Rise And Lead Women

What Rise And Lead Women does

Rise And Lead Women is a non-profit women's leadership development organization founded in 2018 by Ebere Akadiri and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. It operates as a community and platform aimed at advancing women into senior leadership, C-suite, and board roles, with a stated reach of 100,000+ individuals and 5,000+ community members since inception. Its core products are a suite of cohort-based leadership development programs — the Rise & Lead Accelerator, C-Suite Ready, Board Ready, and Elite Keynote Mastery — together with the C-Level Collective for senior executives, an annual Women Leadership Summit, and the Rise & Lead Awards. The organization also offers free community membership alongside paid individual and corporate membership tiers, and runs topic-specific initiatives such as a Pay Transparency roundtable aligned with the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

The platform is built on a multi-sided ecosystem model combining individual members, corporate sponsors, academic partners, and event venues. Underlying components include proprietary program curricula, cohort mentorship structures, a flagship summit with rotating content pillars (including AI & Future of Work, Pay Transparency, and Health), and an annual awards program for institutional brand recognition. Public-facing technology appears to be a standard web-based membership and event platform rather than a proprietary technology stack; there is no disclosed AI/ML product investment.

The business model is a non-profit hybrid of individual paid memberships (€240–€1,200/year), corporate memberships (€295–€1,200/year), event ticket revenue (€350–€1,200), premium executive program fees (€2,500), and corporate sponsorship tied to the summit, awards, and roundtables. Named corporate relationships (Amazon, UPS, Philips, Kraft Heinz, IKEA, Ahold Delhaize, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, APG Group, Diageo, ServiceNow, Ayvens, Reykjavik Energy, Code V) primarily appear as event sponsors and awards participants rather than as disclosed multi-year enterprise contracts. The organization has 1-10 employees and has not disclosed revenue, funding, or financial statements.

Name

Rise And Lead Women

Legal name

Rise & Lead Women

Website

https://riseandleadwomen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rise And Lead Women is a The Hague-based non-profit founded in 2018 that runs a women's leadership development platform, offering cohort-based accelerators, executive programs, summits, and awards to individual members and corporate sponsors across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Leadership Development Services

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM), Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

Keywords

• Women's leadership development
• Executive coaching programs
• Board readiness training
• Corporate DEI services
• Professional membership community

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Subscriptions: Monthly and annual subscription tiers providing access to leadership masterclasses, mentoring sessions, private Slack community, event discounts, and member pricing on programs. Revenue generated through recurring subscription fees.
2. Leadership Development Programs: Fee-based programs including Elite Keynote Mastery (€2,500 full enrollment), Leadership Accelerator Circle, and Connect2Grow Community. One-time fees for program enrollment with optional payment plans.
3. Corporate Membership: Annual organizational memberships (€295-€1,200/year) providing access to People Leaders Forum, HR & Inclusion Executive Circle, corporate workshops, and member discounts on events.
4. Event Revenue: Annual Summit and Awards revenue from ticket sales (Summit Only €350, VIP €450, Group VIP €1,200), plus sponsorship opportunities. Additional Founders Table Conference ticket revenue.
5. C-Level Collective Membership: Full membership at €450/year provides access to Peer Advisory Circles, Quarterly Dinner Series, executive visibility campaigns, speaking and board opportunity introductions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rise And Lead Women is a non-profit leadership development platform that sells cohort-based accelerator programmes (Rise & Lead Accelerator, C-Suite Ready Accelerator, Board Ready Accelerator, Elite Keynote Mastery), individual and corporate memberships, and signature events (Rise & Lead Summit and Awards). It works simultaneously with women professionals to build visibility, sponsorship, and board fluency, and with corporate organisations to deliver DEI programmes, executive roundtables, and the Inclusive Leaders Forum. The offering is delivered through live workshops, peer circles, online masterclasses, and an annual conference in The Hague.

Product overview

Rise & Lead Women operates a multi-tiered leadership development platform comprising three core accelerator programmes forming an unbroken leadership pathway: the Rise & Lead Accelerator (5-week programme for mid-level managers), C-Suite Ready Accelerator (for senior managers and directors), and Board Ready Accelerator (for senior leaders preparing for board directorships). Supporting these accelerators are the Elite Keynote Mastery (public speaking programme using the 4S Framework), Leaders Coaching Circle (12-month coaching programme), and Women's Leadership Accelerator (8-week transformational training). The platform also includes community-based offerings (Connect2Grow Community, C-Level Collective, Inclusive Leaders Forum), corporate membership programmes (Women's Leadership Accelerators for organisations, HR & Culture Leadership Forum), and signature events (Rise & Lead Summit, Rise & Lead Awards). Additional products include downloadable resources (Executive Speaker Playbook, Lead From Anywhere), board-focused offerings (Board Apprenticeship), and tiered individual memberships at €240/year and €1,200/year. The company is a non-profit based in the Netherlands serving women across Europe since 2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise & Lead Summit: Europe's premier annual leadership conference bringing together executives, policymakers, and thought leaders for gender-balanced leadership discussions.
• Rise & Lead Awards
• CEO Collective
• Leadership Accelerator Circle
• Connect2Grow Community
• Elite Keynote Mastery™
• Rise & Lead Accelerator
• Board Ready Accelerator
• Inclusive Leaders Forum
• C-Level Collective

