About the program
1. What is the Women in Business (WIB) Founder to CEO Program?
WIB Founder to CEO Program is a Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) initiative for 20 Brisbane women founders in a mid-early growth phase, who want to evolve their role as the business grows. It is designed to help change how they lead, share responsibility and make decisions, while building the people, systems and ways of working needed for continued growth.
2. When does it start and how long does it run?
The WIB Founder to CEO Program runs for five months, from February to June 2027. It opens with a launch and onboarding event on 9 February 2027 and closes with a graduation showcase on 15 June 2027. Applications to be a part of the Program open on 26 October 2026 and close on 27 November 2026.
3. How is the program delivered?
The WIB Founder to CEO Program combines a number of integrated elements, each designed to turn learning into action in your business:
- Facilitated workshops: three integrated workshops based on behavioural science, designed to help you understand how your role needs to evolve, practise new leadership behaviours, and identify the organisational changes that can support the business beyond you.
- Individual coaching: two virtual sessions with an experienced leadership coach
- Virtual momentum group sessions: three facilitated small-group sessions of six to seven businesses, aligned to the workshop journey. Participants share progress, work through implementation challenges and learn from each other.
- Graduation showcase: participants share their Founder to CEO transition story and insights.
Program materials and resources to support the program will be available through a dedicated online platform.
4. What will my business get out of it?
- Tailored one-on-one coaching to help you identify your Founder to CEO leadership focus and reflect on your progress.
- Practical opportunities to test new leadership behaviours, including how you share responsibility, decision-making and accountability.
- Greater clarity about how your role needs to evolve as your business grows.
- A clearer view of the systems, processes and ways of working that could reduce reliance on you as the founder.
- A practical 90-day plan to continue your Founder to CEO transition beyond the Program.
- A supportive network of women founders navigating similar leadership and business growth challenges.
- Be women-led business with at least 50% of the business owned by women
- Be headquartered within the Brisbane City Council local government area.
- Have annual revenue to $500,000 to $1.5 million+
- Be in operation for more than 2 years
- Ideally have between 5 and 20 FTE employees.
- Submit the online Application Form between 26 October and 27 November 2026.
- Complete the BEDA Business Compass diagnostic.
- 26 October 2026: Applications open
- 5th November 2026: Growth Readiness Forum, Brisbane Business Hub
- 27 November 2026: Applications close
- Early December 2026: Applicants notified
- 9 February 2027: Program launch
- February to June 2027: Program delivery
- 15 June 2027: Graduation showcase
5. Has the program run before?
Founder to CEO is a new Program for 2027, building on BEDA’s Women in Business Early Growth Program piloted in February to June 2026. Learnings and participant feedback from the pilot have helped shape the new Program, with a stronger focus on the leadership transition that occurs as founders and their businesses grow.
6. What have previous Women in Business participants said?
“The Women in Business Early Growth Program gave me space to step back, look at the bigger picture and think more strategically about growth, sustainability and leadership. The biggest change so far has been shifting my mindset from founder-operator to strategic leader.” - Green Fox Studio, 2026 WIB Early Growth
“I would absolutely encourage anyone considering the program to make the time to step away from their business and participate. It's an invaluable opportunity to connect with other business owners, step outside your own bubble, and hear how different leaders approach the challenges and opportunities of running a business. The practical tools, resources and conversations throughout the program are things you can take back and share with your team, creating value well beyond the sessions themselves.” - You Physio and Health, 2026 WIB Early Growth
“Being able to table your ideas in a safe and collaborative environment is incredibly valuable. It reduces the feeling of isolation that can come with running a business, and I believe that's reason enough to consider the program.” - Management Group, 2026 WIB Early Growth
“A valuable opportunity to meet other business owners in a similar stage of business maturity/growth and carve out time to think and work ‘on the business’.” - Davy Partners, 2026 WIB Early Growth
Is it right for my business?
7. Who is WIB Founder to CEO for?
WIB Founder to CEO Program is for women owners, founders and managing directors of established Brisbane businesses who are looking to navigate early growth by working through the leadership shift from being the primary source of value in the business to creating the conditions for others and systems to create value.
