Stiletto Network

A Sisterhood, Not a Business Network

Fourteen years and 150 global members later, Belizean Grove is now much more than a lark. It has gained structure and committees and has evolved to address women’s concerns at a new stage of life. The group has picked up some bold-faced names—including Sonia Sotomayor, who resigned from the Grove when she was nominated as a Supreme Court Justice—and still managed to stay anonymous, with members acting as éminences grises around the world.

Yet “Grovers” adhere to their initial goal to unite women across disciplines for friendship and learning. “It’s an instantaneous group of friends who have been in effect prescreened so they have common characteristics. Many women were the first at what they did, so there’s ...