[3][4] In June 2019, the company raised $22 million in a Series A funding round led by Chief board members – General Catalyst chairman Ken Chenault and Alexa von Tobel, managing partner of Inspired Capital.
[6][7] In 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chief transitioned from live networking to exclusively virtual activity,[8] bolstering growth[5] as women accessed online platforms in greater numbers.
[10] In March 2023, Fortune magazine reported criticism from some members; Chief acknowledged "growing pains" in pivoting to a fully digital model during the pandemic-era and scaling quickly in response to heightened demand.
[14][15] With subscription to its digital platform integral to the company business model,[13] Chief's mission is "to drive more women to the top—and keep them there"[7][10] by constructing a live[13] and online support system for senior executive leaders.
[4] Membership is limited to women and non-binary[18] vice presidents and C-suite executives, with about 70 percent of members sponsored by their individual employers.