About DirectWomen's Board Institute –
The 2025 DirectWomen Board Institute will take place from Wednesday, October 8 - Friday, October 10, 2025, in New York City. The Board Institute will open with a Wednesday evening cocktail reception and conclude with the Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award Luncheon Friday afternoon. Attendance at all Board Institute sessions, panels, meals, and related functions is mandatory.
If you are chosen to participate in the 2025 Board Institute, you will learn from an extraordinary faculty comprised of CEOs, search firm executives, and directors of public companies as they discuss critical issues facing corporate directors. In addition, the Board Institute will provide working sessions designed to help participants develop personal board search strategies.
After completing the Board Institute, you will be welcomed into the DirectWomen Alumnae Network, where you will gain exclusive access to local gatherings and webinars designed to assist you in your board search. The Alumnae Network also provides opportunities to network with the more than 260 women who have successfully completed the DirectWomen Board Institute since its inception in 2007.
Pre-Institute assignments are used to prepare participants and make the best use of the limited time during the Board Institute. These include the focused preparation of a board bio and board resume. You should expect that this work will require up to ten hours per month leading up to the Board Institute. Five required pre-Institute calls will guide you through the preparation of these materials, as well as provide other information regarding the DirectWomen Board Institute.
In addition to the non-refundable $500 application fee, there is a non-refundable tuition fee of $10,000 for those selected to participate. The fee includes hotel accommodations for two nights during the Board Institute and most meals.* All other travel expenses, including airfare and ground transportation, are the responsibility of the individual class member. Full tuition payment must be submitted within one month of acceptance to the 2025 Board Institute. We anticipate that selected participants will be notified by early February 2025.
Please note that the only way to leave your application and return without losing your progress is to save your progress prior to exiting. If you clear your cache before submitting your application, you may have to restart the application.
Please be sure to read the FAQs and Application Instructions before you begin.
If you have additional questions about DirectWomen, the Board Institute, or the application process, please contact Yessenia Echevarria at yechevarria@directwomen.org.
Thank you for your interest in the 2025 DirectWomen Board Institute.
*Under specific and unique circumstances, financial aid may be available. However, no decisions will be made until the selection process is completed.
2025 DirectWomen Board Institute
About DirectWomen's Board Institute –
The 2025 DirectWomen Board Institute will take place from Wednesday, October 8 - Friday, October 10, 2025, in New York City. The Board Institute will open with a Wednesday evening cocktail reception and conclude with the Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award Luncheon Friday afternoon. Attendance at all Board Institute sessions, panels, meals, and related functions is mandatory.
If you are chosen to participate in the 2025 Board Institute, you will learn from an extraordinary faculty comprised of CEOs, search firm executives, and directors of public companies as they discuss critical issues facing corporate directors. In addition, the Board Institute will provide working sessions designed to help participants develop personal board search strategies.
After completing the Board Institute, you will be welcomed into the DirectWomen Alumnae Network, where you will gain exclusive access to local gatherings and webinars designed to assist you in your board search. The Alumnae Network also provides opportunities to network with the more than 260 women who have successfully completed the DirectWomen Board Institute since its inception in 2007.
Pre-Institute assignments are used to prepare participants and make the best use of the limited time during the Board Institute. These include the focused preparation of a board bio and board resume. You should expect that this work will require up to ten hours per month leading up to the Board Institute. Five required pre-Institute calls will guide you through the preparation of these materials, as well as provide other information regarding the DirectWomen Board Institute.
In addition to the non-refundable $500 application fee, there is a non-refundable tuition fee of $10,000 for those selected to participate. The fee includes hotel accommodations for two nights during the Board Institute and most meals.* All other travel expenses, including airfare and ground transportation, are the responsibility of the individual class member. Full tuition payment must be submitted within one month of acceptance to the 2025 Board Institute. We anticipate that selected participants will be notified by early February 2025.
Please note that the only way to leave your application and return without losing your progress is to save your progress prior to exiting. If you clear your cache before submitting your application, you may have to restart the application.
Please be sure to read the FAQs and Application Instructions before you begin.
If you have additional questions about DirectWomen, the Board Institute, or the application process, please contact Yessenia Echevarria at yechevarria@directwomen.org.
Thank you for your interest in the 2025 DirectWomen Board Institute.
*Under specific and unique circumstances, financial aid may be available. However, no decisions will be made until the selection process is completed.