Cohort 5 Will Begin September 18, 2024 | Secure Your Acceptance - Apply Now! >>
Women Who Mean Business
Women Who Mean Business is an executive leadership development program for high-achievers in rising leadership roles eager to accelerate their careers. || Begins September 18, 2024
How Female Leaders Tackle Today’s Business Challenges
Tackling the challenges of today’s business environment demands that female leaders bring every tool and resource they have to the table. Human capital is critical, and no organization can succeed in an ever-changing business climate without its best talent at-the-ready. And yet recent events have heightened the already daunting challenge of developing and retaining our best female leaders. Women Who Mean Business is designed specifically to arm already successful leaders with the tools and perspectives they need to not only stay and thrive in the workplace but to achieve their full potential.
Cohort 5 Session Dates || Session 1: September 18-19 | Session 2: November 21-22 | Session 3: January 23-24 | Session 4: April 3-4
I've literally never been in a group of women like this before. It has been inspiring and it actually feels like a place where I belong.
Program Overview
Taught by two CEOs and University of Texas McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame honorees, Gay Gaddis and Lynn Utter, the program brings Gaddis’s entrepreneurial background and Utter’s corporate experience together for a comprehensive leadership program for rapid career advancement.
Four Sessions with One Goal : Rise with Confidence
Consisting of four, two-day hands-on sessions conducted over a six-month timeframe, the program offers real-world experiences and the tools needed to rise to the top.
It's unique and empowering. You find a group of women who you can relate to, learn from, and contribute to as well.
How It Works
-
4 Sessions
2-Days Per Session -
Program Duration
6 Months to Complete -
Cohort Size
Limited to 40 Participants -
Completion
Verifiable Social Badge with Certificate of Completion -
Apply or Nominate
Apply or Nominate a Rising Leader in Your Organization -
Model
Instructor-led, In-Person
Advice From Our Participants
-
Make Connections
"I want all the female bosses I know to complete this program. The specific time to set aside for learning is so necessary for growth. I feel like I have a core group of connections I could reach out to in any moment personally or professionally for support, and that is the impactful value of this program!" -
Push Yourself
"This program really has helped me to think a lot about where I am and where I'm going in my career while giving me perspective I otherwise would never have gained. I'd recommend for any woman who wants to take the next step to push herself towards both self-discovery and professional potential." -
Get Inspired
"This is the first time I have ever been in a room of such accomplished, ambitious women. It's really inspiring - not just all the presenters (who have been fantastic), but also the cohort of women. The topics are really relevant to my work and this program has really made me sit down and think about what I really want to get out of life."
Download the Brochure
-
Who Should Apply
Women Who Mean Business is designed for high potential leaders who have a track record of success. The ideal candidate has 10 to 20 years of business experience.
Our Strongest Applicants Are...
-
Mid- and Senior-Level Managers
Mid- and senior-level managers who aspire to positions of greater influence and authority in their organizations -
10+ Years Leadership Experience
Rising leaders with 10-20 years of business experience who currently lead teams or have direct reports. -
High-Potential Talent
Those identified as high-potential talent by their organizations -
Rising Leaders
Rising leaders that work for corporations, nonprofits, the military and government agencies -
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs and business owners -
Successful
High potential leaders who have a track record of success.
Program Highlights
Explore how to use your power, strengthen your influence, and transform your leadership skills and career trajectory.
Overview
The Course is taught in-person at the University of Texas AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin, Texas, and participants will be expected to arrive in time for dinner Thursday evening and will depart after each session ends mid-Friday afternoon. Participants will be expected to stay on-site, with one overnight stay each session, and will have homework exercises to complete between sessions.
Harness Your Superpowers
Increase self-awareness and confidence, and instill personal accountability for your professional growth.
Topics
- Self-Awareness and Personality Types
- Building Your Personal Brand: What Makes You Unique and Authentic?
- Team Dynamics – Diversity and Shoring up Blind Spots
- Networking (Beyond the Cocktail Party; Currency and Coinage)
- Cultivating Your Personal Board of Directors
- Goal Setting (Again, and Again)
Create Value
Elevate your understanding of what it means to create value in a professional context.
Topics
- Value Creation
- Big Changes to Big Things
- Adaptability and Innovation
- Negotiation
- Professional Risk Taking and Ambition
- Decision Making
- Power: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
- Building Your Team: Courage and Compassion
Control Your Destiny
Build your personal development plan and a process for self-renewal.
