WLS vs EO: which network for a founder who wants to look beyond the company?
EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) is the reference network for founders. The World Leaders Society brings together founders, executives, public decision-makers and civil society. Here are the two models side by side, to choose or combine.
Two networks, two ambitions
Created in 1987 in the United States as the Young Entrepreneurs' Organization, EO gathers, by its own account, more than 18,000 entrepreneurs in over 70 countries. Membership is reserved for founders, co-founders and owners of companies above roughly one million dollars of annual revenue. The heart of the network is the peer forum, complemented by learning programmes, events and an accelerator for younger companies.
The World Leaders Society (WLS) is an independent association founded in Paris in 2025. It brings together, in one circle of trust, business leaders, public decision-makers and civil-society figures, with no age limit, around peer forums, high-level events and impact initiatives. Every year it publishes the WLS 100, the editorial selection of the 100 leaders shaping the 21st century.
EO and WLS point by point
| Criterion | EO | World Leaders Society |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1987, United States | 2025, Paris (French non-profit association) |
| Members | Over 18,000 entrepreneurs in more than 70 countries, according to EO | A small circle being built: 50 inaugural seats |
| Profiles | Founders, co-founders and business owners | Business leaders, elected officials and senior public officers, social entrepreneurs, civil-society figures |
| Admission | Company above USD 1M annual revenue (EO public information) | Position criteria (companies: USD 5M revenue and 50 employees minimum), two recommendations, independent approval committee, no age limit |
| Format | Local chapters, forums of 8 to 10, learning programmes and accelerator | Peer forums of 8 to 12 members (Chatham House rule), lunches and summits, impact initiatives |
| Base | Global network of American origin | Paris, Europe and Africa, with an international scope |
| Publication | Member-only content | The WLS 100, a public editorial selection of the 100 leaders shaping the century |
| Status | US-based non-profit organisation | French non-profit association, published accounts, governance by independent councils |
Information about EO comes from its public website at the time of writing and may change; it is given for guidance only.
What WLS does differently
Cross-sector rather than CEO-only
The decisions shaping the century are taken at the boundary between business, government and civil society. WLS brings these three worlds into the same forum, where most networks gather business leaders only.
A small circle, not a mass community
Fifty inaugural seats, forums of 8 to 12 members, admission by an independent committee: value comes from the depth of exchanges, not from headcount.
No age limit
A 55-year-old executive and a 32-year-old founder have as much to bring to each other. WLS selects on impact and commitment, not on date of birth.
A public editorial dimension
With the WLS 100, the association contributes to the public debate on responsible leadership: an independent annual selection, with no fee or sponsorship for inclusion.
A European and African base
Founded in Paris, WLS develops its forums in Europe and Africa before expanding, with gatherings designed for these ecosystems.
A transparent association
French non-profit status, published accounts, annual impact report, independent strategic and ethics councils: members can demand from WLS what they demand from their own organisations.
Choose, or combine
EO suits you if…
You founded a company above one million dollars of revenue and want to exchange with other founders on growth, financing and the entrepreneur's life, in a large global community.
WLS suits you if…
You want to exchange in confidence with public decision-makers and civil-society figures as much as with executives, in a small circle, with no age condition, with a base in Paris and a requirement of transparency and impact.
The two are not mutually exclusive: several members of executive networks join WLS precisely for what they do not find elsewhere, dialogue across sectors.
Also comparing YPO or Vistage? YPO gathers established chief executives with entry before 45, Vistage offers groups led by a paid chair. Our WLS vs YPO comparison details the former; WLS remains, to our knowledge, the only cross-sector circle of the three.
Frequent questions about WLS and EO
Is the World Leaders Society related to EO?
No. The World Leaders Society is an independent French non-profit association founded in Paris in 2025, with no legal, financial or commercial link with EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization).
Can you be a member of both EO and WLS?
Yes. EO brings a community of founders; WLS brings a small circle where founders exchange with public decision-makers and civil-society figures. The two complement each other.
Is there an age limit to join WLS?
No. Admission is based on the applicant's position, impact and commitment, reviewed by an independent approval committee, with no age criterion.
How much does WLS membership cost?
The membership fee is communicated during the application review. No fee is charged before the committee's approval.
How do you apply to the World Leaders Society?
Through the online application form, with two member recommendations. The approval committee reviews each file and replies by email.
Join the World Leaders Society
Business leaders, elected officials and senior public officers: 2026 memberships are open. Two recommendations and a file reviewed by the approval committee.
EO, YPO and Vistage are trademarks of their respective owners, unrelated to the World Leaders Society.