Peer Advisory Forums for Women Executives

We focus on span of control/responsibility over titles. Members are typically VP and above in their companies, manage staff or key functions, and have strategic roles. All members come with a growth mindset – open to learning from others as well as providing value themselves.

Membership is by invitation only. Prospective members fill out an application and pay a non-refundable application fee to hold their seat during the application process. We screen for three main criteria: 1) competitive conflict with other members (forums are a non-compete environment), 2) Growth mindset and authenticity, and 3) capacity (whether there are seats available). The final decision whether to extend an invitation to a prospective member rests with current Forum members.

Forum membership is an annual commitment. Our retention rate from year to year is over 80%, with most members staying in a forum an average of 3-5 years.

We cap forum membership at 14, and generally have an average of 10-12 members at any given time. This allows members to get the benefit of a wide variety of perspectives while still making time for deep connections. Once we reach 14 members, we build a waiting list of applicants for upcoming seats. The invitation-only membership approach ensures executives are from non-competing businesses.

Forum membership is on an annual dues basis. Most members’ companies cover the cost of forum membership as a part of leadership development and support and are happy to renew year after year. Members may pay for membership annually or in quarterly installments.

Annual forum membership includes:

• 11* professionally facilitated monthly meetings, including continuing education opportunities, and real-time issue processing
• Lumina Spark™, psychometric leadership assessment
• An annual retreat**, designed to maximize interaction, forge deeper relationships, and explore in-depth strategic topics
• 2 intensive, structured, and professionally facilitated opportunities annually to dive deep into a pressing business issue, including pre- and post-session individual coaching to ensure focus and impact
• Access to EWF’s alumni community of female executives and business owners

*The 12th meeting occurs during the annual retreat
**Retreat costs are shared pro-rata by members (each Forum decides their retreat location and budget)

We’ve been honing our structured process for 20 years. Forums meet once a month. Each meeting includes member updates and accountability, a professional development component, and as well as real-world, real-time strategizing with members. Strategy sessions fall on a rotating basis, with each member having opportunities throughout the year to strategize with the group.

The issues vary greatly. A few examples are navigating a merger or acquisition, transforming cultures, how to sell difficult ideas to other executives, career navigation and advancement, dealing with perceptual challenges, strategic market opportunities, reorganizations, staff development, succession planning, and the like.

Absolutely. Trust and confidentiality are cornerstones for EWF Forums. We take both very seriously. All members sign confidentiality agreements before they become full members, and we reaffirm commitments to confidentiality in every forum meeting.

Not primarily. Forums are focused on helping female executives tackle their real-world challenges and go deep on the issues and opportunities they’re facing. It’s useful to think of Forums as an informal board of directors who act as strategic sounding boards, support, and accountability partners for each other. Members form deep bonds that lead to lifetime friendships and often professional relationships as well. Over 80% of forum members report that they’ve done business together in some form.

Forums combine deep, authentic relationships with outcome focus, helping members get the support they need to achieve greater personal and professional success. If you’re looking for a true peer group of like-minded, accomplished women executives to help challenge, support, and grow you both personally and professionally, an executive forum is a good fit.

Our in-person forums are only available in the DFW Metroplex. Our virtual forums are open to women from any geography. We have additional plans to expand into other markets in the coming years. If you’re outside the Dallas area and are interested in joining a Forum in your area, contact us to learn more about where we’re going next.