Women's Leadership Network Program Guide

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

This 6-month program is designed to create a powerful, supportive, and action-oriented community for women leaders. Based on proven methodologies of community-based and experiential learning, the program moves beyond traditional networking to foster deep, strategic connections and equip participants with the skills to navigate gender-specific leadership challenges. The core essence is building a sustainable network through structured peer learning and actionable skill development.

Strategic Benefits for Participants:

• Strategic Network Expansion: Systematically build and nurture a minimum of 10 new, high-value professional connections within and beyond the immediate cohort, creating a diverse and supportive web of peers, mentors, and sponsors.
• Enhanced Leadership Influence: Develop a stronger executive presence and communication toolkit to effectively manage up, down, and across organizations, increasing impact and gaining buy-in for ideas and initiatives.
• Confidence in Navigating Workplace Dynamics: Gain research-informed strategies to address unique challenges such as perception gaps, stereotypes, and backlash, enabling more confident career navigation and self-advocacy.
• A Sustained Community of Practice: Transition from a time-bound program into an active, self-sustaining community that provides ongoing peer support, accountability, and collaboration opportunities long after the formal program concludes.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Analysis: The primary goal is to "join a network of female leaders and establish 10 new connections." While this is a networking program, the research indicates that access to senior leaders and sponsors is a key challenge for women. A supplemental Structured Peer Mentoring layer would significantly enhance outcomes by providing a safe space for deeper relationship building, accountability, and the practical application of networking skills within the cohort itself.

Value Addition & Implementation: A peer mentoring component, embedded within the larger program, accelerates trust and connection depth. It transforms abstract "networking" into tangible, supportive relationships where participants can practice new skills, share vulnerabilities, and provide mutual guidance. This directly supports the goal of establishing meaningful, rather than superficial, connections.

• Implementation Note: In Month 1, participants will be intentionally paired or placed into small "Peer Mentoring Triads" based on complementary profiles (e.g., different industries, similar career stages, diverse functional expertise). These triads will have guided agendas for their monthly meetings, aligned with the core program modules, focusing on goal-setting, skill practice, and progress checks on their external networking targets.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Program to Month 1)

• ✓ Define & Communicate: Finalize program branding, success metrics, and participant value proposition.
• ✓ Participant Recruitment & Selection: Develop clear criteria to ensure a diverse cohort. Conduct short intake interviews to align expectations.
• ✓ Cohort Onboarding: Host a virtual kickoff event to build initial rapport, communicate program structure, and introduce the Peer Mentoring Triads.
• ✓ Tool Deployment: Set up all selected software platforms (see Section 4) and provide participant training.
• ✓ Baseline Assessment: Distribute pre-program surveys to gauge confidence levels, current network size, and leadership challenges.

Tracking & Operations (Months 1-6)

• Monthly Rhythm:
  • Week 1: Deliver core module content (e.g., webinar, curated resources via LMS).
  • Week 2: Facilitate small-group discussion or workshop based on the module.
  • Week 3: Peer Mentoring Triads meet using provided discussion guides.
  • Week 4: "Network Expansion Action" – Participants report on one external connection made or attend a program-facilitated guest speaker session.
• Administration: Use the ERG/LMS platform to track attendance, resource access, and submission of simple connection logs. Program manager hosts monthly "Office Hours" for Q&A.

Success Measurement

• Quantitative KPIs:
  • Participant achievement of establishing 10+ new connections (tracked via simple connection logs).
  • 85%+ program completion rate.
  • 90%+ participant satisfaction (post-program survey).
  • Number of active Peer Mentoring Triad meetings held.
• Qualitative Feedback Mechanisms:
  • Mid-point Check-in Surveys: Gauge confidence in networking skills and perceived value of connections.
  • Final Participant Interviews: A subset of participants provide deep feedback on relationship quality and career impact.
  • Post-Program (3 & 6 months): Follow-up survey to measure network durability and ongoing community engagement.

4. Approved Tools List

• ERG Program Software / Internal Social Network: This is the primary tool. It is ideal for hosting a private community for the cohort, facilitating discussions, announcing events, and allowing members to share profiles and connect directly. It centralizes community interaction beyond formal sessions.
• LMS (Learning Management System): Essential for content delivery. Used to host all recorded sessions, curated articles, discussion guides for Peer Mentoring Triads, and actionable worksheets (e.g., networking strategy templates). Allows for tracking participant progress through content.
• Personality Test (Supplemental): A tool like a communication or working styles assessment can be used once during the program to help Peer Mentoring Triads understand each other's styles and improve collaboration effectiveness. It should be framed as a tool for self-awareness and team dynamics, not a labeling exercise.

Justification: The ERG/Social Network tool directly enables the core goal of connection and community building. The LMS provides the necessary structure for the "program" aspect, ensuring consistent, scalable content delivery and a repository for resources. The personality tool is optional but can accelerate trust-building within the small groups.

5. Resource & Content Library

General Program Content

• Module 1: The Foundation of Strategic Networking
  • Article: "Building Your Strategic Network: A Framework for Women Leaders"
  • Worksheet: "Network Mapping Exercise: Identifying Gaps and Opportunities"
  • Video: "Moving Beyond Transactional Networking to Building Authentic Advocacy"
• Module 2: Executive Presence & Communicating with Authority
  • Guide: "Claiming Your Space: Vocal Presence and Body Language for Influence"
  • Case Study: Examples of effective "managing up" communications.
  • Workshop Activity: Peer feedback on a 90-second personal pitch.
• Module 3: Navigating Gender Dynamics & Building Resilience
  • Research Summary: "Understanding and Countering Stereotype Threat & Backlash"
  • Article: "The Power of Sponsorship vs. Mentorship"
  • Discussion Guide: "Strategies for Challenging Assumptions in the Workplace"
• Module 4: Sustaining Your Network & Paying It Forward
  • Toolkit: "Maintaining Low-Effort, High-Impact Connections"
  • Template: "Creating a Personal Board of Advisors"
  • Guide: "How to Be a Connector and Sponsor for Other Women"

Supplemental Mentoring Content Table

To be used by the Peer Mentoring Triads in their monthly meetings.