What NextUp does

NextUp is a U.S.-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 2001 (originally as the Network of Executive Women) and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates a community of approximately 17,000 individual members and 300+ corporate partners across 21 regions in the U.S. and Canada, with the community footprint reported at 500+ companies collectively serving more than 12 million employees as of March 2026. Its core mission is advancing women in business leadership and supporting corporate DEI&B initiatives.

NextUp's offering is an integrated ecosystem of leadership development programs (workshops, webinars, career development curricula), annual conferences (the unified Leadership Week combining Executive Forum and Leadership Summit at the Gaylord Texan Resort in 2026, plus the 25th Anniversary Honors Evening), recognition programs (NextUp Excellence Awards), regional chapters, a corporate partnership program, and digital content delivered through its Editorial Hub, NextUp Now monthly newsletter, and SmartBrief weekly newsletter. The underlying technology is a Hivebrite-based membership platform that powers an interactive member directory, event registration, and online community features. The 2025 merger with Paradigm for Parity added the proprietary 5-Point Action Plan toolkit and corporate culture-change methodology.

NextUp's revenue is generated through five streams: corporate membership dues (employers purchase seats for employees), individual membership dues (including student tiers), event registration fees (with tiered early bird and group pricing), corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Presenting, Premier tiers), and tax-deductible donations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is a B2B2C community-led motion in which corporate HR and DEI&B leaders purchase seats that fund individual memberships, supplemented by event-driven engagement through Leadership Week and 21 regional chapters. Distribution spans direct corporate partnership sales (enterprise), self-serve individual registration via nextupisnow.org (mid-market), regional chapter events, and national conferences.

Name

NextUp

Legal name

NextUp

Website

https://nextupisnow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NextUp is a nonprofit membership organization that advances women in business leadership through corporate partnerships, regional chapters, leadership development programs, and annual conferences, serving 17,000+ members, 300+ corporate partners, and 500+ companies across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH), Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN), Remote/Hybrid Leadership & Distributed Team Management (EDABAAAN)

Keywords

• Women leadership development
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Professional networking community
• Corporate DEI programs
• Leadership training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Companies pay for corporate membership seats that allow their employees to join NextUp. Partners include major corporations across consumer goods, retail, and professional services sectors. Pricing follows a corporate seat model.
2. Individual Membership Dues: Individual professionals can join directly with membership tiers including corporate, individual, and student memberships. The membership includes access to NextUp Now newsletter and community benefits.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from registration fees for Executive Forum, Leadership Summit, and Leadership Week conferences. Pricing varies with early bird and group rates available. Registration deadline is August 25, 2026 for Leadership Week 2026.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support events and programs. Platinum sponsors (e.g., The Coca-Cola Company), Presenting Sponsors (PepsiCo, Suntory Global Spirits), and Premier Sponsors (Visa) support initiatives like the 25 Voices, 25 Years editorial series.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted through the organization's donation portal to support the mission of advancing women in leadership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NextUp is a nonprofit membership organization that delivers leadership development programs, regional and national networking events, and corporate partnership services aimed at advancing women in business and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. Its offerings include annual conferences (Leadership Week combining the Executive Forum and Leadership Summit), training (webinars, workshops, career development), an interactive member directory, awards programs, editorial content, and corporate membership packages. Members and corporate partners access a unified ecosystem of programs designed to build inclusive workplaces and accelerate women's career advancement.

