LWS is the place to find your people.
Ladies Who Strategize (LWS) is a supportive community of women and non-binary strategists. This is the place to level up on strategy, discover jobs and freelance gigs, and find friends and collaborators.
We also cater to strategy leaders looking to make their mark and agency owners who want to build upwards.
Additionally, you’ll also find the very best margarita recipes.
If you identify as female or non-binary, and are a strategist, apply.
Who
Founded In 2016 by Kim Mackenzie, we are a community of over 2,700 women and non-binary strategists.
In 2021 Business Insider ranked LWS as one of the most coveted private networking groups for marketers. We are routinely cited as one of the best online/offline private marketing and advertising communities. And, we’ve been featured everywhere, from AdWeek to The One Club to WARC.
Powered by founder Kim Mackenzie and a volunteer board of advisors, LWS is a professional and personal safe space. Our community is also a daily resource for advice, tools for strategic, professional, and personal growth, and a hub for collaboration.
We host online and in-person gatherings and events via slack, zoom, the beach, French villas, Mexican haciendas, excellent cocktail bars, and over delicious dinners.
We are grateful to our Lunch Break volunteer moderators.
What
A place to find connection, friendship, and support.
Online
- An active and thriving slack community of mid to CSO level strategists
- Access to our paid tiers, including Freelance Club, Strategic Leadership, and Agency Owners
- Strategic Leadership is a concierge paid level, with the goal of bringing together VP and upwards executives from both brand side and agency side to learn skills from experts around media training, executive presence, board placements, and much more. There is a library of trainings specifically crafted for this group included in membership and a private slack channel
- Agency Owners paid tier Members gain access to a moderated monthly mastermind with other owners, sessions tailored to entrepreneurs, and a private slack channel
- Freelance Club Members are a paid tier of 115+ Members who represent a median of 15 years of experience in the industry, from contract terms to business bank recommendations this is the group to be part of if you have a freelance practice
- Free weekly EST zoom Lunch Breaks to connect with members
- Free Hive Mind virtual share-outs on strategic and life skills topics that matter
- Monthly EU zoom Coffee Breaks
- Monthly strategy trainings, ranging from AI tools to Cultural Strategy
- Vetted job listings with a direct in, from top companies, agencies, and start-ups
Offline
- In-person dinners in our major member cities (NYC, LA, Chicago, London, SF, Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto)
- Bi-annual international strategy retreat
- Discounted tickets to industry events (Cannes Lions, AdWeek, The One Club)
- City Organized Happy Hours
Partner with us
Gain access to highly skilled members and support gender equality
LWS members are from everywhere, both geographically speaking and also representing the top agencies, branding firms, and F500 companies on a global scale. Sponsoring LWS means that you’ll be known as a supporter of equality amongst our 2,700+ members.
We have a variety of sponsorship packages available including events, newsletter features, and slack posts. In order to become a sponsor your company will need to have demonstrated action, investment, and commitment to gender equality.
Values
DE&I Statement
LWS values action above words and intention, so we prioritize these areas:
People of color who identify as female or non-binary are welcome to apply.
LWS paid channels and events are offered free of charge on discretion to those who may benefit from access to this provisional support. On a regular basis our members voluntarily donate to scholarships so that other members with financial hardship can be covered.
We strive to make LWS a safe space for all. Members have ongoing access to regular virtual and in-person gatherings that are specifically designed to facilitate offering support and nurturing friendships, various slack channels catering to a breadth of member needs, and our entire online community. These are carefully moderated to ensure the well-being of both members and moderators.
We offer private spaces for members who request them, based on shared life experiences. This can be everything from private channels on fertility to actioning The Artist’s Way as a group.
