Lead with purpose. Create lasting impact.
Registration is now open!
We’re on a mission to make business a force for positive change. We’re championing sustainability, equity, and social impact. Yet leading this charge can often feel lonely and exhausting, especially when you’re driving change in places that still see this work as optional rather than mission-critical.
The problems facing our planet demand more than just hard work; they require us to re-imagine leadership. We can’t keep leading the way we always have and expect different results. It’s time to step forward with new energy, fresh perspectives, and a community that understands the journey.
Social impact leadership is different.
That’s where the Impact Leaders Incubator comes in.
This isn’t just a program; it’s a community of mission-driven women dedicated to reinventing leadership for the greater good. Through this CliftonStrengths-based leadership development experience, you’ll join a diverse cohort of women from corporate social responsibility, sustainability, philanthropy, nonprofits, B Corps, public service, and social enterprises—each with a shared commitment to making a difference.
The Impact Leaders Incubator is designed to support you in taking your impact to the next level. In this intentionally crafted four-month incubator, you’ll gain the skills, confidence, and connections you need to lead boldly, surrounded by a network of like-minded changemakers who “get it.”
If you’re ready for an energizing, transformative experience—one where you’ll sharpen your leadership skills, connect deeply with others, and renew your commitment to building a better world—we invite you to join us for Cohort 4 of the Impact Leaders Incubator.
Let’s redefine what’s possible in leadership and create a future that reflects our deepest values.
Hi, I’m Caroline Ouwerkerk, convener of the Impact Leaders Incubator.
I’m a community-builder and connector of dots (and people). Resources are my Love Language, and I’m passionate about finding ways to make it happen.
I’ve been gathering cohorts for years –ever since my first job in college, running a leadership development program for freshman interested in social justice and community service (sound familiar?) Since then, I’ve spent nearly two decades gathering, organizing, and facilitating groups – launching an academic research center on urban affairs, teaching courses on social entrepreneurship, and working with students committed to civic engagement.
Now, as a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach, I work with social impact leaders on five continents, facilitate workshops on topics ranging from networking to overcoming burnout and imposter syndrome for universities and organizations across the US and Europe, and work with widely respected social impact thought leader Nick Martin to lead Impact Coach, a platform connecting social impact professionals with coaching and resources, and curate jobs and resources for his community of over 285,000 Social Impact professionals. I also served as the Jobs and Community Manager for Reconsidered, a leading international CSR/sustainability consultancy.
The beauty of this sector is that there’s room for all of us at the table. Facing today’s environmental, social, and global challenges demands unprecedented collaboration and a radical rethinking of leadership.
The Impact Leaders Incubator is a space for us to come together in community, supporting and learning from one another as we tackle what’s next. I’m thrilled to welcome you to this transformative journey.
“Working with Caroline is like getting that final burst of energy to get you across the finish line. Her ability to help unravel what feels like a complex issue into manageable pieces and parts to focus on has helped me to develop tactics and opportunities to push through the obstacles I’m facing. An additional bonus of working with Caroline is her vast network of connections, resources, and reading recommendations to help you continue learning and moving forward.”
INSIDE THE INCUBATOR
January 28, 2025 – June 3, 2025
This is an intentionally-designed program combining community-based sessions on leadership themes with targeted workshops on crucial social impact leadership skills.
We meet every other week on Tuesdays from 12-1:30 PM EST (11 AM CST/9 AM PST/5 PM GMT/6 PM CET) on Zoom. All sessions have closed captioning and will be recorded if you’re not able to attend live (though we’ll miss you!)
Here’s a look at our spring 2025 program:
This schedule is subject to change based on speaker availability and other factors.
Session 6: Decision-Making
Crucial frameworks for making better decisions
Session 7: Ambition, Growth, and Leadership
Sustainable ambition and unsubscribing from growth in a direction you don’t want to follow.
Session 8: Leading Teams
Powerful tools for unlocking creativity and leading teams effectively.
