Women of Influence

What Women of Influence does

Women of Influence+ (WOI+) is a Toronto-based private company founded in 1993 that operates a media, events, and community platform focused on women's workplace advancement and entrepreneurship in Canada. The portfolio is anchored by two flagship award programs—the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, now in its 33rd/34th year, and the Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards—and is reinforced by signature events (Global Leaders Dinner Series, the annual gala at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Top 25 Luncheon), proprietary research (Tallest Poppy 2023 with 4,710 respondents across 103 countries, Ageism in the Workplace with 1,250+ respondents, Women, Money & Wealth), and paid/ad-free newsletters (THE LEAD, Entrepreneurs). The organization also operates the WOI+ Business Lab (cohort-based virtual training at $799 + tax), the Advancement Centre membership, the WOI+ Entrepreneur Network, and sponsored video/LinkedIn Live content, all supported by a community of 700,000+ supporters.

The business model is primarily B2B corporate sponsorship and partnership driven, with marquee anchor relationships spanning financial services (RBC as title sponsor for 30+ years, TD, CIBC, BMO), professional services (EY as due diligence sponsor, TELUS Health), government (BDC), and retail/CPG (Amazon, Clinique, Bulova, Dean Davidson). Revenue is generated through multi-year sponsorship contracts, event ticket and corporate table sales, award nomination fees, partner-marketing/content engagements, and paid training program tuition. Distribution is multi-channel: owned website (womenofinfluence.ca), free newsletters, social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), LinkedIn Live virtual events, and in-person events across Canadian cities with select international expansions (New York). The organization holds multiple registered trademarks (Top 25 Women of Influence, Women of Influence+, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Global Leaders Dinner Series, Tallest Poppy Syndrome, The Tallest Poppy).

WOI+ is led by CEO Dr. Rumeet Billan (incoming 2022), with Maricel Dicion as VP of Strategy. In 2024 it formed a strategic partnership with ROOM Women's Network to expand Advancement Centre programming, and in 2026 BMO Private Wealth became the presenting sponsor of the Global Leaders Dinner Series, deepening the Big Five Canadian bank sponsor base. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, no parent company, and no acquisition activity indicated in the data.

Name

Women of Influence

Legal name

Women of Influence

Website

https://womenofinfluence.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women of Influence+ (Toronto, founded 1993) operates a Canadian media, events, awards, and community platform advancing women in the workplace and entrepreneurship, anchored by the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards and serving a 700,000+ supporter community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Organizations sponsor WOI+ events, awards programs, content, and training initiatives. Major sponsors include RBC (title sponsor), TD, TELUS Health, EY, BMO Private Wealth, CIBC, BDC, and others. These partnerships provide substantial revenue through multi-year arrangements.
2. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for signature events including the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Gala, Global Leaders Dinner Series, Top 25 Luncheon, and Spotlight Events. Events range from intimate dinners to large galas at premium venues like The Ritz-Carlton Toronto.
3. Award Program Fees: Nomination and application fees for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and Top 25 Women of Influence Awards. The rigorous vetting process includes multiple stages with nominations opening in January and closing in April.
4. Newsletter Subscriptions: Monthly newsletters THE LEAD for general professional content and ENTREPRENEURS newsletter for business-focused content. Both newsletters deliver expert advice, workplace trends, and exclusive interviews.
5. Training Program Revenue: Leadership training programs including the Business Lab (introductory rate $799 + tax for Fall 2025 cohort) and Advancement Centre offerings. Programs designed for women at various career stages seeking professional development.
6. Partner Marketing Services: Organizations engage WOI+ for targeted marketing to the women's advancement audience, talent recruitment, and custom content programs. Multi-channel platform including events, awards, digital content, and social media for brand storytelling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women of Influence+ (WOI+) operates as a women's advancement media, events, and community platform. Its core offerings are signature award programs (the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and the Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards), curated in-person and virtual networking events (Global Leaders Dinner Series, LinkedIn Lives), leadership training programs (WOI+ Business Lab, Advancement Centre), proprietary research publications (The Tallest Poppy, Ageism in the Workplace, Women Money and Wealth), and monthly newsletters serving a community of 700,000+ supporters. Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships, event tickets, award nomination fees, training program tuition, and branded content partnerships.

Product overview

Women of Influence+ is a comprehensive women's advancement platform offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core WOI+ Platform serves as the central hub providing community access, networking, and resources. The platform is anchored by two major award programs: the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards (national recognition for women entrepreneurs) and the Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards (celebrating diverse role models). Supporting these are event programs including the Global Leaders Dinner Series and LinkedIn Lives for live engagement. Learning and development offerings include the WOI+ Business Lab (small-group virtual learning) and the Advancement Centre (membership with leadership programs). Content delivery is facilitated through the TD Entrepreneurs Video Series, newsletters (THE LEAD and Entrepreneurs Newsletter), and research studies on workplace issues affecting women. The WOI+ Entrepreneur Network provides peer community for business builders. Together, these products create a multi-faceted ecosystem supporting women's career advancement from inspiration through recognition to practical skill development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tallest Poppy: A research initiative and study led by Dr. Rumeet Billan examining Tall Poppy Syndrome and its impact on women in the workplace worldwide. Includes the Tallest Poppy 2018 (Canadian study) and Tallest Poppy 2023 (international study with 4,710 respondents across 103 countries).

