Recruited among experts in business strategy, sales, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources and operations, the volunteers who devote 12 to 14 hours over the course of a year to sit on one of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center’s advisory panels tell us they benefit almost as much as the entrepreneurs themselves. Volunteers report enhanced readiness for board memberships or independent director roles, expanded business networks and the opportunity to apply their industry expertise toward positioning a high-growth business for future revenue growth and job creation.
Women business owners lead nearly 50% of all privately-held firms nationwide, yet only 3% of these firms have surpassed $1 million in annual revenues. Research has shown that businesses of this size or greater contribute significantly to the US economy by creating jobs for workers, and income and wealth for owners and other community stakeholders.¹
To help accelerate the scalability of local women-led ventures through and beyond the $1 million revenue mark, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) introduced the ATHENAPowerLink® strategic mentoring program in 2001. ATHENAPowerLink® helps women entrepreneurs develop roadmaps to new growth milestones by matching them with volunteer advisory panels of subject matter experts for 12 months. Each panel recipient benefits from access to a customized and consistent sounding board of five to seven independent advisors – including seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals – who are hand-selected to mirror her business’ needs, and who meet with her collectively over a series of five, two-hour sessions.
ATHENAPowerLink® also benefits volunteer advisors by diversifying their thought leadership, business advisory and networking experiences, and by enhancing their readiness for board memberships. The CEC recruits advisors among seasoned entrepreneurs and top-notch professionals, especially those with expertise in strategy, sales, marketing, accounting, human resources and operations. Advisory panelist opportunities are open to both professional men and women dedicated to providing consistent guidance to a women business owner over one year. The approximate total time commitment for a volunteer advisor is 12 to 14 hours over one year.
To learn more about how the ATHENAPowerLink® program works and who participates:
There is a $250 participation fee for accepted ATHENAPowerLink® candidates. Program clients also receive 12 months of complimentary registration for CEC’s Accelerator Series of sales and financing seminars.
Become an Advisor
ATHENAPowerLink® volunteer advisors benefit from:
Experiences that can enhance readiness for board memberships/independent director roles
Expanded business networks created through advisory panel teams
Opportunities to apply expertise toward positioning women-owned businesses for revenue growth and job creation
If you are interested in becoming an advisory panel member, please complete the following online survey. Your information will be retained by the CEC and periodically reviewed for any current or future advisory panel matches.
