Rebuild Connection Without Undermining Authority

This is why the WPO business model works.

1. Build one room with no org chart in it

Join or create a small circle of peers [like the Women Presidents Organization] who run things you don’t – different company, different industry, zero overlap with your power. The relief leaders feel in these rooms is immediate, because for one hour [WPO meetings usually run three hours a month] nobody needs anything from them. 

Read the entire article, which includes two other points on how to rebuild connection without undermining authority. 

Effective Prompts for AI: Here are 5 Ideas

Here are 5 useful articles on working with AI and writing effective prompts for AI:

1. Effective Prompts for AI:  The Essentials – MIT
2. What makes a good AI prompt?  Here are 4 expert tips – The Conversation
3. Working with AI:  Two paths to prompting – One Useful Thing (by Ethan Mollick)
4. The ultimate guide to writing effective AI prompts – Atlassian
5. AI basics – Harvard University Information Technology

Famous Entrepreneurs Who Failed Before They Succeeded

The big meeting is finally here. You practiced the pitch again on the drive over and told yourself this one is different.

Twenty minutes later, you’re back in the parking garage with a polite pass and a stomach that won’t settle. That sour feeling is part of the game. It comes with building something you believe in.

Melanie Perkins, Frederick W. Smith and Arianna Huffington hit that wall. Before their names became synonymous with success, each founder came dangerously close to watching the whole thing fall apart.

Discover what these entrepreneurs did to fix what needed fixing, found another route and made the next call. 

SBA Proposes Overhaul to Simplify Small Business Classification

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposed a comprehensive overhaul of its small business size standards, modernizing how the federal government defines and classifies small businesses across the United States. Published in a proposed rule, the new standards according only to SBA, would simplify industry categorization and raise applicable size thresholds, allowing small but rapidly growing firms to continue qualifying and adding over 110,000 firms to the 36 million small businesses in America.  

Small businesses, the economic engine of America's growth, are starting and expanding at record rates.  Rule change or no rule change, they will continue to drive America's economy. 

Is Your Business Built to Survive?

Every business plans for growth. But how many are built to survive? If your business lost everything tomorrow, what would it need to continue to operate?  And how can you maintain momentum when disruption strikes?

In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, PwC UK explains why organizations need to identify their ‘minimum viable company’ – the people, systems, and services that absolutely must keep running when disruption hits – and why a crisis plan alone may no longer be enough. 

Listen to the podcast or read the transcription here.

Fantastico! Inside the 23rd Annual WPO Chicago Summit (9/10/26)

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

What an amazing program at our 23rd Annual Women Presidents Organization Chicago Summit (9/10/26).  Fantastico!

Thank you to our Steering Committee: Nida Khan, Founder & President, Arya Consulting Partners (Chicago I member), Lauren M. Loew, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP (Chicago II member), Ellen M. Wheeler, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP (Chicago I member), Laurel Delaney, President, Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global (WPO Chicago Chapter Chair) for their leadership; to the Foley & Lardner LLP support team for their outstanding work behind the scenes; to Andrew Sykes, CEO of Habits at Work for a compelling talk on "Your Trust Advantage;" and to all who attended for your engagement throughout the day.

The photo collage above captures the moment!  

More about the program here:

https://womenpresidentsorganizationchicago.blogspot.com/2026/08/wpo-chicago-summit-910-your-trust.html

Recharge on Labor Day

Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it’s far more than just an extra day off. Born from the labor movement of the late 19th century, the holiday was created to honor the hard work and dedication of America’s workforce – that includes all WPO members. For the 21st century, it’s a built-in reminder that pausing to recharge isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. 

This Labor Day weekend, instead of simply letting the hours slip away, why not make the most of your well-earned time off?

Find some inspiration here.