Products and services

• RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards
• Top 25 Women of Influence+ Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $150 billion could be added to Canadian GDP by 2026 if women were fully enabled to participate in the economy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• BMO Private WealthflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 March 2026BMO Private Wealth is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Global Leaders Dinner Series. The exclusive invitation-only events connect senior executives and leaders in major Canadian cities.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Amazon served as a gift sponsor for the 2025 Top 25 Women of Influence Awards, providing gift items for honorees.
• CliniqueminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Clinique served as a gift sponsor for the 2025 Top 25 Women of Influence Awards, providing gift items for honorees.
• Dean DavidsonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Dean Davidson served as a sponsor for the 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.
• BulovaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Bulova served as a gift sponsor for the 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, providing timepieces for award recipients.
• RBCflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRBC serves as the Title Sponsor of the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards for over three decades. This is the organization's flagship sponsorship partnership, positioning RBC as the premier partner supporting women entrepreneurs nationally. The awards program is one of the most recognized women entrepreneur recognition programs in Canada.
• TELUS HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTELUS Health serves as an Award Sponsor for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, supporting recognition of women entrepreneurs across Canada.
• EYcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEY serves as Due Diligence Sponsor for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, providing rigorous vetting for the prestigious award program to ensure credibility.
• TDflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTD Women in Enterprise sponsors the TD Entrepreneurs Video Series featuring women entrepreneurs sharing their business journeys. TD also provides specialized advisors for women-owned businesses and supports WOI+ content on financial wellness.
• CIBCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCIBC sponsors Women and Wealth content and research initiatives, supporting research on Canadian women's financial perspectives and engagement with wealth management.
• BDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDC partners with WOI+ to provide resources for entrepreneurs including curated content for Small Business Week, business performance tools, and access to BDC's financing and advisory services for women entrepreneurs.
• ROOM Women's NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership announced in 2024 to elevate pipeline and executive women. WOI+ joined forces with ROOM, a global network committed to advancing executive and high-potential women, to provide enhanced Advancement Centre programming.
• Ivey Business School at Western UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIvey Business School sponsors LinkedIn Live events on topics like neurodiversity in the workplace, reaching WOI+ professional audience with thought leadership content.
• TENA CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTENA Canada supports the WOI+ TENA Leadership Series, sponsoring LinkedIn Live events on topics including menopause, parenthood, and leadership transitions affecting women in the workforce.
• Gordon S. Lang School of Business and EconomicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph partners with WOI+ to promote the Master's in Leadership program designed specifically for women professionals seeking executive advancement.
• Diversity InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University provides research and resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion featured on WOI+ content pages. Supports evidence-based content on creating innovative and inclusive workplaces.
• WealthsimpleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWealthsimple sponsored LinkedIn Live content on financial planning for women at various career stages, covering investment strategies and wealth-building approaches.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Fairygodboss: Career community for women with employer reviews, mentorship, and workplace content, monetized via employer partnerships. Comparable as a women-focused career community with employer/HR sponsorship revenue.
• Athena Alliance: Executive women's leadership development organization offering curated programs, advising, and peer cohorts. Comparable as a women-executive advancement platform with training and curated community.
• Chief: Members-only network and event community for senior women executives, with peer roundtables, leadership programming, and live events. Directly comparable as a women-executive networking and leadership platform.
• The Female Lead: UK-based nonprofit amplifying women's representation through original research, content, and an Edie platform. Comparable as a non-governmental organization running proprietary research and content around women's advancement.
• Ellevate Network: Professional networking platform and community for women, offering events, mentoring circles, and leadership resources. Comparable as a women-focused professional community combining events, content, and member programs.

Regional players

• Female Founders Fund: U.S.-based venture fund focused on women-led businesses, with associated community and content programming. Comparable as an adjacent organization in the women-entrepreneur ecosystem, though investing rather than operating media/events.

Emerging players

• Catalyst (nonprofit): Global nonprofit producing research, advisory services, and events on advancing women in the workplace. Comparable as a research-and-events-driven women's-advancement organization serving corporate clients.

Broad incumbents

• Fortune (Most Powerful Women): Mainstream business media brand running the long-running Most Powerful Women list and associated events. Comparable as a leading business publisher operating prestigious women-in-business recognition programs.
• Forbes (Women-related lists and content): Mainstream business publication producing women-focused lists, awards (e.g., Women Founders, Self-Made Women), and live events. Comparable as an established media brand operating women-in-business awards events.
• Inc. Magazine (Female Founders 100): Mainstream business media brand covering entrepreneurs, including the Female Founders 100 list. Comparable as an established business-media brand running flagship women-entrepreneur recognition programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WOIGlobal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@woiglobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/WOIGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woiglobal
• Instagraminstagram.com/woiglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Women of Influence