February 2026 Newsletter
February 28, 2026
Strategies: Blueprint for Women Leaders to Stay Grounded Amid Chaos
Sona Jepsen
Author of “Pink Dragon: Breathe Fire into Your Life & Leadership”
Article in Bizwomen
Imagine arriving at work to find everything upended: a major reorganization, shifting responsibilities, and familiar faces departing. As a leader, you’re at the center of the upheaval, trying to stay calm and make clear decisions. Even with best intentions, it’s easy to feel off-balance.
That tension isn’t a personal failure. It’s a signal.
Effective leaders in times of change are distinguished by emotional alignment: regulating your internal state so decisions and communication remain clear under pressure. This is a skill anyone can practice. Continue reading
Investing in Women: The Fastest Path to Change
At the 2025 HOW Forum, the conversation turned to a force that accelerates progress faster than any other—money.
In “HOW We Transform the Future by Investing in Women,” panelists Kierith Jones (Thruline Networks, Quorum Invests), Geri Stengel (Ventureneer), and Kimberly W. White (Ingredion Inc.) unpacked how women can use investment as a catalyst for social and economic transformation.
Their message was clear: if women invest in women, everyone benefits.
Women-led companies consistently outperform male-led counterparts, yet only 2% of venture capital funding goes to female founders. That inequity isn’t due to lack of skill or opportunity—it’s due to lack of access. “Women are rarely asked to invest,” noted Stengel. “Opening up those circles changes everything.”
The panel highlighted practical steps to begin investing—from exploring ESG funds and equity crowdfunding platforms to joining learning groups like Quorum Invests. As White shared, “Start small. Start where you are. Even a $250 investment can be the beginning of your education—and your impact.”
Values-based investing emerged as a unifying theme. “Women invest for both return and fairness,” Stengel said. “It’s about aligning your money with your mission.”
The audience left energized by one powerful truth: when women control capital, they don’t just grow wealth—they grow change.
Introducing Ascent: Leadership Development for Mid-Career Women
Quorum Initiative, in partnership with Shape Talent, is launching Ascent — a six-month, evidence-based leadership development programme designed specifically for ambitious mid-career women ready to move beyond survival mode and into strategic, confident leadership.
Ascent is practical, high-impact development grounded in Shape Talent’s Three Barriers® methodology and delivered by experts in women’s career progression. Participants learn alongside a carefully selected cohort of peers who understand the realities of this stage.
Programme highlights:
- 6 months of structured development
- 10 expert-led workshops
- Small peer learning pods
- 1:1 coaching
- Cohort limited to 40 women
In comparable Shape Talent programmes, 71% of participants progressed their careers within 12 months.
Early registration £995 ($1,360 USD) is available for the first 15 participants. Sponsorship commitments close 25 March.
To learn more, visit our website or contact Diane Silverman.
Please consider joining Quorum Invests, a gender-smart investment and learning community for Quorum members who seek to align money, values, and impact. In 2026, the program shifts from learning about investing to actively investing together—emphasizing participation, shared decision-making, and collective impact.
2026 Focus Areas
- Equity Crowdfunding & Community Rounds
- Charitable Giving Circle
- Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
Goals of Quorum Invests
- Empower members to be investors and take greater agency over their money
- Create financial instruments and processes where Quorum members can invest together
- Increase knowledge, confidence, and participation among women investors
- Align financial decisions with the systemic change we want to see in the world
Meetings
Cohorts meet on the second Thursday of each month.
2026 Cohort begins: Thursday, March 12 | 6:30–7:30 pm ET
Quorum Invests is a members-only program, open exclusively to the Quorum community.
$350 for twelve months
New membership includes access to our full 2025 content library
Quorum Invests membership included in VIP membership
Quorum Invests Founding Members will receive a special renewal code for $50 off their membership.
Welcome New Quorum Members!
- Andrea Beveney, Head of Legal, Post Office Ltd
- Arrah Fisher, Executive Director,The Cooperage Project,Delaware Valley Chapter
- Hannah Lynas, Senior Business Development Manager, Akin
