Carolyn Childers’ Post

The business landscape has changed rapidly over the past year, and yet the percentage of Fortune 500 companies with women CEOs has remained stagnant at 10.4% (https://lnkd.in/e2jiVPQS ). Similarly, the percentage of US corporate board seats held by women has stalled at a little under 30% (https://lnkd.in/e8TQQsxB).   This lack of growth and gender diversity is concerning... but not insurmountable. It simply underscores the importance of providing the tools and resources women leaders need to advance their careers.    As a part of this, we're striving every day at Chief to help members reach their individual leadership goals through a customizable membership experience, curated networking events and educational workshops, and hands-on support.    I encourage my network to continue showing up for women leaders, and I hope that next year we see more companies with women at the helm!  

Five years ago, Lindsay Kaplan and I launched Chief out of a small NYC apartment. We heard a lot of nos in those early days. People asked, “Why do women need something like this?” I couldn’t even get a lawyer to agree to let us pay them to work with us. The irony of these reactions was not lost on us. Perceptions like these have consistently held women back in the workforce, and they’re part of what we wanted to address with Chief. But I’d be lying if I said we never felt defeated. And yet, there was one group who continued to say yes — who kept us going through it all. It started with tens, then hundreds, and then thousands of women executives looking for a community of people who just “get it” — reaching the executive level when the odds are stacked against you, being the “only” in the room, and navigating the pressures of a business landscape that’s constantly changing. Now, five years later, Chief has become the largest community of women executives in the U.S. Our mission is to help members be the best leaders they can be. They’ve already reached incredible heights in their careers, and we want to maximize their impact — on their professional growth, on the company and teams they’re leading, and on future generations of leaders. Today, we’re taking a big step toward that mission by introducing a new Chief experience that members can customize based on where they are on their leadership journey. This includes: >> New membership packages — Executive Education, Executive Coaching, Executive Advisory — so they can choose the leadership development format that works for them.  >> New community experiences spanning one-day conferences, Professional Chapter gatherings, and bespoke events. >> A dedicated Concierge team to support and guide them to the most relevant resources at any point in their membership. Exceptional leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all — and neither are we. Learn more at: www.chief.com

Very excited to see many of you at today’s ChiefX Atlanta event! Read on below for what's in store. Not able to join us? Check out our full lineup of ChiefX events here: https://lnkd.in/efu3HBP7

What a real Chief would say.

I’m incredibly excited to kick off ChiefX for its second year–and looking forward to seeing many of you at today’s ChiefX's Miami event! Learn more about ChiefX Miami below, then check out our full lineup of ChiefX events in nine cities here: https://lnkd.in/efu3HBP7

It's Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and I’m so excited to celebrate the incredible API leaders in the Chief community! Congratulations on your recent career milestones, and thank you for being part of Chief!

Today, Chief released new data from our New Era of Leadership report on how C-Suite executives are thinking about DEI investments and taking a stand on social issues. The report has a wealth of interesting findings including that the vast majority of executives plan to continue investing in DEI this year and believe taking a public stand on a current issue poses more risk for their company than staying silent (despite the surmounting pressure from stakeholders to do so).   Find our full set of insights here: https://lnkd.in/g8w4S9H5  

Our Roundtable series returns this week with a deep dive into talent development strategies that stand the test of challenging times.   Chief Members: Join us for a conversation on fostering a culture of continuous learning at your organization, even amid rapid change. Lifelong learning is an absolutely critical skill for executives across all functions — we’re so excited to bring the Chief community together to discuss this important topic.   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/grTybsjN  

Just a few days left until our next LinkedIn Live event, “Drive Innovation for Better Decision-Making”!     Join my Chief Co-Founder Lindsay Kaplan, along with Stephanie Crase Moritz, Chief Customer Innovation Officer, American Dental Association, and Tracy Lee, CEO, This Dot, for what’s sure to be a powerful conversation on cultivating a culture of innovation in a rapidly evolving business landscape.   Register here: https://lnkd.in/eEJu_qr4