Topics
- Build Trust
- Building a Kick Ass Culture
- Mentors, Sponsors, and Circles
- Know Thyself (Personal Values)
- Personal Risk Taking
- Having It All: Designing Your Life
Build Your Executive Presence
Probe the opportunity to build and leverage your executive presence in a modern context embracing diversity and inclusion.
Topics
- Executive Presence
- Understanding Bias
- Walking away from F.U.D. (fear, uncertainty and doubt)
- Grit and Perseverance
- Opting In (-or- the Cost of Opting Out)
97% Net Promoter Score
Women Who Mean Business received a 97% NPS from past participants surveyed about their experience in the program.
Meet Your Instructors
-
Gay Gaddis
Founder of T3, formerly the largest female-owned digital agency in U.S., best-selling author of Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business & Life, and celebrated artist. Gay Gaddis shares her grit, resilience, and perseverance through her entrepreneurial efforts empowering women worldwide. -
LYNN UTTER
Former CEO and a Fortune 500 board member Lynn Utter, offers a unique perspective on how to successfully create value and ascend to the c-suite as a female executive. Lynn is committed to helping rising women accelerate their careers by sharing her real-world corporate experiences and skills.
-
Learn and Recharge in Austin, TX
The program is held on the beautiful campus of the University of Texas at the AT&T Executive Education Center, located in the heart of downtown Austin.
-
Accommodations
Located on the edge of The University of Texas at Austin campus, the AT&T Hotel & Executive Education and Conference Center is a state-of-the-art facility that offers Texas Executive Education participants a comfortable and convenient location to learn and stay during their program.
Session Dates & Program Cost
Join forces with McCombs School of Business to prepare for a successful transition to senior leadership.
Program Dates
The program consists of four, two-day hands-on sessions conducted over a six-month timeframe.
Session Dates for Cohort 5:
Session 1: September 18-19
Session 2: November 21-22
Session 3: January 23-24
Session 4: April 3-4 (reunion on April 3rd)
Cost
The Women Who Mean Business Program costs $8,350.
Course Completion
CEU/CPE Credit
Participants earn 1.4 CEUs and/or 14 CPEs for this course. A certificate of completion will be presented from Texas Executive Education.
Certificate Course Credits
1.00
100% Participation Policy
One of the cornerstones of the Women Who Mean Business program is the network we build within each Cohort offering support throughout and beyond our time together. Every session includes time to reflect, discuss and build trust with a Circle of participants within your Cohort. When a participant is not present, their Circle and Cohort suffers. Therefore, to be respectful of your fellow participates, we require 100% participation in every session to graduate and receive a certificate. Session materials can be found on Canvas following each session, but sessions cannot be made up at a later date.
Reunion
All WWMB participants will be invited to register for a Reunion after program completion. This 1-day, immersive experience offers a chance to continue learning and reconnect with past WWMB graduates. Learn More >>
Applications for Cohort 5 Are Now Open!
Employer Reimbursement
Sample Justification Email/Letter
Dear [YOUR MANAGER'S NAME],
I would like your approval to attend Women Who Mean Business, an immersive program for rising leaders. The program consists of four, two-day hands-on sessions over a six-month timeframe (Sep 6-7, 2023; Nov 30-Dec 1, 2023; Jan 25-26, 2024; and Apr 4-5, 2024). Taught by two CEOs and University of Texas McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame winners, Gay Gaddis and Lynn Utter, the program brings entrepreneurial skills and corporate experiences together for a comprehensive leadership program for rapid career advancement. This program will offer me real-world experiences and the tools needed to dramatically improve the [ADD YOUR PRODUCTS/SERVICES] we deliver and how we work internally.
This class is in-person and interactive at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. It will include lectures, small group exercises, key speakers, and networking events as well as a McCombs School of Business certificate of completion.
Topics will include:
● Value Creation
● Difficult Decisions
● Risk-Taking
● Adaptability and Innovation
● Negotiation
● Power Dynamics
● Team Building
● Understanding Bias and Intentional Inclusion
● Executive Presence
● Grit and Perseverance
● Self-awareness and Personal Development Planning
After each session, I will be able to share tangible takeaways and learnings with our whole team. Additionally, I will be able to use these sessions to focus on strategies to grow our business and/or contribute to the profitability of the company.
Additionally, Women Who Mean Business isn't just for emerging corporate executives. The program is also designed for entrepreneurs to offer a cross-pollination of ideas while networking on future innovations. I'm excited to apply our principles of [**ADD YOUR CURRENT CORPORATE INITIATIVE HERE**]
The total cost to attend this six-month program is detailed below:
● Program Registration: $8,350
● Travel: [INSERT AMOUNT]
● Hotel: [INSERT AMOUNT]
● Meals: [INSERT ESTIMATE **Lunches & dinners during sessions included in Registration Fee]
● TOTAL: [SUM OF ABOVE]
You can learn more about the program here [link inserted here].
