FAQ
Frequently asked
What is WLS?▾
International society combining peer forums, prestige events and societal impact.
Who can join?▾
Business leaders (min. USD 5M and 50 employees), elected officials and senior public officers. Recommendation from 2 members.
What is the WLS 100?▾
Annual ranking of 100 global leaders across 8 categories. No age criterion.
Difference with YPO/CBC?▾
Only hybrid model: peer learning + prestige events + societal impact.
WLS 100 vs Forbes/Time?▾
Only ranking uniting business, politics, NGOs, tech, climate, sport, culture and finance.
Can I attend an event without being a member?▾
Member events are reserved for members. Some summits however welcome guests by named invitation from the committee.
How is confidentiality ensured?▾
Chatham House rule applies to all forums and lunches. What is said does not leave the room. Breach = exclusion.
Who sits on the approval committee?▾
An independent committee of 5 to 7 members combining executives, civil society and academics. Simple majority vote within 15 days.
What happens if my application is refused?▾
A motivated response is sent within 15 days. No fee is charged before approval. You may reapply after 12 months.
How does WLS differ from YPO, EO or Vistage?▾
YPO, EO and Vistage are networks of business leaders. WLS brings together, in one small circle, business leaders, public decision-makers and civil-society figures, with no age limit, a base in Paris and a public editorial selection, the WLS 100. A detailed comparison is available on the WLS vs YPO page.
Are self-nominations to the WLS 100 accepted?▾
Yes. The nomination form accepts self-nominations as well as third-party nominations. They are evaluated against the same criteria.