Stop guessing.
Start leading creatively.
WIBE Membership is for bold leaders in business education who are ready to think bigger, lead differently, and never lead alone.
Where Imagination Builds Excellence
Get the ideas, feedback, and momentum you need this semester
The WIBE community is more than a network, we are a circle of leaders who truly have each other’s backs. We are a private membership community for business school leaders looking to build the future of their institution. Here, you’ll find people who share ideas without gatekeeping, celebrate each other’s wins like they’re their own, and show up when the road gets bumpy.
Our connections run deep because we know leadership can be isolating, and we choose to replace competition with collaboration.
Formerly focused on women’s leadership, our new name is Where Imagination Builds Excellence (WIBE).
We welcome all business school leaders who are ready to shape the future with creativity and curiosity.
Grow faster with peers
Learn from deans, associate deans, program directors, and rising stars who share what works and what to skip.
Join an Inner Circle and meet each month with leaders on the same path.
Turn ideas into action
Creative Convenings, workshops, Virtual Summits, live discussions, and member-led sessions help you apply new strategies.
Get practical guidance, honest feedback, and a community that wants you to win.
Stay Connected between events
Keep the momentum going with our member’s only private community website and ongoing conversation.
Make smarter moves with WIBE at your side
Who is Membership for?
WIBE welcomes all business school administrators and faculty worldwide. We welcome leaders at every stage and from every background. Men and women are invited to join.
You will be warmly welcomed by our 500 members comprising Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Department Chairs, faculty and future deans.
You do not need to be a dean, but if you are dean-bound, dean-adjacent, or already sitting in the big chair, you will feel right at home here.
How We Support Members
Live virtual programming each month — Virtual summits, workshops, panels, and Q&A with leaders across creative leadership & business education
Trailblazer Circles: our monthly peer groups for specialty topics and shared challenges
Resource library with recordings and templates so you can catch up anytime
Private online community to ask questions and trade ideas
Access to in-person and special events with member perks
Become a member of our global community that helps you lead with creativity and confidence. Programs every month. People who actually show up.
This is your inner circle
Your people, your power, always with you
Connect with every WIBE member, every event, every resource, all in one private online forum and mobile app.
Chat in real time, swap ideas, join discussions, and stream recorded workshops whenever inspiration strikes.
Leadership Skills on Demand
From fundraising to mastering performance evaluations, our extensive library of workshops and courses is built for bold leaders at every stage.
Every live workshop, every virtual summit is recorded and ready for you inside our private site. Learn anytime, from anywhere, at your own pace.
Virtual Summits
BIG TOPICS. BOLD IDEAS. ZERO FLUFF.
Our multi-day virtual summits tackle the hottest conversations in business education leadership, the ones that move the needle in your career.
And the best part? They’re always included in your WIBE membership.
Inner Circles
Choose your lane, grab your people, and get ready to level up.
Our Inner Circles are monthly meet-ups built around the topics that matter most to your leadership journey, with expert facilitation, actionable strategies, and a trusted group that shows up month after month.
We place you in a grou pof 6-8 of your peers that meet at a convenient time for you each month.
Check out our Monthly Inner Circles
Our group coaching with small, intimate mastermind groups that will meet monthly for six months to give you the space (and guts) to go deeper.
Each month, you’ll join the same circle of 6-8 peers for:
- Group Coaching to sharpen your leadership edge
- Peer mentoring from leaders who’ve been there
- Problem-solving around your hottest topics and toughest challenges
- A Small Group chat/text for immediate insight and feedback for when you can’t wait an entire month for advice
What Our Members Say
The energy and inspiration I get from WIBE has been so uplifting and incredible.
WIBE is a wonderful support system for all business academics. The professional development, upskilling, and networking opportunities are phenomenal.
Wonderful summit! There were so many ideas shared and connections made that I can’t wait until the next one
Academia can be lonely and isolating, WIBE provides a great platform to build connections to other academics around the world.
Ready to join us?
Individual Academic Membership
Membership for a single membership for individuals working in Universities. Membership is open to men and women.
Cost: $799/annually
- Access to Trailblazer Circles — our monthly meet-ups on everything from Future Deaning to Fundraising to Creative Leadership
- Virtual Summits included in your membership, no extra fees
- A private online community and mobile app to connect with members anytime
- An on-demand library of workshops, masterclasses, and resources you can binge at 2am if you want
- Discounts to in-person events
- Meet-ups at conferences around the world
- Monthly Bulletin sharing member wins
- A network that shows up, supports you, and shares ideas that work
Academic Group Memberships – Save 60%
Invest in your team and get discounted seats for additional members. Groups learn faster, share insights across departments, and keep progress moving all year.
We make it simple with one invoice, easy onboarding, and instant access to live programs and the resource library.
2-4 Academic Members – $499/each
5-7 Academic Members – $399/each
8 + Academic Members – $250/each
Email membership@wibenetwork.com to request a Group invoice
Corporate Membership *NEW!*
A WIBE Corporate Membership puts your brand in front of the decision-makers who matter most in business education, deans, future deans, and senior leaders from around the globe.
It’s your gateway to meaningful connections, powerful visibility, and opportunities to position your organization as a trusted partner in higher ed leadership.
