A community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost.
This is where entrepreneurs, employees, executives, and every woman in between is welcome to have a seat. Because we’re more than one thing. But we can’t think bigger if we continue segmenting ourselves into like meet like—by job title, industry, and the promise of a linear career path.
The word 'community' has become commoditized.The loudest people on the internet have adopted it and diluted its meaning to low cost, low barrier to entry, and (unfortunately) low value. That’s because many entrepreneurs see community as a means to scale—the quickest way to make more $$$ without exerting more effort.
But when you build for scale, relationships become the last priority. Because relationships aren’t scalable.
A monthly meet-up isn’t a community. An online program isn’t a community. A podcast isn’t a community.
Deep connection comes from highly skilled curation, intentional facilitation, and stripping back unnecessary noise. That’s what you’ll get from The Bench.
IntroducingThe Bench
No one does it alone. Just like winning athletes, if we’re going to meet our potential, we need a deep bench. People who can give us perspective, cheer us on, and provide much-needed backup when we need a break.
The Bench is a community built for women of substance—those of us who have joined groups, masterminds, and networking events but are exhausted by the transactional nature of them. We want to go deep rather than wide. We want to show up as we are. And we don’t want to have to commit all of our time or salary to do so.
YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES ACCESS TO:
01. Monthly Huddles
The cornerstone of our community is our monthly huddles. Each month we’ll focus on a topic relevant to women at work, break into hot seat groups, and participate in a give/get offer. Even if you aren’t sure you have something you need support with, talking it out will give you perspective you didn’t know you needed.
Value: $2400
02. Monthly Pitches
We need to talk about ourselves more. And we need to do it before an issue becomes so big we’re overwhelmed by it. Each month members will be selected to present to the community. Ask a question, pitch a new service, or share your screen to get feedback. This is your chance to get comfortable asking for the support you need.
Value: $1200
03. 1:1Call With Kim
When you sign up, we’ll have a private 30-minute call to discuss your goals and what you hope to get out of the community. You’ll also be asked to name one big idea you’ll like to pursue that we can help you achieve. Use the rest of our time together to pick Kim’s brain and/or get feedback on an area of your work.
Value: $300
04. Live Summit
Your membership also includes a ticket to The Bench Annual Summit, tentatively scheduled for November 2025. This will be two days of group sessions, interactive outdoor activities, and a local give-back opportunity.
Value: $750
05. Community HQ
We’re eager to escape the noise of social media, so we’ve chosen Circle a community-first platform, to host our directory, chats, resources, calls, and recordings. No need to search your inbox or keep track of multiple logins. Everything you need stays in one place.
Value: $600
06. The Roster, a Community Magazine
The Roster is a semiannual magazine that features an interview with each member, contact information, and little known facts that put each woman in the spotlight. Imagine Condé Nast Traveler meets In The Company of Women.
Value: $300
07. Private Podcast
Who really rewatches Zoom recordings? No one. If you miss a call, you’ll be able to pop in your ear buds and listen to the conversation when your schedule allows.
Value: $200
PLUS Founding Member Perks
Founding members are locked into discounted pricing for life. Plus, you’ll always have access to:
Direct message all members and Kim
Local meetups announced throughout the year, including Kim’s intimate book launch events (did someone say dinner party?)
Early event invitations and sign-ups
Be a guest on Kim’s new podcast: Why Is Nobody Talking About This?
With such a frenetic pace of life, we don’t need another thing to DO. We need a place to BE.
What You Can Expect From The Bench:
RECIPROCITY IS OUR RALLYING CRY.
You will not be the smartest person in the room. What a relief. Bench women deliver high-quality work and highly valuable thinking. We’re here to give and get and our programming supports this through action, attention, and witnessing presence.
BUILT FOR CONNECTION, ABOVE ALL ELSE.
It feels good to be known. But networking is too surface level. Masterminds are too heavy handed. What you’re looking for is somewhere in the middle. The Bench brings together women of substance and eliminates attractive distractions like content libraries and challenges that make us feel like we’re moving forward but are actually just keeping us in our own heads.
SUCCESSFUL WOMEN WHO DON’T NEED A SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING TO PROVE IT.
Though revenue numbers and vanity metrics are publicly applauded, we know success isn’t found in the numbers. Being around women who are creating their own definition of success helps us see what’s possible without comparison or the need to prove our worth.
TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT MATTERS.
We’re going to talk about the things that others skirt around. Things like money (actual numbers!), caregiving, (im)balance in partnerships, receiving critical feedback, speaking up, and sharing your point of view when you know not everyone will agree.
HERE FOR THE SHIFT.
If you want something different, you must do something different. That might look like slowing down, stepping out of the shadows, or asking for more. If you feel something shifting in your life—whether work or personal—this is where you’re free to explore what could be on the other side.
Founder, Kim Wensel, MSW, MPH
Behind The Bench
Kim Wensel is a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur who has held key roles in nonprofits, academia, start-ups, and healthcare. For nine years she has worked with professionals making a shift in their work, whether through a mid-career pivot or their own business, often called upon for her unique ability to find clarity into chaos and communicate ideas effectively. 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 abandoning the career ladder, Kim lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
Show up as you are. Give what you can. Get what you need.
Intrigued, but still wondering whether The Bench is right for you? Here’s what we believe makes someone a good fit for our community:
Right for you if…
You’re in your second or third act (generally 10+ years in)
You’ve climbed the ladder and are no longer interested in hustling
You’ve had to shrink yourself to fit into your role, group, company, or industry
You are being called to lead but not in ways you’ve seen influencers or thought leaders doing it
You detest small talk
You have have lots of ideas but lack the support, time, or perspective to move them forward
You’re evolving or reinventing yourself
Not right for you if…
You want a group to be able to pop into from time to time, with low responsibility/obligation
You’re looking for a room with people a little further along so you can get their advice or an intro to someone they know
You’re looking for a group to generate leads or referrals quickly
You’re uncomfortable speaking on calls and would rather listen in
You can’t commit for a year
You’re energized by the idea of learning how to make your next $10k, $100k, or $1 million
Limited Time Founder’s Rate
Registration Closes April 11, 2025
Yes, it’s a business expense.
$199/month
for 12 months
$2100
one time payment (save $288)
Want to use your professional development budget to pay for The Bench?
Download The Bench Fact Sheet.
* 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.
Take a peek
inside the community…
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 facetime is the only way to get there.
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We ask that you give us 2.5 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. Most likely, that will put calls at 11:00am or 12:00pm ET.
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We’ll host a few live events throughout the year as a bonus to the virtual connections we’ll be making. These include informal meetups and more formal events like Kim’s book launch and the Annual Summit. While we encourage everyone to attend as many events as possible and there is no additional charge to do so, they won’t always line up with everyone’s schedule. We totally understand that.
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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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While we’re in start-up mode we’re unable to offer any scholarships. However, as 2025 progresses, we expect to have sponsorships available for memberships to The Bench. Please email hello@kimwensel.com to get on a waitlist for this if you’re interested.
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.
Once your membership is submitted, you’ll have immediate access to The Bench online platform.
3
Get Started
Log in and get all of the information you need, including how to schedule your Welcome Call.
Applications will not open again until Fall 2025.