Going Digital: Building Our Online Home
In 2025, The Purple Wings took a monumental step: creating a comprehensive online platform to extend our reach beyond in-person workshops and serve women everywhere.
Why Digital?
While our in-person workshops remained powerful, we recognized limitations:
Geographic Barriers
Women outside Needham couldn't easily attend our events. We heard from women across Massachusetts and beyond wanting access to our programs.
Time Constraints
Working mothers, caregivers, and women with demanding schedules struggled to attend fixed-time events.
Pace of Learning
Some women needed more time to absorb concepts; others wanted to accelerate. One-size-fits-all sessions couldn't serve everyone optimally.
COVID Lessons
The pandemic taught us that virtual learning could be effective and accessible. We couldn't ignore this opportunity.
The Vision
We envisioned a platform that would:
Building the Platform
Creating ThePurpleWings.org was a labor of love:
Technical Challenges
Neither co-founder had extensive technology experience. We learned as we built, making mistakes and iterating constantly.
Sanjeev, my husband and technical advisor, brought his software expertise to create a modern, accessible platform. His patience with my "I want it to feel warm and welcoming" feedback was remarkable!
Content Development
Translating years of in-person teaching into online lessons required rethinking everything:
Curriculum Design
We created two comprehensive learning paths:
**Women's Financial Literacy Track** - A beginner-to-advanced journey covering:
**40-Hour Professional Course** - FINRA-compliant curriculum for women seeking deep financial knowledge or career preparation.
Maintaining Community Online
The biggest challenge: preserving our supportive community atmosphere in a digital space.
We incorporated:
Launching with Purpose
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we committed to:
Early Impact
Within months of launch:
Unexpected Benefits
Going digital revealed surprising advantages:
Anonymous Learning
Some women felt more comfortable asking "basic" questions online than in person.
Revisiting Content
Users appreciated being able to review difficult concepts multiple times.
Multi-generational Learning
Grandmothers and granddaughters taking courses together, discussing lessons over video calls.
Global Connections
Women from different states and countries connecting over shared financial goals.
Lessons Learned
Technology Serves Mission
We never let technical features override our core purpose: serving women.
User Feedback is Gold
Our best improvements came from listening to users.
Imperfect Action Beats Perfect Planning
We launched before everything was "perfect" and improved iteratively.
Digital Complements, Doesn't Replace
Online learning works beautifully alongside continued in-person workshops.
The Human Touch
Despite going digital, we maintain personal connections:
Challenges Ahead
We're not naive about ongoing challenges:
Supporting Our Mission
As a nonprofit, we rely on donations to keep our platform free and continuously improving. Every contribution:
If our mission resonates with you, consider supporting us via PayPal or becoming a partner.
Looking Forward
The digital platform is not our endpoint - it's a new beginning. We're exploring:
The Heart Remains the Same
Whether we're meeting in my living room, High Rock School, or connecting online, our mission endures:
Empowering women through financial education, one learner at a time.
Technology amplifies our reach, but our heart remains with each individual woman building confidence, knowledge, and financial independence.
Your Digital Journey Starts Now
Join thousands of women already learning on our platform. Create your free account, take our self-assessment, and begin your personalized learning journey.
From unknown territory to financial confidence - let's walk this path together.
*Shalini Jha*
*President & Founder*
*June 2025*