Our Commitment

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VEST was created to support women as they navigate their careers, build businesses, lead organizations, and pursue opportunities.

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We recognize that women have historically experienced unequal access to professional networks, leadership opportunities, capital, mentorship, and other resources that can influence career and economic advancement.

 

VEST exists to help close those gaps by creating access to relationships, resources, development opportunities, and a trusted community.

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We are committed to building a community where women from different backgrounds, experiences, industries, career paths, identities, and perspectives are treated with dignity and respect and have a meaningful opportunity to participate.

 

What Equity Means at VEST

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Equity does not always mean treating everyone exactly the same.

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People enter professional spaces with different experiences, networks, resources, responsibilities, and barriers. We seek to understand those differences and thoughtfully design programs, partnerships, and opportunities that expand access and participation.

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Equity also does not mean guaranteeing equal outcomes.

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Membership in VEST does not guarantee access to a particular person, opportunity, job, investment, introduction, leadership position, program, or business outcome.

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Our responsibility is to create meaningful access and administer the opportunities we control thoughtfully and fairly.

 

A Community for Women

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VEST is intentionally designed around the experiences and advancement of women.

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Our community welcomes all women, including cisgender women, transgender women, queer women, and women across sexual orientations and identities.

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Within that shared purpose, there is tremendous diversity.

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Our members have different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, industries, professions, socioeconomic experiences, family structures, cultures, beliefs, political perspectives, and life experiences.

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We believe those differences strengthen the community.

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Membership in VEST does not require agreement with a particular political, social, cultural, or ideological viewpoint. We encourage curiosity, thoughtful conversation, constructive disagreement, and respect across differences.

 

Access and Opportunity

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VEST works to expand access to:

• Professional and peer networks.

• Leadership and professional development.

• Mentorship and coaching.

• Business and career resources.

• Relationships and introductions.

• Information and learning opportunities.

• Community and peer support.

• Opportunities that may contribute to professional or economic advancement.

 

Not every opportunity will be relevant or available to every member. Some programs, events, partnerships, scholarships, or other opportunities may have specific eligibility criteria, capacity limitations, geographic requirements, professional requirements, funding restrictions, or intended populations.

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When VEST controls the selection process, we seek to communicate relevant criteria clearly and apply them fairly and consistently.

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Inclusion and Belonging

 

We want VEST to be a community where members can participate as themselves.

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Members should not feel that they must share the same background, experiences, opinions, career path, business goals, or worldview in order to belong.

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We encourage members to listen to one another, ask questions, share their experiences, challenge ideas respectfully, and remain open to perspectives different from their own.

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Inclusion does not require agreement.

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Good-faith disagreement, constructive criticism, and difficult conversations are part of a healthy community. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, threats, or retaliation are not.

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Behavioral expectations are addressed more fully in the VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct.

 

Fairness in Membership and Programming

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VEST seeks to administer membership, programming, member opportunities, and community resources in a thoughtful and consistent manner.

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Membership applications and program opportunities may consider criteria relevant to the purpose, capacity, and intended audience of the particular offering.

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Acceptance into VEST membership does not guarantee acceptance into every VEST program or opportunity.

 

Similarly, participation in a VEST program does not guarantee an introduction, speaking opportunity, leadership role, employment opportunity, investment, funding, or other benefit.

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When judgment or discretion is part of a selection process, we seek to use relevant criteria and avoid decisions based on unlawful discrimination, favoritism, or retaliation.

 

Accessibility

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VEST seeks to make its programs and community reasonably accessible.

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Members who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in a VEST program, event, or activity are encouraged to contact us at MembershipTeam@VESTHer.co.

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We will consider accommodation requests individually based on the circumstances, nature of the activity, available resources, and applicable law.

 

Partners, Speakers, and Opportunities

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VEST works with companies, foundations, community organizations, speakers, coaches, investors, sponsors, and other partners.

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We seek to work with people and organizations that can meaningfully contribute to our members and are consistent with the integrity of the VEST community.

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Partner-supported opportunities may include eligibility requirements, objectives, or restrictions established by the partner or funding source. When appropriate, VEST will communicate those requirements to members.

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A partnership, sponsorship, speaking opportunity, or participation in a VEST event does not necessarily mean that VEST endorses every position, product, service, or viewpoint of the individual or organization involved.

 

Data and Learning

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VEST may collect demographic, participation, feedback, and other information to better understand whom our community reaches, evaluate our programs, fulfill legitimate reporting requirements, and identify opportunities for improvement.

 

When we request demographic information, we seek to be clear about why we are collecting it and whether providing it is required or voluntary.

 

Personal information will be handled in accordance with the VEST Privacy Policy and applicable law.

 

We may use aggregated or de-identified information to evaluate participation, identify patterns, and improve our programs and community.

 

Non-Discrimination

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VEST is committed to administering its membership, programs, and opportunities in accordance with applicable nondiscrimination laws.

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We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment based on characteristics protected by applicable law.

 

Our commitment to nondiscrimination works alongside VEST's mission and its ability to develop lawful programs, partnerships, or initiatives designed to address particular barriers or serve particular communities.

 

Raising a Concern

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If you believe a VEST policy, practice, selection process, or program creates an inappropriate barrier to participation or is inconsistent with this policy, we encourage you to raise the concern.

 

Please contact:

VEST Membership Team
MembershipTeam@VESTHer.co

 

If the concern involves harassment, discrimination, threats, retaliation, or another person's conduct, please use the reporting process outlined in the VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct.

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VEST prohibits retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

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Accountability

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Equity and inclusion require ongoing attention.

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VEST may periodically review member feedback, participation, programming, accessibility, selection practices, partnerships, and other relevant information to identify where we are doing well and where we can improve.

 

As VEST grows and our community evolves, we may update our programs and practices accordingly.

 

Our goal is not to create a community where everyone thinks alike.

 

Our goal is to create a community where women with different identities, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives can access meaningful relationships and opportunities, contribute to one another's growth, disagree respectfully, and participate with dignity.

 

That is the community we are committed to building together.