BREAKTHROUGH
LEADERS

Join us on this journey of discovery, alongside influential thought leaders, you will be immersed in regional national and international settings of meaning.

START

March 2026

DURATION

14 days, residential over 10 months

SIZE

Maximum size is up to 30 people

INVESTMENT

$29,500.00 + GST
14 days, residential over 10 months

Across the last decade Global Women thought leaders have long advocated for practical and targeted strategies and policy reform to address the multiple and complex barriers to women’s progression and economic security. Global Women continues that legacy as a mirror of today and an invitation to imagine tomorrow with provocation and courage.

The invitation to be part of the Breakthrough Leaders Programme is a frontier of self-determination. We have designed a programme that is distinctive for the infusion of intergenerational aspirations, like a patch work quilt, iteratively stitching together the wins of the past the intelligence of the present, the knowing of the future to be more than the sum of parts.

The implicit challenge is to temporarily displace everything we know about organisational and leadership principles and models so that our imaginations are unconstrained. The explicit challenge is to understand how the past, present and future precedents can be interpreted, embodied and encoded within an organisational form.

Turning up the volume relies on us asking ourselves poignant questions that none of us yet know the answers to, debating perspectives and trusting in ourselves. These questions endeavour to discern deeply practical insight from the past, present, future precedents, which may transpose directly to redesigning our organisational form, not at all or require some degree of bespoke fusion with other knowledge and practices. Nation-builders intentionally engage in building organisations that will endure for generations, that are derived from templates, knowledge and values that create a context in which self-determination can and does flourish.

Programme Guide

Foundations for Breakthrough Leadership
Tuesday, March 10 – Friday, March 13

Political Landscapes: Parliament,
Power, & Breakthrough Strategies
Monday 4 – Tuesday, May 5

Seeds of Change:
Cultivating Regenerative Leadership
Tuesday, June 30 – Thursday, July 2

Pacific Horizons:
Leadership in a World of Possibilities
Sunday 6 – Thursday, September 10

Integrated Leadership: Blending the
Best for Breakthrough Success
Wednesday 25 – Thursday, November 26

What does success look like?

  • Through lived experiences, strengthened cultural competency to support leading inclusively – with a foundation in Te Ao Māori
  • Connections and shared learnings to evolve boldness and courage
  • Individual and collective power to do good for Aotearoa
  • Be inspired and equipped to be agents of change
  • A stronger innovative and agile leadership tool kit

Organisational benefits

  • Greater innovation and productivity
  • Improved financial performance
  • Competitive advantage
  • Strengthened thought leadership on inclusive cultures
  • Closing the gender gap

For wāhine who:

  • Want to do good, inspire change, challenge the norm and are up for a life changing journey.
  • Have influence, are managing teams and/or are motivated and need a challenge to move outside of their comfort zone to get breakthrough results in their leadership
  • Are curious, can challenge their peers and are backed by an executive sponsor with the intent to accelerate their leadership.
  • Have a vested interest in actively supporting the attraction, development, and retention of diverse women.
  • Have significant track record in the private, public, NFP, Iwi or wider community

We have navigated uncertainty many times, the resources
and tools might be different, but strength of mind grit and
determination will see us live well.

This will need people, mindsets and capabilities to navigate the challenges and conceive what new might look like. To create leaders of the future, we need to challenge our leaders to think differently.

Get in touch

We are now taking applications for Breakthrough Leaders 2025! Spaces are limited.

Together, we can create a more equitable and thriving future for women in Aotearoa New Zealand. Join us as we celebrate this milestone and continue to break barriers, inspire change, and empower women to lead with confidence

We’re currently finalising updates across the Global Women website to align with our refreshed programmes and new initiatives. This includes testing new forms and ensuring all pages are fully functional and up to date. The updated site will be live shortly, providing a seamless experience for members, partners, and participants. We appreciate your patience while we complete this final testing phase.