GSB Women’s Circles are formed only once a year in each geographic region. Circles to date have been organized in over fifteen geographic regions in the U.S. and internationally. More than 11% of GSB alumnae are currently active in Circles, and plans are underway to expand the Circles’ geographic reach.
If you are interested in bringing GSB Women’s Circles to your location, complete this form. Circle members are asked to commit to at least one year in a Circle, to allow time for development of trust and mutual understanding. Circles are composed to promote diversity across generations, industries, family status, children, and more. Diversity enriches the wisdom and life experience members share with one another.
Conversations within Circles are kept confidential. Confidentiality builds safety and trust within each Circle, allowing authentic relationships to flourish.
Circles are not networking groups or business opportunities.
Eligibility
All alumni who are interested in the promotion of women, transgender, and gender non-binary individuals are invited to participate.
Objective
We talk. We share. We support and encourage.
GSB Women’s Circles offer a great way to dive deeper into topics we all care about — but rarely get to discuss — with those who face similar challenges. A Circle is a place to slow down, reflect, let your hair down, be inspired by others, connect, and support each other.
Meeting Logistics
Circles meet monthly for two to three hours at a time, either at the home or office space of a member. Meetings may be at the same location throughout the year or be rotated among members as they choose. Meeting locations, days of the week, and meeting times are determined by preferences of the women who join a Circle.
Commitment
1. We ask that you commit to at least a year of participation. This commitment is essential to developing deep trust and understanding of one another. The expectation is that by joining, you also commit to attending each meeting (barring emergencies and unavoidable travel) for the upcoming twelve months. If you think you may not be able to attend at least 10 of the 12 meetings, please consider waiting a year to join.
2. Commit to bringing your whole self and full attention to meetings: participate, engage and contribute.
3. Lastly, but most importantly, commit to full confidentiality about discussions at Circle meetings.
Leadership
Each Circle has two alumni volunteer co-leaders.
Circle co-leaders create an environment of safety and trust in which all members’ voices are heard. Co-leaders encourage deep and meaningful conversations.
Co-leaders organize the agenda for the next Circle meeting and do any logistical work needed between meetings. Every month, each Circle’s co-leaders receive suggestions for methods to help facilitate the conversation. GSB professional Master Facilitators design these methods and may customize them to meet a Circle’s individual needs and wishes. Once a year, co-leaders receive day-long training in facilitation.
If you are interested in volunteering to become a Circle co-leader, email the GSB Women’s Programs or via this form.
Circle Annual Community Kickoff
Circles are formed once a year in a geographic region, beginning with a regional annual community kickoff. All alumni of Stanford GSB’s MBA, PhD, SEP and MSx programs who live or work in the region are invited to the Kickoff. Only graduates of these GSB degree programs are eligible for Circle membership.
To be invited to a local annual community kickoff, fill out this form to ensure the GSB Alumni Office has your current email address and other contact information, to ensure you receive the annual invitation.
To join a Circle, the first step is to attend the annual community kickoff. At the kickoff, you will meet Circle members in your region and have an opportunity to ask us questions about Circles. You will learn more about the level of commitment expected from a Circle member, and about local Circles’ activities. After attending the kickoff, you will be invited to make the commitment to join a local Circle.
If you are interested in joining a local Circle but cannot attend the annual community kickoff, you should still register for that kickoff and then email the GSB Women’s Programs.
Circle Placement
If after the kickoff you decide to join a Circle, and you commit to participating in a Circle for one year, we will be delighted to welcome you!
Membership in each Circle is carefully crafted by Stanford GSB staff and Circle regional leadership to promote diversity across generations, industries, family status, children, and more. Diversity expands the scope of wisdom and life experience members share.
Placements in Circles also consider women’s and Circles’ scheduling and geographic preferences, among other variables identified through the registration survey. At or before a Circle’s first meeting, members of a Circle consult with each other on meeting place(s) and time(s).
