ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN
A private community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost.
Applications open through September 17, 2025
Who's showing up for you while you're holding it together for everyone else?Thinking back on the last five years you’ve accomplished so much. That person is almost unrecognizable to you. To get here you’ve had to put in the work. And honestly, you’re exhausted and a little bit isolated.
Sure, you have your work friends and your best friends, your partner and your family. But those aren’t the people you want to go to with work questions anymore. They’re supportive but sometimes they just don’t get it.
You tried networking and, just as you expected, it felt shallow. You looked into masterminds but the seven-figure promises no longer energize you. And social media? It isn’t the enemy, but it’s also not enough.
You want depth, honesty, and the ability to show up in the messy middle.
Could you navigate this season on your own? Of course. But how much are you willing to take on just to prove you can?
Just like athletes, high-achieving women need a deep bench. An inner circle that can see what we’re missing when we’re in it, keep us honest, and step in when we need a break.
Finally, a room where you don’t have to perform to be powerful.
The Bench is a curated space for thoughtful, driven women who don’t need one more thing to do. They want a place to be. This community is full of elevated individuals—deep thinkers who’ve lived, led, and maybe lost some of who they are along the way. We never doubt whether we can do something. We’ve simply started to ask, “Do I want to?”
We’re going deep (and off-the-record) on topics like navigating career and business transitions, life beyond the workday, money and ambition, what it takes to be seen and heard, and achieving a sustainable pace and capacity.
Our titles and industries vary widely, but what ties us together is that we’re all sensing a shift. Some of us are in an active pivot. Others are reconsidering what success looks like in this season. We know what isn’t working and appreciate having space to explore what’s next.
The value in our community is unmatched.
YOU’RE MUCH MORE THAN YOUR JOB TITLE.
WE GET THAT.
We cover it all—personal narrative and visibility, hiring and firing, setting boundaries with clients, and slowing down to be more creative. Bring your half-baked ideas, unpolished drafts, and “can I do this?” questions. Big leaps feel more achievable when you’re not the only one jumping.
WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Monthly Huddles
The cornerstone of The Bench is our monthly Huddle. We’ll gather around a specific topic like unimaginable goals and failure(!) and have breakout rooms to forge deeper connections. We also make a point to acknowledge wins and revisit open conversations and questions posted in the group chat.
90 minutes
Monthly Pitches
This is your chance to take center stage. Sign up for a monthly slot to get feedback on a new idea, practice presenting your IP, or get hot seat coaching. You’ll get twenty-five minutes to push past your growth edge with trusted peers who want you to succeed.
75 minutes
Private Threads
You won’t be able to show up to every call—sometimes life calls—and that’s why the group chats are valuable. Threads include Hype Squad, Ask For Help, and Topic of the Week. When something’s on your mind, this is the first place you’ll go to talk it out.
Plus…
Ticket to Annual Summit in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, November 6-7, 2025
Feature in The Bench Magazine, highlighting your story and contributions
Advance copy of Kim’s upcoming book, Chasing Yes
Quarterly guest workshops, including Future Selfie on September 15 with business and brand strategist, Sarah Ashman
Member-offered benefits like headshots, beta program access, and more
Here’s what our members
see inside the community…
Members have made power moves since joining, such as…
Having the best month in business ever
Pivoting business to be more aligned with her energy, interests, and impact she wants to make
Stepping in front of the camera for the first time in years
Quitting a job to have more bandwidth for herself and her family
Sharing signature workshop with the community to gain helpful insights
Taking three weeks off during the summer
Starting a Substack to share her perspective on topics that tie in to her bigger mission
Hiring an assistant to free up bandwidth
Pitching an idea for a side hustle and taking it to a product incubator
Speaking at a lunch and learn
Show up as you are. Give what you can. Get what you need.
Our founding members have set the standard for what it looks like when women support women. Here’s what we’ve found makes someone a great fit for The Bench…
Right for you if…
You’re sensing a shift in your career and/or life
You consider yourself mid-career with plenty of knowledge and impact left to make
You’ve always felt like you were built for something bigger
You’ve struggled to find your people—the ones you can be yourself around, even if you don’t have much in common on paper
You value perspective and accountability (hard truths don’t scare you)
You’re ready to step into a more visible leadership role, whether in your own business, through your message, or with your company
Not right for you if…
You need a referral group to get clients quickly
You’re looking for specific, measurable ROI on your membership
You don’t currently have the bandwidth to commit 3 hours per months to calls, engagement, and relationship building
You’re craving a curriculum to follow that will teach you exactly how to reach your goals
It’s a priority to build connections within your own industry
You’re energized by the idea of learning how to make your next $10k, $100k, or $1 million
Kim Wensel, Founder
Behind The Bench
Kim Wensel is a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur who’s held key roles in nonprofits, academia, start-ups, and healthcare. For nine years she’s worked with women making a shift in their work, whether pivoting their own business or reinventing their professional presence. She’s called upon for her unique ability to potential spot and help the people behind brands step into the spotlight. In 2012, Kim received her Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan. Currently writing her first book about the messy middle of career change, Kim lives in Pittsburgh with her family and rescue dog.
Want a deeper dive into The Bench?
Listen to a recent episode of Kim’s podcast, Why Is Nobody Talking About This, where the roles are reversed and Kim is interviewed by Bench founding member, Lane.
Pricing & Commitment
Registration Closes September 17, 2025
After this, The Bench will not open again until spring 2026.
And, yes, membership is a business expense.
$275/month
for 12 months
$2900
one time payment (save $400)
* Memberships are only available on an annual basis. This allows for the time, space, and conditions to build meaningful connections, work through shifts, and build your professional presence.
FAQs-
Quite frankly, because the workplace was built for and by men. Research shows that women remain underrepresented at every stage of the career pipeline. The Bench is built and facilitated specifically to address these needs—for women and women-identifying individuals.
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In short, no. The power of this community is in the women who make up it and the commitment they show to each other. We are not set up as a chat room or learning portal, where you can pop in when you need something. Strong connections are built on trust and face time is the only way to get there.
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We ask that you give us three hours a month. If you can do this, you will be transformed by what you get in return—a return on your investment and much more.
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No, we ask for all members of The Bench to commit for one year. The pricing structure has been set to be accessible to most women in business. If you find you can’t commit at this time, we suggest checking back later.
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Kim is located on the East Coast and will schedule calls to accommodate both European time zones and the West Coast. That puts most calls at 11:00am or 12:00pm ET.
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It may feel a bit awkward at first, but reaching out to have 1:1 conversations is the best way to do so. The live events will fuse relationships that have already been sparked, but as time goes on you’ll find you’re drawn to certain women in the community and we encourage you to take those friendships offline.
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We are happy to be able to offer one scholarship per enrolling class. The application for a scholarship seat is available here and will be reviewed as a whole after registration closes on September 17, 2025.
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Not every member of The Bench will be able to attend the Summit. While it’s a great way to meet in person, we take special consideration in forging relationships between members well before this event and throughout the year. There will be other informal meet-ups available during your membership, as well.
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That would be Bench member, Michelle McAfee of Michelle Lindsay Photography. We had a local meet-up at Studio 428 and she offered to take photos for everyone. This is the generosity you can expect inside The Bench!
Next Steps1
Apply
Fill out an application. We’ll review it within two business days.
Have questions? Email hello@kimwensel.com
2
Secure Your Spot
If you’re a good fit, we’ll send a link and you’ll have the option to pay monthly or make a one-time, discounted payment.
We’d love to see you inside!
3
Get Started
Log in and introduce yourself! As soon as you sign up you’ll have access to the community, calls, and special events.
Membership term: October 2025 - September 2026