Accelerating Careers for Women and Boosting Talent Initiatives for Companies
Inforum was founded in 1962 as the Women’s Economic Club to serve as a speakers forum for women because women were not allowed to belong to business organizations—and they certainly were not being offered opportunities to speak!
The Women’s Economic Club addressed both those issues and also provided a structure for working women to network and support each other.
Inforum has built on that early legacy to become the only educational and charitable nonprofit in Michigan—and one of only a few in the country—that combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies.
So, what does that mean exactly?
- Opportunities to connect. Inforum members have the opportunity to participate in West Michigan’s affinity groups. These are informal groups organized by members around common interests such as volunteering, health and wellness, geography, wine and craft beer. They’re an ideal way network without the work!
- Exposure to thought leaders. We offer events featuring strategically chosen speakers.
- Industry networking. West Michigan-based ManufacturingNEXT launches this fall and joins specialized industry groups that include healthcare and technology.
- You can build your community profile. We create opportunities for our members to serve as role models for girls and young women and also to be considered for our speakers bureau.
- Leadership opportunities. Committees, councils and the board of directors help lead and shape our work.
- Many learning options. Inforum offers a range of professional development programs for women at all stages of their careers. They include our flagship program, Executive Leadership, which is targeted toward high-achieving women leaders; NextUP for emerging talent; Genuine Leadership Presence, which benefits a wide range of women; as well as programs targeted at veterans, entrepreneurs and aspiring board members. Our Leadership Labs are two-hour seminars on a variety of topics. We also offer Learning Labs—quick two-hour seminars with concrete takeaways.
Additionally, we have an innovative executive education collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Ross Business School. “Ascending to the C-Suite: From Theory to Practice” is designed to help female executives bridge the skills gap to the highest corporate jobs. The partnership features Ross School’s internationally ranked faculty as well as on-the-ground insights of high-ranking business executives and practitioners.
Come join our 2,000 members and more than 70 corporate investors throughout Michigan.
For more information, visit inforummichigan.org or contact Becky Puckett-Wood, vice president of corporate and member engagement, at [email protected] or 616.588.9400.
