Harness your potential, shape the future

Are you a female or female-identifying leader?

Perhaps you're running a business that's driving forward change toward the Sustainable Development Goals? Or creating change within a community organisation? Or leading an advocacy project?

The Female Founders Forum is a 7-month self-development programme here to help you connect, learn, and amplify your impact.

Through monthly in-person gatherings and 1:1 mentoring, you'll be equipped with everything you need to step into your own potential and catalyse powerful impact toward the SDGs.

Express your interest for 2025

Build your kete of skills, tools, and knowledge

The Female Founders Forum is perfect for you if:

You are a female or female-identifying leader who is playing a key role within a business, organisation, or project that is addressing one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
You can commit to a full-day in-person Forum session once every month.
You can commit to attending an in-person showcase event at the conclusion of the programme.
You are based in the Waikato, or can travel to the region, to participate in these sessions.
You want to learn from fellow leaders and renowned experts.
You're ready to be part of a tribe of changemakers ready to uplift each other, share wins, and navigate challenges.
You want to learn new skills, enhance your decision-making abilities, grow your leadership, nurture your wellbeing, and lift your confidence.

Female Founders Forum: Cohort 2 begins in May 2025

Strictly limited to 15 places.
$2,500 investment. Scholarships available.

Express your interest for 2025

Connect, learn, grow, and thrive

Here's what's included in the programme ...

Business Health CheckAn extensive deep dive diagnostic of your business, followed by a comprehensive development plan.

1:1 Support and MentoringWork one-on-one with your very own mentor, who will check-in on you and guide you through the programme.

Cohort SessionsParticipate in six in-person sessions, delivered in the Hamilton and Tokoroa Impact Hubs each month, where you'll be able to connect, learn, and be inspired.

The Sisterhood SystemBe paired with 1-2 fellow participants for accountability, check-in's, and support.

Community ShowcaseShare your story with a community of like-minded and nurturing stakeholders at our inaugural community showcase gala.

The monthly cohort sessions are at the heart of the Female Founders Forum. During these, we'll gather in-person, where an expert will join us for an in-depth masterclass exploring topics like ...

Values-Led Leadership

Impact Measurement

Raising Capital

Goal Setting

Wellbeing

By the end of the programme, you'll:

Have a crew of powerful women surrounding you and cheering you on.
Have built your skillset and knowledge on relevant topics such as marketing, financial planning, branding and story telling.
Have honed your leadership abilities and cultivated a strong sense of self-awareness, empowerment, and resilience.
Have built a robust support network of mentors, advisors, and collaborators who will champion your success, offer valuable feedback, and hold you accountable to your goals.
Have developed a clear vision and strategic roadmap for your personal and professional growth.
Feel more equipped and confident than ever to create positive impact at scale.

A proven transformation

Over 60 female leaders have already been through the first two cohorts of this programme. Participants have commented on the transformative power of the connections they formed (some even established formal business partnerships), and were especially grateful to have developed their growth mindset and learnt about self-leadership.

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

Matthew Turner

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

Sarah Evans

“Testimonial text here from a real customer. Make it authentic and relevant to your audience"

"It was such a beautiful safe space with incredible wahine to connect with. Thank you for creating it"

"Its inspiring being in a place with other like-minded females. It is such a male dominated space which can be overwhelming at times"

"I am very appreciative of being welcomed into the Female Founders Forum, and am so happy to be here!"

"It is so refreshing being in a space with like-minded people on the same journey facing the same challenges"

"[I loved] being inspired by the other women and seeing what they are doing"

"I liked the structure of having the connections before the presentations to keep people there. The presentations were really helpful"

"It's great to meet other female entrepeneurs and have the opportunity to network and learn from each other"

"[I learnt about] the importance to adhere to our personal values as a competitive advantage as well as developing the ability to regulate our nervous system"

"I am very appreciative of being welcomed into the Female Founders Forum, and am so happy to be here!"

"The Forum was a safe, welcoming space to explore, rethink, and rediscover our identities and business paths"

"The most significant transformation I experienced during the Forum was discovering the confidence to be my authentic self"

"The Forum was structured, supportive and very personal - a contrast to the chaotic, often isolating world of entrepreneurship"

"I learned so much about myself and my business. I realised the importance of aligning with the right people and spaces and not forcing myself into environments where I do not belong"

" For the first time, I felt permission to walk away from opportunities that weren’t a fit, and to trust that the right path would emerge"

"The Forum gave me space to unlearn old narratives, discover my true direction and find the courage to move forward authentically"

Read our Impact & Learning Report

Full 2024 Cohort Impact & Learning Report can be found here.

Your questions answered

Am I eligible to apply for the Female Founders Forum?

The Female Founders Forum is for any Waikato-based female or female-identifying leader.

Perhaps you're leading a social enterprise, spearheading a community project, or advocating for change?

The specifics don't matter - we're looking for anyone who is already pioneering the way to a more just and sustainable world, and is keen to grow personally and professionally.

How do I know if the Female Founders Forum is right for me?

Do any of these sound familiar?

"I want to work with good people to make good work, and to connect with, and learn from people who are ambitious and intentional."
"I could use more knowledge, networks and support as we navigate our journey through impact-startup life."
"Meet inspirational women dealing with, and willing to discuss, the same challenges and opportunities."
"It often feels lonely as a founder, there's things I need help with at times but it's hard to know where to go and it would be amazing to get to support other female founders while receiving support myself."
"I am isolated in my work a lot of the time. I could do with more connections to female leaders!"

These quotes were all shared by previous Female Founders Forum participants when they started the programme. If any of them resonate with you, then the Forum is a perfect fit!

What are the key dates and times?

The Female Founders Forum will begin in March 2025 and conclude in November 2025. Dates for each session are still TBC.

What is expected from me?

Attendance at all full-day cohort sessions (8 hours per day, 1 day per month, across 6 months).
Attendance at all 1:1 mentoring sessions (1-2 hours per month, across 6 months).
Full commitment to The Sisterhood System.
Attendance at the Community Showcase.

These commitments will help you get the full benefit of the programme. If any of these expectations are unrealistic for you, please get in touch with our team, and we can discuss alternative options.

What's the cost?

The Female Founders Forum is $2,500. We have some scholarships available. You can indicate via the application form whether you'd like to explore scholarship opportunities.

Express your interest for 2025