Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL)

What Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL) does

Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, invitation-only membership organization founded in 2001 by Lynn Shapiro Snyder. It operates as the only membership network dedicated exclusively to senior executive women across the U.S. health care industry, encompassing health systems, payers, biotech, pharmaceutical companies, and service providers. The organization has grown from 60 founding members at its March 2001 inaugural meeting in Virginia to over 1,500 members representing 1,000+ companies, and has helped place more than 500 women on corporate boards.

WBL's product portfolio is built around four pillars: a recurring membership at $645/year (with a 10% corporate discount for companies fielding 10+ eligible leaders), a signature $1,295 Board Program for board-service preparation delivered via Teachable and Zoom, an Annual Summit, and a new September 2026 intimate one-day event called WBL Convene capped at 80 attendees at $699. Supplementary offerings include 90+ annual regional and virtual events, Peer Circles, a Members-only portal (members.wbl.org) with directory, opportunity listings, resources, and forum, plus a WBL Store featuring the proprietary 'Answering the Call' board governance publication (4th edition). Revenue is generated through individual and corporate membership dues, Board Program fees, event registration, and corporate sponsorships from a portfolio of 10+ healthcare-relevant brands led by Elevance Health and Carenet Health.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: prospective members are nominated by current members or self-apply, with applications reviewed on the first and third Fridays of each month. Member referrals and nominations are the primary growth lever, supported by a top-of-funnel mix of the WBL website, LinkedIn, the Inspiring Women Podcast, and event marketing. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, headquartered at 9893 Georgetown Pike, PMB 524, Great Falls, VA, and is currently running the WBL Boundless Campaign to raise $2 million for mission-supporting projects.

Name

Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL)

Legal name

Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation

Website

https://wbl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WBL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, invitation-only membership organization connecting 1,500+ senior executive women across U.S. healthcare, offering peer networking, board preparation programs, and signature events for career advancement and board placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees charged to individual senior executive women in healthcare. Provides access to all member benefits including events, peer circles, directory, and resources.
2. Corporate Membership: Discounted annual membership (10% off) for companies with 10 or more eligible women leaders, enabling broader organizational participation in WBL's network.
3. Board Program Registration: One-time program fee of $1,295 for WBL's signature board training program. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 100% of this fee is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Support from corporate partners who sponsor WBL events, programs, and initiatives. Partners gain access to an influential executive audience and brand alignment with WBL's mission.
5. Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for signature events like WBL Convene ($699) and the Annual Summit, which include networking, sessions, and meals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WBL is an invitation-only 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization for senior executive women in the U.S. healthcare industry. Its core offering is annual individual membership ($645/year) that grants access to a private member portal, a member directory, peer circles, board and job opportunity listings, and 90+ curated regional, national, and virtual events annually. Revenue is supplemented by paid signature programs (Board Program at $1,295, WBL Convene at $699) and corporate partnerships/sponsorships.

Product overview

WBL is a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a suite of programs and services for senior executive women in healthcare. The core offering is invitation-only membership providing access to a network of 1,500+ women across the industry. Key programs include the Board Program (a $1,295 training program for board service), the Annual Summit (3-day annual event), Fellows Program (startup mentorship), and WBL Convene (new intimate one-day event). Additional offerings include 90+ regional/virtual events, Peer Circles, a Member Directory, Webinar Library, and the WBL Store featuring executive education resources including the book 'Answering the Call.' Members access these services through a private online portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WBL Board Program: A board excellence program specifically designed for women healthcare and life science executives to help them pursue and expand their board service.
• WBL Fellows Program
• WBL Convene