Session 9: Making the Business Case for Impact
Building momentum and communicating effectively with stakeholders
Session 10: Graduation + Integration
What’s the work you want to be known for? Synthesizing our work to create your personal leadership model
Session 1: Welcome and Community
Community building and the Four Dimensional Model of Social Impact Leadership
Session 2: Strengths Based Leadership
Doing more of what you’re good at instead of re-creating outdated models of leadership
Session 3: Purpose, Vision, and Community
What is the role of purpose in your leadership? What do you believe is possible? What support do you need to get there?
Session 4: Thought Leadership
The power of thought leadership to multiply impact
Session 5: Power and Influence
Navigating and leveraging power for greater social impact. Influencing without authority.
Program Components
Community CIRCLES
Our Community Circles are energizing, highly interactive sessions focused on connecting with each other and exploring our leadership themes: Purpose, Vision, Growth, Power, and Legacy.
Skill Sessions
Our interactive skill sessions are led by guest expert teachers. You’ll add crucial skills to your social impact leadership toolkit.
Workbook + Reflection Journal
Your guide to our time together, this printed workbook (mailed to all participants!) offers reflection prompts, further details, and resources to enhance your experience.
Kick-Off Executive Coaching Session and Cliftonstregnths 34 profile
Each program participant will start this transformational experience with the CliftonStrengths 34 Assessment and an in-depth interpretation and executive coaching session with program facilitator and certified Strengths Coach Caroline Ouwerkerk.
This assessment is an in-depth leadership profile giving deep insight into how you show up as a leader. In this 60-minute executive coaching session, we’ll co-create a roadmap for your Incubator experience by zeroing in on the elements that will have the greatest impact on your growth as a social impact leader.
We will also have a group workshop on Strengths-based leadership.
Coffee Chats
Connecting, made easier. Each month, you’ll be paired with another cohort member to deepen inter-group connections and expand your network.
Private online SPACE
We’ll have a private Slack channel where we can come together to share reflections, celebrate successes, and draw from the wisdom of the community.
Our love language is resources, so we’ll share plenty – conversation-starting articles, helpful toolkits, recordings of live sessions, and more.
COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
Our work-study program provides an additional layer of support for program participants, with peer leaders helping to facilitate community through optional small groups and other events.
Bonus Resources
Impact Leaders Incubator members get access to a variety of additional resources, including:
Access to Beat Imposter Syndrome: Strategies for Career Confidence, an online course with more than 25 strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and increasing career confidence
Access to the recording + workbook for Leveraging LinkedIn
Access to the recording + workbook for Finding Flow When There’s Too Much to Do
Additional professional development webinar recordings and workbooks
Invitations to events, both online and in person
Connection to a larger community of impact professionals
Optional Private Coaching
Stepping into a new leadership role? Navigating a transition? Want extra support to reach ambitious goals? Craving a moment to process your work life with a nonjudgemental advocate?
Combine the dynamic cohort experience of the Incubator with 4 additional 60-minute private coaching sessions (5 total, including the kick-off executive coaching session all participants receive). You’ll get targeted support to help you troubleshoot obstacles, navigate blocks, process your experiences, and plan for what’s next.
Impact Leaders Incubator founder and certified coach Caroline Ouwerkerk works with clients on five continents to reach ambitious goals and transform their leadership. These sessions are Strengths-focused and designed to help you reach your goals faster. Sessions are scheduled at your convenience once per month in March, April, May, and June.
LEADERSHIP THEMES
Our themes serve to jumpstart reflection and conversation in our Community Circles and Skill Sessions. We’ll have space to share reflections in our private online community and in the printed program workbook and reflection journal each member will receive.
Our themes are cumulative–over the arc of our time together, we go from exploring the personal, to examining how we show up in our professional spaces, before getting clarity on the impact we want to make more broadly.
In 2025, we’ll focus on:
PURPOSE
Who are you, and what are the contributions only you can make? What does your leadership look like?
VISION
What do you believe is possible? How do you want to make the world a better place? What support do you need to get there?
Growth
What does sustainable ambition mean? How do you want to grow, personally? How do we want the movement to grow and change?
Power
What are the networks and structures that we can influence and which influence us? How can we navigate power to make an impact?
