Women’s Leadership Circles
A Transformative Group Coaching Experience
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”
– Melinda Gates
This program is a response to the growing complexity and challenges surrounding women’s advancement into senior leadership positions. The internal and external barriers that women have to navigate are coming at a great cost. Tackling this pervasive issue requires a deeper and more novel approach.
Through a unique facilitated process and program design, Women’s Leadership Circles empower participants to surface unconscious biases, manifest new possibilities, and implement personalized strategies that produce meaningful and sustainable results. To accelerate this work, we use the Enneagram to determine each participant’s core personality “type” and the strengths, patterns and areas of potential development. Among other content, together we explore the essential developmental topics of mindfulness, inner critic, creative expression, and wholehearted leadership.
The program’s aim is to enable women to achieve more fulfilling leadership and work experiences. When this happens, organizations reap the rewards that come from these women’s heightened contributions. The ultimate gain is a work environment that is inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and fosters well-being.
The Women’s Leadership Circles (WLC) – a 6 month group coaching program – and the formation of the larger WLC community are a core part of Ipek’s coaching and consulting focus.
To find the WLC programs currently available please visit the WLC Global Website
The Women’s Leadership Circles Alumni Program (WLCA) – Building on the work of the WLC program, the WLC Alumni program supports women in continuing their development through immersive experiences at creative meeting locations to evoke the aesthetic sensibilities. Enrollment details are shared directly with WLC Alumni.
Ipek’s latest interview published in Forbes: “Women Business Leaders: Why So Few And How To Have More”
TESTIMONIALS FROM COHORT PARTICIPANTS
“We enter the WLC as single, individual female executives, and, over the course of six months, we become an empowered, inspired, more self-aware and even larger, bonded and multiple-minded being with the strength to achieve. Warmest Thanks, Ipek.” Mona, Group Medical Director, Biotech Company
“WLC is an amazing program and Ipek does a wonderful job facilitating a discovery of yourself as a leader. The community of women that join truly become a tribe that you can count on in this journey. I highly recommend WLC to anyone looking to expand their leadership style in a supportive community environment. You will get out of it more than you can expect.” Zeryn, Vice President Human Resources, Biotech Company
“WLC embraces the power of women leaders to engage in frank dialogues about challenges in the workplace, including gender stereotypes / unconscious bias. I learned about myself and opportunities to continue to grow as a leader. I embraced new ideas that will enable me to realize my full potential as a woman leader.” Michelle, Senior Director, Technology Company
“WLC is a power program connecting women, their challenges, and their deeper purpose. WLC is a truly transformational experience that empowers every participant to be a better leader.” Mary, Entrepreneur
“My WLC experience has transformed me and my life. This leadership program is unlike any other. I am so thankful to Ipek and is consulting for making this possible. Thank You!!” Keady, Senior Manager Quality, Biotech Company
“The WLC has been a journey toward finding my own inner peace and strength. It has given me an amazing community of peers to inspire me, and a power to change the world.” Raashina, Director of Engineering, Biotech Company
“WLC is by far the most beautiful development program I’ve attended. I learned so much from Ipek’s stories and facilitation, as well as from my peers. This community provided the space for me to learn, share, develop and transform myself exponentially as a female leader who is now more confident to do what I previously feared.” Joan, Head of Manufacturing, Biotech Company
“I am an incredible fan of the WLC program, and would recommend it to any woman leader seeking to accelerate her leadership advancement. The well planned 6-month program provided just the right mix of one-on-one personal coaching and group sessions, as well as a curriculum that intertwined both scientific and creative methodologies. The end result is a personalized experience that provides busy leaders the luxury of purposeful time, dedicated to self reflection and growth. Immediate benefits include realigning on professional aspirations and personal goals, and discovering new ways to demonstrate leadership within my organization. I feel energized by the WLC program, and feel energized for emerging leadership prospects moving forward.”
