Two of the nation’s most influential nonprofit communities for championing opportunity for all – NextUp® and Paradigm for Parity® – have officially joined forces to fuel lasting change in the workplace from the top down and bottom up.
 Lisa Baird CEO, NextUp | “This isn’t just a merger—it’s a movement. We’re building a vibrant, cross-industry network that positions leaders at every level to influence the future of leadership.” |  Sandra Quince Co-Chair & Board President, Paradigm for Parity | “For nearly a decade, we’ve helped companies turn intention into action. Now, our leaders are part of a larger, more dynamic community determined to accelerate real, sustainable change for all.” |
This bold merger brings together a national coalition of 500+ companies spanning all industries to serve a combined population of 12,000,000+ employees with one mission: to create workplaces where inclusive leadership is the standard, not the exception.
Since 2001, NextUp has been trusted by Fortune 500 companies to strengthen leadership pipelines through individual development and workplace programming, with professional networking across 21 region chapters. Founded in 2015, Paradigm for Parity has guided more than 200 organizations in adopting actionable strategies and programs to close gender gaps in leadership and transform corporate cultures.
Sandra Quince, Paradigm for Parity Co-Chair and Board President, and Reginald Miller, longtime Paradigm for Parity Board member, to join NextUp Board of Directors
What This Means for Communities and Companies:
| • | Stronger Talent Pipelines: Expanded access to mentorship, sponsorship, leadership development and national and regional corporate networks for emerging talent. |
| • | Engaged Executives: A powerful community of C-suite leaders committed to modeling inclusive leadership and connecting directly with rising leaders. |
| • | Real-Time Impact: Enhanced platforms, tools and programming for managers and HR leaders to foster leadership at every level, scalable from small business to global enterprise. |
Expanded Offerings for Greater Impact
Members will benefit from a combined powerhouse of programming, resources and learning platforms tailored to the needs of modern business leaders, including:
| • | Paradigm for Parity’s Profit & Loss Leadership Accelerator® and redesigned Five-Point |
| • | NextUp’s acclaimed Rising Stars®, Leadership Edge for Directors, Leading with Financial Fluency and its flagship Executive Forum and Leadership Summit conferences. |
Effective January 2026, Paradigm for Parity will begin to operate under the NextUp brand and corporate partners will be able to access expanded offerings from the combined organization.
To explore partnership opportunities or integrate this work into your talent strategy, visit the NextUp website or contact the NextUp Partnership Team.
