Placement in a Circle is not guaranteed. It is dependent on 5 or more applicants in an active Circles region having the same default matching criteria (region, neighborhood, and general availability). Every effort will be made to place all interested and eligible applicants.

The importance of commitment cannot be emphasized enough. Commitment to consistent attendance at monthly Circle meetings for one year is important for building relationships and effective group dynamics. Shared commitment will give members the time and space needed to bond and become comfortable discussing a broad range of topics.

Anyone with a schedule that prevents the ability to attend at least 9 of the 12 monthly meetings should wait and join* when their availability is more reliable and consistent.

Of course, life happens. Members may occasionally need to miss a meeting, or someone might move away. However, the Circle dynamic can be negatively affected by members who don't make their best efforts to show up. Having even a couple of members who do not consistently participate can derail or lessen the experience for the entire group.

Commitment truly is the magic to making a Circle work.

* Invitations to join (or renew) are sent once a year during the enrollment period to eligible individuals, based on the address listed in their Alumni Profile. To provide a positive and cohesive experience for everyone, we are not currently placing new inquiries outside of the enrollment period.

There is no membership fee for the 2025 membership cycle.

Some associated costs to participating may come up throughout the year:

• Commuting-related expenses, such as gas, parking, transit passes, etc.
• Food and beverages for monthly meetings, in the form of a small cash contribution or bringing one item.
• Social outings mutually agreed upon by members, such as happy hour, art workshop, fitness class, etc.

Every member should feel comfortable in their Circle.

Anyone with a pre-existing conflict should contact their Region Leads and the program administration team (circles@hbs.edu) as soon as possible upon receiving their Circle assignment.

Reassignment is not guaranteed. It is dependent on 5 or more applicants having the same default matching criteria (region, neighborhood, and general availability). Every effort will be made to reassign members with pre-existing conflicts.

Meeting Frequency and Length
Circles are encouraged to meet once a month for the one-year membership cycle. A meeting is typically two hours long.

Meeting Location
Meetings are held typically at a member's home. Other spaces – restaurants, conference rooms, outdoors – can be considered if they are comfortable, quiet, and private.

Food and Beverage
The decision to provide food and beverages is unique to each Circle. This topic should be discussed among members at their first meeting, to understand the preferences and set expectations for future meetings.

Some ideas to consider are:

• No food and beverages are provided, members can bring their own meal or snack.
• Potluck style, where each member brings a different item as part of a larger spread for the group to share.
• Food fund, where each member contributes a small amount of money for the host to purchase items for the group to share.

Discussion topics and themes are unique to each Circle. In the first meeting, facilitators will guide the discussion to establish group norms, meeting structure, and goals (if the group would like to establish any). Aside from first meeting logistics, discussion topics are determined by the members of a Circle.

Facilitators and members alike are encouraged to keep the following in mind:

• Meetings should be a comfortable, welcoming space for members to have open conversations and share life experiences.
• Feedback from past members shows the most successful conversations develop organically. Don't let a predetermined agenda disrupt an otherwise productive and meaningful conversation.

While career and professional opportunities may emerge, the program's purpose is not career networking. A Circle should not be used as a forum for self-promotion or soliciting business, nor marketing services or products in any way.

Members are welcome to have discussions about professional endeavors, challenges, and opportunities, but need to be mindful of this distinction.

Alumnae seeking networking and career-building opportunities should contact the Career and Professional Development (CPD) office and/or their local Alumni Club.

Prospective facilitators are identified from the annual enrollment survey, where all eligible applicants are asked to indicate interest in the role. Anyone who indicates interest is then required to complete a training session to be chosen.

The monthly time commitment for a facilitator is about two hours outside of their Circle's meeting. Meeting planning – scheduling, agenda, and other logistics – takes about an hour each month, but can be less if several months are planned out at a time. Facilitators may be invited by their Region Leads to convene as a group or participate in check-ins throughout the year. Optional refresher trainings will be offered periodically by the program administration team.