Advisory Groups

The Advisory Groups specifically serve entrepreneurs and partners who own or have an equity position in a business or practice. The Advisory Groups are year-long, membership-only groups, starting in September and running for 11 consecutive months (through July) or 12 consecutive months (See below for a description of each of the four Advisory Groups and the time frames for each group).

Each group is confidential, and peer-to-peer meetings, facilitated by our group mentors that have skills-sets specifically needed for the development of your business during your current phase of growth. Being a part of your special cohort group will allow you the opportunity to share issues and concerns—and obtain real world ideas and solutions. Each Advisory Group is comprised of women whose businesses do not compete but are similar in size, revenues, number of employees, and other key characteristics.

Who can participate?

Only a specific number of slots are available and slots fill up quickly. To become a member of one of our four WBC Advisory Groups includes a multi-step, membership process:

1st Step: Schedule a Ignite Session https://thewomensbusinesscenter.com/wbc-ignite/   – your free, 60 -minute, one-on-on business consulting session.

2nd Step: Fill out a WBC Client Membership Application Form: WBC Client Membership Application 2021-2022

Scan and email your completed application form to our WBC office at: wbcinfo@canisius.edu

PLEASE NOTE: Openings in each of the programs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date your completed application is received.

3rd Step: Phone interview with Sara Vescio (WBC Executive Director). Phone interviews are given to find out the current status of your business development and to make sure that you will be placed in the correct WBC Advisory Group. Phone interviews can run from June through September’s program start date.

How will you benefit

Each group will be large enough to assure diversity of background and experience, and small enough to promote meaningful interaction. You learn best practices and form a network of referrals and resources. You gain insight, support and confidence from women who know exactly what you’re going through. Most importantly, you take the time to focus on strengthening and growing your business.

This model has proven its value over and over again in markets across the country.

How it works

Meetings take place monthly. Based on the needs of your Advisory Group, round-table discussions may be supplemented with expert guest speakers.  Your Advisory Group trainer is specially trained to elicit the most creative thinking and strategic problem solving. Confidentiality agreements are maintained.

What you will talk about

Your group will identify its own critical issues, needs and goals to develop a specific annual work plan to address them. Topics could range from sales, marketing, public relations, finance and information technology to more complicated matters such as strategic planning, organizational development, delegating and chain of command, human resources, ethics and international trade.

The Advisory Groups are divided into four categories based on specific stages of business development.

Launch (September – July)

Launch Advisory Group is for those women business owners within their first year of business and launching ideas phase.

Recurring: First Tuesday of every month

Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm

Cost: $750 personal investment; potential scholarship kindly provided by First Niagara Foundation for an Updated Cost of $100.

Launch Plus:

Only 6 women business owners interested in joining the Launch group can join the Launch plus program. The members will benefit from a mid-month check in with the group facilitator.

Cost: Additional $375

Grow (September – August)

The Grow Advisory Group is for entrepreneurs who are up and running, to focus on growth strategies to continue on your business success track.

Recurring: Second Tuesday of every month

Time: 8:30am-11:00am

Cost: $750 personal investment; potential scholarship kindly provided by First Niagara Scholarship for an Updated Cost of $300.

Grow Plus:

Only 6 women business owners interested in joining the Grow group can join the Grow plus program. The members will benefit from a mid-month check in with the group facilitator.

Cost: Additional $375

Elevate (September – August)

The Elevate Advisory Group is for business owners who have worked through the challenges of the early years; typically have employees and HR demands.

Recurring: Third Tuesday of every month

Time: 8:30am-11:00am

Cost: $500

Elevate Plus:

Only 6 women business owners interested in joining the Elevate group can join the Elevate plus program. The members will benefit from a mid-month check in with the group facilitator.

Cost: Additional $375

Master (September – August)

The Master Advisory Group are for established businesses; typically at a later stage in the business cycle and have employees and HR demands.

Recurring: Fourth Thursday of every month

Time: 8:30am-11:00am

Cost: $600

Master Plus:

Only 6 women business owners interested in joining the Master group can join the Master plus program. The members will benefit from a mid-month check in with the group facilitator.

Cost: Additional $375

Member Benefits:

Advisory Groups are considered “WBC Members”, and as members, you will receive added benefits beyond the programming you sign up for, including:

• Being a part of the WBC community—filled with inspiring and motivated women business owners
• Your business and contact information listed, with a searchable function, and mapped on our WBC website
• Opportunity to be paired with another member as an accountability partner
• Discount to attend or sponsor our Annual Ignite Awards Luncheon
• Opportunity to have your business successes, employment needs and events posted on the WBC social media sites
• Discounted fee to a 1 hour one-on-one business development consultation