Products and services

• Rise & Lead Accelerator A 5-week leadership accelerator for career women ready for greater visibility and advancement. Features the Know Your Value Visibility Framework with 5 steps: Know Your Value, Craft Your Vision, Use Your Voice, Get Visible, and Build Sponsors & Mentors. Targets mid-level managers delivering results but overlooked for promotions. Reports 88% of participants promoted to Senior and Director levels within 12-18 months.
• C-Suite Ready Accelerator Executive development programme for senior managers and directors hitting the glass ceiling. Features the 9-Pillar Executive Credibility System covering Strategic Thinking, Career Planning, Strategic Communication, Executive Narrative, Power/Politics/Influence, Team Leadership, Executive Presence, Strategic Networking, and Negotiation. Targets Directors, Heads of Function, and Senior Managers ready for VP or C-suite roles.
• Board Ready Accelerator Comprehensive programme for senior leaders preparing for board directorships. Covers governance fluency, board-level networking, appointment strategy, and the 5V Method (Value, Vision, Voice, Visibility, Valuable Relationships). Includes in-person boardroom simulation in The Hague.
• Elite Keynote Mastery Premium leadership communication programme transforming senior executives into keynote speakers. Built on the 4S Keynote Framework (Strategy, Story, Structure, Style). Includes weekly live sessions (90-120 minutes), practice sessions, creation labs, and culminates in a 5-10 minute signature keynote delivery. Full enrollment €2,500 or €1,000 deposit.
• Leaders Coaching Circle 12-month exclusive learning and coaching programme for ambitious mid to senior-level female professionals seeking to make an impact and take up senior leadership roles.
• Women's Leadership Accelerator Transformational 8-week practical training designed to help women in mid-senior management break the glass ceiling and prepare for top leadership positions. Focuses on comprehensive skill development, strategic relationships, and confidence building.
• Board Apprenticeship Programme providing training, certification, and the opportunity to serve as board apprentices in the EU for an entire year. Offers hands-on experience for members seeking board positions.
• Connect2Grow Community Membership Private community of women leaders, allies and founders offering Summit & Events Library, mentoring circles, member pricing on programmes, and exclusive networking dinners across Europe. Available at monthly (€15) and annual (€150) subscription tiers.
• C-Level Collective High-impact leadership platform for senior female executives with peer advisory circles (3-5 peers, twice monthly), quarterly dinner series across European cities, executive visibility campaigns, and board/C-suite opportunity introductions. Membership at €450/year.
• Rise & Lead Summit Europe's premier leadership conference held annually in The Hague, Netherlands. Features four pillars: Leadership, Inclusion, Allyship, and AI & Future of Work. Includes workshops, panel conversations, roundtables, and the Rise & Lead Awards ceremony. Tickets from €350 to €1,200.
• Rise & Lead Awards Annual awards recognising corporate initiatives promoting gender-balanced leadership, pay parity, and parental leave. Four categories: Best Company for Women's Leadership Advancement, Inclusive Culture Award, Social Impact Award, and Pay Equity Award. Includes assessment questionnaire and Distinguished Jury evaluation.
• Women's Leadership Accelerators (Corporate) Cohort-based corporate programme for high-potential women delivered as internal cohorts with team context. Includes 6-week group programme with 1:1 check-ins, 12 months community support, and manager integration sessions. Reports 88% promotion rate within 12-18 months.
• HR & Culture Leadership Forum (Corporate Membership) 12-month executive membership for HR, Culture & Inclusion leaders. Includes quarterly executive breakfast roundtables, premium in-person events, private learning dashboard with frameworks/templates, and VIP access to Summit & Awards. Priced €295/year.
• Inclusive Leaders Forum Corporate community for DEI heads and leaders responsible for creating inclusive organisational cultures. Provides safe, judgement-free space for open DEI discussions.
• Founders Table Conference Side event at the Rise & Lead Summit for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. Includes workshops, panels, keynotes, and networking opportunities for female founders.
• Individual Membership Annual membership at €240/year offering access to weekly newsletter, career tips, free leadership seminars, 10% event discount, 6x Leadership Masterclasses, 3x group mentorship sessions, private Slack channel access, and 1:1 coaching calls.
• Individual Membership Plus Premium membership at €1,200/year including Rise to Leadership Signature Program, 2-day live Accelerated Leadership Journey training, certificate of participation, and 20% discount on Board Apprenticeship Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of Rise & Lead Accelerator participants promoted to Senior and Director levels within 12-18 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hilton Hotel The HagueminorOthers · 10 September 2026Venue partnership for annual Rise & Lead Summit and Awards. Located at Zeestraat 35, 2518 AA Den Haag. Partnership provides conference facilities for 1.5-day event with 200+ executives.
• Van Lanschot KempencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Collaboration for Pay Transparency executive roundtable addressing EU Pay Transparency Directive (June 2026). Van Lanschot Kempen provides venue at Beethovenstraat 300, Amsterdam and Reward Specialist Marie-Louise Daniëls as panellist. Partnership focuses on practical readiness and implementation discussions for senior HR leaders.
• HighbergminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Henrieke van Bommel (Capability Lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Highberg) participates as panellist in Pay Transparency roundtable. Partnership brings DEI capability building expertise.
• LinkedIn BeneluxminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 September 2024Marcel Molenaar (Country Manager & Director Marketing Solutions LinkedIn Benelux) participated as speaker at Rise & Lead Summit 2024, sharing insights on professional networking and leadership visibility.
• SER TopvrouwencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2024Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen serves as Chair of Advisory Board of SER Topvrouwen and Non-Executive Director at Siemens NL and MN. SER Topvrouwen collaboration strengthens board-level programming and governance network access.
• Cornell University ILR SchoolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 September 2024Samira Rafaela, former MEP (2019-2024) and Advisory Board Member, is Visiting Fellow at Cornell University ILR School, bringing academic credibility and international perspective to Rise & Lead programs.
• JA EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2024Diana Filip serves as Deputy CEO & Chief Development Officer at JA Europe and chairs the Board Readiness Accelerator Programme. Kristina Velkovska Dias is CFO at JA Europe. JA Europe partnership brings enterprise education network and youth development expertise.
• Chapter Zero BrusselsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2024Mercedes Sanchez Varela serves as Director Board of Directors – EU Climate Policy at Chapter Zero Brussels and Board Readiness Programme Facilitator. Partnership brings climate governance and sustainability expertise.
• Camino SDminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 September 2024Susan Danger, CEO and founder of Camino SD, serves as Board Readiness Programme Facilitator. Partnership expands network in sustainable development and social impact leadership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a membership-based professional community for women focused on career advancement, mentoring circles, and events. It operates a similar freemium-to-paid subscription model with cohort-based programming, comparable to Rise & Lead's individual membership and Connect2Grow offerings.
• International Women's Forum (IWF): IWF is a global membership organization of preeminent women leaders across sectors and geographies, offering peer learning, leadership development, and board readiness programming. It competes in the same senior-women leadership space as Rise & Lead's C-Level Collective and Board Ready Accelerator.
• 30% Club: The 30% Club campaigns to achieve 30% female representation on corporate boards and senior leadership teams, primarily in the UK and global markets. It directly overlaps with Rise & Lead Women's Board Ready Accelerator and corporate membership programmes focused on advancing women into governance roles.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global non-profit research and advisory organization advancing women in leadership through research, events, and corporate advisory. Like Rise & Lead Women, it serves both individual women and corporate HR/DEI buyers with measurable outcomes and corporate membership models.
• Forté Foundation: Forté Foundation focuses on launching women into fulfilling, significant careers in business through MBA outreach, leadership conferences, and corporate partnerships. It shares Rise & Lead Women's mission of advancing women into senior business leadership and uses a similar events-plus-community model.
• Cherie Blair Foundation for Women: The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women focuses on advancing women entrepreneurs and leaders in emerging markets through training, mentoring, and partnerships. It overlaps with Rise & Lead's Founders Table Conference and individual membership programming for female professionals.

Others

• Athena SWAN (now Gender Equality Charter): Athena SWAN is a UK/Europe framework for advancing gender equality in higher education and research, including leadership development programmes. It represents an adjacent governance and recognition framework that intersects with Rise & Lead's board-readiness and inclusive-leadership content but does not directly compete for programme enrollment.

Regional players

• European Women's Management Development Network (EWMD): EWMD is a European network of women in management offering peer circles, conferences, and leadership development programmes. It directly overlaps with Rise & Lead's European focus and female-executive peer learning model, though it operates through local chapters rather than a single founder-led brand.

Broad incumbents

• Lean In Foundation: Lean In Foundation runs Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In Circles, one of the world's largest women's leadership peer communities with 80,000+ circles globally. It overlaps with Rise & Lead Women on community-led peer learning for women professionals and corporate gender-equality programmes.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): CCL is a globally established leadership development provider offering executive education, 360-feedback, and corporate leadership programmes. It overlaps with Rise & Lead's accelerators on leadership development methodology but serves a broader, gender-neutral audience.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@riseandleadwomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riseandleadwomen
• Xx.com/riseleadwomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/riseandleadwomen

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 Rise And Lead Women