D CEO Presents
2025-2026 Program
D CEO is proud to announce that applications are now open for the third-annual Emerging Women Leadership Network, a hybrid personal and professional development program, designed for the region’s rising leaders. From August 2025 – March 2026, members will participate in virtual and in-person events with exclusive content and programming—developed and led by D Magazine Partners executives, experienced leaders, and the best coaches. Members gain unparalleled access to mentors, connections with an intimate peer network, and a unique opportunity to accelerate their personal and professional growth. If you are looking for a way to level up your career, while building meaningful relationships and expanding your network locally, this program is for you.
Applications will be accepted from June 2, 2025 – July 9, 2025.
For more information about the program and D CEO leadership opportunities, please contact EWLN@dmagazine.com.
Learn more about our inaugural 2024-2025 cohort here.
Memberships are offered at $5,000. Benefits include:
D CEO’s Emerging Women Leadership Network’s Net Promoter Score* was an impressive 85 in our inaugural year.
83% of 2023-2024 EWLN cohort members said that this program will increase their professional prospects and help position them for more opportunities within their current organization.
“Thank you for one of the best professional experiences I’ve had in a long time. At this stage in my career, in full transparency, I was feeling a bit irrelevant and “not emerging” for lack of a better word. This cohort inspired me with so many amazing nuggets from one of the best line-ups of speakers ever. I gained some fresh perspectives and useful tools that are helping me even now to navigate some extra choppy waters in the work-world as well as think about next steps for my professional development.”
– Tina Roberts, Doswell Foundation Director of Operations, The Salvation Army
Produced in partnership with local executives and coaching experts, this program was carefully curated to address pressing personal and professional needs for emerging women leaders. Events and workshops will address topics like:
“87% of organizations believe in leadership development…but only 5% actually invest in it. When organizations invest in leadership development, they get outsized results (7x-41x).”
Source: Harvard Business Review
How are you investing in the development of your leaders?
Successful companies recognize that investing in, and developing, a pipeline of high performing women leaders with the skills and network to succeed is vital to long-term success. D CEO’s Emerging Women Leadership Network enriches participants’ skills, competencies, and networks as they accelerate their growth, both professionally and personally.
As a corporate sponsor, your company has the opportunity to generate awareness and cultivate relationships with emerging leaders, serve as a discussion leader at one event, sponsor a membership for an emerging leader, and much more!
Contact us at advertise@dmagazine.com.
“I just love this program. For me this was the most personalized and meaningful leadership training/networking programs I’ve participated in. Thank you for creating this space!”
– Ahava Silkey-Jones, Vice Provost, Dallas College
“I really loved my peer cohort – it was an amazing opportunity to meet a diverse group of women around my age/experience level. Not only did we discuss work related issues, we’ve also built a friendship that we will continue!”
-Bonnie Conklin, Senior Human Resources Manager, Match Group
What are the dates of the program?
The program will launch September 12, 2025 with an in-person event, followed by virtual workshops on Friday, October 3, December 5, and January 16 from 9 am – 10:30 am. Optional workshops will be made available in the Spring. There will be four (4) bimonthly in-person evening events throughout the program on September 24, November 12, February 11, and March 26, 2026 (final program date; subject to change).
How much does it cost?
The membership is $5,000, and payment is due by August 27, 2025. Due to the limited number of memberships available, it is non-refundable. Nonprofit employees are eligible for a 10% discount.
Can I have my company pay for my membership as part of our professional development budget?
Yes! In fact, we encourage it; 78.5% of the 2024-2025 cohort had their organizations sponsor them. This is a very unique program for a few key reasons:
If your HR department needs more information in order to approve, please have them contact EWLN@dmagazine.com and a member of our team will be glad to speak to someone.
Once accepted we will provide an invoice to submit as an expense and your Accounts Payable team can pay through credit card, ACH, or check.
I submitted my nomination. How will I know if I’ve been accepted?
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance status starting July 30, 2025.
Who is the program geared toward?
This program was developed for individuals who are on a leadership track or have expressed an interest in leadership within your organization. The ideal candidate has a desire to build their network and influence, is eager to engage with the community and other emerging leaders, and is seeking more individualized guidance, coaching, and mentorship. You should be at the point in your career when you’re ready to invest in yourself, your network, and your professional development in order to get to that next level. It’s for entrepreneurs, creatives, small business owners, nonprofit and corporate executives alike who self-identify as “emerging” leaders.
In order to formerly complete the program, we require that members attend 85% of programming, meet at least three times with their peer cohort and mentor (if applicable). So we ask that all applicants understand the time commitment and are willing to invest in the program and themselves.
Can I get involved as a mentor or speaker?
Thank you for your interest! Yes, we are always looking to increase our network of executives looking to give back to the next generation. To be a mentor, you can apply here.
Please contact EWLN@dmagazine.com with your name and area of interest if you are interested in applying to be a speaker (limited spots available).
Are sponsorships available to support and align with the program?
Yes! We are looking for partners who are hoping to reach an engaged network of women leaders, with opportunities to meet and speak with them throughout the duration of the program. There is annual sponsorship available ($24,500 each and category exclusive) for the duration of the program, in addition to one-time sponsorships if you’re interested in a specific topic (starting at $5,500).
Please email gillea@dmagazine.com if you are interested in learning more. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Who can I contact for more information?
Please email EWLN@dmagazine.com with your questions and a member of our team will gladly help.
Is there an age limit?
No, there is no age limit for this program; if you self-identify as an emerging leader then you should apply. Five (5) years minimum of full-time professional experience is required and we prefer that you’ve expressed interest in a leadership path.