If we accept that positive energy and enthusiasm are contagious, then it's no wonder we're all continuously searching for amazing people to surround ourselves with. You, my dear, are already a career-driven, ambitious, and talented individual. And positivity attracts positivity, amirite?
But finding other like-minded, mega-driven people like yourself can be hard. It can be really hard, especially when you're breaking into a new field, launching your own venture, or doing something different from the people you've always run with.
At Girlboss, building community has always been at the center of what we do. The good news is that there are more organizations dedicated to helping women connect with other sharp women than ever before. We've updated this list completely for 2026, cutting organizations that are no longer active and adding the communities where women are actually showing up right now.
National Communities and Networks
A private membership network for women senior leaders and executives, with 20,000+ members across five US clubhouses and a robust online platform. Offers peer circles, workshops, and events for women at the VP level and above. Attained unicorn status in 2022. If you're building toward the C-suite or already there, this is the most targeted senior women's community in the US.
Formerly Six Degrees Society, now rebranded as Second Degree Society. A national networking community for ambitious women with programming in NYC, Boston, Atlanta, LA, and more. Events range from career and personal branding workshops to lifestyle content. Good for mid-career professionals looking for warm, curated in-person connection.
A private community and PR ecosystem for entrepreneurial women, with a focus on amplifying the work of its members through media opportunities, grants, and curated events. Known for its warm, high-quality member base and strong emphasis on women actually supporting each other's work rather than just networking. Selective application process.
Lean In Circles - Small groups - Global
Lean In Circles are small peer groups of women who meet regularly to support each other's career growth. Thousands of circles exist globally across industries, career stages, and demographics. You can find an existing circle or start your own. Good for consistent, ongoing connection rather than one-off events.
Tech and Industry-Specific Communities
A professional community specifically for women in tech, with 100,000+ members. Elpha is known for its unusually candid conversations about salary, workplace dynamics, and career strategy. Members post anonymously or publicly, share job opportunities, and get genuine peer advice. Free to join. One of the most active and honest professional communities for women in the industry.
Tech Ladies - Women in tech - Job board + community
For women and non-binary people in tech fields. Members get access to exclusive job postings, invites to events, and a supportive community for career advice. Free to join at the basic level with paid tiers for additional access. Trans and non-binary folks are explicitly welcome.
For women and non-binary people in computer science and engineering, or anyone who wants to close the gender gap in tech. Girls Who Code invites anyone regardless of experience level to volunteer, facilitate a club, and help shape the next generation of women in the field. A way to build meaningful professional relationships through a shared mission.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
A platform for small business owners with 1.5 million+ members across all 50 states. Beyond the community, Hello Alice has distributed $50M+ in grants and offers accelerator programs, guides, and events. Free to join. Especially strong for women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses looking for both connection and funding.
A large Facebook community for female business owners to connect, share resources, and support one another. Hosts free live trainings on social media marketing, branding, PR, and online marketing. Most active as a Facebook group, which works well for quick questions and real-time peer support.
A supportive, judgment-free Facebook community for entrepreneurs who are also raising a family. More than 30,000 members. A practical, warm space for the specific juggle of building a business alongside parenthood.
The community you invest in tends to reflect back what you put in. Whatever your industry or stage, showing up consistently in one or two of these spaces — rather than surface-level participating in ten — is where the real relationships get built. For more on how to make those connections actually count, this guide to networking your way to a job you want covers the follow-through that most people skip.
And if you are looking for mentorship specifically, this piece on finding a mentor as a woman of color addresses the specific challenges of finding representation in the rooms you are trying to get into.
The community you've been looking for is right here. Get the Girlboss Daily for career, networking, and the coverage that keeps you connected to what matters.
