The march forward to gender parity is always changing.
At C200, the holiday season is one of our favorite times of the year, because it encapsulates the beautiful intersection of celebration, giving, and community—all things that are front and center in our mission is to inspire, celebrate, support, and advance current and future women entrepreneurs and corporate, profit-center leaders.
As we celebrate and cherish our communities during the holiday season, it is also a time to pause and reflect on the year as it comes to an end and a new one begins. What did we accomplish this year? Where did we fall short, and how can we continue to be better? How can we let those we care about know that we love and support them?
As an organization dedicated to empowering women and changing the business landscape, C200 asks these questions year-round, as the march forward to gender parity is always changing.
This year, we’ve continued to see record numbers of women in leadership positions. However, we also know that resources and community for women at the top are scarce; so many women entrepreneurs and executives report feeling lonely and isolated. What’s more, we’ve seen studies come out this year, like McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report, warning that companies are deprioritizing the advancement of women and diversity, equity, and inclusion in their strategies, as evidenced by the decline in professional development programs geared toward women and other minority groups.
Women’s networks and ways of achieving success in the current system require something different.
These trends are alarming to us. Businesswomen have unique professional journeys; the resources, community, and support they need to advance are different from what has traditionally worked for men. This is why so many women experience loneliness in the workplace, despite finding great professional success.
It’s clear that even if we do achieve total gender parity in the workplace, that doesn’t mean women will be equally happy or fulfilled in their professional lives. Women’s networks and ways of achieving success in the current system require something different.
Women don’t want to be simply accepted or represented in the workplace; they want to be supported—and be themselves.
Because of this, C200 is leveraging our strengths as one of the first movers for executive women organizations. Founded in 1982, we’re a network for the most successful professional women in the world, and we will continue our work to advance all women in business. We create communities that women need for their distinctive journeys—communities that acknowledge the complexities women face in the workplace and provide the access, intimacy, sisterhood, and bonds that are specific to the careers of women. We are thought leaders, market influencers, and champions of efforts that ensure women are represented, confident, and connected across all aspects of business.
Your financial support of our mission has never been more important.
As we enter the holiday season and this time for celebration, reflection, and giving, C200 is looking toward our members and wider community. In 2025 and beyond, we want to continue to offer the unique and transformative resources and opportunities that have influenced the lives of so many businesswomen over the decades. While our membership dues are critical to the endurance of our mission and efforts, there is so much more we need to accomplish that donations from individuals like you can help us achieve.
With companies scaling back gender parity initiatives and resources for professional women, your financial support of our mission has never been more important. Whether you simply spread the word or donate, please keep C200 in mind this holiday season. Your small donation or word of mouth makes a huge impact on our ability to advance women in business.
Where would any of us be without community? At C200, ours is changing the face of business, one woman at a time.