LEGACY
What do you want to be known for?
SKILL SESSIONS
Laser-focused 90-minute skill-building workshops designed to help you level-up as a social impact leader. Skill Sessions will be recorded and shared in our community portal in case you’re not able to attend live.
We’re putting together a stellar lineup of guest experts to facilitate this year’s Skill Sessions. Expect workshops such as:
Strengths-Based Leadership
with Caroline Ouwerkerk, Founder, Impact Leaders Incubator
Thinking in Public and Acting Like a Thought Leader
with Lee Price, Founder, Viewfinder Partners
Decision Making with Clarity
with Michelle Florendo, founder of Powered by Decisions
Making the Business Case for Impact
with Jessica Radparvar, founder of Reconsidered and the Change Hub
What are we talking about when we talk about social impact?
with Caroline Ouwerkerk, Founder, Impact Leaders Incubator
LEADING TEAMS
Powerful tools for unlocking creativity and leading teams effectively.
Emerging Tech and Trends in ESG
with Stefanie Falconi, Ph.D., Policy Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Emergent Tech Advisor
Mapping our Social Change Roles
with Deepa Iyer and Uyenthi Tran Myhre of the Building Movement Project
Innovative Project Leadership
with Megan Mozina, Founder, Cresta Solutions
The Science of Luck and Generosity
with Anna Dausman, Social Impact Facilitator and Founder, Goodlands Food Co.
Rest as a Radical Act
with Tes Cohen of Transformative Gatherings
Emerging Issues in Social Impact
with Rhian Rotz, Senior Director, Corporate Citizenship/ESG & Employee Engagement, WE Communications and ICF-certified Leadership Coach
OUR COMMUNITY
Welcome to a community of women driven by impact – regardless of job title.
You’ll join leaders in corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and philanthropy, as well as folks working in nonprofits, B Corps, public service, and social enterprise. Some run mission-driven businesses or lead grassroots organizations. Our shared commitment is simple but profound: to leave the world a little better than we found it.
Our community is intentionally small, allowing you the opportunity to develop deep, lasting relationships with like-minded leaders. We also build in multiple ways for you to connect with others in the cohort – coffee chats, community stewards, and numerous small group conversations.
Our members are dynamic, motivated women with a passion for all facets of social impact. While many come with 7 to 20 years of experience, we welcome professionals at every career stage—from emerging leaders to senior executives. If you’re eager to grow, learn, and contribute, there’s a place for you here.
To date, 50 women across the U.S., Europe, and Africa have been part of the Impact Leaders Incubator, bringing diverse perspectives from roles at:
Large companies: Pinterest, Starbucks, Ann Taylor, GoodRx, Amazon, Constellation Energy
Startups: Swayable, Indigo AG
Industry Associations: Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals
Nonprofits, NGOs, and Foundations: SAFECampus, TrendCDC, Uzima Chicken Uganda, Village Enterprise, IES Abroad, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Global Fund for Women, Project Bread, Filecoin Foundation
Consulting, PR, and Legal: Morey Creative Studios, Rios Partners
Higher Education: Impact accelerators and civic engagement offices
Impact Entrepreneurs: Building mission-driven ventures
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• You’re ready to step up as a social impact leader
• You’re eager to learn from and grow within an intentional community
• You want practical tools and frameworks for your social impact role
• You thrive in settings where you can be an active participant
• You’re excited to explore new ideas and perspectives
• You’re looking to connect with a network of impact-driven professionals
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• You’re expecting a passive, “read-only” experience
• You’re not interested in engaging with this dynamic community
• You’re looking for individualized strategy support–this program leverages the power of cohorts to help you develop as a leader. For individualized support, consider adding on private coaching.
• Not able to attend our calls– this is a time-bound, cohort-based experience, and you’ll get the most out of this program if you’re able to participate in the community conversations and Skill Sessions live (although life happens and we’ll share the recordings so you can catch up if you can’t make it)
• Not currently working in the social impact space – this is a leadership incubator and is designed for active or transitioning social impact practitioners to implement the tools and skills we’re learning in real-time.
