The Women on Boards Network Kenya

What The Women on Boards Network Kenya does

The Women on Boards Network Kenya (WOBN) is a Nairobi-based non-profit founded in 2014 to promote and prepare women for corporate board leadership in Kenya. The organization operates a membership-based platform serving three primary member personas: women in senior leadership aspiring to board positions, newly appointed board members, and current board members seeking continued development, alongside a Junior Membership Program that pipelines young women aged 11-24 into future board readiness. Its core offerings include Corporate Governance Training, the Global Women on Boards Programme delivered in partnership with Lead Women Malaysia, Board Profiling and Personal Positioning training, a mentorship program drawing on 40 seasoned board mentors, Coteries (small peer-support groups of 6-7 members), board admissions placement services, and a calendar of networking events such as Board Talks, Breakfast & Roundtables, and the Annual WOBN Conference. The organization also runs the annual WOBN Awards, a branded recognition franchise launched in 2021 and sustained through 2025, with award categories covering individual board service, leadership, and organizational contribution to gender diversity.

WOBN's business model rests on recurring annual membership fees, paid training program enrollment, corporate sponsorship of the annual WOBN Awards and related events, and grant funding channeled through institutional partnerships such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Women in Healthcare Leadership project delivered with Strathmore Business School. Distribution is primarily domestic Kenya (with an East Africa posture and select international curriculum exposure via Lead Women Malaysia), delivered through direct website-based self-serve membership enrollment and direct enterprise engagement with organizations seeking female board candidates. The organization reports over 1,000 active members, 700 delegates trained, 40 mentors, and 350 women in senior management connected to the network, supported by a 19-person team. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI component; the offering is fundamentally a curated human network, training content library, and event-led community.

Name

The Women on Boards Network Kenya

Legal name

Women on Boards Network Kenya

Website

https://womenonboardskenya.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Women on Boards Network Kenya is a Nairobi-based non-profit founded in 2014 that runs a membership platform preparing women in Kenya for corporate board service through training, mentorship, networking events, and board placement services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WOBN generates revenue through annual membership fees from individuals joining the network. Members receive benefits including invitations to exclusive events, networking opportunities, leadership development courses, and access to mentorship programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Women on Boards Network (WOBN) is a Kenya-registered not-for-profit membership network that brings together women currently serving on boards, newly appointed board members, and those aspiring to board positions. It offers corporate governance training, a Global Women on Boards Programme, board profiling training, mentorship, peer support groups (Coteries), and placement services that connect member candidates with organizations seeking to appoint women to their boards.

Product overview

The Women on Boards Network (WOBN) is a not-for-profit initiative registered in Kenya that provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services to promote and encourage women into board leadership. The core offerings include the WOBN Awards (an annual ceremony celebrating gender diversity), Corporate Governance Training, the Global Women on Boards Programme (in partnership with Lead Women Malaysia), Board Profiling Training, Mentorship Programs (including a Junior Membership Program for ages 11-24), Coteries (small peer support groups), Board Admissions placement services, Events and Networking opportunities, and educational content through newsletters and blogs. Together, these services facilitate women at various stages of their leadership journey—from senior management aspiring for boards, to newly appointed board members, to seasoned board leaders mentoring the next generation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WOBN Awards: Annual awards ceremony celebrating gender diversity and inclusion on boards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions towards gender diversity.

Products and services

• WOBN Awards Annual awards gala recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions towards gender diversity and inclusion on boards, hosted by WOBN in Kenya.
• Corporate Governance Training Training program equipping women with leadership and governance skills to prepare them for board positions and effective boardroom performance.
• Global Women on Boards Programme International program delivered in partnership with Lead Women Malaysia, providing training and exposure to global board leadership curriculum and certification for women seeking board positions.
• Board Profiling and Personal Positioning Training Training program helping women build their board profiles and position themselves effectively to secure board appointments.
• Mentorship Program Structured mentorship program exposing members to a network of 40 seasoned board members who guide them as they explore board opportunities and career advancement.
• Junior Membership Program Mentorship program for young leaders aged 11-24 years providing early exposure to board concepts and mentorship aimed at developing the next generation of board-ready women.
• Coteries Small team groups of approximately 6-7 members organized for peer support, goal setting, and accountability through regular meetings, available to WOBN members.
• Board Admissions Placement service connecting member women with organizations seeking to admit women to their boards, positioning WOBN as a first-stop shop for board diversity recruitment in Kenya.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700 delegates trained through WOBN programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lead Women MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOBN offers the Global Women on Boards Programme in partnership with Lead Women Malaysia, providing international training and certification for women seeking board positions. This partnership enables members to access global board leadership curriculum and expand their networks internationally.
• Strathmore Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between WOBN and Strathmore Business School (through the Women in Healthcare Leadership project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) to address gender imbalance in corporate leadership. The collaboration introduces the Leading the Way: Healthcare Gender Diversity Award category and aims to maximize resources and networks to tackle gender diversity challenges in healthcare leadership.
• Stanbic BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner for WOBN Awards 2022, supporting the annual gender diversity and inclusion awards event.
• Isuzu East AfricaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for WOBN Awards 2022, supporting gender diversity initiatives in Kenya.
• Madison GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for WOBN Awards 2022, supporting the organization's mission to promote women into board leadership.
• Citizen TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for WOBN Awards 2022, providing coverage and visibility for gender diversity initiatives.
• EABL (East African Breweries Limited)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and Organization of the Year Award winner (2023), demonstrating commitment to gender diversity in leadership.
• KCB GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for WOBN Awards 2022, supporting women in leadership initiatives.
• Equity Group FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and Organization of the Year Award 1st Runner-up (2023), supporting gender diversity initiatives.
• NRSA (National Regulation Service Agency)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for WOBN Awards 2022, supporting gender diversity and inclusion efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• WomenLift Health: Organization advancing women in global health leadership, including board roles. Thematically adjacent to WOBN's board-readiness work, particularly given WOBN's healthcare leadership partnership with Strathmore.
• The Athena Factor: Initiative focused on women's economic participation including board leadership. Overlaps with WOBN's mission of increasing women's corporate leadership representation.

Direct peers

• International Women's Forum (IWF): Global membership organization advancing women's leadership across sectors and borders. Comparable membership-based networking and leadership-development model, though operating at higher global scale.
• 30% Club: Global campaign driving gender balance on corporate boards, particularly through board chair and CEO commitments. Directly comparable to WOBN in mission (women on boards) though operating across multiple geographies with a different governance structure.
• WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD): Largest global membership community of women corporate directors, providing peer networking, education, and board placement support. Closely comparable membership-and-placement model to WOBN, though at global scale.
• African Women on Board (AWB): Pan-African initiative focused on increasing women's representation on corporate boards across the continent. Comparable mission and target audience to WOBN, though operating at continental rather than national level.
• Lead Women Malaysia: Malaysia-based women's board readiness organization and WOBN's named curriculum partner. Operates the Global Women on Boards Programme and shares WOBN's training-and-placement business model in a different geography.
• Boardroom Africa: Africa-focused board-readiness and placement platform for executive women. Closely comparable training-and-placement model, though serving multiple African countries rather than a single national market.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit working to advance women into leadership, with research, advisory, and corporate partnership programs. Comparable mission but broader in scope (workplace inclusion, pay equity) beyond just board placement.

Regional players

• Women on Boards UK: UK-based women's board network providing training, networking, and placement services. Highly comparable membership-and-training model to WOBN, though focused on the UK market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzgx9Xu7TjExNtRDeQKkOuQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-on-boards-network-kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 The Women on Boards Network Kenya