About Us
lead. collaborate. give-back.
We believe you deserve to be known for the work you do, the contribution you make and the expertise you have achieved, and to be surrounded by others who are just like you.
If you’re like us, you’ve been in search of your community for a long time.
You’ve likely wondered if there was a community out there to celebrate your wins and encourage you to reach the next level.
We know you want to be fulfilled in every aspect of your life, and you deserve to be aligned with women that support the same high-integrity values. At KNOW, we get it. Finding your posse of like-minded women is challenging and time-consuming.
KNOW is a high-achieving culture that elevates and connects all women and their businesses, professions, and communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, socioeconomic status, or physical appearance. We are united by our differences.
Over the last three years, we’ve helped thousands of dynamic women just like you quickly find their community and experience sisterhood.
Sarah Benken
our founder + ceo
Sarah Benken is passionate about supporting women, specifically high-achieving businesswomen that are overworked and lacking community with like-minded women. Why? Because she has been there – in the wrong rooms, stretched thin, and feeling like she was alone on the journey.
As an accomplished CEO of 12 years, Sarah has built and scaled her own brands internationally. She is an award-winning entrepreneur that knows first hand what it is like to feel the need to connect with ‘her people’ and have trouble finding them.
She is on a mission to provide space for dynamic female leaders to gather, collaborate, and be celebrated for their successes and hard work.
Through the Global Membership | KNOW Book + other publications | KNOW Cares, Sarah is excited to welcome ALL women to join in the mission of: Lift & Rise
“We KNOW when we Lift one another, together we Rise”
The story behind The KNOW Women
Our mantra: Lift & Rise ~ We know when we lift one another, we rise together
Launched in 2017, KNOW started as a way to bring more attention to dynamic women doing remarkable things in the Phoenix metro. We knew there was an outstanding number of women impacting the community and making big strides in their industries. Our goal was to get those women from behind their computer screens and into the public eye. Thus, we created the KNOW Book, a carefully curated publication that would feature vision-led women in a glamorous and authentic style.
As the momentum grew and we recognized the need for more, we launched our Collaborative around the women featured in our KNOW Book. Our mix & mingles soon ensued and we witnessed incredible things happening. We saw our women doing business with each other, creating friendships, supporting each other, collaborating on projects together and so much more. What started as a fun project to spotlight women, has turned into a full-blown movement. KNOW has expanded beyond its birthplace of Phoenix, Arizona and its aim is to launch in every major city across the United States and Canada.
THE KNOW GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP
In April of 2019, KNOW launched its digital platform for female business owners. Built for those in high-growth mode, the membership became the space for women to align through professional development, accountability and community.
But we’re not stopping there…In 2020, after recognizing the need for even more connection and through our desire to continue to provide the best opportunities for growth and exposure, KNOW launched its Global Membership. Now any woman regardless of their locale, career, or tenor, can align with the KNOW Women.
Not a Member Yet?
featured IN ...
MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
WOMEN CONNECTED GLOBALLY
%
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 30-70
[ALL] INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED
Meet our hq team
our development team brings forward the vision, focuses on member experience, and promotes a thriving community
Sara Mayer
KNOW Book Director
Taylor Gladden
Marketing + Events Director
Karen Hewitt
KNOW HQ Recruitment Team
Erica Castner
Director of Local Markets
Ashley Scrivner
Administrator
Liz Goldstein
KNOW HQ Recruitment Team
Erica Storck
Global Community Manager
Myra Ray
KNOW Book Layout + Design
Annette Tanori
KNOW HQ Recruitment Team
Katie Soyka
Director of Photography
Sarah Hoag
Photography Liaison
take a scroll through our location pages to meet all of our market managers + contributors
MEET OUR DIVERSITY ADVISORY TEAM
Diversity, inclusion, and equity is important to KNOW Women. Meet the women that help support our efforts around ensuring all members feel safe, supported, and heard.
Jennie Robles
KNOW Tampa
Jennie Robles is the CEO+Founder of Intersection Faith Life Work, an executive coaching and diversity consultancy and Trajecutive™, an online coaching platform. Jennie’s industry experience, diversity and recruitment expertise, and certified coaching training makes her a strategic advisor and partner to individuals and companies. Jennie helps organizations identify and maximize opportunities to develop, retain, and enhance the trajectory of an inclusive workforce.
Shannon Rohrer-Phillips
KNOW Sarasota
Shannon is a social entrepreneur with a unique expertise in public and private sector collaboration and diversity and inclusion solutions. She is the CEO of SRP, LLC, and the Founder of Voice + Visibility Women’s Summit, in Sarasota, Fl. Shannon developed the Bridge Builders White Racial Identity & Responsibility, Together Towards Anti-Racism and Bridge Builders for Business Workshop Series and publications. Shannon’s TEDx Talk is entitled Failure & Forgiveness in the New South.
Susan Lovelle
KNOW Raleigh
Dr. Susan Lovelle is a Holistic MD and CEO of Premiere Wellness. A former award-winning plastic surgeon, she now specializes in customized wellness solutions for busy, over-extended women who are merely surviving on caffeine and willpower, allowing them to have the energy, power and balance they want so they can make the impact they desire in the world.
Debbie Esparza
KNOW Phoenix
Debbie Esparza serves as CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix. Debbie brings diverse leadership experiences in many fields including banking, consulting, entrepreneurship, academia, and non-profit executive leadership. Debbie’s personal commitment to YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women lives in her advocacy for social and racial justice, shining a lens on how race and gender impact the issues that impact communities most.
Bina Kamath
KNOW Calgary
Bina Kamath is the Calgary Executive Director for Women in Leadership Foundation and an HR professional with a career spanning over 16 years. She is a member of WEKH (Women Entrepreneur Knowledge Hub), a Government of Canada funded initiative, coach and mentor for other non-profit entities. She is passionate about empowering women to achieve personal and professional growth and is currently working on developing a mentorship program in an effort to reach remote rural communities.
Meet Our KNOW Cares Board
our KNOW Cares Board assists on our non-profit that is focused on empowering, educating, and raising funds for women and youth worldwide.
Sara Mayer
President
PAULETTE J. EVANS
Director at Large
Andrea marconi
Vice President
christie sullivan
Director at Large
JUANICE OLDHAM
Secretary
TERRIE DANIEL
Director at Large
Kelly Ross
Treasure
MEET OUR ONBOARDING TEAM
our onboarding team assists in making the most of your KNOW experience.
Liz Illg
KNOW Onboard Team Member
Melanie Griffin
KNOW Onboard Team Member
susan crews
KNOW Onboard Team Member
Taya De baat
KNOW Onboard Team Member
erica storck
KNOW Onboard Team Member
Kimberly guimarin
KNOW Onboard Team Member
apply to join know global
ready to align with high-achieving women?
Our Global Membership is the first point of entry for women looking to align with KNOW Women.
The membership built around women who will help you achieve your goals. You’ll be seen and heard, acknowledged, and supported. You’ll unlock business development opportunities, publicity and marketing help, outreach opportunities, and the chance to continually connect and grow through collaboration with a high-achieving community.
Once you’ve been accepted to join KNOW Global, you will have an opportunity to apply for a feature in an upcoming KNOW Book [or other Best List.]
Click the “LEARN MORE + APPLY TO JOIN” button below to find out how you can start the application process.
Ready to learn more about our membership?
