What Womenexecs On Boards does

WomenExecs on Boards (WEoB) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit global network founded in 2018 by Bonnie Hagemann and Lisa Pent, both alumni of Harvard Business School's inaugural Women on Boards executive education program (December 2016, 67 participants from 17 countries). The organization serves senior women leaders seeking corporate board and C-suite positions, with membership strictly gated on completion of specified HBS Executive Education board governance programs ("Women on Boards: Succeeding as a Corporate Director" or "Making Corporate Boards More Effective"). WEoB's product surface comprises the core membership network, regional and industry sub-groups, an Annual Symposium, a Directors' Circle for experienced board directors, an Aspiring Directors Program for early-career women, ongoing board education programming, a placement coaching program, and a no-fee Board Candidate Search Service connecting corporate buyers with vetted female talent.

The organization runs a community-led go-to-market motion: members refer each other for board opportunities, advocate for placements, and provide peer support. WEoB does not charge placement fees or commissions; revenue is generated from low annual membership dues (specific pricing not publicly disclosed), supplemented by a corporate partner ecosystem that includes executive search firms (Korn Ferry), Big Four professional services firms (EY, PwC, Protiviti), global law firms (Baker McKenzie), and investment/advisory firms (Gaingels). The technology stack is minimal — Circle.so for member login and community engagement — consistent with WEoB's nature as a professional networking and human-curated talent database rather than a software platform. Operating with 1-10 staff and an all-volunteer board (President, Co-Chairs, Independent Director, Treasurer, Secretary), WEoB's expansion is constrained by member acquisition funnel (HBS program completion), but reinforced by an institutional affiliation that confers credibility and an unusually cohesive member culture centered on "selfless leadership, solidarity, and unity."

Name

Womenexecs On Boards

Legal name

WomenExecs on Boards

Website

https://weob.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WomenExecs on Boards is a global nonprofit network for senior women leaders who completed Harvard Business School board governance programs, offering membership-based networking, education, and a no-fee curated database to place women on corporate boards and in C-suite roles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Board Director Placement Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Board director placement
• Executive networking services
• Board governance education
• Women leadership network
• Board candidate search

Headquarters

HQ city

International Falls

HQ country

United States

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. Annual Membership Dues: WEoB generates revenue through low annual membership dues from its members. The organization is a nonprofit corporation and does not charge any fees or commissions for candidate placement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WomenExecs on Boards (WEoB) operates a global membership network for senior women leaders who have completed Harvard Business School board governance programs, providing networking, peer support, continued board education, regional/industry groups, an annual symposium, and a curated board candidate search service that connects corporations with board-ready female talent. Membership requires HBS Executive Education completion, and the organization is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit that generates revenue through annual membership dues without charging placement fees or commissions.

Product overview

WomenExecs on Boards (WEoB) is a membership-based global networking organization, not a software product. The organization offers a unified membership network that provides women leaders with access to various services including Regional Groups, Industry Groups, Annual Symposium, Directors' Circle, Aspiring Directors Program, Board Education Programming, Placement Coaching, and Board Candidate Search services. Members gain networking opportunities, continued education, recruiter exposure, and board placement support. The network is exclusively for women who have completed Harvard Business School Executive Education board governance programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WEoB Membership Network Global membership network for women leaders with C-level experience and prior completion of Harvard Business School Executive Education board governance programs. Provides networking, peer support, continued board education, regional and industry groups, an annual symposium, directors' circle, and placement coaching.
• Board Candidate Search Service
• WEoB Annual Symposium Signature annual in-person event convening WEoB members with business icons, industry leaders, and academic trailblazers for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaborative discussions around board governance and leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• CNBC reported that public offerings of U.S. companies with at least one female director have performed significantly better in the last four years than those without.

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• Korn FerrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExecutive search firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner. Korn Ferry provides access to board opportunities and executive search services for WEoB members.
• EYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner, supporting the network's mission of advancing women into boardroom and C-suite positions.
• Baker McKenziecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal law firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner, providing legal expertise and access to board opportunities for members.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner, supporting governance excellence and board diversity initiatives.
• ProtiviticoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal consulting firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner, providing internal audit, risk, and governance expertise for members.
• GaingelscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestment and advisory firm partnering with WEoB as a corporate partner, supporting diversity in leadership and board placements.
• VSR FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation supporting WEoB's mission of advancing women into corporate governance and board leadership positions.
• The DCROsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization focused on board risk governance partnering with WEoB to support governance excellence initiatives.
• Board IntelligencesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization providing board evaluation and intelligence tools, partnering with WEoB to support member board effectiveness.
• Harvard Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEoB was founded by HBS Women on Boards program alumni. All members must complete HBS Executive Education board governance programs. HBS provides ongoing education programming and alumni network access for members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TheBoardlist: TheBoardlist is a curated, invite-only database connecting companies with female board candidates. Like WEoB, it serves as a vetted talent pipeline for board placements.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): WCD is the most direct competitor: a global membership organization connecting accomplished women corporate directors. Both serve boards seeking diverse female talent and offer networking/education for sitting and aspiring directors.
• Athena Alliance: Athena Alliance is a global community of senior women leaders focused on board and executive readiness. Similar model to WEoB, providing education, peer networking, and corporate relationships to advance women into leadership.
• 2020 Women on Boards: 2020 Women on Boards campaigns for at least 20% women on corporate boards and maintains a public database of board-ready women. Directly comparable mission to WEoB's board candidate search service.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the largest US membership organization for board directors, offering education, director certification, and peer networking. WEoB's board governance education and placement focus overlaps with NACD's broader director development model.

Emerging players

• BoardReady: BoardReady provides board readiness training and pathways for diverse candidates to corporate boards. Comparable educational programming to WEoB though typically delivered as a course rather than a sustained membership network.
• Directors & Boards: Directors & Boards is a long-running publication and conference brand serving corporate board members. Adjacent to WEoB's director education and peer networking, with deeper focus on content and thought leadership.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit advancing women in leadership through research, education, and corporate partnerships. Overlapping mission around workplace gender parity, with broader research/advisory focus versus WEoB's networking focus.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search firm with a dedicated board and CEO practice. Plays a similar role to WEoB in connecting companies with senior leaders, though it operates as a commercial search firm, not a member network.
• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global executive search firm and WEoB corporate partner. Comparable in board placement activity, but operates as a for-profit incumbent at scale with proprietary databases and fee-based placement services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womenexecs-on-boards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Womenexecs On Boards