How We'll Measure Impact
A presidency without measurement
is a presidency without accountability.
This page describes the dashboard the chapter will use to track its progress during this term. The intent is honest measurement — including measurement of things that may not all improve in a single year. That is the point.
The Philosophy
"Success will not only be measured by how many members join NAWBO, but by how many women-owned businesses grow, lead, collaborate, and gain access to opportunities because they were part of this organization."
The Dashboard
Nine dimensions the chapter will track
Membership growth
Total membership change, retention rate, new member conversion, lapsed member reactivation, and growth tracked by category — including women of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, businesses under five years old, corporate members, and established businesses. The strategic goal is not just more members, but more engaged and diverse members with long-term retention.
Member engagement
Event attendance patterns, percentage of members attending at least one event quarterly, committee participation, volunteer engagement, mentorship participation, and ambassador program participation. Engaged members versus passive members — often more meaningful than total membership count.
Economic impact
Contracts won through NAWBO connections. Business collaborations formed. Referrals exchanged. Certifications obtained. Capital and funding accessed. Speaking opportunities generated. Corporate introductions facilitated. Procurement meetings scheduled. Jobs created by member businesses.
Sponsorship & partnership impact
Multi-year partnership commitments. Number of active corporate partners. Strategic partnerships created. Partner event participation. Supplier diversity collaborations. Corporate-to-member engagement opportunities. The high-value metric: how many direct opportunities partners created for members.
Leadership development
New leaders developed. Committee chair growth. Board pipeline participation. Mentor and mentee matches. Emerging leader participation. Speaker development opportunities. The long-term goal is sustainable leadership infrastructure beyond any single presidency.
Event success
Attendance growth, first-time attendee conversion, sponsor participation, post-event satisfaction, business connections made, follow-up meetings scheduled. Reframing the central question from "did members enjoy the event" to "did the event help members grow."
Brand visibility & influence
Media mentions, community partnership invitations, public speaking opportunities, policy engagement, social media growth, executive and government participation in chapter events. NAWBO Columbus positioned as a regional economic force.
Member value & ROI
Asked directly to members at regular intervals: Has NAWBO helped grow your business? Did you gain meaningful relationships? Have you gained opportunities? Has membership increased your visibility? Would you recommend membership?
Foundation & community impact
Scholarships awarded. Grants distributed. Businesses supported. Workforce initiatives launched. Community partnerships created. Educational access provided.
The Discipline
How the dashboard will work
The intent is a quarterly leadership dashboard tracking these nine dimensions, reviewed by the board and shared publicly with members at intervals through the year.
Not everything will move in the right direction every quarter. The honest reporting of what is working and what is not is part of the discipline.