By Kimber Maderazzo, Chair, C200

For women in business, it’s tough to find a group of female leaders willing to help you advance your career. But finding a network of knowledgeable women with similar experiences and career paths is incredibly valuable. These are people you can lean on when times are rough and share your highs and lows with. Ultimately, they help you become the best leader you can be.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” This type of thinking is not happening enough, and our members at C200 are working to make a change by focusing on helping women achieve their leadership potential, push boundaries and make a name for themselves in a business world still dominated by men.

Chloe Barzey’s story is a great example of how having the support of other female leaders can help you rise to the top.

Joining the C-Ahead® Program

Chloe is the senior managing director at Accenture, based in Atlanta. She says she heard about C200 from a former executive in the organization and decided to get involved through the C-Ahead program. There, she found a group of senior-level women who are authentic and always willing to help each other. It changed her career.

“The first question many of the women asked me was, ‘How can I help you?’ And, they genuinely meant it! It was magical to be in a room with so many influential women.” Chloe had never been in this type of environment before and didn’t have many senior-level female role models.

The program is dedicated to giving businesswomen opportunities to learn and network alongside seasoned business leaders while creating actionable plans to help them move into the C-suite. The six-month program includes virtual events and an in-person retreat focused on the skills and experience necessary to succeed in significant executive positions at top corporations. Over time, Chloe and her fellow participants in the C-Ahead cohort grew a network of successful leaders, made up of their peers and C200 members, with diverse perspectives across various industries. They also developed an action plan for the next steps in their leadership journey.

From C-Ahead to C200 Member

Chloe was inspired, “Once you are exposed to this group of women, you instantly want to be a part of it. There is certain magic you experience in the room. This group is so rare in the business world. These women support and help each other genuinely and take the time to get to know each other.”

After her experience with C-Ahead, Chloe joined C200 as a member. She now has a network of C200 women she can lean on to help her reach new heights. She is using her experience to be there for other women just like her who crave that magic she felt during the program.

“C200 is a global organization and has opened up a family of women who continue to find new aspirations and goals to reach. This strong network of phenomenal women still challenges me to find innovative ways to grow in my own career and lead with excellence.”

Continuing to Grow

Chloe’s experience as a C200 member continues to have an impact on her. Through C-Ahead and C200, Chloe says she’s found a sense of belonging with female leaders who know exactly what she’s going through and what it takes to reach the C-suite.

“I have been given opportunities to get to know the women in this group on a deep level, and we’ve all taught each other and cheered each other on.”

Chloe says there is no doubt her involvement in C-Ahead and C200 helped her reach her full potential and create a network of knowledgeable female leaders.

“For any businesswoman or female entrepreneurs who want to get to the next level in their careers and gain an amazing group of women to be in their corner, this is for you. I haven’t found anything like C200 before.”

To catapult your own growth, apply to be part of our next cohort. Applications are open until September 14, and the program kicks off on October 19.