The Colorado Women’s Chamber Foundation recently hosted the final summit for the 2025–2026 cohort of the Women’s Leadership Lab, Colorado’s premier women’s leadership development program. This summit marked the end of a powerful 10-month journey of learning, growth, and connection.
About the Program
The CWCF Women’s Leadership Lab is designed for emerging leaders (manager to director level) who are ready to advance their careers through high-impact leadership development for women. At least 50% of participants in this program have reported receiving a promotion, a new opportunity, or successfully negotiating higher pay after completion.
For the 2025-2026 cohort, participants met monthly to explore key workplace challenges and opportunities:
- Advancement and Retention
- Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Allyship
- Cultural Norms and Identity
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Conflict and Communication
Real Growth, Real Results
The transformation participants experienced was more than theoretical—it was tangible and career-changing.
- Participants strengthened leadership skills and executive presence
- They built a lasting community of support and accountability
- Each one practiced advocating for themselves and others in the workplace
As the culminating event of the program, the 2026 WLL Summit featured:
- Small group presentations on each of the focus topics, showcasing research, insights, and lived experiences
- Downloadable resources for companies to implement tactical strategies (see below)
- A powerful keynote from Renee Ferrufino, CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, about self-care and self-advocacy.
Renee’s message reminded us that strong leadership is grounded in self-awareness, resilience, and purpose—qualities each cohort member embodied by the end of the program.
Download the Final Presentations
Each group’s final presentation offered not only deep insight but actionable strategies for advancing women in the workplace.
Download the 2026 Leadership Lab Presentation Decks below to explore their findings and recommendations.
- Mentorship: Growing a Stronger Talent Pipeline
Presentation | Resource: Mentorship Program Toolkit - Preventing Burnout: Sustainable Strategies for Modern Professionals
Presentation | Resource: Strategies for Preventing and Managing Burnout - Stay True, Stay Smart: Adapting Inclusion Work for a Changing Climate
Presentation | Resources: website - Architecting the Leadership Pipeline for Women in Business
Presentation | Resource: An Operational Framework and Implementation Roadmap - Onboarding: Developing a Program That Builds Retention
Presentation | Resource: Onboarding Integration Plan - Workplace Well-Being and Mental Health Strategies
Presentation | Resource: Quick Start Guide
Looking Ahead – Apply For The Next Cohort!
We’re proud to celebrate the 2025–2026 Women’s Leadership Lab cohort and all they’ve achieved. Their dedication demonstrates how important women’s leadership development programs like this are for creating an inclusive and equitable future of work.
Learn more and apply for the next cohort at cwcc.org/leadership-program.
Keep an eye on our calendar! We’ll be hosting an info session in August to help you discover more about women’s leadership programs in Colorado, hear from past participants, and get details on how to apply!
Applications for the 2026-2027 Women’s Leadership Lab cohort are due on September 4th!
2026 Summit Event Photos
Take a look at the photos below – and all of the photos by Miss Money Shot from this celebratory and informative summit!
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