Chances are you’ve heard the song, “Who Runs the World (GIRLS)” by Beyonce. Think of that song and then imagine all the incredible women in the world juggling chronic illness, their careers, and their personal lives. It’s no small feat.

Until recently, there wasn’t a group to celebrate and support us. But now that’s changed thanks to the Chronic Boss Collective. It’s the first and only professional membership designed for ambitious businesswomen living with chronic health conditions to help women dream big in their careers while prioritizing their health without tradeoffs. The international networking membership includes monthly in-person and virtual programming rooted in three pillars: professional development, connection, and wellness. 

This incredible group is the brainchild of Lilly Stairs, a well-respected patient advocate and entrepreneur. At the age of 19, Lilly was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Making the concept become reality

The concept for Chronic Boss Collective had been on Lilly’s heart long before everything came into fruition. As an ambitious businesswoman who prioritizes her health and self-care, she had yet to find a space that holds these two statements to be simultaneously true. So, she created it.

“Throughout my career, I’ve met remarkable women whose lives have been turned upside down by a chronic condition, but they choose to keep going. They choose to give back. They choose ambition in the face of adversity. Every time I encountered a new woman who fit this profile, I couldn’t help but wonder how powerful it would be to get them in a network together,” said Lilly.

Because of her unique lens as a driven businesswoman living with chronic conditions and working in healthcare, she identified a gap that most people didn’t realize existed.

“For the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of watching extraordinary women transform their struggle into their strength. There’s an undeniable magic to these women living with chronic conditions who choose ambition. By harnessing that collective power, the Chronic Boss Collective is taking off like a rocketship.”

Currently there are 100 Founding Members. There’s an open enrollment period going on right now and new members are being accepted. Lilly tells me she expects to triple the membership over the course of this year. You can learn more and apply on the CBC website.”

Let’s talk Member Benefits

The Collective Membership is jam packed with benefits designed to help you level up in your health and wealth. Rooted in professional development, connection, and wellness, the Chronic Boss Collective offers the following benefits:

✔ Chronic Boss Mastermind

✔ Boss Boosts: Professional Development 

✔ Boss Breaks: Wellness Events

✔ Monthly in Person Meetings (Boston Only)

✔ Private Online Community 

✔ Member Directory

✔ Member Feature 

✔ Affiliate Program

✔ Exclusive CBC Curated Resources

Detailed Benefits

Private Community

A custom online platform is complete with a private member directory, resource library, and buzzing chat rooms for you to network away with fellow ambitious members. 

Chronic Boss Mastermind

Virtual mastermind with the entire membership! This jam-packed event includes:

• Kickoff: Led by our Founder designed to amp you up and set intentions to get after your health and career goals this month.
• Networking: Expand your reach and visibility and deepen your connections with the Chronic Boss Collective membership
• Mastermind: Opportunity to submit a challenge you’re facing ahead of the meeting and then break into small groups to harness the power of the collective and mastermind it.
• “Boss Round”: Lightning round of your top “ask” to get support where you need it most!

Boss Boosts: Professional Development 

Monthly Boss Boost webinars lead by members and industry leaders presenting in their “Zone of Genius” designed to help you level up in your career. Think building your brand, negotiating your salary, starting a business while living with a chronic condition…and so much more.

Connection

Monthly in-person meet-up for chapter-based members – a mix of networking and fun! 

Boss Breaks: Wellness 

Quarterly wellness event centered on taking care of you. From mindful movement to gluten-free bake-alongs!

Member Spotlight

Get featured on the CBC social media and have the exclusive opportunity to contribute to media stories.

Resources

Proven methods, tools, and guides to help you level up in your career while maintaining your health.

Affiliate Program

Earn 10% commission when you refer new members to join!”

The priceless power of community

The Collective launched this past January (2023), and it is remarkable the impact it is already making on the lives of members.

“Every day, members are buzzing about the magic happening in Chronic Boss Collective. Women are connecting online and IRL to give each other valuable health support and share their best career and business advice. Our conversations skip the small talk and get straight to a point of vulnerability. The coolest part is that now our members are collaborating on projects that will make a real difference in people’s lives, like mental health resources and patient platforms.”

While CBC is seeking women who are ambitious, high achievers, and making an impact, fitting that description does not mean you have to be working as a full-time professional or running a large-scale business.

“For example, stay at home moms and chronic illness advocates who have monetized their advocacy work or built a side hustle (think Etsy shop, Amazon storefront, social media influencer, etc.) could be fabulous members,” said Lilly.

Requirements and cost to participate

The Collective is an exclusive membership for high achieving career women and all members go through an application and screening process before being accepted.

“Our virtual international membership is $397/year. Our chapter-based membership, which includes a once per month in person meeting, is $497/year. This is currently only available in the Boston area, but we have ambitious plans to scale to new cities in the coming years.”

Hopes and dreams for the future

Lilly says plans are in the works to massively scale the Chronic Boss Collective.

“Not only do we plan to scale the membership, but we plan to scale our offerings. In addition to the membership, we’ve already launched the Chronic Boss Scholarship which has awarded $31,000 to 31 students living with chronic conditions who have persevered and succeeded. We have big plans to usher in impactful programming that will serve the millions of women who choose ambition in the face of living with a chronic condition. Stay tuned…we’re just getting started!”

Feedback from CBC members

“The Chronic Boss Collective has changed my life in many ways. Since becoming a founding member and acknowledging my worth, my life has changed in ways I never could have imagined. The connections, opportunities, and immediate camaraderie amongst intelligent, inspirational, and courageous women has been my biggest blessing in 2024! The degree to which we draw strength from each other is something I have never witnessed in my life and I’m profoundly grateful to share my Chronic Boss journey with so many astonishing women.” – Lisa Z.

“This group is amazing. Thank you for launching this. I feel like this is the sisterhood that I didn’t know I needed whether for my health, business, or career and I’m just so thankful for it especially at this time in my life.” – Erika P.

“I can tell in just a month that I made the right decision to join. The connections I’ve made and leads already generated through the community will help me grow my design business and allow me to work with my people — authentic and adaptable chronically ill women who are changing healthcare.” – Sarah S.

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