“WLC is ostensibly an empowerment program to help women achieve more fulfilling leadership and work experiences. It is this, yet it is also so much more — as it provides a source of newfound energy, friendships and strength. Ipek is one of a kind and a true champion of women.” – Nancy, Director, Biotech Company
“The WLC was an incredible journey of self-exploration and self-understanding. I was a bit of a skeptic of the WLC when I first entered the program but with further exposure to Ipek’s techniques and insights I have seen tangible changes in my sense of self and I now have a more fully crystallized leadership vision.”
“The WLC has been a unique leadership program – unlike the more didactic programs to which we are more typically exposed, I have been able to more fully incorporate and put to use the skills that I have gained. As a result, the program has been the most effective at inducing long lasting improvements in my leadership approach.”
“The WLC program opened my eyes to new ways of experiencing both work and my personal life by focusing less on my head instincts and more on my heart and body intelligence. During the 6 month journey of personal coaching and group sessions, I grew as a more authentic leader, more centered wife and mother and made some great new friends in the GNE community.”
“The WLC session has empowered me to be more confident and present in the moment, allowing me to connect more with my team and peers to enhance my leadership skills. I was able to tap into what is truly important to me and focus on bringing that forward in my personal and professional life.”
“WLC is a very insightful series of coaching sessions. Being more prepared and open-minded to each session will get you more.”
“Joining WLC has provided a safe environment to discuss, develop and share leadership experiences.”
“Being part of WLC has been an amazing experience. It has allowed me to better understand my own strengths, skills, and emotions, and leverage these as unique opportunities to lead teams, develop myself, develop others and show up as a grounded authentic female leader. In addition WLC has connected me with many truly outstanding women in a safe, open and instantly trusting environment that made us all share easily and develop fast and lasting connections.” – Christiane , VP Medical Affairs, Biotech Company
“I joined a WLC group because I wanted help and guidance with a professional transition. I left with so much more. With the help of this Circle, I left with: a written description of what I need in my next job, a commitment to forming personal circles with other women in my lives (these have given me inspiration and expanded my sense of connectedness in life), and a stronger ability to know what I need and to ask for it in my relationships — work and personal. I am a better person because of my experience with WLC.” – Kim Weiss, Founder and CEO, Technology Company
“Through my experience with WLC, I became more comfortable with who I am as a leader and how I want to be with my team. As a more authentic leader, I am able to be vulnerable and openly show how much I care to my team. As a result, they can be their best and deliver results beyond what we thought possible.” – Rebecca Vermeulen, Head Medical Liaison, Biotech Company
“Through the work with WLC, I have come to better understand myself, my motivators and my values both professionally and personally. This has changed my experience and approach both at home and at work for the better.”
“WLC was a really wonderful experience and I feel so lucky to have been chosen as a participant. The program has a unique affect by causing you to look at your leadership strengths from the inside-out rather than the traditional outside-in approach.”
“The WLC program was an incredible journey in discovering who I am, what my gifts are and how to make an impact both personally and professionally using these gifts.”
“New leadership concepts that help me to sharpen my leadership ability from the inside out.”
“Join WLC with an open heart and open mind. Much of what you think you see will become an optical illusion. Soon you will discover new and deeper truths about yourself and the beauty that surrounds you. Take hold of this new superpower as it will change your life!”
“While I was skeptical at first, this is an incredibly powerful, insightful and transformative journey for all people in leadership! So very worth the time and energy. Loved it.”
“It has been a transformative, emotional, personal journey for me this past six months. For those thinking about the WLC for the first time, I would say be open to the possibilities, embrace the opportunity, and trust the process. You will be amazed at the results.”
“Trust in the journey – it can be transformational if you are open to it. You will learn about your tendencies, understand you have other options, be more present, and bring more authenticity to your leadership – which will enrich your career satisfaction as well as your team’s satisfaction.”
“The WLC program will give you a better understanding of yourself from the inside-out. It will also help you empathize with those on your team in a much deeper and more nuanced way.”
“You will learn how to overcome the barriers in yourself and realize you have already arrived at the place you have always wanted to be.”