From Exit to ESOP

When contemplating selling her business, Michelle Hayward, founder of Bluedog, did some research. 

She had developed a highly capable leadership team. When she exited, she wanted them to benefit, too. For her, there was only one solution. An employee stock ownership program (ESOP) was the fastest path to exiting Bluedog and driving future value for her employees. Employee ownership takes the company's award-winning culture and the accountability for maintaining it to the next level. It rewards employees by making them owners. 

Read the entire article here.

Transitions: Strategies For Business Owners (Event 6/28/23)

Two WPO Chicago members, WPO CEO Camille Burns (moderator), and Prudential VP of Advanced Planning Karen Hoffman will discuss concerns and strategies to help ensure that ownership of your business is transferred smoothly when the time comes. 

Approaches for transferring wealth to people and organizations that you care about will also be discussed.

If you are a business owner, feel free to join us Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:00 PM CT.

To learn more and to register (virtually or in person), visit: https://www.women-presidents.com/news-events/events-programs/Prudential-and-WPO-Discussion-Panel

10 Best Practices For Rewards and Recognition Programs For Employees

Simply put, employee recognition programs reward and acknowledge employees for their contributions and achievements. This can take many forms, from traditional bonuses and raises to non-monetary rewards like extra time off or public recognition. The key is tailoring the recognition to the individual and their accomplishments.

Here are 10 best practices for rewards and recognition programs for employees and some innovative strategies for employee recognition. 

The State of Girls and Women in STEM 2023

Created annually by National Girls Collaborative Project, this March 2023 resource presents a high-level summary of the most compelling statistics and research on the state of girls and women in STEM, focused on K-12 Education, Higher Education, and the STEM Workforce. 

At the Women Presidents Organization, we encourage more girls and women to enter into STEM.  It is crucial to understand that gender inequity in STEM is driven more by perception than by reality.

Download the document here.