Products and services

• WBL Membership Invitation-only annual individual membership priced at $645/year, providing access to WBL's private member portal, member directory, peer circles, board and job opportunity listings, forum, and 90+ curated regional, national, and virtual events for senior executive women in U.S. healthcare.
• Annual Summit WBL's signature 3-day annual gathering focused on connection, cross-sector insight, and leadership development for senior women from across the U.S. health care industry.
• Board Program Paid virtual board-readiness program (one-time fee $1,295, fully tax-deductible) for senior women healthcare executives pursuing or expanding corporate board service, comprising four training modules, 12 sessions, three cohort sessions, templates, guides, and resources.
• Fellows Program Program providing mentorship, network capital, and visibility to women founders and CEOs of women-led health care startups across the industry's most influential sectors.
• WBL Convene Intimate, one-day signature program limited to 80 members, designed for senior executive women in healthcare, featuring cross-sector peer networking, executive education, and community building.
• Regional and Virtual Events 90+ curated annual regional, national, and virtual events including Peer Circles, professional development courses, industry updates, and networking opportunities for WBL members.
• WBL Store Online store offering exclusive executive education content, including the WBL board-resource publication 'Answering the Call: Understanding the Duties, Risks & Rewards of Corporate Governance' (fourth edition) and other executive education resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ women placed on boards through WBL programs and network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elevance HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerElevance Health is a major corporate sponsor of WBL, supporting the organization's mission to connect and advance senior women in healthcare. Julie Goon, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Elevance Health, also serves on WBL's Board of Directors.
• Carenet HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCarenet Health is a corporate sponsor of WBL, with Holly McCann, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Growth at Carenet Health, actively involved in WBL programs and member community.
• MCGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMCG is a corporate sponsor supporting WBL's programs and mission to advance women leaders in healthcare.
• VirtusaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirtusa is a corporate sponsor supporting WBL's initiatives and programs for senior women executives in healthcare.
• AareteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAarete is a corporate sponsor of WBL, providing support for WBL's events and programs. Also sponsored WBL Convene 2026.
• American Medical Association (AMA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAMA is a corporate sponsor supporting WBL's mission to advance senior women in healthcare.
• MintzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMintz is a corporate sponsor of WBL, supporting the organization's programs for women leaders in healthcare.
• LyricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLyric is a corporate sponsor supporting WBL's initiatives and member programs.
• ProgenyHealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgenyHealth is a corporate sponsor of WBL, supporting the advancement of women in healthcare leadership.
• TrustmarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrustmark is a corporate sponsor supporting WBL's mission and programs for senior women executives.
• SNT BiotechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSNT Biotech is a sponsor of WBL Convene 2026, supporting this signature program designed for senior women healthcare leaders.
• FrameminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrame (fertility platform) is featured in the WBL membership volunteer section with Jessica Bell van der Wal as Co-Founder and CEO, highlighting collaborative care innovation in healthcare.
• Korn FerrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKorn Ferry is a major strategic partner, with Jhaymee Tynan serving as Principal Healthcare Services and WBL Membership and Engagement Chair. Jena Abernathan from Korn Ferry speaks at WBL Board Program. Korn Ferry acquired Salo, co-founded by WBL member Amy Langer.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the largest U.S. member organization for corporate directors, providing board education, certification (NACD Directorship Certification), and governance resources. WBL members pursuing board service often intersect with NACD for credentials and board opportunities.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit working to advance women in business through research, advisory, and member company programs. Overlaps with WBL's mission of advancing senior women leaders, with a broader industry and employer-focused rather than individual membership model.
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE): ACHE is the premier professional society for healthcare executives, offering membership, credentialing (FACHE), and education across all senior healthcare leaders. WBL complements ACHE by serving the women subset with peer and board-specific programming.

Emerging players

• Forte Foundation: Forte Foundation is a nonprofit consortium focused on launching women into business and leadership through MBA and early-career programming. While Forte targets earlier-career stages than WBL, it shares the women-in-leadership mission and corporate partner model.
• TheBoardlist: TheBoardlist is a curated talent platform connecting qualified women with board opportunities, with a strong overlap to WBL's Board Program and 500+ women placed on boards. A more tech-enabled, emerging alternative for board placement.

Direct peers

• Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA): HBA is the most direct peer to WBL: a global nonprofit membership organization advancing women in healthcare leadership. Both serve senior women in healthcare through membership, events, awards, and board/career programming, with HBA operating at a larger global scale and WBL more exclusive/U.S.-focused.
• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a membership-based professional community for women across industries, offering peer circles, events, and mentorship. Comparable in community-led model and individual membership structure, though broader in industry focus than WBL.
• Chief: Chief is a private membership network for senior women executives (typically VP+ and C-suite) across industries, with peer groups, events, and curated programming. Comparable to WBL in its invite-only, peer-driven, senior-women focus, though not healthcare-specific.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): WCD is a membership organization of women corporate directors focused on board service, governance, and peer learning — directly comparable to WBL's board placement and Board Program focus, though WCD spans all industries rather than being healthcare-specific.

Others

• 85 Broads (now Ellevate's sister community): 85 Broads was historically a women professional network, now folded into Ellevate, comparable as a peer-driven women executive community with global reach. Cited as a historical peer given its similar peer-network and corporate-sponsorship model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-business-leaders-of-the-us-health-care-industry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL)