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Forbes Business Development Council Is A Professional Organization For Senior-Level Sales Executives

Who is Forbes Business Development Council for?

Members of Forbes Business Development Council are respected, senior-level sales and business development executives selected for the community for their depth and diversity of experience.

To qualify, your business must generate at least $1,000,000 USD in annual revenue.

Eligible applicants are vetted by our selection committee, and if approved, are invited to select and purchase a membership package.

Examples of council members include senior-level sales and business development executives, such as VP-level and C-level business development leaders. CEOs, founders, and owners of companies solving problems in sales and business development are also eligible.

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Why Join Forbes Business Development Council

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Be Recognized As An Expert

Our platform allows you to easily share your business development expertise through quick, concise quotes using our mobile app or web portal via Expert Panels. Members can select questions they have a unique perspective on and provide a response in under 400 characters. Then, the most apt responses are curated by our editorial team and distilled into a single piece.

Expert Panels are the ideal path to increasing your visibility while balancing a demanding schedule, and all include your name, company name, and link to your Executive Profile.

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Publishing Bylined Articles on Forbes.com

Forbes Business Development Council members can submit bylined articles to be published on Forbes.com, each piece is edited collaboratively with our team of expert editors to meet the publication’s guidelines.

Articles are published on Forbes.com and syndicated across our social media channels, select pieces get extra promotion in our Sales Pulse newsletter. Articles feature your headshot and bio. You’ll also receive an author page on Forbes.com which includes your headshot, name, short-form bio, and a link to your full Executive Profile.

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Your Executive Profile on Forbes.com

Your Executive Profile on Forbes.com is optimized to be search-friendly, affirming your credibility as a business development leader. Profiles include your headshot, professional bio, company description, links to your social media and website, and all of the content you’ve been featured in on Forbes.com.

You’ll also receive an assortment of badging options for use on social media and business websites, highlighting your status as a Forbes Business Development Council member.

Ready to Join?

Apply for membership today.

Begin Your Application
A headshot of Angelica Kopec. Quote icon.

Being a part of Forbes Business Development Council goes beyond personal validation; it opens doors to strategic alliances and serves as a testament to ones standing in the elite business community.

Angelica Kopec

CEO, She Knows Business

Additional Benefits for Forbes Councils Members

Connect, Learn, and Grow With Your Peers

Through our member portal and mobile app, you’ll be able to connect with a network of like-minded, successful entrepreneurs. As a member, you’ll be able to message others directly, share insights, pose questions, and participate in council-wide and group conversations.

With exclusive access to other owners, founders, and sales leaders, the opportunities for business development and strategic partnerships are plenty.

Our members are committed to a lifetime of learning and growth. We host regular virtual events, led by a broad range of experts on the topics most relevant to you and your work, providing you you the breadth of information required to address dynamic, real-time sales challenges.
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Interactive Groups

Within our exclusive member app, you’ll be able to join and create Groups — where you can connect, ask and answer questions, and start conversations with members of similar interests and industries.

Member Badges

As a member, you’ll have access to Forbes Councils badges, email signatures, social graphics, and press release templates. We make it easy for you to share your affiliation with the Forbes community.

Virtual Events

Be inspired by experts at virtual live events and in interactive member-led Groups. Our private events are hosted by industry experts in a variety of fields to address today’s critical issues.

Mobile App

Stay updated on the go with the Forbes Councils mobile app available on iOS and Android making it easy to participate in Expert Panels and connect with other members.

EXEC Benefits Program

You’ll receive complimentary access to EXEC, a curated hotel, travel, lifestyle, and business benefits program designed to improve the lives of busy executives.

Private Business Coaching

Available for an additional cost, you can get matched with a certified coach, who will guide you and your company to reach your highest professional and business goals.

Dedicated Member Support Team

At the core of the Forbes Councils experience is our member support team. Our team is dedicated to helping you get the most of your membership and resources.

Complimentary Strategy Session

Qualified members receive access to a free 30-minute strategy session with a premium business coach to help you discover hidden profit drivers and hone your focus.

Business Development Council

Forbes Business Development Council Members

Jen Spencer headshot. Quote icon.

I see our partnership with Forbes Councils as our third-party validation efforts. There’s power in having your advice and guidance published somewhere else other than your own domain.

Jen Spencer

VP of Sales and Marketing, SmartBug Media

Joe Brocato headshot. Quote icon.

Forbes Councils is a great platform. I love sharing my ideas with people, so I thought this would be a good opportunity. I think the experience has been great so far.

Joe Brocato

Partner, Gozdecki, Del Giudice, Americus, Farkas & Brocato

Julie Thomas headshot. Quote icon.

I am proud to share the content that I have created for Forbes Business Development Council, as I know the authority and credibility of the Forbes brand is well-respected.

Julie Thomas

President & CEO, ValueSelling Associates

Angelica Kopec headshot. Quote icon.

Being a part of Forbes Business Development Council goes beyond personal validation; it opens doors to strategic alliances and serves as a testament to ones standing in the elite business community.

Angelica Kopec

CEO, She Knows Business

Jennifer Lee headshot. Quote icon.

Share your thought leadership-Forbes Business Development Council is a great forum to do this. As leaders, we have a tremendous amount of experience we can leverage to help other leaders tackle new problems or think about old problems in new ways. But it's not always easy to find an outlet to share your perspective, which is why I chose to join the council in the first place.

Jennifer Lee

COO, Intradiem

Craig McGraw headshot. Quote icon.

The opportunity to be part of a group that has a network of like-minded business leaders at your fingertips is a second-to-none resource.

Craig McGraw

VP of Sales And Marketing, Trans American Trucking & Warehouse

Kit Merker headshot. Quote icon.

The credibility that comes from being involved with Forbes Councils is really nice. People see it on my LinkedIn profile and I get lots of good interaction.

Kit Merker

SVP Business Development, Nobl