Our CCWomen origin story is one we often share. Seeing a need for a woman-led community, Sandy Ko Fonseca invited numerous executives to an early morning breakfast on the last day of a conference—and the rest is history.
She reflected:
“I knew I wasn’t the only woman struggling to find belonging and wanted to create a solution to help them. At 28, with my music education degree, I was still uncertain about my career. However, meeting so many powerful women at a CCW event inspired me to be proactive about relationship-building, learning, and fulfilling my personal needs to achieve success. I was sure that, whatever I launched, others would benefit.”
The journey was far from easy, and over the years, Ko Fonseca learned the ropes of intrapreneurship, what it entailed, and how she could leverage her resources strategically to bring her vision to life. This past August, she and members of the CCWomen team joined Maureen Kamaishah and HelloFresh’s Women Inclusion Network (WIN) to showcase her journey and inspire others across the organization. The event was open to all employees, underscoring WIN’s commitment to inclusion and collective impact.
“My family moved to the U.S. from South Korea when I was six years old. We didn’t really have a sense of belonging,” introduced Ko Fonseca. “My role models were my hard-working parents who immigrated to give us a better life. My upbringing truly shaped my resilience and desire to build the community we all crave—and today, I’m the Founder and Principal of Customer Contact Women.”
From studying music education to founding an entire organization focused on women executives, Ko Fonseca isn’t short of her achievements. Now, as a 2025 SUCCESS Women of Influence Award Finalist and New Jersey’s Top 25 Leading Women Intrapreneurs Award Winner, she continues to equip others to own their influence and share their stories with allies to raise awareness of some of the unique headwinds faced by women.
Here, we review her top takeaways for intrapreneurs and disruptors determined to nurture solutions from within.
1. Intrapreneurship requires you to become comfortable with risk.
According to Ko Fonseca, intrapreneurship is a form of entrepreneurship that occurs within an organization, using its existing ecosystem and resources. Like entrepreneurship, it emphasizes innovation, but instead of building your own business, it’s about stepping up and taking ownership in settings where you lack full authority.
For instance, CCWomen is under the larger Customer Contact Week umbrella, a conference series facilitated by our company, Customer Management Practice. When Ko Fonseca and the team want to plan a new event or launch a new offering, we must first make a viable business case to demonstrate its risks and potential ROI. Then, our leaders make a decision based on our available resources.
Whether faced with acceptance or rejection, prioritize continuous, open dialogue. “Keep asking questions. Why do we do something one way, and how can we take a different approach?” asked Ko Fonseca. “Challenge the status quo and explore new possibilities. Take initiative.”
2. Intrapreneurship starts with allyship—and amid setbacks, their support can move mountains off your shoulders.
When fueled by passion, we tend to want to move full steam ahead. Ko Fonseca urges intrapreneurs to do so after identifying allies who’d run the race with them. Change isn’t a sprint, but an ongoing marathon that can only be completed through endurance and resilience. The hills and bumps are inevitable; having people journeying alongside you makes all the difference in whether you give up or take those extra steps toward the finish line.
While your allies can be your immediate managers and team members, diversifying and nurturing your circle can also go a long way. “When I talk about being an ally, I’m not just saying you should ask for help. Build genuine relationships with people,” stated Ko Fonseca. “Even small conversations can help you build your network of stakeholders who can one day champion your ideas. They offer valuable perspectives.”
Our CCWomen members often talk about finding a safe place to land. In this case, your allies help you persevere through unexpected setbacks. You may have tried to reach a milestone but lacked necessary resources, or presented a proposal only to get sidelined. The hurt that follows is real and valid—and you don’t have to address it alone.
True to her love for community, Ko Fonseca admitted, “The beauty of failure is having a solid support network. My team acts as my safety net, and my manager is one of my close friends. They’re there to catch me when I face disappointment and heartbreak.”
3. Women are finding their voices—it’s time for you to find yours, too.
Women leaders continue to be underrepresented, with only 29% of them holding a C-suite level position. But being a part of a smaller demographic doesn’t stop us from being loud. Through CCWomen meetups, conferences, and webinars, we notice more members showing up as their authentic selves, rooted in their experiences, cultural beliefs, and personal values. More are advocating for themselves and each other, reshaping customer contact leadership, and committing to long-lasting change for up-and-coming leaders.
Need tangible next steps? Ko Fonseca urges women to communicate strategically, demonstrate their value unapologetically, and lead with empathy and wellness at top of mind:
“To drive meaningful change, you first need to understand who you’re talking to and what they value. For finance, the language is money—think ROI, revenue, and efficiency. For leadership, it’s vision, sustainability, and growth. Knowing when the business is thriving and when it’s struggling can help you time your requests. Advocacy is about aligning your message to the priorities of your audience and building trust to achieve your goal. Something as simple as remembering someone’s milestones or asking about their family creates a foundation of allyship. Pair that relational trust with a clear, business-focused case for your idea, and your influence takes hold.
Additionally, listen to your employees and leaders, and create safe spaces where all people feel safe to voice their needs. Trends come and go, but emotional intelligence and empathy will always be relevant. Lean into your existing strengths while asking for the support you deserve—that’s how you advance your intrapreneurship.”
Interested in partnering with CCWomen? Let’s co-create an empowering experience together.
