Pennsylvania Conference for Women

What Pennsylvania Conference for Women does

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes an annual professional development conference for women, founded in 2003 and operating as a regional node under the Conferences for Women (CFW) umbrella. CFW describes itself as the largest network of women's conferences in the United States, with regional events in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas, plus a national virtual conference. The 22nd annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women was held September 25-26, 2025, drawing nearly 9,000 attendees, and the 2026 conference is scheduled for November 5, 2026 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Programming spans leadership, career, and wellbeing tracks delivered through keynotes, breakout sessions, CareerWorks services (resume reviews, career coaching, professional headshots), the Women Amplified podcast, the Career Connections Program, and the annual CFW Work & Wellbeing Report.

The organization generates revenue through two primary streams: individual ticket sales (Early Bird $445, Standard $545, VIP $699; tables of 10 at $4,450-$6,990) and a tiered corporate sponsorship program ranging from Community Partner through Presenting Sponsor, anchored by Merck at the presenting level and Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, Fidelity Investments, and Target as Champion Sponsors. Year-round engagement is delivered through a website content hub, email newsletter, podcast, mobile app, and the virtual National Conference, which is bundled with every in-person PA ticket at no additional cost. Customer segments include individual professional women at all career stages, executive women and senior leaders serving as mentors, and corporate employers seeking employee engagement and diversity branding. The organization operates with a lean 1-10 employee team and an independent board structure led by Founding Board President Leslie Stiles. No proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

Pennsylvania Conference for Women

Legal name

Conferences for Women

Website

https://paconferenceforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that organizes an annual professional development conference for women, drawing nearly 9,000 attendees and operating under the Conferences for Women umbrella. Revenue derives from individual ticket sales and tiered corporate sponsorships led by Merck.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Professional Development Conferences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Professional Organizations (813920), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Women's professional development
• Leadership conferences
• Career networking events
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Wellbeing workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual tickets and table purchases for annual in-person conferences. Includes Early Bird, Standard, and VIP tiers. Ticket prices range from $445 to $699 per individual, with table purchases of 10 ranging from $4,450 to $6,990.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship program with Presenting, Champion, Corporate, Patron, Contributor, Advocate, Community Partner, and Media Partner levels. Sponsors gain brand visibility at the conference and engagement with attendees throughout the year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women organizes and operates an annual in-person professional development conference in Philadelphia, along with a complementary virtual National Conference, offering keynotes, breakout sessions, career services, and networking for women professionals. The organization also delivers year-round engagement through a podcast, career coaching services, a career connections program, and content resources under the Conferences for Women (CFW) nonprofit umbrella.

Product overview

Pennsylvania Conference for Women operates a portfolio of in-person and virtual conference events focused on professional development, leadership, and personal empowerment for women. The core offerings include the annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women (in-person event in Philadelphia) and the National Conference for Women (virtual), supplemented by the CareerWorks career services program, the Women Amplified podcast, the CFW App for attendee engagement, and the Career Connections Program for ongoing networking. The company also publishes the annual CFW Work & Wellbeing Report. The portfolio functions as a unified event-based service rather than a software platform, with individual products being distinct conference experiences and associated resources rather than integrated modules of a single platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pennsylvania Conference for Women (In-Person) Annual in-person professional development conference held in Philadelphia featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, networking, CareerWorks services, and programming across career, leadership, and wellbeing tracks for women professionals at all career stages.
• National Conference for Women (Virtual) Virtual conference experience featuring on-demand and live keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking with professionals nationwide. Included complimentary with in-person Pennsylvania Conference tickets.
• Women Amplified Podcast Year-round podcast featuring interviews and inspiration for professional women covering leadership, career growth, and personal development topics, extending engagement beyond the annual conference.
• Career Connections Program Year-round career development program connecting women with networking opportunities and professional resources beyond the annual event.
• CareerWorks Complimentary career services offered during conference events including 1-on-1 career coaching, resume reviews, and professional headshots.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered sponsorship program with Presenting, Champion, Corporate, Patron, Contributor, Advocate, Community Partner, and Media Partner levels providing corporate brand visibility, employee engagement opportunities, and access to nearly 9,000 professional women attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~9,000 attendees at annual conference, with conference running for 22 consecutive years

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• MerckflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. Merck provides flagship sponsorship supporting the conference's mission to empower women through professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion Sponsor supporting the conference. Bank of America's sponsorship aligns with their commitment to supporting women's professional advancement and economic empowerment.
• Bristol Myers SquibbcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion Sponsor of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, supporting women's health and professional development initiatives.
• Fidelity InvestmentscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion Sponsor supporting the conference and women's financial wellness and professional development.
• TargetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion Sponsor of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, supporting women's professional development.
• AstraZenecacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Sponsor supporting the conference's initiatives for women's professional empowerment.
• ComcastcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Sponsor of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women.
• Jefferson UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Sponsor and venue partner. Jefferson University serves as home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College and supports the conference's educational mission.
• 6ABC/WPVIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner providing press coverage and visibility for the conference through local broadcast media.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lean In: Nonprofit advancing women in leadership through Circles, education, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as an adjacent women's professional empowerment organization but not a direct event competitor.
• Catalyst: Nonprofit focused on workplace gender equity research, advisory, and events. Operates in the same women's professional advancement space but emphasizes corporate consulting and research rather than large-scale consumer conferences.
• AnitaB.org: Nonprofit supporting women in computing through programs and the Grace Hopper Celebration. Adjacent women's professional development organization with overlapping enterprise sponsors but focused on the tech vertical.

Emerging players

• Women in Technology International (WITI): Membership-based organization hosting summits and networking events for women in technology. Comparable as a professional women's conference operator, though narrower in its tech-industry focus.
• Ellevate Network: Digital-first women's professional networking community offering year-round mentorship, local meetups, and career resources. Competes indirectly by providing always-on engagement that complements or substitutes for annual conference attendance.

Direct peers

• California Conference for Women: Direct peer under CFW, delivering the same women's professional development conference format in California. Operates with shared content, sponsors, and organizational infrastructure, making it a near-identical comparable.
• Massachusetts Conference for Women: Direct sister event under CFW, hosting the same annual conference model in Massachusetts. Comparable in pricing, sponsorship tiers, programming structure, and audience targeting.
• Texas Conference for Women: Sister regional event under the Conferences for Women umbrella, operating with the same model, sponsors, and content playbook but serving the Texas market. This is the closest comparable as it shares staff, brand, and operating infrastructure.
• National Conference for Women: CFW's virtual national event bundled with each PA ticket. Highly comparable as it shares brand, audience, and sponsors but delivers the conference in a fully virtual format, expanding reach beyond regional geography.

Broad incumbents

• Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit: Premier invitation-only women's leadership conference produced by Fortune. Targets a more senior executive audience with broader corporate sponsorship appeal, making it a broad incumbent in the women's professional conference space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-conference-for-women

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 Pennsylvania Conference for Women