- Direct Access to Leaders – Engage with an influential network of academic decision-makers through our events, forums, and private community.
- High-Impact Visibility – Your logo featured on our website, event materials, and partner communications, seen year-round by our global membership.
- Showcase Your Expertise – Opportunities to participate in programming, share insights, and position your company as a go-to resource.
- Year-Round Engagement – Presence across all WIBE events, from Virtual Summits to monthly Trailblazer Circles, keeping your brand top-of-mind.
Registration for two corporate members – USD $2,500
Email membership@wibenetwork.com to discuss corporate partnership membership
WIBE is an incredibly supportive, non-judgmental, and an open environment where I feel comfortable authentically sharing whatever is on my mind. It truly feels like I have a group of like-minded leaders who are making a difference in higher education and I always walk away feeling like I’ve learned something new
–Aarti Ivanic, Dean, University of Hartford
Your People Are Here
We are here to lead differently. Lead creatively. Never lead alone.
Established in 2020 we started as Women in Business Education, championing women’s leadership in higher ed.
Now, we’ve evolved into Where Imagination Builds Excellence – WIBE, a space open to all business school leaders who want to shape the future with creativity, courage, and connection.
Join a strong circle of people who get it.
Year-Round Networking that Works
The kind where someone remembers your name, introduces you to exactly who you need to meet, and becomes a trusted sounding board.
Professional Development You'll Actually Use
From budget negotiations to building a leadership team you love, get tools, templates, and strategies that you can implement the same week.
An Activated Community that Shows Up
We’re not here to gatekeep or protect the “old guard.” We’re here to lift each other up, share wins (and failures), and make leadership more affordable, fun and creative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is WIBE?
WIBE Network — Where Imagination Builds Excellence, is a global community for bold, creative leaders in business education.
Formerly known as Women in Business Education, we’ve opened our doors to all leaders who thrive on curiosity, connection, and shaking things up for the better.
WIBE is a private membership community headquarted in Fairfax, Virginia.
What do I actually get as a member?
Members will receive:
- Access to Trailblazer Circles — our monthly meet-ups on everything from Future Deaning to Fundraising to Creative Leadership
- Virtual Summits included in your membership, no extra fees
- A private online community and mobile app to connect with members anytime
- An on-demand library of workshops, masterclasses, and resources you can binge at 2am if you want
- Discounts to in-person events
- Meet-ups at conferences around the world
- Monthly Bulletin sharing member wins
- A network that shows up, supports you, and shares ideas that work
Can I come check out WIBE before I commit to joining?
Definitely! All potential members are invited to attend one of our monthly Global Convenings.
Email membership@wibenetwork.com to be added to the registration list.
How much time will this take?
As much or as little as you want. Some members hop on monthly calls, others dive into multiple circles, summits, and forums. We’re here when you need us, no guilt trips if life gets busy.
What if I’m not a dean (yet)?
Perfect. We have entire programs built for future leaders, including our Future Deaning Trailblazer Circle and the Annual Future Deans Summit.
You don’t have to wait until you have the title to start building your leadership game.
What makes WIBE different from other professional associations?
No gatekeeping. No “members-only if you’ve been in the club for 20 years.”
We’re fresh, welcoming, and obsessed with giving you real tools and connections you can use now.
Plus, we mix in a whole lot more imagination and fun.
How do I get the team or group discount?
Easy, if you’ve got two or more people from the same institution or organization ready to join WIBE, you qualify. Just reach out to us at membership@wibenetwork.com before signing up, and we’ll send you a special link with the discounted rate.
You’ll all get the same great benefits, plus you can split up and conquer different Trailblazer Circles, then bring the ideas back to your team.
Is this just for women?
Nope!
We started as Women in Business Education, but now WIBE is open to all leaders in business education who believe creativity and connection are the future.
Meet our Founder, Lisa Leander
I’ve never been one to wait for an invitation. In fact, when I saw the leadership world in business education was too often exclusive, slow to change, and allergic to bold ideas… I built my own club, and invited the people who wanted to make a real difference.
For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with business school leaders across six continents. I’ve seen it all, the politics, the pivots, the power struggles, and I know exactly where the opportunities for creativity and connection live.
In 2020, I founded WIBE to do something radically simple. I brought together leaders who want to think bigger, lead differently, and have a whole lot more fun doing it.
What started as Women in Business Education has grown into a global hub for bold, creative leadership open to anyone ready to reimagine the future of higher ed.
My gift is building communities where people feel seen, supported, and ready to make big leaps.
When I’m not running WIBE, you’ll probably find me playing tennis, driving my two kids around volleyball practice, or designing a program that makes you think differently before it’s even over.
If you’re reading this, consider it your personal invitation to join our community.
You’ll be welcomed exactly as you are, and I can’t wait to connect with you.
-Lisa Leander, Founder & CEO
Where Imagination Builds Excellence (WIBE)
” Without a doubt, WIBE stands as the most exceptional and specialized professional organization I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.”
“What I value the most about being a member in WiBE is the extraordinary networking opportunities, inspiring role models, and enriching learning programs that WIBE thoughtfully offers.”–Lan Ma Nygren, Associate Dean, Norm Brodsky College of Business, Rider University
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Contact Us
PO Box 2118
Farifax, VA 22030
info@wibenetwork.com