Thanks for taking the time to review this request. I look forward to talking to you about it.
Regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Curriculum
4 Sessions, One Goal: Rise with Confidence.
HARNESS YOUR SUPERPOWERS
Objective: Increase self-awareness and confidence, and instill personal accountability for your professional growth.
Topics
- Self-Awareness and Personality Types
- Building Your Personal Brand: What Makes You Unique and Authentic?
- Team Dynamics – Diversity and Shoring up Blind Spots
- Networking (Beyond the Cocktail Party; Currency and Coinage)
- Cultivating Your Personal Board of Directors
- Goal Setting (Again, and Again)
DELIVER THE GOODS
Objective: Elevate your understanding of what it means to create value in a professional context.
Topics
- Value Creation
- Big Changes to Big Things
- Adaptability and Innovation
- Negotiation
- Professional Risk Taking and Ambition
- Decision Making
- Power: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
- Building Your Team: Courage and Compassion
BUILD YOUR EXECUTIVE PRESENCE
Objective: Probe the opportunity to build and leverage your executive presence in a modern context embracing diversity and inclusion.
Topics
- Executive Presence
- Understanding Bias
- Walking away from F.U.D. (fear, uncertainty and doubt)
- Grit and Perseverance
- Opting In (-or- the Cost of Opting Out)
CHANNEL YOUR AMBITION
Objective: Build your personal development plan and a process for self-renewal.
Topics
- Build Trust
- Building a Kick-Ass Culture
- Mentors, Sponsors, and Circles
- Know Thyself (Personal Values)
- Personal Risk-Taking
- Having It All: Designing Your Life
Sample Session Schedule
View a sample of the session schedules and see what is covered during the program. The schedule is subject to change.
Schedule is subject to change
SESSION 1
Day 1
5:30 pm: Registration
6:00 pm: Networking Social Hour
7:00 pm: Dinner with Keynote Speaker
9:00 pm: Cohort Check-Ins
Day 2
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Classroom discussions on a specific topic:
- Frameworks, Experiences, and Discussions
- Small Group Exercises
- Breakout Sessions
Lunch: Speed Networking with McCombs Hall of Fame Recipients
2:00 pm: “Off the Record” | Closed-Door Conversations with Notable Keynote Speaker
3:00 pm: Departure
SESSION 2
Day 1
5:30 pm: Registration
6:00 pm: Networking Social Hour
7:00 pm: Dinner with Keynote Speaker
9:00 pm: Cohort Check-Ins
Day 2
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Classroom discussions on a specific topic:
- Frameworks, Experiences, and Discussions
- Small Group Exercises
- Breakout Sessions
Lunch: Speed Networking with McCombs Hall of Fame Recipients
2:00 pm: “Off the Record” | Closed-Door Conversations with Notable Keynote Speaker
3:00 pm: Departure
SESSION 3
Day 1
5:30 pm: Registration
6:00 pm: Networking Social Hour
7:00 pm: Dinner with Keynote Speaker
9:00 pm: Cohort Check-Ins
Day 2
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Classroom discussions on a specific topic:
- Frameworks, Experiences, and Discussions
- Small Group Exercises
- Breakout Sessions
Lunch: Speed Networking with McCombs Hall of Fame Recipients
2:00 pm: “Off the Record” | Closed-Door Conversations with Notable Keynote Speaker
3:00 pm: Departure
SESSION 4
Day 1
5:30 pm: Registration
6:00 pm: Networking Social Hour
7:00 pm: Dinner with Keynote Speaker
9:00 pm: Cohort Check-Ins
Day 2
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Classroom discussions on a specific topic:
- Frameworks, Experiences, and Discussions
- Small Group Exercises
- Breakout Sessions
Lunch: Speed Networking with McCombs Hall of Fame Recipients
2:00 pm: “Off the Record” | Closed-Door Conversations with Notable Keynote Speaker
3:00 pm: Departure
CEU/CPE Credits
Download Reimbursement Kit
Click here to download the WWMB Reimbursement Kit
Earn a Badge
We offer digital badges upon completion of the Women Who Mean Business program. Once you complete this program, you'll earn a digital badge you can showcase on your LinkedIn profile to verify your skills and achievement.
Have Questions?
Feel free to contact us with any questions about this program.