Lean In Circles

GGW Lean In Circles are small groups of diverse women in gaming who meet regularly to learn, share, and grow together. Participants share a common bond: the power of peer support.

Circles provide an opportunity for networking, peer mentoring, education, and support.

Circles generally select topics that are most important to the group. Examples of topics a Circle may discuss include personal branding, effective communication, leadership, personal growth, and gender equality.

Women employed in the gaming and/ or hospitality industry in any field or department.

Complete an application on the GGW website. The 2026 application window opens September 1st and closes October 19th. The application must include a 50 to 100-word personal statement.

To be considered for the 2026 Circles, you must submit an application, resume, and a 50–100 word personal statement. Applications open each fall and remain open for 6–8 weeks, with new Circles finalized and beginning in early February.

To be considered for the 2026 Circles, you must submit an application, resume and a 50 to 100-word personal statement. The applications will open each Fall and will be open for 6-8 weeks with new circles being finalized and beginning early in February.

To apply, you must submit an application, your resume, and a 50–100 word personal statement during the application window. Once the window closes, a committee reviews all submissions to ensure they meet the minimum requirements.

Qualified applicants are thoughtfully matched to a Circle. Moderators then contact selected participants in January to schedule a kick‑off meeting for early February.

Applicants will be notified in early January by their Circle’s Moderator following review by the committee in December.

Circles are required to meet ten (10) times a year between February and December. At a minimum, Circles should meet once every six (6) weeks; however, each Circle may collectively decide to meet more often. Ideally, Circles that meet every four (4) weeks tend to experience greater engagement.

GGW Circles are meant to be a safe place for members to connect with peers in a structured, supportive, and confidential atmosphere for personal development and growth. To foster this trust, members are expected to attend every meeting. In case of an emergency, please discuss with your circle as soon as you know. Members who miss more than two meetings may be removed from their Circle to ensure continuity and trust.

We ask participants to commit to at least one (1) year. After the year, your Circle may continue if you like or opt to apply for a new Circle the following cycle.

We want participants to commit to the Circle they are matched with. However, if you have a reasonable conflict, we ask that you notify us immediately so that we can try to place you with another Circle. However, we cannot guarantee placement, and you may need to wait until a Circle is available.

We offer remote Circles for those participants who do not have a local Circle available in their area. Meetings are scheduled via video conference (preferred) or phone.

We take time to thoughtfully match each participant with the right Circle. Once you are matched in a Circle, we ask that you commit to the Circle unless there is a reasonable conflict.

A Circle moderator is responsible for initiating and leading a meeting. Read the FAQs for Moderators for more information.

GGW is developing opportunities for Circle participants to connect beyond their assigned groups. Additionally, if you know another Circle that is interested in a joint meeting or virtual gathering, and both groups agree, you are welcome to plan something collaboratively. We recommend waiting until the 6-month mark to ensure your own Circle has had time to build trust first.

Yes, participants may join more than one Circle, however, we ask that Circle participation is limited to no more than two (2).

Circles are thoughtfully formed based on several factors We prioritize matching members at similar career stages and with comparable business challenges. We also consider meeting preferences and desired frequency. To ensure a rewarding experience, we encourage diversity in professions and personalities. The more details you provide in your application, the better we can match you to your Circle!

We make every effort to match each applicant with a Circle. However, due to factors such as location, career stage, or the number of applications received, we may not be able to place every participant. If we’re unable to match you during this cycle, we encourage you to apply again next year, as new Circles form annually and availability may change.