Today we announced our first-ever Member Advisory Council, the next step in our commitment to becoming an organization that’s truly member obsessed.

We’re building what comes next for this network not just for members, but with them. Now, these council members have formal input with our leadership team.

Selected through a comprehensive application and interview process, the 19 members of our inaugural council cohort epitomize the breadth of the Chief community across cities, career journeys, industries, identities, and membership tenure. They are CEOs, founders, board members, innovators — often all of the above. Their latest role? Partnering with our C-Suite team to bring their diverse experiences and perspectives into strategic conversations around the future of Chief.

Over the next two years, these council members will:

  • Serve as the voice of the Chief communities they represent in council discussions, as well as a communications bridge between these communities and Chief’s leadership.
  • Provide guidance on the evolution of Chief’s member experience to ensure it reflects the nuanced interests and needs of today’s senior women leaders.
  • Act as an ambassador, engaging in key community activities and conversations to inform members and share the Chief experience with broader networks.
  • Embody Chief’s values: Powerful, inclusive, real, curious, and time-traveling.

Ahead of their first meeting in April, we asked council members about the experiences and motivations behind this next big move.

‘I'll be able to give back to the community that gives me so much every day.’

All of our council members spoke to the transformative leadership growth they’ve experienced as part of the Chief community.

For some, that meant breaking finally into the C-Suite: Emily Fong Mitchell, who joined Chief in 2021 and now leads Lornamead Products says that, thanks to the support of other Chief Members — particularly her Core Group — she’s been able to stretch her leadership by leaving her company of 20 years and ultimately stepping into her first CEO role.

For others, Chief membership has helped them build something new from the ground up: Juhu Thukral, Rabia Farhang, and Tammy Lee all credit the support they found in the community with helping them launch and scale new ventures as founders and solopreneurs.

JoQuese Satterwhite, Divisional Vice President, Ethics & Compliance Officer at Abbott, says she’s become more intentional in how she invests her time and energy as a result of her Chief experience. Membership has opened doors for her to give back meaningfully, most notably by connecting her with the CEO of a nonprofit where she’s now a board member.

The consensus? Chief has helped them become more courageous, expansive, authentic leaders.

‘Chief has given me the playbook to pivot boldly and with no fear.’

“Chief was born the year I became a CEO. I feel like we grew up together and the leader I am today is a direct result of my community at Chief, says Jo McKinney, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer. “I've been transformed by being deeply known by women from diverse backgrounds and diverse experiences, who have been generous in sharing their wisdom, feedback, and guidance with me. This community has pushed me, challenged me, celebrated me and scolded me when I needed it most.”

Sofia Pertuz, Founder & Principal Consultant at Mainstream Insight, “Being in community with remarkable women pushed me to take thoughtful risks, trust my voice, and step into opportunities I might not have pursued on my own.”

And Sabrina McGuigan, Global Medical Communications Lead, Rare GI at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, says that Chief has helped her grow as a leader by giving her the space to show up as her authentic self: “As a bisexual woman, there were times in my career when I felt I needed to temper parts of who I was in order to fit in and not stand out. Through Chief’s community and support, I’ve learned that when I lead as my true self, the people who work with and for me get a more confident, empathetic, and high-value leader.”

Ultimately, these members view serving on the council as an opportunity to pay it forward.

“Chief supported me through major career shifts and expanded my leadership community,” Pertuz says. I want to help strengthen that same sense of connection, insight, and opportunity for other members.”

For Satterwhite, it’s also about future generations: “Above all, I want my daughters to one day say that their mother helped shape spaces where women can thrive — and that her work opened more doors for their futures.”

Learn more about Chief’s Member Advisory Council.