Who is the Chief Hot Momma? Oh, that's easy. She's a beauty who’s also dynamic, engaging, and making a difference. Meet Kathy Korman Frey, Founder of The Hot Mommas Project. Kathy, a D.C. native, started her first non-profit as an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia and subsequently earned her MBA from Harvard. Today, she is mom to two fantastic kids, wife and cheerleader to her entrepreneur husband, and “confidence guardian” to women and girls all over the world. Indeed, it's arguable that “dynamic” doesn't begin to adequately describe Kathy or her selfless ambitions.

Kathy is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the George Washington University School of Business, where she teaches the award-winning Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership class. And in 2002, she began working on a body of research that’s now known as the Hot Mommas Project. The Project has been featured on NPR,in the Washington Post Magazine, and countless times in the global blogosphere. Today, the Project's primary day-to-day goal is to increase self-efficacy in women and girls around the world. And those facilitating the Project do just that by providing scalable, global, free access to role models online.

Here’s how the Project works: Women are nominated, by themselves or by others. Then, they visit the Project’s site at www.HotMommasProject.org and tell their story using the Project’s “case study wizard.” Stories are the critical element of the Project because as Kathy puts it, “stories are experiential and better for learning.” And so, nominees write their stories in the form of case studies, and instantly, they become Project role models. In fact, it’s truly instantaneous. When a case writer clicks “publish,” their case study becomes part of the Project’s fully accessible online library.

While the case studies are accessible to anyone, it seems they’re most utilized by professors and teachers in learning institutions around the world. Because the cases offer tested solutions to real-life challenges, they provide meaningful guidance to women and girls who benefit from this access to role models. And according to the Chief Hot Momma, there’s a strong corollary between access to mentors and role models and real and perceived success.

Indeed, Kathy notes—quite emphatically—that we all need role models. Five of them, in fact, because research suggests, “in business and as a formula for success, everyone needs five people they can turn to for advice, support, problem-solving, coaching, and networking.” So, Kathy and her team are building a library of accessible role models... one role model at a time. And as evidence of her commitment to a true and ongoing learning experience, Kathy uses social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to facilitate continued learning through reader interaction with role models.

Ultimately, the Hot Mommas Project will house the world’s largest free and online case study library. And because the Project uses a unique combination of social media, classroom curriculum, and virtual role models, it proffers a truly global, real-time, interactive learning community.

Not surprisingly, there’s one more fascinating component to the Project: its annual case study competition. Each case study is considered as part of the annual competition, and the top three cases—as selected by an über-accomplished panel of CEOs, academia, and successful entrepreneurs—are published in a leading Prentice Hall textbook. The winning case protagonists are also honored at George Washington University’s annual Women in Philanthropy Forum.

The whole thing sounds pretty spectacular, yes? Well then, you can imagine the energy that emanates from the woman who conceived the idea and built the Project. She means business, and The Hot Mommas Project has the results, supporters, and accolades to prove it. Indeed, the Project has garnered more than its share of awards as a women’s leadership program. And while the Project is housed in D.C., Project ambassadors are sited worldwide and tasked with seeking out role models in their respective regions, as well as facilitating the ongoing compilation of case studies.

So...now, you’re thinking about role models who you know. And that’s really good because you need five and because the confidence guardian is always hunting for the Project’s next role model. If you’d like to nominate someone, email Kathy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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LEIGH MACDONALD is an attorney and former law professor, but nowadays, she's a freelance writer and Community Content Producer for WUSA9.com. She also doles out daily shoe and fashion advice at NiceShoesNoDrama.com. Leigh loves beautiful shoes, white chocolate, authentic smiles, and smart girlfriends. She lives in Leesburg, VA, with her husband and two children.