“The biggest mistake a woman can make is not to be herself in public or private.” -Diane Von Furtstenburg
Intent
The Ruby Slipper Collective will bring together 8-12 seasoned female entrepreneurs and business leaders for one year of committed Peer Community. Participants will come from different industries and walks of life and commit to investing in the peer community regularly and authentically. They will share their vision and their goals with the Collective and ask for ongoing accountability, encouragement, and feedback throughout the year. As the year progresses, they will share opportunities and setbacks candidly and clearly to invite the collective power of the group to help them live a fuller life and accomplish truly meaningful things in their work.
The Commitment
This peer community is curated and intentional and requires a one-year upfront commitment. It is invite-only, to ensure the best collection of members and points of view. Three pillars will make up the structure of this community: monthly workshops, peer accountability, and bi-annual retreats.
- Monthly Workshops: The Collective will meet one time per month over video chat, for a workshop that will last for 2-3 hours. This workshop will provide a structured format for Collective members to check-in, share deeply and sharpen one another. I will occasionally invite outside speakers and special guests to attend this workshop to share unique insights and inspire action.
- Peer Accountability: Investing in one another is a big part of what will make this group successful, so members commit to connecting one-on-one with at least one Collective member outside the monthly call.
- Bi-Annual Retreats: Twice per year, the Collective group will gather out of town at a specific location. Attendance at these bi-annual gatherings will involve up to two days of activity, and participants agree to cover their meals and travel expenses, as well as accommodations (note: i’ll work up some tips and local discounts as the organizer of this Collective). Unless otherwise agreed to by the group during a monthly workshop, all retreats will take place over Saturday-Sunday timeframes. To streamline logistics for planning purposes, our first retreat will take place in the mountains of North Carolina.
Associated Cost
After participating in similar peer communities previously, I have learned that monthly dues promote accountability and help with administration as the group begins to blossom, so there will be a $250/month membership fee associated with participation.
About Your Peers
In addition to referrals from my friends and followers, I have invited a shortlist of 20 amazing women across the country (and a few abroad!) to join this Collective. I anticipate that approximately 8-12 women will be able to commit to this exclusive community, and I will cap membership after we reach 12 members.
To give you a sense of your potential peers, invited participants include:
- A home and lifestyle boutique owner in the Raleigh-Durham area who cut her teeth working in marketing for a major apparel brand and started her first business as an online store
- A seasoned leadership coach who has worked with many of the Southeast’s biggest business badasses
- Managing Director of the entrepreneurship initiative at an Ivy League university with passions for working with young people and deep collaboration
- Owner/Partner at an award-winning PR agency based in the Southeast who makes regular appearances at Sundance, SXSW, and some impressive international locales; who is passionate about design and recently purchased a mixed-use real estate parcel to redevelop over the coming years.
- A writer and editor (and cookbook co-author!) who splits her time between New York and North Carolina with a specialization in the food and beverage industry
- Owner of a Nashville-based branding and creative studio specializing in working with lifestyle brands
- A Paris-based interior designer with an impressive portfolio of top tier clients who has recently expanded her offerings to include bespoke travel excursions with clients to help them select unique pieces for their homes
- An MBA alum with a passion for design thinking and business strategy who works as a CEO at a boutique consultancy that’s pushing the bounds of what’s possible in corporate America
- A pioneer in the urban design sector who has recently shepherded an exciting transportation project and is currently exploring new ways to push the bounds of architecture, design, and engineering.