To be eligible, your business must:
8. Is the program industry-specific?
No. WIB Founder to CEO is open to eligible businesses across all industries. The Program focuses on the leadership challenges that can arise as a business grows, while providing opportunities to learn from the experiences and perspectives of other women founders.
9. How do I know if I’m ready for Founder to CEO?
WIB Founder to CEO is designed for women founders whose businesses are growing and whose role is becoming more complex. You may be ready if you are finding that too much still relies on you, you want others in the business to take greater responsibility or make more decisions, or you recognise that the way you have led the business to date may need to evolve as it grows.
You don’t need to have all the answers before applying. What matters is that you are willing to reflect on how you lead, test different leadership behaviours and apply changes in your business throughout the Program.
10. Do I need to have a management team?
No. You do not need to have a formal management or leadership team to participate. However, the Program is best suited to businesses where the founder is already leading other people and has opportunities to test different ways of delegating responsibility, sharing decision-making and creating accountability within the business.
11. What is the Growth Readiness Forum?
The Growth Readiness Forum will be held at the Brisbane Business Hub on 5 November 2026. It is an opportunity to learn more about BEDA’s business growth programs, hear from business leaders and better understand which pathway may be right for you. Attendance at the Growth Readiness Forum is optional and does not form part of the WIB Founder to CEO application process. Register here.
12. What if my business isn’t eligible for WIB Founder to CEO?
If your business doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria for WIB Founder to CEO, you can still access business support through the Brisbane Business Hub. This includes workshops and business events, mentoring, online resources and the BEDA Business Compass, which can help connect you with support relevant to your business stage and needs. Eligible established businesses preparing to pursue a significant growth opportunity may also consider BEDA’s Pathfinder Growth Ready Program.
What it takes
13. How much time will it take?
Plan for 50 to 60 hours across the five-month program. This includes all scheduled Program sessions and events, plus time between sessions to test new leadership behaviours and apply changes in your business.
14. Who from my business should attend?
If successful, the founder nominated in the application is expected to attend all Program sessions, as each stage builds on the one before.
15. Do I need to attend every session?
As a fully subsidised program, successful applicants are expected to commit to the full Program journey. Workshops, Momentum Groups and coaching sessions build on each other, so consistent participation is important. Please review the Program Schedule in the Program Guidelines before applying.
16. What happens if I miss a session?
One-on-one coaching sessions may be rescheduled with prior notice, subject to availability. All other Program sessions are held on fixed dates and will not be recorded.
17. Where is the program held?
The Program launch, workshops and graduation showcase will be held at the Brisbane Business Hub, Level 20, 69 Ann St Brisbane. Momentum groups and coaching will be delivered virtually.
Cost
18. Is there a fee?
No. BEDA fully subsidises the cost of participating in the WIB Founder to CEO Program. Participants are expected to commit their time to attending Program activities and applying their learning in their business.
Applying
19. How do I apply?
Before applying, review the Program Guidelines to check your eligibility and the Program Schedule.
There are two steps to complete your application:
Both steps must be completed for your application to be considered.
Start your application
20. Can I save my application and come back to it?
Yes. You can save your progress and return to complete your application before the application closing date. Follow the instructions in the application form to receive the link you will need to return to your saved application.
Remember, you will also need to complete the BEDA Business Compass to finalise your application.
21. What are the key dates?
22. How many places are available?
There are 20 places available for eligible Brisbane women founders.
23. How will applications be assessed?
A selection panel comprising BEDA staff will assess eligible applications based on the information provided in the Application Form and BEDA Business Compass.
This includes your business’s current stage and future aspirations, the leadership and growth challenges you are navigating, how your role needs to evolve, and your readiness to apply the Program’s learning in your business.
24. When will I be notified?
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in December 2026.
25. What happens once I’m accepted?
If you're offered a place in the WIB Founder to CEO Program, you'll be asked to accept your offer and sign a Participant Agreement setting out the Program terms, conditions and schedule. You'll then commence the Program at the launch and onboarding event on 9 February 2027 and receive access to the online platform containing Program information and resources.
Participants who complete the Program and end-of-Program survey will be recognised at the graduation showcase and receive a certificate of completion.
Still have questions?
Contact the Brisbane Business Hub team at [email protected]
