Women's Leadership Institute
Women's Leadership Institute is a Utah 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cohort-based women's leadership development programs (Career Development, Rising Leader, Political Development, C-Suite Fluency) and the ElevateHER™ Corporate Challenge, serving women leaders and Utah employers through chambers, sponsors, and an alumnae network of nearly 1,000.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Women's Leadership Institute does
Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in January 2015 and headquartered in Salt Lake City. Its mission is to elevate women's leadership in business and politics across the state. WLI operates a portfolio of cohort-based leadership development programs for women — the Career Development Series (8-month, $1,195 per participant), the Rising Leader Series, the Political Development Series, and the C-Suite Fluency program — delivered through in-person and Zoom-hybrid sessions supported by an online learning portal and Credly digital badges.
Its flagship corporate initiative is the ElevateHER™ Corporate Challenge, a non-prescriptive, six-pillar framework covering hiring, retention, promotion, pay equity, mentorship, and political participation. Over 170 Utah businesses have accepted the Challenge, gaining access to a Resource Center of best-practice toolkits, recognition at the annual ElevateHER™ Award Luncheon, and exposure to a community of nearly 1,000 alumnae. The organization distributes its content through the weekly Elevate podcast, a long-running blog, social channels, email newsletters, and earned media across Utah outlets.
WLI is funded through a combination of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Founding sponsor Zions Bank; Leading sponsors Deseret Management Corporation and the Jeffery R and Katie C Nelson Family Foundation; plus Dominion Energy, Ken Garff Automotive, CHG Healthcare, and Rocky Mountain Power), program fees, and event revenue. It operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees under CEO Patricia Jones, with strategic chamber partnerships extending reach into Salt Lake County, Utah County, and rural Southern Utah. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary in April 2024.
Women's Leadership Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Women's Leadership Institute
- Legal name
- Women's Leadership Institute
- Website
- https://wliut.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Women's Leadership Institute is a Utah 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cohort-based women's leadership development programs (Career Development, Rising Leader, Political Development, C-Suite Fluency) and the ElevateHER™ Corporate Challenge, serving women leaders and Utah employers through chambers, sponsors, and an alumnae network of nearly 1,000.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Women's Leadership Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Leadership Development & Training
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Learning & Development (L&D) & Training Management (EDABAIAC), DEI, Culture & Employee Engagement Training (BPACANAE)
Keywords
Where Women's Leadership Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Women's Leadership Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Revenue from paid leadership development programs including the Career Development Series ($1,195 per participant), and sponsorship of employees into programs by participating companies.
- Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, WLI receives individual and corporate donations and sponsorships. Sponsorships fund programs and operations at various tiers (Founding, Leading, Advocating, Elevating, Promoting, Supporting).
- Event Revenue: Registration fees for luncheons, breakfast brainstorm sessions, and training events for ElevateHER Challenge companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Career Development Series - 8-month cohort program |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | ElevateHER Challenge - Corporate commitment program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Women's Leadership Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cohort-based leadership development programs for women, including the Career Development Series, Rising Leader Series, Political Development Series, and C-Suite Fluency. It also runs the ElevateHER™ Corporate Challenge, a free commitment framework helping Utah companies implement research-based practices to elevate women in hiring, retention, promotion, and pay equity.
Product overview
Women's Leadership Institute is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of leadership development programs and resources for women. The core offerings include the ElevateHER™ Challenge (a corporate commitment program for gender diversity), the Career Development Series (an 8-month cohort program at $1195), Rising Leader Series, Political Development Series, and C-Suite Fluency program. Additional resources include the Elevate Podcast (released weekly), the ElevateHER™ Resource Center with toolkits and best practices guides, and community networking events. The organization also hosts the annual ElevateHER™ Award Luncheon. Programs are delivered through in-person sessions, virtual/hybrid formats, and an online learning portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ElevateHER Challenge: Corporate challenge program for businesses to commit to elevating women in their workplaces.
- Elevate Podcast
- Career Development Series
- Rising Leader Series
- Political Development Series
Products and services
- ElevateHER™ Challenge A corporate commitment program where Utah companies pledge to elevate women in leadership across six pillars: hiring, retention, promotion, pay equity, mentorship, and political participation. Companies receive a resource center, best practices toolkits, and recognition at the annual ElevateHER Award Luncheon. Over 170 Utah businesses have joined since inception.
- Career Development Series An 8-month cohort-based leadership development program for mid to senior-level female leaders in Utah. Features monthly in-person sessions led by industry experts, customized curriculum, site visits to top Utah companies, online learning portal access, Credly digital badge, and certificate of completion. Priced at $1,195 per participant. Available in Salt Lake County, Utah County, and rural tracks (Kanab, St. George).