“The Impact Leaders Incubator helped me to build strong connections with others in my field, clarify my own goals and challenges, and feel energized - and organized - about where I’m headed.”
JOIN US!
Every other Tuesday
January 28, 2025 – June 3, 2025
All live sessions are held on Tuesdays from 12-1:30 PM EST (11 AM CST/9 AM PST/5 PM GMT/6 PM CET) on Zoom.
All sessions have closed captioning and will be recorded if you’re not able to attend live (though we’ll miss you!)
Early Bird Deadline: 11:59 PM PST on Friday, December 20, 2024 | Final Deadline: 11:59 PM PST on Friday, January 17, 2025
Level 1: Impact Leaders Incubator
Early Enrollment: $1900 (join by Dec. 20, 2024) | Rises to $2300 on Dec. 21
Sliding scale rate: $1800 (nonprofit participants and members who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ)
A carefully designed experience to catalyze your social impact leadership, including:
Four months of intentionally designed bi-weekly sessions, including:
All-cohort Community Circle calls, creating space to connect with other cohort members and explore our leadership themes: Purpose, Vision, Growth, Power, and Legacy.
Skill Sessions – five 90-minute skill-building workshops on crucial leadership skills. Planned workshops for 2025 include: Strengths-based Leadership, Making the Business Case for Impact, Unlocking Team Creativity, Thought Leadership, and Decision Making
CliftonStrengths 34 Assessment and Report – Each participant will receive a code to take the CliftonStrengths 34 Assessment, an in-depth, personalized leadership profile offering crucial insights into how you show up as a leader. We’ll also have a group workshop on Strengths-Based Leadership.
Coffee Chats – Each month, you’ll be intentionally paired with another community member to deepen inter-group connections and expand your network
Workbook + Reflection Journal – Your guide to our time together, with reflection prompts, further details, and resources to enhance your experience. This will be mailed to all participants prior to kick-off
Access to a private, dedicated member space stocked with resources, recordings of our live sessions, and thoughtful conversation starters
Carefully selected leadership themes and thoughtful reflection questions
Connection with a small, intentionally gathered cohort of mission-driven impact professionals, working across a variety of industries
Invitations to optional in-person and online events
Recordings of all sessions so you can join on your own time
Bonus access to our self-paced course and workshops, including: Beat Imposter Syndrome: Strategies for Career Confidence, Leveraging LinkedIn, and Finding Flow When There’s Too Much to Do
Level 2: Incubator + Coaching
Early Enrollment: $2800 (join by Dec. 20, 2024) | Rises to $3300 on Dec. 21
Sliding scale rate: $2500 (nonprofit participants and members who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ)
Combine the dynamic cohort experience of the Incubator with four additional 60-minute coaching sessions to get targeted support to help you troubleshoot obstacles, navigate blocks, process your experiences, and plan for what’s next. This level includes:
Everything in Level 1 of the Impact Leaders Incubator (above), plus:
Personalized Strengths-based coaching tailored to your goals and priorities. Receive four additional private 60-minute coaching sessions (plus the kick-off executive coaching session all participants receive, for a total of 5 sessions) with Impact Leaders Incubator founder and Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach Caroline Ouwerkerk. Caroline works with clients on five continents at all stages of their social impact careers, and specializes in helping clients reach ambitious goals and transform their leadership. You’ll get targeted support to help you troubleshoot obstacles, navigate blocks, process your experiences, and plan for what’s next. Sessions are scheduled at your convenience, in March, April, May, and June.
Personalized activities designed to help you reach your goals and navigate challenges
Periodic email check-ins throughout the month.
Please note:
Everyone benefits from coming together in community, and we are committed to bringing together a vibrant community of social impact leaders.
Many participants use professional development funding to pay for all or part of their participation in the program – we’re happy to issue invoices or split payments between two fiscal years. Payment for all levels is due when you accept your spot in the program.
Payment plans are available. If you choose a payment plan, you are responsible for all payments, and your spot is non-refundable.
We offer a special rate to community members who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA, as well as those currently working in the nonprofit sector.
