Our Bold New Chapter
WBEC NY DMV’s Strategic Vision for 2025–2026
Dear WBEs, Corporate Partners, and Allied Organizations,
Together, we’re building something powerful.
Over the years, WBEC NY DMV has grown into a trusted hub—a place where women business owners connect with opportunity, where corporate partners find purpose-driven suppliers, and where a shared commitment to equity drives real impact.
But the world is changing. The challenges facing entrepreneurs today—from political uncertainty to economic shifts and increased competition—require us to evolve. That’s why the Board of Directors has charged this team with launching our new roadmap: Beyond Certification: Our Strategic Plan of Work
This plan is more than a strategy. It’s a reflection of our values, our vision, and our belief that WBEC NY DMV must continue to grow—not just in size, but in relevance, resilience, and reach.
Three Strategic Goals. One Unified Mission.
We’ve organized our work into three big, bold goals. Each one is designed to address real needs in our community and unlock new levels of growth and impact for everyone we serve.
1. Redefine Our Value Proposition
Certification will always be a core offering—but we’re expanding well beyond it.
We’re building a full-service business development ecosystem, designed to meet women entrepreneurs where they are and help them grow smarter, faster, and stronger. Whether you’re launching your first venture or planning your exit strategy, our programs will be ready to support you at every stage.
You’ll see this in our:
- Expanded Masterclass Series, offering deep-dive education in finance, scaling, and leadership.
- CEO Retreat and WBE Forums, designed for peer learning and high-level business strategy.
- Pitch Academy and PowerPlay, where WBEs develop, refine, and present real business solutions to real buyers.
These aren’t just events—they’re tools for transformation.
2. Expand Our Customer Base
We’re working intentionally to grow a more inclusive, intergenerational, and diverse network of entrepreneurs.
That means expanding our reach to:
- Younger entrepreneurs entering high-growth industries
- Founders from remote regions across New York and the DMV
- Second-stage and succession-focused women-led companies
To support this, we’re reimagining access—simplifying how entrepreneurs connect with us and bringing our programs directly to new communities through hybrid formats, local events, and multilingual options. Flagship events like Week of WBEC (WOW!) and our Industry Summits will serve as open doors into our ecosystem for those who’ve never been part of it—yet.
We’re not just adding names to our roster. We’re expanding who gets to be in the room, and what’s possible once they’re there.
3. Diversify Our Revenue Streams
To remain agile and impactful, we need more than good intentions—we need a stronger financial foundation.
Our new plan includes launching mission-aligned, revenue-generating services that will help fund our future:
- Industry-specific cohorts with participation fees, designed to deliver deep ROI for members
- Leadership intensives and growth programs built with subject matter experts
- Strategic partnerships with universities, grant makers, and economic development entities
This isn’t about monetizing access—it’s about funding innovation and ensuring we can keep doing this work, even as the environment changes.
How We’ll Measure Success
We’re holding ourselves accountable—through results that matter.
Our benchmarks will include:
- Growth in membership and certification
- Increased program retention and satisfaction
- Corporate partner engagement and impact metrics
- Revenue diversification milestones
- Expanded demographic reach and regional representation
We’ll be tracking these carefully, sharing updates regularly, and making adjustments based on what works best for you—our community.
What This Means for You
To our nearly 3,000 WBEs: We see you. And we’re building this plan to serve you better—whether you need mentorship, capital readiness, connections, or just the confidence to take your next big step.
To our corporate partners: We know your supplier diversity goals are more important than ever. Our work will help deliver a more opportunity-ready pool of women-led businesses—with the capacity, scale, and alignment to help meet your strategic needs.
To everyone we serve: Our shared future depends on shared leadership. This plan will evolve as we learn and grow—so please, reach out, share your feedback, and stay engaged.
We’re Ready to Build—Together
We’re proud of where we’ve been. But we’re even more excited about where we’re going.
The next chapter of WBEC NY DMV is bold by design—because bold is what the moment demands. Our mission has always been to advance opportunities for all women through strategic partnership, sustainable growth, and economic empowerment. This plan takes that mission to the next level.
Let’s keep pushing forward. Let’s keep building bridges. And let’s do it—together.
With gratitude and determination,
Team WBEC NY DMV
wbecnydmv.org