Our Mission

YPO is a global community of peer leaders committed to becoming better leaders. Our members are powerfully positioned to improve themselves, their companies, communities, and families to make the world a better place.

YPO’s original idea remains as bold as ever: establish a network of extraordinary peer leaders; create a safe and confidential environment for open sharing of ideas and perspectives; bring members together to nurture curiosity through experience, observation, discussion and reflection; apply learning in their organizations, communities and families.

YPO’s future is distinguished by four core purposes and principles.
A community of peer leaders
  • Members validate peers.
  • Every member is a peer.
  • Member leadership according to transparent policies and procedures.
  • Increasingly global and diverse views.
  • Set expectations of excellence.

A platform for lifelong learning and idea exchange
  • Learning is a continuing path of discovery.
  • New possibilities unfold as one redefines paradigms through idea exchange.
  • Seek, include, and value diversity and perspectives, regardless of source of origin.
  • Share and then decide for yourself – no organizational advocacy.

A safe haven culture to encourage open sharing of ideas and perspectives
  • Honor member privacy and experiences.
  • Adhere to forum protocols and non-solicitation policy.
  • Accept and respect others’ differences and views.
  • Respect members’ right to decide for themselves.

A uniquely personal experience
  • There is no single way to experience YPO.
  • Serve entire person: personal, family, business, and community.
  • Spouses, partners, and families are integral to the members’ experience.
  • Spouse/Partners have the opportunity to join a Forum and get Only in YPO experiences also.

YPO Seattle Values
Trustworthy

Confidentiality is a core value of all members that cannot be compromised.


Humble

Our members are down to earth and do not hold themselves as “better than”.


Inclusive

Members seek a variety of experiences and perspectives, including but not limited to, a diversity of gender, race, geographic region, industry type, leadership role, connections, business and personal challenges/successes and more.


Vulnerable & Honest

Willingness to be real and accept that only by sharing what is well beyond everyday conversation will a member both give and get value.


Engaged & Committed

As a member-run organization, members are expected to actively participate.


Well Rounded & Eager to Grow

A good member invests in a multitude of interests beyond their day to day job (family, philanthropy, civic and more).


Openminded & Willing to Listen

We expect our members to have opinions and to be principled in those opinions, but we also expect members to understand that there is an opportunity to learn from the opinions of others.


Deep Community Connections

A good member is not a lone wolf, but rather someone who already considers themselves to be part of a team. That team may be one’s family, their colleagues, their community. Connectivity enables a member to bring additional value to the YPO Seattle community through speaker and resource opportunities, as well as demonstrating a member’s ability to easily integrate into the YPO Seattle culture.


YPO Seattle History

The Seattle Chapter (originally called Pacific Northwest Chapter) was organized in 1955 and joined 23 existing chapters in the YPO family. It was one of 4 chapters that were created that year. Ray Hickok’s vision had come a long way since April of 1950.

The Seattle Chapter has continued to thrive in the intervening years and still attracts from the best and the brightest of young presidents in the states of Washington and Alaska. In 1977, the first graduates of YPO formed the Alumni group, which continues to flourish and provide a continuation of the YPO Experience.

In 2005, the Chapter was fortunate enough to fete some of the original members of the group of 1955 whose vision and foresight helped create something that has come to mean so much to so many over the last fifty years.

Benefits of Membership to YPO Seattle


Peer to Peer Environment
YPO welcomes members and their spouses/significant others to connect with peers in a structured, supportive and confidential environment. Candor and trust permeate every interaction, since members are prohibited from soliciting other members or spouses/significant others.


Chapter Learning Events
Our Learning Chair creates an annual theme and monthly chapter meetings where we can experience world-class educational programs in a wide variety of topical subjects, whether it’s cutting edge business seminars or discovering the abundance of fresh resources, talent and experiences of our city and the world at large.


Forum
YPO Forums are a source of engagement, safety and strength for the YPO community. The insights gained in the safe haven of forum are unmatched outside of YPO. Expand your forum experience by joining a network, regional or global forum, building relationships on trust respect and confidentiality.


Lifelong Learning
We host a number of local gatherings each year covering a wide variety of topics, from geopolitical and business matters to personal/family and community issues. In addition, members have special access to regional, domestic and international universities, seminars, industry roundtables and member alliances.


Family - Spouse/Partner and Family Events
One of YPO’s unique differentiating factors is our family focus. Your whole family can grow together, through unique personal and professional development opportunities for spouses/partners and children. Also, members can enroll their young children 18-30 in YNG+, and gain access to a global community of peers and high-impact, in-person learning events.


M2MX (inventory of skills)
With 27,000 members globally, this exclusive networking site provides a confidential, convenient interface for sharing business, personal and medical issues and requests. The result? Fast, online, relevant advice and feedback from your peers.


Global Networks & Groups
Networks and Groups encourage members and their spouses/significant others to connect with broader YPO membership based on business, personal and social enterprise interest.
YPO Membership Requirements
How do I qualify?
Membership Qualifications
Title:   President, CEO, Chairperson of the Board, Managing Director, Managing Partner, or Equivalent title.

Revenue by company type:   Sales, Service, Manufacturing: $15M, Agency: $12M, Financial Institution: $300M, or Enterprise Value: $25M

Number of Employees:   50 full-time employees or > US $2.5 M employee compensation and a minimum of 15 employees
We welcome you to join us in YPO Seattle!
What is Involved in the Membership Process?
  • Candidate should apply to YPO Seattle through the online application  Apply Now
  • Candidate will then be invited to an introductory call with the YPO Seattle Membership Chair and/or Vice Chair
  • Candidate will then meet with the YPO Seattle Membership Committee
  • Candidate will then meet with membership committee (comprised of one YPO chapter member from each forum)
  • If candidate is accepted by the Membership Committee and approved by the YPO Seattle Board, candidate will be invited to attend chapter events and begin the forum placement process
  • Upon placement in a forum and payment of dues, you will be an official YPO Seattle Member*

What is Expectation of Being a YPO Seattle Member?
  • Exhibit the YPO Seattle Values
  • 100% forum attendance
  • Attend 65% of YPO Seattle Chapter events in first 2 years of membership
  • Consider involvement in YPO Seattle board leadership and/or committees
  • Identify ways to help fellow members whenever possible
  • Embrace YPO Seattle's commitment to diversity of persons and opinions

*YPO Seattle requires it's members to be members of YPO International. Accepted candidate must be placed in a forum in order to officially join YPO Seattle Chapter.
YPO Seattle Commitment to Diversity
YPO Seattle is committed to creating a fully diverse and inclusive organization in an effort to be even more extraordinary. We have one of the highest %’s of women in our chapter than most YPO chapters in the US.
YPO Gold Link with a statement of “Lifelong Learning”
As YPOers “move on” to the Gold experience, the YPO Seattle Gold Chapter offers the opportunity to continue those only-in-YPO moments.
Thank You to Our Chapter Sponsors