The History of Executives Network

Executives Network is the evolution of an idea born of necessity. It has proven itself not only a viable business model, but as an important resource for employed executives needing to network and executives in transition looking to rise to the top in today’s challenging job market. The mission of Executives Network is to add value to the networking and job-search process through leveraging individual contacts and advice.

The company was formed in Phoenix in 2002 as Arizona Executives, a grassroots group of Director, VP and C-level executives who met on a bi-weekly basis to discuss and explore the job market.

One of the initial participants, Molly Wendell, was herself in the process of looking for a new position. It was her personal sense of excitement and potential arising from this group dynamic that ultimately became the foundation of growing Arizona Executives into a company under her leadership. In April 2008 she renamed the organization Executives Network, became its President, and immediately set her sights on expanding nationally.

Word of mouth has gradually expanded membership to thousands with the addition of a second location in San Francisco in early 2008, followed later that same year by Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County (California), Chicago and Dallas. In 2009, Denver, Boston and New York City were opened.

In a move designed to better serve all executives, Executives Network announced in June 2009 its merger with Denver-based CXO, a networking group led by Jay Allen for C-level executives employed at companies of more than $50 million in annual revenue. Executives Network become the parent company and in February 2010 moved its headquarters to Denver. CXO retained its moniker. This merger was finalized by the end of 2009. Another entity, EXO, was formed for employed senior executive officers of companies with $5-50 million in annual revenue, as well as for employed director- and vice president-level executives in companies with more than $50 million in annual revenue. The current Executives Network program for in-transition executives was renamed to EN | Workgroups.

Executives Network and its three subsidiaries are the premier national peer-networking resources exclusively for employed and in-transition executives.

Molly Wendell: "The World's Premier Networking Expert"

Because of her uncanny knack for knowing how to network for a job, Molly Wendell has been dubbed by the news media as "The Job Whisperer." Others have simply called her a "networking snob." Some of the news outlets she's appeared on include:

Whether Molly Wendell’s imparting her "rule-breaking” networking advice with a news outlet or in a presentation to job seekers, or sharing her business and marketing insight with a group of executives, audiences benefit.

Molly has quickly emerged as one of the leading experts on how to effectively network for a job — especially since the publication of her book: "The New Job Search: Break all the rules. Get connected. And get hired faster for the money you’re worth.” As President of Executives Network (a job networking and support group for executives in the job search now known as "Executives On Board"), she’s helped thousands find upper-management positions using her proven networking methods.

After just 4½ years, Molly built Executives Network into the largest executive networking group in Arizona. In 2008/09 the organization quickly expanded to include thousands of members in 10 cities nationwide. By late 2009, Executives Network merged with Denver-based CXO, a networking group for executives employed at companies of more than $50 million. Executives Network then became the parent company to three subsidiaries — CXO, EXO and Career OnTrak. For more details, read the history of the company.

Molly’s networking techniques work, and she’s proven it herself.

Molly spent 15 years in sales, marketing and business development in the high tech industry — which included 10 years at IBM Corporation. After her last position as Vice President of Marketing for a technology consulting firm, she found herself looking for a job via the traditional method of sitting in front of her computer and sending off resumes. After 21 months and only one serious job offer (for a position she wasn’t interested in), Molly realized there had to be a more effective way to find a job. That way was to simply get out, meet people and have interesting conversations.

She quickly fine-tuned her job-networking strategies — and the results were astounding. In just 90 days she was able to secure 60 meetings with key decision makers at companies, resulting in more than 30 job offers for positions never posted. By using her refined networking techniques, Molly was successful at landing the job she wanted in a field she had no previous experience or connections.

It was through this process that Molly developed a network numbering in the thousands and learned first-hand the winning strategies in the game of networking — strategies she now regularly shares in interviews with news outlets and with executives nationwide.

In addition to being an expert on networking strategies, she also regularly speaks on the topics of business strategy, marketing strategy, high-performing teams and business development at seminars, industry/association conferences, company kickoffs and general sales meetings.

She has received many awards over the years, including making the 2005 Phoenix Forty Under 40 list and being named the 2004 Panhellenic Woman of the Year. Molly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and an MBA from University of California-Irvine.