Good company.
Shared principles.
A circle of people who have chosen to meet differently. These are the ideas we believe in, and the care we ask of one another.
Read our manifesto01 Membership by invitation
02 No individual membership fee
03 Applications reviewed monthly
What brings us together.
Beyond the title.
We believe in conversations that go beyond titles.
A role is one part of a person. Curiosity opens the conversation to everything else.
A way of showing up.
We believe that leadership is not a matter of position, but of posture.
Listen before speaking. Make room for others. Bring something to the conversation.
An open mind.
We believe in intellectual humility as the highest form of intelligence.
Different backgrounds, industries and perspectives give us something to learn from one another.
A life beyond appearances.
We believe in the importance of living without the need to show.
There is space here to be yourself, to discover and to enjoy being together.
Substance, always.
We believe that feeling is very distant from being.
Open-mindedness and respect mean something when they become practice.
An open door.
A shared responsibility.
Welcome.
“As you will understand, for me this is a bit like opening the doors of my home and granting access to something that is both very beautiful and deeply fragile.”
“The Leading Women Circle is a no-fee circle. No fees, no membership charges. You are invited, you are a guest. The only thing we ask is that we take care of this space together — one that is rare to find today.”
“After all, what is born within TLWC does not depend on me. It depends on you.”
From Marina’s founding letter.
A little care.
A different kind of Circle.
What belonging means, how invitations work and the responsibilities we share.
Philosophy & values
The Leading Women Circle is founded on open-mindedness and intellectual humility. These values transcend gender, industry and hierarchy. We welcome managers with the same consideration, regardless of seniority or sector, and look for people who share our principles.
Who we welcome
Born as a women-led initiative, the Circle welcomes professionals of every gender. Today, 72% of our members are women and 28% are men. Some gatherings are reserved for women; others are mixed. Each invitation specifies its audience.
We come predominantly from Luxury and Lifestyle, but the Circle embraces all industries. We believe the most interesting exchanges begin where different perspectives meet.
The role of our partners
Brand sponsors and the people behind them help make our experiences possible. Their support allows the Circle to have no individual membership fee. They share a belief in the quality of connections and help create experiences that give something back to the people in the room.
Discovering, meeting, being together
We gather in convivial settings: dinners, aperitifs, breakfasts, masterclasses, immersive experiences and trips. Intimate gatherings typically bring together seven to ten guests, making room for a conversation with everyone. The format and composition depend on the experience.
Il Salotto, at Piazza del Duomo 17 in Milan, is one of our meeting places. Our partners also open their spaces, share their expertise and help create new experiences in different places.
The Game
When was the last time you introduced yourself without saying what you do?
At almost all our events, guests do not immediately reveal their company or role. You talk, listen and discover one another first. Later, the group guesses who does what from clues that have emerged naturally. Each person then introduces themselves and nominates who goes next.
The conversation
Topics are not predetermined. We move from the personal to the professional, from current affairs to long-term ideas. Curiosity, trust, respect and dialogue guide the exchange.
Protect the conversation
What is shared during events belongs to the group. Confidentiality is an integral part of the trust on which the Circle is founded.
Respond to invitations
When you receive an invitation, please respond. Yes or no is equally welcome. Silence is understood as disinterest. After a second consecutive unanswered invitation, participation in the Circle comes to a close.
Honour your commitment
When you confirm your presence, we count on you. In a small group, a last-minute vacancy changes the balance and takes a place someone else could have enjoyed.
A serious unforeseen event can happen to anyone, and we understand that. If cancellations or absences become a pattern — twice within a short period — the relationship with the Circle concludes, making room for other guests.
A mutual choice
Membership is by invitation. Each profile is considered individually, with care. The Builders’ board reviews applications every month and decides on admission, alongside the work of the TLWC team. Applying does not guarantee acceptance.
- We receive your application.
- Your profile is reviewed individually.
- An introductory conversation may follow.
- You receive the outcome.
We look for openness, curiosity, the ability to listen and intellectual humility. A possible “not now” is not a judgement on the person; it reflects the balance of the community.
Your Circle Card
If admitted, you receive a personal QR code giving access to your Circle Card, the digital record of your belonging. It reflects your engagement: consistent participation is recognised, while cancellations and absences have an impact.
The Circle Card gives access to services offered by TLWC partners, including curated experiences, preferential conditions and opportunities reserved for members. Your presence and consistency over time progressively open new possibilities.
Care becomes contribution
The Builders are a board of women who help care for and develop the Circle alongside the TLWC team. They decide on membership admissions, welcome new members and help turn ideas into shared experiences.
Their four areas of contribution are Welcome & Member Development, Arts & Culture, Leisure and Magazine. Their rose pin, inspired by The Little Prince, is a reminder of the responsibility that grows from time and care.
The Builders path is reserved for women already admitted to the Circle. Becoming a member comes first; admitted members can then express their interest after their Circle Card is verified. There is no individual membership fee.
Meet the Builders’ roleA place to be yourself.
Something to care for.
Your presence, your contribution and your care help keep the Circle what it is. If you recognise yourself in these principles, we would be delighted to consider your application.
Apply to the Circle By invitation. No individual membership fee.