More and more women are fulfilling top leadership roles in business. According to the Pew Research Center, women made up 30.4 percent of sitting board members for Fortune 500 companies in 2022, 32.8 percent of university presidents, and an all-time high of 10.6 percent of Fortune 500 company CEOs.

Additionally, more women are starting their own businesses. Women made up just 27 percent of new business owners in 2019 compared to 47 percent of new business owners in 2022, according to a survey by Gusto.

Check out this list of some of our favorite local resources for women in business to help find mentors, tools, connections, and inspiration right here in Greater Philadelphia.

Women-Focused Business Events and Organizations

Bucks County Business Women’s Alliance

The Bucks County Business Women’s Alliance hosts a monthly meeting that provides a networking opportunity, an educational presentation, and action information that attendees can immediately implement into their business practice.

Women’s Business Connection of Chester County

The Women’s Business Connection of Chester County offers networking events that give women the opportunity to network, socialize, and grow both personally and professionally. Their members are professional women dedicated to building relationships.

Women in Business Delaware County

Women in Business Delaware County’s monthly lunchtime networking programs provide career women an opportunity for expansion of professional circles during the lunch hour. Women meet and connect with other professional women, entrepreneurs, and business owners over a complimentary luncheon buffet in a different location each month.

Lancaster Chamber Women in Business

Lancaster Chamber Women in Business is designed to equip professional women with the knowledge, strategies, and resources needed to navigate challenges and achieve success in the workplace, as well as to provide opportunities to connect with businesswomen across Lancaster County. They offer a variety of Women in Business programs and events.

The Society of Professional Women — Main Line

Network and build relationships with business leaders in the Main Line community at Society of Professional Women events.

Women Business Owners of Montgomery County

WBO offers webinars, social events, and immediate access to other female business owners to support your entrepreneurial journey.

Montgomery County Association of Business Women

MCABW provides a forum for Montgomery County business women to develop and enhance professional and personal relationships with their peers.

Women’s Business Enterprise Center — Philadelphia

The Women’s Business Enterprise Center offers entrepreneurial courses, on-demand learning, various resources, and a Women’s Business Entrepreneur certification program that is beneficial to those looking to work with large corporations and government agencies.

National Association of Women Business Owners — Philadelphia Chapter

NAWBO is the country’s largest women’s business organization with chapters across the country. When you become a member, you’ll build relationships with women across business sectors, enjoy quality education on the most important business topics, and top-notch resources to launch, manage, and grow your business.

The Philadelphia Women’s Network Connection

The Philadelphia Women’s Network Connection is a professional organization based in Montgomery County that provides a platform for women to connect, network, and grow professionally. The organization’s mission is to empower women to achieve their goals and aspirations by offering opportunities for personal and professional development, networking events, and educational workshops.

The Freckled Strawberry

The Freckled Strawberry offers a dedicated team of credentialed experts to offer advice on professional services, technology, lending, tax planning, investors, mergers and acquisitions, career planning, education, team building, and more. They can help you advance your financial independence, grow your business, advance your career, and build individual wealth. Subscription and fixed-fee programs available.

SCORE

SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. They host free, live webinars on small business tips and strategies, offer on-demand courses that allow you to learn about various small business topics at your own pace, and provide resources to assist you in finding funding, legal assistance, or getting your business started. They also offer free templates for business plans, marketing plans, financial projections, and more.

Check out their local chapters below:

•  SCORE Bucks County
•  SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties
•  SCORE Lancaster Lebanon
•  SCORE Philadelphia
•  SCORE Tri-County

Local Chambers of Commerce

Most counties offer a Chamber of Commerce to support business and industry in the community. They serve as a voice for businesses on issues that impact commerce and most host a number of different events each month ranging from educational workshops to business development networking opportunities to community events. They often offer space to host both small meetings and larger events.

You can find more details about each Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter’s offerings at the links below:

• Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce
• Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce
• Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Bucks Mont Chamber of Commerce
• Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
• Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County
• Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
• Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
• Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Resources for Women in Business from Citadel

Our financial experts here at Citadel Credit Union can also provide the guidance and tools to help you build financial strength along the way. Our investment team can create a custom strategy that helps protect your personal finances as well as your business, and our Business Banking team will partner with you to determine the right mix of accounts, loans, and services that’s tailored to your business’s current needs and scalable for future growth. Since Citadel is a not-for-profit credit union, we can offer a unique level of service and commitment to help build financially strong businesses that directly influence and care for our communities, families, and overall local economic health.