There are also a limited number of work-study roles, available to anyone (regardless of need) who is interested in helping to support the program, in exchange for an additional discount. Choose the sliding-scale or work-study option that works best for you on the Incubator registration form.
Please see this document for details on our payment plans, sliding scale options, and work-study roles. More questions? Please reach out!
QUESTIONS
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This program is designed for women working in social impact broadly defined, whether or not your current job title reflects that.
You do not need to have a formal role in social impact, CSR, or sustainability to participate in the Impact Leaders Incubator. Some members are looking to make the transition to impact work, in addition to other members who are currently in corporate social responsibility, sustainability, or philanthropy roles. We welcome everyone working in impact, including folks in the nonprofit and education sectors, those at B Corps, and social enterprises, and others with a strong curiosity and motivation to examining how we can leverage our careers for the greater good.
We’re building a community of women who are interested in bolder, more effective leadership, and who are interested in implementing the tools and skills we’re learning in real-time in their careers.
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We ask participants to share a bit about themselves on the enrollment form in order to make sure this program is a good fit, and reading your responses allows us to understand if we’re able to meet your goals (or whether we should offer recommendations for alternatives). The questions allow us to get to know you and your background so that as we plan out our work together, we’re better able to customize the program to meet the needs and interests of participants. We’ve also found that these questions allow time for you to pause and reflect on your own goals and dreams for your personal and professional life, which is always a good thing.
Here’s what we’re not looking for through this process: we’re not looking to have a competitive process where you’re judged against others (this is a nonjudgemental space). We’re not looking to make this program highly selective (the challenges we’re addressing will require all of us to contribute). And we’re not looking to make this a time-consuming or onerous process. Take 20 minutes max to share your responses.
The bottom line? If you’re interested, please join us. Our community will be stronger with you here, and there is plenty of room at the table for all of us.
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Yes!
Many previous participants have used professional development funding to pay for all or part of the Impact Leaders Incubator. Founder Caroline Ouwerkerk has more than 15 years of experience designing leadership development programs, and we’ve designed this program to equip you with skills you can use right away to be a more effective leader at work.
It’s certainly worth asking if you can use your professional development funding to support your participation in this opportunity – (we love this great resource from Ama La Vida Coaching on how to ask your employer for professional development funding.)
We’re happy to send an invoice or split payments between two fiscal years (perfect for maximizing professional development funding!) You don’t know unless you ask.
Let us know if you need special paperwork or invoices to make it happen.
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Of course! Check out this snazzy PDF overview of the 2025 program, complete with all of the details about what’s in store.
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Like any professional development opportunity, you’ll get out of this experience what you put into it. This program meets every other Tuesday from January 28 through June 3, 2025.
All live sessions will take place on Tuesdays, from 12 to 1:30 PM, EST (11 AM CST/9 AM PST/5 PM GMT/6 PM CET). If you sign up for optional private coaching, you’ll schedule your 60-minute coaching sessions at a time that best fits your schedule.
Our member space is available 24/7 for you to share reflections, post resources, and connect with others.
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Our live sessions take place on Tuesdays, from 12 to 1:30 PM, EST (11 AM CST/9 AM PST/5 PM GMT/6 PM CET), and we encourage you to attend live so you can connect with the other group members and tap into this incredible community. If you anticipate missing four or more sessions of the program, we encourage you to consider joining a future cohort or signing up for private coaching.
Life happens, though, so you’ll find recordings of all of our Community Circle and Skill Sessions in our private member space for you to watch later if that is better for your schedule.
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Everyone benefits from coming together in community, and we are committed to bringing together a vibrant community of social impact leaders.
We offer a special rate to community members who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA, as well as those currently working in the nonprofit sector.
There are also a limited number of work-study roles, available to anyone (regardless of need) who is interested in helping to support the program, in exchange for an additional discount.
If cost is a barrier to your participation and you would need further support to participate, please see this document for more options or email us for extra support.
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I love details too! Please email me!
You can also set up a quick 1:1 chat to get all of your questions answered in real time.
Amazing things happen when we come together to share, learn, and grow.
Registration for the 2025 Incubator is now open!
