The Women at Work Leadership Series is a structured leadership development program designed to help women build confidence, strengthen key workplace skills, and advance in their careers. The series combines research-backed insights, practical tools, and peer discussion to support women’s professional growth.

The Women at Work Leadership Series is designed for early- to mid-career women, including emerging leaders and experienced managers. It’s also valuable for organizations looking to strengthen their leadership pipeline and support women’s advancement at work.

The series helps women advance by building essential leadership skills such as negotiation, self-advocacy, networking, and navigating workplace bias. Participants gain practical strategies they can use immediately to increase visibility, influence, and career growth.

The series covers key workplace topics including:

• Salary negotiation and self-advocacy
• Finding sponsors
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Navigating bias and building inclusive teams

Each session focuses on actionable strategies women can use to succeed at work.

Organizations can implement the Women at Work Leadership Series through Circles for Companies, a free and scalable program. The series can be shared through virtual or in-person sessions, cohort-based programs, or leadership development tracks.

Organizations: Lean In Latinas, The Center for Asian Pacific American Women, Reaching Out, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), iRelaunch

Academic experts: Professor Amrita Basu, Professor Marianne Cooper, Professor Eden King, Dr. Jieyu Liu, Professor Courtney McCluney, Professor Faith Ngunjiri, Professor Rosario Underraga Riesco

Individuals: Sangita Agarwal, Julene Allen, Isioma Asiodu-Otughwor, Omi Bell, Lynda Bishop, Linda Brandt, Elisa Charters, Zee Clark, Dawn Cornelius, Dolores Cortés, Anna Dapelo-Garcia, Meredith DeDona, Kristen Dietz, Kayla Duncan, Dr. Kathryn Edwards, Laura Espriu, Rima Faddallah, Deena Fidas, Gladine Frasso, Clari Bravo Garcia, Minda Harts, Sue Ann Hong, Jill Houghton, Di Hu, Joelene Jang, Andraéa LaVant, Melody Mitchell, Nadia Mossburg, Filsun Moussa, Ashley Mudd, Nuala Murphy, Melanie Newby, Sarah Lands Ramrup, Yesenia Reyes, Evelina Rimkute, Nainy Sahani, Monique Stamps, Anne Stando, Zoe Stoller, Henrike Wachsmann, Clement Wilson, Tuck Woodstock

Start by focusing on your work. Do your job well, stay curious, and seek input from people you admire. Ask thoughtful questions, follow up, and show that you act on feedback. Strong mentorships grow from shared goals and mutual respect. Over time, these conversations can turn into real mentorship.

You don’t need one perfect mentor. Build a network of people who can offer different perspectives

Many women have mentors, but fewer women have a sponsor. Unlike mentors, sponsors advocate for you when you’re not in the room. You can find a sponsor by demonstrating your value visibly, seeking leaders whose work aligns with yours, and making it easy for them to champion you by being reliable and results-driven.

Watch the Women at Work video on finding a sponsor for step-by-step strategies.

To negotiate a salary, start with research and clearly communicate your value.

Know your market range, then make your case by connecting your skills and results to the role. If negotiating feels uncomfortable, you’re not alone — many women face bias in these conversations. Framing your request around impact and shared goals can help.

Negotiation is not just about your current offer—it affects your long-term earnings and career trajectory.

Watch the Women at Work video on salary negotiation to learn practical techniques.

To deal with bias at work, start by recognizing it and taking small, practical actions.

Bias can show up in subtle ways such as being interrupted, overlooked, or evaluated differently.

When it happens:

• Speak up and reclaim your voice
• Ask for clarity on feedback or decisions that affect you
• Make your contributions visible
• Build allies who support and amplify you

You don’t have to handle bias alone. Support from peers and clear strategies can make a real difference.

Watch the Women at Work video on dealing with workplace bias for real-world examples and solutions.