Product overview

NextUp is a nonprofit membership organization that serves as a unified platform for advancing women in business. The organization operates through an integrated ecosystem of leadership development programs (including Leadership Programs, Webinars, Career Development, and Workshops), major annual conferences (Leadership Week combining Executive Forum and Leadership Summit), recognition programs (Excellence Awards), digital content platforms (Editorial Hub with articles and research), networking tools (Member Directory, Job Board), communication channels (NextUp Now newsletter, SmartBrief), regional communities, an Ambassador Program, and corporate partnership services. Members and partner companies access a comprehensive suite of resources designed to build inclusive workplace cultures and advance women at all career stages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Development Programs Comprehensive leadership development offerings for professionals at various career stages, including programs for people on the move and support for leaders driving organizational change.
• Leadership Week Annual flagship event combining Executive Forum and Leadership Summit conferences, plus anniversary celebrations, featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking.
• NextUp Executive Forum Senior-level conference for C-suite and senior management executives featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking. Part of Leadership Week.
• NextUp Leadership Summit Large-scale conference for professionals dedicated to advancing women in business, featuring workshops, breakout sessions, awards, and community building.
• NextUp Excellence Awards Awards program celebrating outstanding members and partners who demonstrate excellence in advancing women in leadership.
• Webinars Online educational sessions covering leadership topics, professional development, and industry insights available to members.
• Career Development Programs Resources and programming designed to create equal opportunities for career advancement, addressing unique barriers women continue to face in business.
• Workshops In-person and virtual workshops addressing key business priorities and leadership skills for professional growth.
• Corporate Partnership Program Partnership program for companies supporting DEI&B goals, providing access to leadership development, talent engagement, and workplace transformation resources through corporate membership seats.
• Member Directory Interactive online directory enabling members to connect and network with other professionals in the NextUp community.
• Regional Communities Local NextUp chapters in various regions including Texas, Northwest Arkansas, and others, hosting regional events and networking across 21 regions in U.S. and Canada.
• 25th Anniversary Honors Evening Special ticketed event celebrating NextUp's founding members and 25 years of leadership, progress, and community.
• NextUp Now Newsletter Monthly newsletter exclusive to NextUp members delivering latest news, events, and community updates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies using the Paradigm for Parity toolkit and 5-Point Action Plan achieved 13.5% faster rate of women reaching the C-suite than those that did not
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• The Coca-Cola CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and founding partner of NextUp. Leaders from Coca-Cola serve on the NextUp Board. Coca-Cola's Lisa Chang (EVP & Global Chief People Officer) delivers keynote at Leadership Week 2026. The partnership includes editorial content collaborations like PowerTalks series. The company has been a 16-year member with Dagmar Boggs serving as past Board Chair.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeth Marrion (Senior Managing Director, Global Retail Consulting Practice) serves as Board Chair. Accenture provides strategic guidance and consulting expertise. The partnership includes support for NextUp's mission and programs.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKimberly Betts (Managing Director of Human Capital) featured as original founder in 25 Voices series. Steve Goldbach (Senior Partner) presenting at Leadership Week 2026. Active member and sponsor of programming.
• PepsiCo, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of Leadership Week 2026 and major events. Sponsor of Summit Evening of Connection. Active partner in member programming.
• Suntory Global SpiritscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of Leadership Week 2026. Sponsors Executive Forum Opening Reception and Leadership Summit Welcome Reception. Sponsor of NextUp Awards.
• Visa Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Sponsor and partner. Wayne Best (Chief Economist) presenting at Leadership Summit 2026. Active in supporting NextUp's programming and member events.
• The Kroger Family of CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts regional events including NextUp Texas events. Supports employee participation in NextUp programming. Partner in advancing women in retail and consumer goods industries.
• Walmart, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelody Richard (Senior Vice President - Pantry) co-hosting 25th Anniversary Honors Evening. Active corporate partner supporting employee leadership development through NextUp.
• Procter & GamblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor corporate partner supporting NextUp's mission. Represents consumer goods industry leadership in the NextUp community.
• General Mills Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the NextUp community, supporting employee development and DEI&B initiatives.
• Mondelēz International Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner; Megan Diaz de Arce (Convenience Retail Team) featured in Voices of NextUp series.
• The Hershey CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting NextUp's mission of advancing women in leadership.
• Kraft Heinz CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the NextUp community.
• Nestle USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting NextUp programming.
• American ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the NextUp network.
• AltriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting NextUp's mission.
• Ahold DelhaizecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the NextUp community.
• Hallmark Cards Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting NextUp.
• SC JohnsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the NextUp network.
• Paradigm for ParityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic merger combining NextUp's community reach with Paradigm for Parity's 5-Point Action Plan toolkit and corporate culture change methodology. Jewelle Bickford (Co-Founder) and Sandra Quince (former CEO, now President of Board) joining NextUp board. The merger brings proven framework that achieved 13.5% faster rate of women reaching C-suite at participating companies.
• Atlanta DreamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's NBA team featured in PowerTalks series on advancing women in sports. Partnership demonstrates commitment to visibility of women leaders both in sports and business.
• AuthentixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 'Behind the Firewall: Conversations with Women in Technology' series highlighting women breaking barriers in tech industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Forté Foundation: Forté is a nonprofit consortium launching women into business and leadership careers, with corporate partners and MBA-focused programming. It serves a similar women-in-business mission but focuses on the pre-experience pipeline rather than the executive level NextUp targets.
• Fairygodboss: Fairygodboss is a career community for women offering company reviews, salary data, and job listings, with employer branding partnerships. It overlaps with NextUp's corporate partner and career development offerings, but skews more to early-career job seekers and employer branding than executive leadership.

Direct peers

• Chief: Chief is a private members-only network of senior women executives. Like NextUp, it serves women in business leadership through community, events, and programming, but operates as a venture-backed for-profit with higher membership fees and a tighter C-suite focus.
• Watermark: Watermark produces leadership conferences, events, and programs for women executives in technology and related industries. Like NextUp, it monetizes through corporate sponsorships, individual memberships, and ticketed events, though it focuses on tech rather than CPG.
• International Women's Forum (IWF): IWF is a global membership organization of accomplished women leaders across industries and geographies. Both organizations run leadership conferences, peer learning, and corporate partnerships aimed at advancing women in leadership.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): WCD is a membership organization of women corporate board directors and senior executives. It shares NextUp's mission of advancing women in leadership and uses similar corporate partnerships and event programming as core engagement mechanisms.
• Lean In: Lean In is a nonprofit founded by Sheryl Sandberg focused on women's empowerment, leadership development, and Circles community groups. It overlaps with NextUp's mission, content offerings, and corporate partnership approach.
• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network (formerly 85 Broads) is a professional network for women offering events, mentoring, and career resources. It directly competes for the same individual member and corporate partner audience NextUp targets.
• Athena Alliance: Athena Alliance is a nonprofit building a community of women leaders and board directors through programs, events, and a member network. It competes for the same corporate partner and individual member audience with overlapping executive development offerings.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a long-established nonprofit focused on advancing women in the workplace through research, consulting, and corporate partnerships. Both organizations share the women-in-leadership mission, research-driven programming, and corporate partnership revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NextUpIsNow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/nextupisnow
• Facebookfacebook.com/NextUpIsNow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextupisnow
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextupisnow
• TikToktiktok.com/@nextupisnow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NextUp