Milwaukee Women

What Milwaukee Women does

Milwaukee Women Inc. (MWi) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Betty Quadracci and incorporated in 2010, headquartered in Mequon, Wisconsin. Its mission is to increase the representation of women — particularly women of color — on the boards of directors of Wisconsin public and private companies. MWi serves three primary constituencies: Wisconsin corporations seeking to diversify their boards, accomplished women executives seeking board service opportunities, and corporate sponsors underwriting the organization's programs.

The organization's core deliverables include annual research reports benchmarking board diversity at Wisconsin's top 50 public and private companies (published since 2004), a searchable Board/Executive Database of 70+ board-ready women, the annual Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance co-administered with the Greater Milwaukee Committee, board readiness educational resources, and a recurring calendar of events including the annual meeting and CEO Conversation series. MWi operates its digital presence on GrowthZone, a third-party association management platform, and does not maintain proprietary technology products.

MWi is funded primarily through tiered corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, In-kind) from 30+ Wisconsin-headquartered companies spanning financial services, banking, utilities, legal, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology, supplemented by member contributions and steering committee participation. The organization transitioned to professionalized executive leadership in November 2023 with the appointment of Lori A. Syverson as its first full-time President and CEO, a milestone indicating organizational maturation following two decades of volunteer-led operations.

Name

Milwaukee Women

Legal name

Milwaukee Women Inc.

Website

https://milwaukeewomeninc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Advocacy and Board Diversity Research

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Board diversity advocacy
• Corporate governance research
• Women leadership development
• Nonprofit board placement
• Executive networking programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: MWi receives financial support from corporate sponsors at multiple tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, In-kind). More than 30 sponsoring companies support the organization through their financial contributions and participation.
2. Membership Dues: The organization accepts individuals to their Steering Committee who share their passion for diversifying corporate boards. Members contribute experience, contacts, or other resources to further the mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Milwaukee Women Inc. (MWi) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that drives the advancement of women, particularly women of color, onto corporate boards in Wisconsin. Its offerings center on an annual longitudinal research report benchmarking board diversity at the state's 50 largest public and private companies, a searchable database connecting companies with board-ready women candidates, executive networking through a Steering Committee, board readiness educational resources, and the Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance presented jointly with the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Product overview

Milwaukee Women Inc. (MWi) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that operates as a research and advocacy organization rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include annual board diversity research reports tracking women on Wisconsin corporate boards, a searchable Board/Executive Database of member profiles for companies seeking board candidates, MWi membership programs for executives interested in board service, board readiness educational resources and documents, the annual Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance, and various events and networking programs. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but provides these services primarily through its website and member portal powered by GrowthZone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Board Diversity Research Reports Annual published research reports benchmarking the percentage of women serving on boards of directors of Wisconsin's 50 largest public and private companies. Reports include longitudinal data, CEO insights, and trend analysis on board gender diversity. For Wisconsin companies, governance advocates, and policymakers.
• Board/Executive Database

Quantifiable outcome

• 26.3% of Wisconsin top 50 public company board seats held by women (up from 9.3% in 2003)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, supporting and major.

• NasdaqflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2023Nasdaq's groundbreaking Rule 5605(f) requires all Nasdaq-listed companies to annually disclose board-level diversity statistics and have at least two diverse directors by 2025/2026. MWi presented Nasdaq with its inaugural Trailblazer Award at the 20th anniversary celebration for this unprecedented action to advance board diversity.
• Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMC is a key partner in MWi's annual Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance. The organizations jointly review nominees and present awards to individuals and companies demonstrating commitment to gender diversity in corporate governance.
• Private Directors Association - Wisconsin ChaptersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWi references this organization as a resource for members interested in private board service, providing additional pathways for women seeking board positions.
• CatalystsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit focused on building workplaces that work for women. MWi cites Catalyst research showing companies with women board members had better stock performance, higher return on equity, and higher price-to-book value multiples.
• Badger MetercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor of MWi. Kim Stoll, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Badger Meter, served as MWi Board Chair.
• BairdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor. Mary Ellen Stanek, Managing Director of Baird, is the namesake of MWi's annual diversity award. Emily Phillips, Managing Partner & Financial Advisor at Baird, serves as Influence Co-Chair on MWi's board.
• QuadcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor. Joel Quadracci is Chairman, President & CEO of Quad. MWi news highlighted Quad's appointments of Beth-Ann Eason and Melanie Huet to their board.
• WaterStone BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor. Julie Glynn, EVP Chief Retail Officer at WaterStone Bank, serves as Influence Co-Chair on MWi's board.
• Associated BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor and past Mary Ellen Stanek Award corporate winner for commitment to gender diversity in corporate governance.
• EUAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. Kristin Dufek serves as President & CEO of EUA and was welcomed as new MWi Board Chair in April 2024.
• Exact SciencesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of MWi.
• Godfrey KahnmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of MWi.
• ReinhartmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. Kristin Bergstrom serves as Employee Benefits Shareholder at Reinhart and is listed in the board database.
• WE EnergiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. WEC Energy Group topped Wisconsin's list for representation of women on boards with two women of color. Peggy Kelsey serves as EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at WEC Energy Group.
• West BendmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. Heather Dunn serves as SVP & Chief Financial Officer at West Bend Insurance Company.
• Zurn Elkay Water SolutionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. MWi news highlighted Emma McTague joining Zurn Elkay's board of directors. Todd A. Adams is Chairman and CEO.
• DeloittesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor. Sandy Hoeft serves as Audit Managing Director at Deloitte & Touche LLP.
• Foley & LardnersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of MWi.
• ManitowocsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of MWi.
• MGICsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor. Annette Adams serves as SVP Chief Human Resources Officer at MGIC.
• Baker TillysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor of MWi.
• Kane Communications GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor. Kimberly Kane serves as President & CEO of Kane Communications Group and Vice Chair of MWi's board.
• Wisconsin Policy ForumsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor of MWi.
• Spencer StuartsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWi provides Spencer Stuart's board resume template and suggestions as a resource for women preparing for board service.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated board practice that publishes widely cited research on board composition, including gender and diversity. Comparable to Spencer Stuart as an enabling infrastructure provider in the same talent flow.
• Spencer Stuart: Leading global executive search firm whose board practice serves as a major conduit for placing directors, including women. Spencer Stuart partners with MWi by providing board resume templates and is a relevant enabling partner in the same board-diversity ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit building inclusive workplaces for women, explicitly cited by MWi for research on the link between women board members and corporate financial performance. Catalyst is the leading global operator in the same advocacy/research category but with much broader international scope.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): The leading U.S. member organization for board directors, offering education, certification, and resources. NACD is a broader governance incumbent that overlaps with MWi on board readiness resources and director development.

Direct peers

• Private Directors Association (PDA): National nonprofit for private company board directors with local chapters, including the Wisconsin chapter referenced by MWi as a placement resource. Closely comparable regional-to-national chapter model focused on board service.
• The 30% Coalition: U.S. coalition working to increase women on boards to 30%, with a steering committee of corporate leaders. Directly comparable advocacy model and a listed resource/referral partner archetype for MWi's work.
• Women in the Boardroom: Nonprofit supporting women seeking corporate board seats through education, networking, and a candidate database. Highly comparable direct peer to MWi, operating at larger national scale.
• 2020 Women on Boards: Nonprofit focused on increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards through research, education, and advocacy. Highly comparable mission and regional chapter structure to MWi.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): Global membership organization of women corporate directors with local chapters. Closely comparable mission to MWi (advancing women on boards) and similar chapter-based model, though WCD operates at national/international scale rather than regional.

Emerging players

• Ascend: Pan-Asian nonprofit advancing Asian-Pacific Americans into leadership including board roles. Partially overlapping mission with MWi on diversifying board leadership, though focused on a different demographic constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milwaukee-women-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Milwaukee Women