- Rising Leader Series An intimate monthly cohort program for women looking to advance in their leadership journey. Designed to be hands-on with focus on building and practicing leadership skills in a smaller group setting.
- Political Development Series A nonpartisan, interactive monthly cohort program that empowers women to have a political voice and create meaningful change within their homes, communities, and state. Provides training in campaign skills, networking, and running for public office at local, state, or federal levels.
- C-Suite Fluency
Quantifiable outcome
- Organizations implementing WLI research-based practices have saved millions through more effective hiring, retention, and promotion strategies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Women's Leadership Institute
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Women's Leadership Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Women's Leadership Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Salt Lake ChambercoreStrategic partner co-hosting events including the Education & Workforce Forum with Utah's five female university presidents. WLI and Chamber work together on gender diversity initiatives and policy advocacy.
- St. George Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic partner for WLI's rural expansion of the Career Development Series in Southern Utah. Chamber helps coordinate local venues and participant recruitment in the St. George and Kanab areas.
- LPGA's Epson Tour Copper Rock ChampionshipminorStrategic partner for Southern Utah Business Luncheon held in conjunction with the LPGA Symetra Tour event. Partnership supports gender diversity messaging in sports and business contexts.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Women's Leadership Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Broad incumbents
- Catalyst: Global nonprofit advancing women in workplace leadership through research, consulting, and employer partnerships. Directly comparable to WLI in mission (women's leadership) but operates at international scale with employer-supporter member model analogous to WLI's ElevateHER Challenge.
- American Association of University Women (AAUW): 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on advancing equity for women through education, research, and advocacy, with state-level chapters. Mirrors WLI's nonprofit, mission-driven, multi-state organizing approach to women's leadership development.
- Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Global leadership development provider offering cohort-based executive programs and research. Comparable in offering premium cohort-based leadership development for senior leaders, but operates globally with broader corporate L&D client base.
- Vistage: Executive peer-advisory and leadership coaching organization serving CEOs and senior leaders through paid group-cohort membership model. Comparable cohort-based peer learning format for executives but operates as a commercial enterprise rather than nonprofit.
Direct peers
- Forte Foundation: Nonprofit focused on launching women into business leadership through education, community, and research. Comparable cohort-based programming model targeting women at early- and mid-career stages with corporate sponsor funding similar to WLI.
- National Association of Female Executives (NAFE): One of the largest U.S. associations for women in business, offering leadership education, networking, and recognition programs. Comparable in providing structured women's leadership development, networking events, and corporate-style recognition awards to WLI's ElevateHER Luncheon.
- Polk Foundation (Women in Leadership programs): National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) provides education, networking, and advocacy for women business owners, including state chapters. Comparable structure of state-level chapters, cohort-style programs, corporate partnerships, and policy advocacy for women in leadership.
Regional players
- Women's Foundation of Colorado: State-focused women's foundation driving economic self-sufficiency and leadership pathways for Colorado women and girls. Highly comparable regional/state-scoped women's foundation model with similar mix of research, programs, and corporate partnerships.
Emerging players
- Women's Leadership Project: Nonprofit advancing women and girls through leadership training and advocacy. Comparable mission and program structure (cohort training, advocacy, capacity-building), though focused on different regional context.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Women's Leadership Institute social profiles
Digital presenceWomen's Leadership Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Women's Leadership Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Women's Leadership Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Women's Leadership Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Women's Leadership Institute
What does Women's Leadership Institute do?
Women's Leadership Institute (WLI) is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cohort-based leadership development programs for women, including the Career Development Series, Rising Leader Series, Political Development Series, and C-Suite Fluency. It also runs the ElevateHER™ Corporate Challenge, a free commitment framework helping Utah companies implement research-based practices to elevate women in hiring, retention, promotion, and pay equity.
Is Women's Leadership Institute a public or private company?
Women's Leadership Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Women's Leadership Institute founded?
Women's Leadership Institute was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Women's Leadership Institute based?
Women's Leadership Institute is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Women's Leadership Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Sponsorships and event Revenue.
Who are Women's Leadership Institute's main competitors?
Lean In Foundation is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Catalyst, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) and Vistage. Direct peers are Forte Foundation, National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) and Polk Foundation (Women in Leadership programs). Women's Foundation of Colorado is listed as a regional player. Women's Leadership Project is listed as an emerging player.
Does Women's Leadership Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Women's Leadership Institute.
What industry is Women's Leadership Institute in?
Women's Leadership Institute's product category is Leadership Development & Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAAAA, Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development, with a secondary code of EDAMAIAG, Leadership, Character Education & Values Development. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8200.