Women on Boards CIC® was established in 2023 with a clear purpose: to create fairer opportunities for women in business and entrepreneurship to access leadership and board positions.

Since 2023, that purpose has remained constant.

Our understanding of how lasting change happens has evolved.

Through national research, strategic partnerships and conversations with entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers and business leaders, we have reached an important conclusion;

Lasting change cannot be achieved by supporting individuals alone.

It also depends upon the strength of the organisations within which they work.

Our ambition is no longer simply to create opportunities for women.

It is to help create stronger organisations that make those opportunities possible.

We believe better leadership, stronger governance and healthier organisational cultures benefit everyone.

Women + Businesses + Communities + The wider economy

The next stage of our work focuses on creating practical infrastructure that enables organisations to strengthen capability, demonstrate good governance and contribute to fairer, more sustainable growth.

From ambition to national influence

Women on Boards CIC® was founded with a clear purpose: to strengthen the leadership, governance and influence of women across the UK’s SME and micro-business economy.

What began as a partnership between two founders has developed into a growing platform for research, leadership development, strategic collaboration and policy engagement.

From our launch at the House of Lords to our national Think Tank and regional networks, each stage has helped build the evidence, relationships and credibility needed to create meaningful change.

Our work now extends beyond supporting individual women into leadership and board roles.

We are helping to shape the wider systems in which SMEs operate, connecting business experience with research, governance practice and policy.

Through collaboration with entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, public bodies and strategic partners, we are building practical routes towards stronger leadership, more equitable governance and sustainable growth.

Our journey is measured not simply by the milestones we reach, but by the lasting infrastructure, influence and opportunities we create.

Collaborative Partner

Research Partner

Meet The Founders

The founders of Women on Boards CIC® have a long-standing professional friendship, having been accountability partners in business for years. Their bond strengthened through mutual respect, support and shared goals, leading to both successfully selling and exiting their separate businesses in 2023.

Despite their different skill sets and unique entrepreneurial journeys, their shared ethos for empowering women in leadership has forged a partnership like no other and together they form a complete picture of impact, strength and collaborative working.

This blend of diverse expertise and a unified vision inspired them to launch Women on Boards CIC® in 2023, with the mission to support and empower other women to secure board positions and leadership roles.

Payal Walker

Founder & Co-CEO

| Chair | Advisory Board |

Strategic Partnerships
Entrepreneur & Leadership Mentor

Sandra Wiggins

Founder & Co-CEO

| Board of Directors | Non-Executive Director |

Entrepreneur & SME Mentor
Critical Friend & Leadership Coach
Transformational Change Specialist
ESG Lead

Our Advisory Board

Women on Boards CIC® are incredibly proud to introduce their Board.

Our Advisory Board drives our organisational growth through clear goals, diverse expertise, and structured meetings, including effective governance, performance metrics, open communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Key skills include industry knowledge, strategic thinking, financial acumen, leadership, networking, problem-solving, communication, innovation, risk management, and ethical judgment.

These elements ensure the board offers invaluable guidance and support, aligning with WOBCIC's organisation's strategic vision.