Earlier this fall we launched our first cohort of the brand-new ONE WORLD CEO Network. This network is designed to accelerate learning and business success for its participants.
We are starting new cohorts in March and April, a group of carefully curated CEO's, all of whom have or will soon be raising outside capital for their company, across several different industries. Members share a strong desire to both "give and get" from a values-aligned community of for-profit social enterprise CEOs.
Network members improve their ability to lead their organizations through the critical "building blocks" of early-stage entrepreneurship: Building initial management teams, launching products/services, solidifying early customer relationships, executing funding strategies, and preparing the company to scale. The learning is actionable, the support genuine, and the network powerful. In order to create focus for each session, the monthly group meetings, designed and guided by ONE WORLD’s Scott Saslow and Angie Mertens, each session has a theme that is determined by the network before each meeting. So far, some themes have included, development goals, talent management, building company culture, marketing, compensation, and evaluating where your company stands/ where it is going.
For CEOs that are accustomed to juggling multiple tasks alone, the network has provided a much needed support group full of business leaders facing the same challenges. When asked how the CEO network was benefitting her, CEO of Doughp, Kelsey Moreira, replied: "The CEO Network is like getting a supercharged business-therapy session 1x a month. I leave feeling refreshed, with action-oriented guidance and feedback from others who are really traveling a similar path - even if in other industries. Being CEO can be isolating at times - "lonely at the top" as they say - but with this network, I feel more connected than ever and have great counterparts to reach out for, from sanity checks to reference checks and beyond. Absolutely worth my time, 10/10 would recommend."
CEO of Elemeno Health, Arup Roy-Burman, replied with a similar sentiment, saying: “The OneWorld CEO Network has helped me develop valuable connections with peer startup CEOs from differing backgrounds and industries facing common themes in company growth. Our shared experiences are immediately relatable and timely, resulting in robust group discussions, and valuable follow up 1:1's. This peer group has helped me become a better CEO.”
CEO of Climate Solutions Net, Lisa Altieri shares additional value for her being part of a group: “One World has mastered the art of supporting the social entrepreneur. The CEO Network provides an invaluable opportunity to share, support and learn from other founder CEOs. One World extends this benefit beyond Network events to support member entrepreneurs through coaching, input and connections. “
According to Eric Quick, CEO of The Town Kitchen, “The CEO Group is a dynamic group sharing the common purpose of helping others rise up. The meetings are time well spent with clear goals and time efficiency, allowing for everyone to leave energized. It’s like a CEO support group!”