VISION
WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors.  In this new era of responsibility, WCD is committed not just to good governance, but to governance with global vision.  Smart boards are going global in members and mindset.  Our members share information and insights in order to ensure best practices in corporate governance around the world.

With over 1,000 members who serve on over 1,200 boards in 36 chapters around the world, WCD acts as a bold catalyst for thought leadership, networking, and new relationships.  WCD is a true champion for women directors and a vital source of governance expertise.  Not only has WCD developed a trusted community for advice and experience to help women directors share best practices and learn from this valuable network, but WCD has also helped secure board and advisory board positions for numerous women around the world.

WCD has connected women directors globally to form a network of powerful and influential decision makers.  Our mission is to continue to enrich the WCD community through leadership, diversity of thought and experience, education, and best practices in corporate governance.  WCD fosters our international network by providing an intimate and trusted community to learn, brainstorm and problem-solve global issues.  Local, regional, national, and international WCD forums generate candid, thoughtful, and confidential dialogue on issues facing directors and their companies.  Through the process of learning from each other, WCD helps members navigate the challenges of conducting business in a highly competitive and volatile global economy.  The WCD network provides a platform of turning ideas into action.

In the 21st century, directors must not only develop a company’s global strategy, but also be vigilant watchdogs who understand the hidden challenges of working around the globe.  Corporate Governance today demands a world view.  Boards need the right leaders, to adequately analyze risk, to have the in-depth knowledge of their companies’ operations, and to help management see beyond the next quarter to the bigger picture, regardless of the market.  WCD is a network than can leverage local, regional, and global knowledge and perspective from other Directors and boards worldwide.

WHO WE ARE
WCD members comprise among the world’s most powerful and influential business women—the global business elite.

WCD was founded by Susan Stautberg the CEO of PartnerCom Corporation, which creates and manages Advisory Boards globally, and later joined by Alison Winter, former President and CEO, Personal Financial Services – Northeast for Northern Trust, and Director of Nordstrom, who became a Co-Founder.  Henrietta Holsman Fore, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Holsman International, former Administrator of USAID, Director of Theravance, Inc., and Co-Chair of the Asia Society, has joined as a Global Co-Chair.

Members serve as directors of global Stock Exchanges.  WCD members are very senior, influential executives (Chairmen, CEO’s, COO’s and other C-level executives).  WCD’s standard is that 85% of women in WCD are directors of public or large private company boards.  The other 15% have or will soon serve on public boards and currently serve on private, mutual funds or major non-profit boards. (Some Chapters, such as Boston and Chicago, are 100% corporate directors, but others, such as DC have members who have left corporate boards to serve in major government roles.) 

WCD’s Founding Partners (Heidrick & Struggles and KPMG) and Strategic Partners (Aon, Northern Trust, and Pearl Meyers & Partners) provide expertise in relevant areas of corporate governance, succession, executive search, finance, accounting, risk management, and other issues. 
 
WHERE WE ARE
WCD has 32 global chapters, located in Arizona, Atlanta, Beijing, Bogota, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Delhi, Denmark, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Israel, Lima, London, Mexico City, Malaysia, Minnesota, Mumbai, New York, Northern California, Northern/Central Europe (Berlin), Paris, Philadelphia, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, South Africa, Southern California, South Florida, Switzerland, Tennessee, Toronto,  and Washington DC.  Chapters in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Cairo, Denver, Houston, Iceland, and San Diego are in formation. 

PROGRAMS
WCD dinners are held 3-4 times a year in each city.  Members are allowed to bring other corporate directors as guests.  As Directors travel constantly, each chapter usually has members from other cities attending as well.  Our international Institutes attract directors from around the world.