboration with other organizations as a mutually beneficial relationship that not only fulfills their mission, but uplifts others.

Alex said, “We know from being women ourselves that there are no shortage of issues, challenges, and barriers placed in front of us that we are constantly trying to overcome to make the world a better place. In addition to there being so many things that need addressing, we know these nonprofits already exist. There are so many organizations for so many different causes. A big thing for us was that we were able to come to the conclusion that we exist as a nonprofit to support others.”

This also gave the ladies a freedom to explore different avenues of giving and even gauge what assistance their audience desired to provide to the community. “When we started the non-profit, we were very much trying to figure out what that looked like for us. I remember having so many different conversations about what we might do or who we might help. We're very multi-passionate people so it was hard for us to put ourselves in a box and say this is all that we do. I think with our curiosities and our creativity we were drawn trying a little bit of everything and uplifting others,” Alex said.

Ultimately, this approach lent itself to the ideas of inclusion and diversity as well. Having grown up in the same neighborhood and having many of the same experiences, Alex and Shannon have always known that their views on feminism are limited and could only benefit from the insights of others living lives that differ from their own.

Shannon and Alex speaking to the guests of Homebrewed Hope, Woman Up Cle's fundraiser to benefit The Haven Home in April 2025.

“Being a feminist in general and feminism as a concept has always needed to be intersectional and inclusive of everyone. We want to be able to provide safe spaces to support other organizations that are doing work that we could never understand. It doesn't always directly affect us but it affects women somewhere, and with that we're able to still help those women and be part of it without overstepping in a way that we're not qualified to. There's always a continued level of learning that comes with this work,” says Alex.

By continuing to support other organizations and collaborate with non-profits, small businesses, and individuals alike, Shannon and Alex have built a system that will grow and change alongside them. As they experience new things personally and professionally, their organization can experience new insights and take on new initiatives, similarly to how partnerships have benefitted the work.

Continuing to foster these meaningful relationships and create new ones is at the forefront of Woman Ups’s future plans as well as continuing to grow, build, and try new things. The ideas of hosting a gala, conference, networking opportunity, and even a community membership program are in the radar for the organization moving forward. As always, the ladies continue to dream big and set their goals to new heights. 

Continuously dedicated to the task at hand and committed to ensuring every event is a success, the ladies are zero’d in on the now rather than what could be to come. “Even just for this year,” Shannon said, “we only have 3 months out of the 12 under our belt so far. A lot of these things fall into our 5 to 10 year plan but for now things are looking up for the rest of this year.” 

As for the past, the fifth year milestone looms in March and Shannon and Alex are making an effort to slow down and acknowledge just how far things have come. “We have gotten to do a lot of really cool things already, and as women it's easy to kind of gloss over that stuff when you're just focused on moving forward. It's hard to be present and enjoy your achievements without moving on to the next best thing right away. But sometimes, when we're able to pause, it's very rewarding to look back on what we've been able to accomplish,” Alex shared. 

Even after five Summer Socials, wellness events, shopping fundraisers, interns, scholarships and so much more, Woman Up Cleveland keeps its sights set on what’s next. The ladies are excited to commemorate this milestone with a private birthday party in March to thank those who helped get them this far and find themselves feeling grateful as ever for the support they have received since day one. 

“As much as this sometimes looks like a two woman show, what everyone actually sees when they come to our events is family and friends of ours helping to volunteer, the vendors that are giving their time and their energy help further the event and make it an enjoyable experience, and the community that comes out and shows up as guests. Everyone that comes across us and interacts with us and pretty much any way has some sort of impact on the organization,” Alex said. 

Finally, Alex talked about the idea of feeling tired or bored after quite a few years of events and fundraisers saying, “It's just another milestone and we're not even tired of it yet. I don't know if we ever will be. I think a lot of people can reflect on a five-year period of doing the same thing and think that it's time to switch it up or they're getting bored and that's not something that we feel. So I think it's fabulous that we have the flexibility to embrace new things and try new things so that we never do get bored. We haven't limited ourselves in any way so it's nice to know that we have the drive to keep going and we're passionate about what we're doing.”

Looking back on all the challenges, learning curves, rewarding moments, & meaningful connections that have come with the past five years, Shannon and Alex remain honored to do the work they are so privileged to do and motivated to continue. They are deeply grateful for not only each and every experience, but also each and every person they have come across on this journey. Unsurprisingly, they aren’t done yet and continue to look ahead to what the future holds for Woman Up Cleveland and all the members of the community it has built.