Monday, October 30, 2006

Video of Interest: WPO Chicago Conference

Many of you have been asking what's so great about WPO, why should you become a member and what's the fuss about the WPO annual conference especially next year's in Phoenix (April 19-21) celebrating our 10th anniversary. We've got answers.

Watch the video and learn more about WPO here.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Site of Interest: Social Innovation Conversations

Yes, we are busy building our companies. But in addition to focusing on the bottom line, are you at least thinking about changing the world and the importance of the human connection to everything you do, day in and day out?

You can be a social entrepreneur -- a creative and inspiring leader -- and also be a WPO member. They are not mutually exclusive.

Read more here >> Social Innovation Conversations: Reinventing the World Together One Conversation At a Time.

And if you are making the world a better place, let us know about it. We welcome hearing from you.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Site of Interest: Second Life

As business owners, one of the things we have to always prepare for is how to see through and stay ahead of trends, challenges and opportunities. Here we present a glimpse of the future. Second Life is a 3D online digital world imagined, created and owned by its residents. Soon, your single greatest competitor won't be in China or India but at Second Life. Yes, you read that right.

Read more here >> Your world. Your imagination.

>> Wired Travel Guide: Second Life.

>> Popular Science: Your Second Life is Ready

Welcome to a new world of endless reinvention.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Article of Interest: Women Have Room to Grow Companies

In September, the Center for Women's Business Research projected that as of this year, there are an estimated 10.4 million privately held, women-owned firms in the United States. This accounts for two in five of all businesses in the country. These firms generate $1.9 trillion in annual sales and employ 12.8 million people nationwide.

Yet at our recent Women Presidents' Organization 2006 annual conference in Chicago, participants in a Key4Women focus group identified undercapitalization as a common mistake women business owners should avoid. Undercapitalization can create a host of challenges for a company -- not only is it more difficult to get an undercapitalized business off the ground, but it creates obstacles while trying to secure funding from banks.

While access to capital may have been a challenge for women 30 years ago, today's woman business owner has a wide range of banking resources readily available to her. Some banks have created specific opportunities for women-owned businesses.
Don't wait until it's too late.

Key4Women is an initiative of KeyBank, a corporate sponsor to the Women Presidents' Organization.

Read more here >> Women Have Room to Grow Companies

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

News: There's No Glass Ceiling for Women Entrepreneurs

Where is the glass ceiling when you’re a woman entrepreneur of a multi-million dollar company? A Compensation Survey of members of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) suggests that there is none.

Highlights from the survey are as follows:

• More than half of respondents (56%) believe their salary is the same as their male counterparts.
• Over half (53%) of respondents believe their total compensation is the same as their male counterparts.
• More than half (57%) of respondents routinely investigate and adjust salaries to ensure gender pay equity for positions of equal qualification and responsibility.
• Over half (51)% plan to increase their salary and/or their bonus, benefits, commissions, partnerships distributions, or compensation.
• Being able to provide themselves and their employees equitable compensation for work performed was an important issue for respondents when they started their companies.

Learn more here.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Event Reminder: Women's Summit (October 17)

The Women Presidents' Organization has agreed to partner with the University of Chicago Women’s Business Group to support the second annual Women’s Summit, to be held on October 17, 2006 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. This year's theme is: "Creating a Shared Vision."

The Women’s Summit will provide a venue for diverse leadership from corporations, law, medicine, economics, public policy, education, journalism, science, technology and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area to join together. In addition to celebrating successes and connections, we will develop a collective vision for increasing the contribution and success of women and minorities to the community in which we live and work.

In honor of this occasion, Cherie Booth, QC will be the featured speaker at the event. Her husband, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, has given his wife credit for being "... an enormous source of strength and an extraordinary person in her own right. I never know how she manages with all the different things she does -- the work, the family." ~ The New York Times.

The Summit will start with facilitated visioning sessions to explore important topics for women today. Each session will have a thought leader with expertise on the topic and a professional facilitator. You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas and get involved. Our goal is for the community to come together, create a shared vision, and shape our future.

The breakout sessions will be followed by a networking opportunity, and by dinner and the keynote address.

"The Women Presidents' Organization is delighted to be a part of the UCWBG's Women's Summit. And with the United Kingdom being such a strong and loyal ally to the United States, we are thrilled to have Ms. Booth share her wisdom with us." -- Laurel Delaney, Chicago Chapter Facilitator

All Women Presidents' Organization members will be entitled to the member rate ($125), so please click the appropriate option -- Friends of the Summit -- when registering.

For more information and to register please visit:
the UCWBG's website.